File Tab Overview
The File tab opens Volvicon's backstage view—a dedicated interface for project-level operations. This design follows established conventions from productivity applications, presenting a left navigation panel with command categories and a right content area that displays the selected page.
The backstage consolidates all file operations, project management, data exchange, and application configuration in a single location, separate from the main workspace where image processing and analysis occur.
The backstage operates on the active project. Most actions require an open project, and switching between projects or exiting the application will prompt you to save unsaved changes.
Backstage Navigation
The left navigation panel organizes commands into logical groups:
Project Access
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Home | Landing page with recent projects, folders, learning resources, and news |
| New | Create a project from various data sources |
| Open | Load existing projects from local storage or cloud providers |
Project Management
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Properties | View and edit project metadata, content counts, and statistics |
| Save | Write changes to the current project file |
| Save As | Save a copy to a new location (local or cloud) |
Data Exchange
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Import | Add data to the current project from external sources |
| Export | Write project content to external file formats |
Capture and Output
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Record Video | Capture screen recordings of views with optional animation |
| Save Screenshot | Capture static images of views |
| Send views to a printer |
Session Control
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Close | Close the current project while keeping Volvicon running |
| Preferences | Configure application-wide settings |
| Exit | Close Volvicon |
Data Sources and Formats
Supported Input Formats
Volvicon supports a range of volumetric, surface, and mesh data formats:
| Category | Formats | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Images | MHD, NIfTI, NRRD | Structured volume formats with embedded spacing metadata |
| 3D Raw Images | RAW, VOL, ZRAW | Raw voxel grids requiring manual dimension and spacing specification |
| Image Stacks | BMP, JPG, PNG, TIF | Ordered 2D image sequences combined into volumes |
| DICOM | DCM | Medical imaging standard with orientation and spacing metadata |
| Surface Models | STL, PLY, OBJ, IGES, STEP | Triangle mesh and CAD surface geometry |
| Volume Meshes | Various FEM formats | Tetrahedral and hexahedral meshes for simulation |
Export Capabilities
Project content can be exported to various formats for downstream use:
- Volume Images: Standard 3D formats (MHD, NIfTI) for analysis in other applications
- Image Stacks: 2D slice sequences (BMP, JPG, PNG) for documentation or external processing
- Video: Slice-through animations (AVI, MP4) for presentations
- DICOM: Medical imaging export for clinical systems
- Surfaces: Mesh formats (STL, 3MF, U3D, WRL) for 3D printing or CAD workflows
- Volume Meshes: FEM formats for simulation software
- 3D Scenes: Consolidated scene exports including measurements and annotations
Cloud Storage Integration
Volvicon supports cloud storage providers for project access and backup. Use the Add a Place option in the Open or Save As pages to register cloud providers, then browse and interact with cloud-hosted files directly from the backstage.
When opening cloud-hosted projects, Volvicon downloads the file to a temporary location, opens it, and cleans up the temporary copy after loading. Progress dialogs indicate download status for large files.
Quick Reference: Common Workflows
Starting a New Analysis
- Click File to open the backstage
- Select New from the navigation
- Choose the appropriate data source (DICOM, 3D Images, etc.)
- Configure import parameters in the dialog
- The project opens with imported data ready for processing
Saving Work
- Click File → Save to update the current project
- For a new location, use File → Save As and choose a destination
- Recent folders appear for quick access; use Browse for other locations
Sharing Results
- Navigate to File → Export
- Select the appropriate export type (Surface Model, Volume Image, etc.)
- Configure format-specific options
- Choose the destination and complete the export
Capturing Documentation
- Set up the desired view (position, zoom, visible objects)
- Navigate to File → Save Screenshot or Record Video
- Select the target (application window, specific view, etc.)
- Save to file, clipboard, or print
Related Topics
- Home - Recent projects and learning resources
- New Project - Creating projects from various data sources
- Open Project - Loading existing projects
- Import - Adding data to projects
- Export - Writing data to external formats
- Preferences - Application configuration