Project Files
A project file stores your work in Volvicon, including all imported data, created objects, measurements, primitives, and view settings. This allows you to save your progress and return to it later.
What is Stored in a Project?
A Volvicon project contains:
| Content | Description |
|---|---|
| Volume images | Imported 3D image data |
| Masks | Segmentation results |
| Surface meshes | Generated or imported surfaces |
| Volume meshes | Generated or imported meshes |
| Measurements | Distances, angles, annotations |
| Primitives | ROIs and geometric objects |
| Analyses | Analysis objects |
| View settings | Camera positions, window/level, transfer functions |
| Object properties | Colors, visibility, names |
Working with Projects
Creating a New Project
- Click New Project on the File ribbon tab
- Select the data file(s) to import
- Configure import options
- The project is created with the imported data
Opening an Existing Project
- Click Open Project on the File ribbon tab
- Navigate to the
.vvcxfile - Click Open
Saving a Project
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Save | Ctrl+S | Save changes to current project |
| Save As | Ctrl+Shift+S | Save as a new project with a new name |
Save your project regularly to avoid losing work.
Project Data Management
Importing Additional Data
To add more data to an existing project:
- Open the project
- Click Import on the File ribbon tab
- Select the data type and file(s)
- The new data is added to the project
Exporting Data
To export objects from a project:
- Select the object in the Project Panel
- Click Export on the File ribbon tab
- Choose the export format
- Configure options and save
Version Compatibility
Volvicon project files (.vvcx) include format version information to ensure proper compatibility when sharing projects between different versions of Volvicon.
Compatibility Scenarios
| Scenario | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Same version | Opens without issues |
| Older project → Newer Volvicon | Full backward compatibility; opens normally |
| Newer project → Older Volvicon | Warning displayed; some features may not load |
What Happens When Opening Projects
When you open a project file, Volvicon automatically checks the format version:
- Compatible files: Open seamlessly with no user interaction required
- Newer format files: A warning dialog appears explaining that the project was created with a newer version. You can choose to:
- Continue: Attempt to open the file (some data may not load correctly)
- Cancel: Abort opening to avoid potential issues
For best results when sharing projects with colleagues, ensure everyone uses the same or a compatible version of Volvicon. When in doubt, the person with the newer version should save a copy for the recipient.
Data Integrity
Project files include built-in integrity verification to help detect unauthorized modifications, tampering, or accidental corruption. This feature is designed to support compliance with regulatory requirements in industries such as:
- Medical imaging (FDA 21 CFR Part 11, ISO 13485)
- Automotive (IATF 16949)
- Manufacturing (ISO 9001)
How Integrity Verification Works
When you save a project, Volvicon automatically creates an integrity manifest that records:
- A list of all files in the project
- File sizes and checksums
- A cryptographic hash of the manifest itself
When you open a project, Volvicon verifies this information to detect:
| Detection Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Missing files | Files expected by the manifest but not found |
| Added files | Unexpected files found that weren't in the original project |
| Modified files | Files with different sizes or different CRC32 values than when the project was saved |
| Tampered manifest | Changes to the integrity data itself or a corrupted manifest |
Integrity Warnings
If Volvicon detects an integrity issue, you'll see a warning dialog with details about what was detected. You can choose to:
- Continue: Open the project anyway (use with caution)
- Cancel: Stop opening to investigate the issue
If a project file is missing its integrity manifest, Volvicon will warn you before opening. A missing manifest indicates that the file may have been modified outside of Volvicon or the manifest was deliberately removed.
If your organization requires audit trails for data integrity, consider documenting the integrity check results shown when opening project files. The warning messages include specific file names for traceability.
Best Practices
| Practice | Reason |
|---|---|
| Save frequently | Prevent data loss |
| Use descriptive names | Easy identification |
| Keep project folders together | Maintain data integrity |
| Back up important projects | Recovery from failures |
| Close projects before moving folders | Prevent broken references |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Missing data files | Check if files were moved; re-link or re-import |
| Cannot open project | Verify Volvicon version compatibility |
| Large project size | Consider using referenced data mode |
| Slow loading | Large datasets take time; be patient |
Related Topics
- First Steps – Creating and saving projects