ZERO VALUES ARE ERRORS

This option will set a muid value to invalid '-9', when a '0' value is found in any layer the user has selected to analyze. This means that ONLY ONE '0' needs to be found in the data belonging to a muid and it will result in '-9'. Use this option when you know that '0' values are invalid and accurate weighted meaning is needed since it won't calculate a value when a '0' is found.

Best for: pH

ZERO VALUES ARE CONSIDERED ACTUAL VALUES

This option will use '0's as real values and treats them the same as any other value, averaging them into the resultant muid value. It is like averaging: '1','2'and'0' are values, then the resultant average is 1+2+0 / 3 = 1.

Best for: Organic Matter, or any item where 0 is a realistic value.

EXCLUDE VALUE

This option allows the user to exclude values during calculations. The user can select many different values from the combination box. It will only be active once the user has selected the EXCLUDE VALUE radio button. To choose another option, simply select another radio button, and the value will be nullified.

By excluding values, the user can calculate values for muid's and at the same time excluding any values that the user selects. This means that if '0' is excluded, any soil layers found with a zero value will not be included in the average for the muid, and within the component where the '0' value was found, the average will be based on all of the other values, excluding the '0' value. Thus if in the component there are 5 layers, and one of them has a '0' value, then the average will be created from only the four non-excluded values (value1 + value2 + value3 + value4 / 4), instead of averaging in the excluded value (value1 + value2 + value3 + value4 + value5 / 5).

Best for: Creating maps where invalid data creates an improper look.

REMEMBER: This method will calculate an average that is somewhat biased, since it is possible that a component in an muid will be averaged with a different amount of layers than in the other components in the muid.

INCLUDE COMPONENT PERCENTAGE ITEM

This option allows the user to create a second item in the attributes table at the same time as the primary (summarized data) item is created. The second item will contain the percentage each muid used in the calculation of each weighted mean value for each muid. In most circumstances the value will be 100 percent, since all values will be used. This will not be the case when the user creates a selection criteria in the Analysis Dialog. For further explanation see ??.

When selected, the user specifies the component percentage item in the 'Meaning Information Needed' dialog. When not selected, it will not appear in the dialog.

Best for: When using selection criteria in analysis.

USE RANGES-FIRST ITEM

This option allows the user to view mathematical ranges (1-1, 1-100 etc) under Value for the first item when using selection criteria in the Analysis dialog. Only certain items have ranges, others will still have single values.

Best for: When user wants analyze only components in certain ranges. For instance the user could select: component percentage = 1-50. From this only components that are 50% or smaller would be analyzed.

USE RANGES - SECOND ITEM

USE ITEM NAME AND CODE

This option allows the user to view full names for alphabetic values in the selection criteria of the analysis dialog. It only applies to some items.

Example: without 'Surface Soil Texture = S'

With: 'Surface Soil Texture = Sand (s)'

Best for: Those who don't have the abbreviations memorized.

SUMMARY SHEET

This option allows the user to view a sheet that reviews all analysis settings before analysis begins. This option is on by default, and is highly recommended since it is easy to forget what exact type of analysis was used.