diff --git a/processing/post/imageData.py b/processing/post/imageData.py
index 1d3823d49..c26759eda 100755
--- a/processing/post/imageData.py
+++ b/processing/post/imageData.py
@@ -97,19 +97,14 @@ for name in filenames:
                             labels = options.label != None)                                         # no labels when taking 2D dataset
   table.head_read()                                                                                 # read ASCII header info
 
-# --------------- figure out column to process -----------------------------------------------------
+# ------------------------------------------ process data ------------------------------------------
 
-  column = table.labels_index([options.label])
-
-  if np.any(np.array(column) == -1):
+  missing_labels = table.data_readArray(options.label)
+  if len(missing_labels) > 0:
     file['croak'].write('column %s not found...\n'%options.label)
     table.close(dismiss = True)                                                                     # close ASCIItable and remove empty file
     continue
 
-# ------------------------------------------ process data ------------------------------------------
-
-  table.data_readArray(column)
-
   # convert data to values between 0 and 1 and arrange according to given options
   if options.dimension != []: table.data = table.data.reshape(options.dimension[1],options.dimension[0])
   if options.abs:             table.data = np.abs(table.data)