Support variable time windows for epochs metadata creation

docs/source/v1.7.md.inc

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 ### :new: New features & enhancements
 
+- Epochs metadata creation now supports variable time windows by specifying the names of events via [`epochs_metadata_tmin`][mne_bids_pipeline._config.epochs_metadata_tmin] and [`epochs_metadata_tmax`][mne_bids_pipeline._config.epochs_metadata_tmax]. (#873 by @hoechenberger)
 - Improved logging message during cache invalidation: We now print the selected
   [`memory_file_method`][mne_bids_pipeline._config.memory_file_method] ("hash" or "mtime").
   Previously, we'd always print "hash". (#876 by @hoechenberger)
@@ -12,7 +13,9 @@
 
 [//]: # (- Whatever (#000 by @whoever))
 
-[//]: # (### :package: Requirements)
+### :package: Requirements
+
+- The minimum required version of MNE-Python is now 1.7.0.
 
 [//]: # (- Whatever (#000 by @whoever))
 

mne_bids_pipeline/_config.py

@@ -916,15 +916,29 @@
     April 1st, 2021.
 """
 
-epochs_metadata_tmin: float | None = None
+epochs_metadata_tmin: float | str | list[str] | None = None
 """
-The beginning of the time window for metadata generation, in seconds,
-relative to the time-locked event of the respective epoch. This may be less
-than or larger than the epoch's first time point. If `None`, use the first
-time point of the epoch.
+The beginning of the time window used for epochs metadata generation. This setting
+controls the `tmin` value passed to
+[`mne.epochs.make_metadata`](https://mne.tools/stable/generated/mne.epochs.make_metadata.html).
+
+If a float, the time in seconds relative to the time-locked event of the respective
+epoch. Negative indicate times before, positive values indicate times after the
+time-locked event.
+
+If a string or a list of strings, the name(s) of events marking the start of time
+window.
+
+If `None`, use the first time point of the epoch.
+
+???+ info
+     Note that `None` here behaves differently than `tmin=None` in
+     `mne.epochs.make_metadata`. To achieve the same behavior, pass the name(s) of the
+     time-locked events instead.
+
 """
 
-epochs_metadata_tmax: float | None = None
+epochs_metadata_tmax: float | str | list[str] | None = None
 """
 Same as `epochs_metadata_tmin`, but specifying the **end** of the time
 window for metadata generation.

pyproject.toml

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ dependencies = [
   "pyvistaqt",
   "openpyxl",
   "autoreject",
-  "mne[hdf5] >=1.2",
+  "mne[hdf5] >=1.7",
   "mne-bids[full]",
   "filelock",
 ]