ARTICLE - Basic Functionalities

In this short article we will review the basic functionalities to navigate the viewers of the simulator (windowing, zooming, panning, scrolling)

1. Scroll through image stacks:
   1. Click the arrows (< and >) next to the image stack you want to scroll through.
2. Import a new MR sequence for planning:
   1. Click ‘Add pulse sequence’ / ‘[any pulse sequence of choice]’ / ‘Import’ / ‘Close’.
   2. Alternative: Right click a previous sequence in the list and choose ‘Clone’.
3. Plan a sequence for scanning:
   1. Double click an unused sequence in the list (white background) to open the sequence and modify its parameters.
   2. Save scan plane and sequence parameter changes by clicking ‘Save’.
4. Change or alter the scan plane / slice position:
   1. Move: Click and drag the scan plane line, or use the arrow keys.
   2. Rotate: Rotate the scan plane using either:
          i. Click and hold left mouse button + the mouse scroll wheel, or
          ii. Shift + arrow keys (can be done without holding the mouse)
   3. Change phase/frequency encoding directions (to avoid fold-over artefacts) either:
            i. Rotate the slice(s) using any method above
            ii. Right click the image on the viewer and choose ‘Change FE to PE’
            iii. Select Foldover Direction in the Geometry tab.
   4. Perpendicular plane to image in viewer: To get a plane that is perpendicular to the image, right-click in the image on the viewer and choose ‘Perpendicular position’.
   5. In-plane slice position. To get a plane that is in line with the image in the image viewer, right-click in the image on the viewer and choose ‘In-plane position’. A position that is In-plane will result in the same image as in the viewer, assuming the same sequence and parameters are used.
5. Show images in the viewers:
   1. If images are not automatically loaded or if you want to show other previously acquired images: click and drag the sun/mountain symbol from the sequence list to one of the view boxes.

6. Change the Window/Level for Contrast on an Image

   1. You will need to hold down the control and shift buttons at the same time, along with using your Arrow Keys side to side (grey leveling) and up and down (black and white contrast leveling).  
   2. There is no reset button to revert back to original.

Some Basic Commands to memorise

Scroll – Mouse or Arrow

Zoom – Control + Scroll

Pan – Control + Left Mouse Drag

Window/Level – Control/Shift + Arrow Keys

Reset – Double Left Mouse Click