Values
Values are the data values for each feature for each artifact or assemblage after they have been processed by OptiPath according to the seriation and feature parameters. For example, classed data with values of "serrate, "smooth", "notched" and "palmate" may be converted to numerical class values of "1", "2", "3" and "4". Normalized numerical data will be expressed in standard deviations. The absence of a feature may be denoted by "Absent & Unknown" and a blank value by "Absent & Zero" (see Blanks and Zeroes and Earlier and Later).
OptiPath uses the values in the Values table, not those in the Data table, to calculate the distances between artifacts.
The Values table can be accessed from the Data menu. The entire Values table is read only.
The Show Values menu item opens the values table where you can view, but not edit, the artifacts (assemblages) and their computed data values (not necessarily their input values).
Values Table
Users cannot edit the values in the Values table directly. Values can be changed in the Artifacts, Assemblages or Data tables. Modifying feature or seriation parameters may affect the values in the Values table.
The Values table contains information for each artifact (assemblage) not excluded. Other than the featured data there are only two fields associated with each item:
Index - an integer value assigned to an artifact (assemblage) that allows you to sort artifacts (assemblages) in the table.
Artifact/Assemblage - a name that uniquely identifies the artifact or assemblage.
Features - there is a separate column for each not excluded feature. Feature data values cannot be edited in this table. Each cell in a feature column reflects the computed value of the measure for that feature for the artifact or assemblage in the corresponding row. These are the values that OptiPath uses in computing distances between items.
The following case sensitive entries in feature data are interpreted literally by OptiPath:
Present & Zero,
Absent & Zero,
Present & Unknown,
Absent & Unknown,
Unknown & Zero,
Unknown
These six values are the only allowed values for Earlier and Later, and replace input Blanks and Zeroes. An entry of Present & Zero the feature would be considered as having a value 0 and the item (artifact or assemblage) would incur a transition penalty if preceded or succeeded by an item for which the feature is absent.
In addition to your artifacts or assemblages, there will be two additional rows in the Values table:
Earlier - represents the assumed feature values for items that come earlier than those in your sample. The feature parameters allow you to specify whether earlier values should be considered absent, zero or unknown - see Setting the Earlier, Later, Blanks, Zeroes and Transition Parameters.
Later - represents the assumed feature values for items that come later than those in your sample. The feature parameters allow you to specify whether later values should be considered absent, zero or unknown - see Setting the Earlier, Later, Blanks, Zeroes and Transition Parameters.