# Analyze data

The analysis execution is started by clicking on the button of the toolbar, which will show you the Analyze Data dialog. As you can see in the following figure, this dialog requires you to introduce the ICP-MS acquisition parameters (refer here for a deepest explanation of these parameters):

- Data directory: the directory where the dataset to be analyzed is stored.
- Standard: the standard element in the dataset.
- Ablation speed: speed set by the user in the laser operational mode as continuous firing.
- Acquisition time: refers to the time needed by the acquisition of one point for all elements monitored by the ICP-MS.
- Space interval: is the distance among the center of two lines.

Analyze data dialog

If the parameters.conf file is present in the data directory, then the data acquisition parameters are automatically loaded. You will notice that loaded parameters are highlighted with a green background.