Hi all,

I would like to combine multiple relevant contrasts from one study using the combine images functions in SDM-PSI 6.23 beta -- is this possible in the newest version? 

I have read the previous posts on the forum regarding this issue (apologies for bringing this up yet again), but am still confused as to what I need to manually edit to make this work, or if it is even possible at all with the current version.

Here's what I have done so far: 

1. Ran preprocessing on the contrasts of interest (entered as seperate "studies") 

2. Combined the resulting lower and upper images respectively for the contrasts of interest using the combine images function 

3. Replaced the separate images with the combined images in the pp folder, also adding the var_reduction.txt files for the combined images to the pp folder 

4. Edited the sdm_table.txt and sdm_maps.txt files to reflect the one combined sudy

5. Ran the mean analysis -- which gets stuck at the end of the meta-analysis phase because it cannot find the imputed sdmimage.bin for the combined study.

My understanding of the error is that because the sdmpsi_params.xml file does not include the combined study, the combined images are skipped when the multiple imputation step runs, and the imputed sdmimage.bins are never created in the mi folder. However, I am not sure if there is a way to manually edit the sdmpsi_params.xml file to include the combined study before running the mean analysis, as I believe the information needed for this step is added to the file during the mean analysis and not preprocessing. 

Is there a way for me to fix this? Or am I just better off choosing the most relevant contrast for my meta-analysis. Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Nathan