Bruker EDS/WDS Integration with PFE

[John Donovan]

The Bruker 3rd party API has gone through some rough changes lately.

Currently, only the v. 1.8.5 of Esprit/Quantax (RTIfcClient.dll) can acquire EDS spectra using the Bruker API. Bruker is working on getting this fixed in v. 1.9.4 of their API and it will be worth the upgrade because one of the main advantages of the 1.9.x Quantax version is that it can share the EDS hardware between Esprit and Probe for EPMA very nicely without error messages.

[John Donovan]

For those utilizing the EDS/WDS integration with Bruker Esprit and Probe for EPMA, attached below is the latest RTIfcClient.dll file for API communication to the Quantax server (version 1.9.4). Thank-you Uwe Rossek of Bruker for getting this working.

Both spectrum acquisition and get net intensity functions appear to work in this latest Esprit beta which is available from Probe Software for those interested. Contact Probe Software if you need help downloading it.

After installation of the new 1.9.4 Esprit, the new RTIfcClient.dll file below should be copied to where Probe for EPMA can find it, for example, the PFE application folder or the Windows "system" folder.

Edit by John: Bruker has now fully implemented EDS client switching, so always ask Bruker for the latest RTIfcClient.dll file. Really they should just supply it with their normal app distribution.

[Karsten Goemann]

Hi John,

I've just tried the Bruker integration PFE on our SX100 again (#846, vintage 2003), using v1.8.5 with the latest RTIFCCLIENT.DLL from this thread, and "normal" ethernet communication (not RS-232).

I can collect spectra just fine and even the get net intensities works now with this RTIFCCLIENT.DLL.

Cheers,

Karsten

[John Donovan]

Paul Carpenter reports that Rob Marr at Calgary lost his Bruker EDS/WDS integration with Probe for EPMA after updating from 1.x to 2.x of the Esprit software.

Has anyone else experienced this issue or know how to fix this problem to get the EDS/WDS integration going again with 2.x of Esprit?
john

[John Donovan]

Paul Carpenter reports that Rob Marr at Calgary lost his Bruker EDS/WDS integration with Probe for EPMA after updating from 1.x to 2.x of the Esprit software.

Has anyone else experienced this issue or know how to fix this problem to get the EDS/WDS integration going again with 2.x of Esprit?
john

This issue was because the EDSSpectraNetIntensityInterfaceType keyword was not set to the Bruker interface in the Probewin.ini file. That is:

EDSSpectraNetIntensityInterfaceType=2   ; 0 = Demo, 1 = Unused, 2 = Bruker, 3 = Oxford, 4 = Unused, 5 = Thermo NSS, 6 = JEOL

Once Rob fixed that all is well now.
john

[John Donovan]

Gareth Seward and I have discovered that the Bruker EDS API in Esprit v. 2.01 doesn't return the net intensities properly to PFE for EDS WDS quant, so all of those with v. 2.01 should update to Esprit v. 2.1 (which fixes the issue) as soon as possible.

[Rob Marr]

Hi John - We are still having some issues with our WDS/EDS integration. When we calibrate with EDS channels, everything seems to proceed as it should until completion, then the attached error message appears.

Also, we do not receive any data when we use EDS channels in ProbeImage either, which may be a related problem.

[John Donovan]

Hi John - We are still having some issues with our WDS/EDS integration. When we calibrate with EDS channels, everything seems to proceed as it should until completion, then the attached error message appears.

Also, we do not receive any data when we use EDS channels in ProbeImage either, which may be a related problem.

Hi Rob,
It should all be working.  Many labs use the Bruker EDS with WDS in PFE and it works great for major and minor elements.

First thing is to update PFE using the Help menu (current version is 11.9.7) and create a new MDB and see if you still have an issue getting the net intensities back from Bruker.  Also check your Probewin.ini file and make sure the EDSSpectraNetIntensityInterfaceType keyword is set properly like this:

EDSSpectraNetIntensityInterfaceType=2    ; 0 = Demo, 1 = Edax, 2 = Bruker, 3 = Oxford, 4 = Unused, 5 = Thermo NSS, 6 = JEOL

Next what version of Bruker Esprit are you using?  Third, I assume your Bruker license has the LAN and API license options?  I assume so because you can acquire the EDS spectra fine with PFE.

Fourth, your installation specialist is Paul Carpenter, and he should be able to help you, but he is at M&M this week.  However, I will ping him and cc you.

On the EDS mapping acquisition with Bruker, we decided to skip the EDS ROI acquisition feature in Probe Image because these mapping intensities cannot easily be quantified, and instead we are currently implementing a full EDS spectrum imaging acquisition method in PI (with Thermo and JEOL also) integrated with the WDS mapping, which can be quantified in CalcImage.  As soon as that is ready we will get that new version to you.  In the meantime you can get a free update for Probe Image here:

http://probesoftware.com/download/PI-Update.zip

I'll send you the unzip password by email.
john

[John Donovan]

Just 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.

[Peng Jiang]

Just 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.

Another note is that the local Bruker server appeared to not actively monitor the PfE users amount. Sometimes the PfE software was closed, it still remains active. For example, now there are a total of 3 PfE users! That might explain why we need 5 ports for PfE!

PengYou cannot view this attachment.

[John Donovan]

Just 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.

[Peng Jiang]

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!

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.

[John Donovan]

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!

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).

Yes, it is difficult to understand what the Bruker server actually wants!

Unless anyone else has another suggestion I would be happy to modify the code in this way.

[John Donovan]

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!

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).

Yes, it is difficult to understand what the Bruker server actually wants!

Unless anyone else has another suggestion I would be happy to modify the code in this way.

The latest version of Probe for EPMA does as Peng suggests when connecting to the Bruker server.

Update from the PFE Help menu as usual.