Quote from: Peng Jiang on August 19, 2026, 08:33:07 PMHowever, today, I tried to add 5 small number ports (1024 - 1029) and 5 larger numbers as ports. Even the Esprit software was not opened in the PfE PC, and I answered "yes" to the "new instance" question, the PfE triggered the command to open the Esprit software on the PfE PC itself, and no error messages!

John,

I had a few more tests on the PfE-Bruker integration in the past days and my suggestion is to remove the "Do you want to start a new instance of Esprit?" option in the PfE software. Because it really causes more problems than help resolve an issue. Below are a few situations I met.

Today, I restarted both PfE PC and Bruker PC. So, the Bruker local server was already on, and I did NOT pre-open the Bruker software on the PfE PC. After I opened the PfE software and clicked "yes" to "new instance" question, it gave me infinite(!) error message boxes (see image attached) and I could not stop it! So I had to shutdown the PfE PC.

After I restarted the PfE PC, I opened the Bruker EDS software first in the PfE PC, then I opened the PfE software  and clicked "no" to the "new instance". Then all looked good with no more error messages. I also tested if I clicked "yes" to the "new instance question, there would also be no error messages - it's just that there would be TWO Esprit Bruker EDS programs at the same time in my PfE PC, which is totally not necessary. From this point, I found the "new instance" question is redundant and would suggest to ask users to *manually* open the Esprit Bruker EDS software first, then open the PfE software, and select "no" to the "new instance" question (or simply, remove this question in the PfE software in the first place).

I believe that last time I was able to successfully launched the Esprit EDS program on the PfE PC using the "yes" to "new instance" question (while Bruker EDS software had NOT been pre-launched) was because the local server had some "memory" of previous connections of active PfE users. That explained why there are "three active PfE users" while only ONE Bruker EDS software program was opened in PfE PC that time.   

This may also be a question for Bruker engineer to look into. For example, today before I restarted both PfE PC and Bruker PC: while PfE software had already been closed, the Configuration window in Bruker PC still indicated that there are "four active PfE users" (see image attached). I am quite confused by how Bruker server monitors the active PfE users.

I was at a farmers market in Lancaster, PA recently and saw this color spectrum display:



Hey, at least it's not a rainbow!

 

Here's a handy tip: if you see this error in Probe for EPMA when using the MEC EDS interface: "Too many retries loading analysis data from JEOL MEC interface"



it means that the JEOL "SMILE VIEW" software has crashed on the JEOL computer. To re-start the JEOL SMILE VIEW software you will need to re-start the JEOL computer. Not sure if logging out and logging back in again will re-start it, but maybe.

Quote from: dawncruth on August 20, 2026, 04:49:40 PMCan we get a string selection box in the Standards mini-app?

Does this work for you?

Can we get a string selection box in the Standards mini-app?

Quote from: Peng Jiang on August 19, 2026, 08:33:07 PM

Quote from: John Donovan on August 10, 2026, 10:44:02 AMJust a quick suggestion for when one is having trouble connecting Probe for EPMA to the Bruker server.

Matt Taylor at Bruker suggests adding more ports on the Bruker server configuration window:



He suggests:  "no less then 10 server ports. I also suggest to include both 4-digit and 5 digit numbers (e.g. 1026... and 56477...) as this can also be one of the barriers to getting this to work reliably. I read somewhere that 4 digit port numbers are generally used for registered services, while higher value 5 digit port numbers are utilized for the client."

This seems to help, though sometimes when PFE asks whether you want to start a new instance of Esprit it helps to say "Yes", but sometimes it helps to say "No"!

But try adding more more ports to the Bruker server config which is found in the Windows "hidden controls" pop up on the right side of the desktop.  Then right click the Esprit icon and click the "Configuration" menu.

John,

The "yes" and "no" to the "new instance" question is based on the fact that the Esprit software has already been opened on the PfE PC (note that Esprit is installed on both Bruker PC - as local server; and on PfE PC as an user). Otherwise, it would fail.

However, today, I tried to add 5 small number ports (1024 - 1029) and 5 larger numbers as ports. Even the Esprit software was not opened in the PfE PC, and I answered "yes" to the "new instance" question, the PfE triggered the command to open the Esprit software on the PfE PC itself, and no error messages!

So adding up to 10 ports (5 small and 5 large numbers) appeared to work.

Thanks. This is very helpful to have confirmed.  We will add this advice to our Bruker installation document.

Quote from: Ben Buse on August 20, 2026, 01:53:09 AM

Quote from: John Donovan on August 19, 2026, 08:30:18 AMYes, Paul's Quantitative Map Explorer (QME) is very cool. In fact we've offered to host a forum board here for the software with him as moderator, but he wants to hold off until they finish a few more features.

That would be good, it be great to be able to give it a go

I would write Paul directly and ask that he allow others to utilize his QME web site for their own maps.

Ok just been playing with the QGIS plugin qgis2web, which exports as html and associated files. This is interactive in sense of can turn on and off layers. Plugin limited option set based on openlayers, maybe if just used openlayers more options. Here I'm limited by amount can zoom in. But can in case of x-ray map select different element map, or in case of points overlain coloured coded for element intensity can click on point and view data,
Alt and shift can rotate as for JEOL I rotate 180.
Here's one example
https://delicate-nougat-e8d47d.netlify.app
Here's the other example
https://stupendous-puppy-5173e5.netlify.app/
And the article https://academic.oup.com/mt/article/34/1/28/8487468

Quote from: Peng Jiang on August 20, 2026, 02:53:56 AMThanks Ben for doing this test. This is very informative. It appears that your Cameca probe got instant beam current stabilization for the first 30 mins ~ 2 hours, then it started to drift up before reaching another stabilized beam current, or drift down (hard to predict).

Sorry I didn't say this is a JEOL8530F

Quote from: Ben Buse on August 20, 2026, 01:14:30 AMSo here's the plot for the next 16 hours (continuing from above the switching from 20kV 80nA to 15kV 20nA), which might in part be natural drift rather than stablisation.  ca 1.5% rel  in 12 hours.

Good point about x-ray mapping

Also shown is a long plot for the 2 hrs after 1st 30 mins.

Thanks Ben for doing this test. This is very informative. It appears that your Cameca probe got instant beam current stabilization for the first 30 mins ~ 2 hours, then it started to drift up before reaching another stabilized beam current, or drift down (hard to predict). The time period was also about 12 hours. This is very interesting. Our JXA-iHP200F probe (which has its emitter 'started' two months ago) could stay at a stabilized beam current for a few days, but sometimes also drift up or down (gradually, not like constant fluctuation).

These are all very interesting. I would be interested to see how other new / old JEOL and Cameca FE probes behave as regards to beam stability when changing accelerating voltages.