Latest version changes for Probe for EPMA (and CalcImage) v. 14.2.8

[John Donovan]

PROBE for EPMA XP/Vista/Win7/Win8/Win10/Win11 Xtreme Edition Version Software Changes

User names (in parentheses) indicate grateful attribution for the preceding bug report or suggestion. Users "rule"!

01/17/26   Add %VAR output when using All Matrix Corrections flag.

01/07/26   Add error trap for reading GRD files that are have X or Y dimensions smaller
      than 2 caused by Probe Image GRD export bug (Boesenberg).

01/01/26    Improve spectrometer position calculation in CalcZAF to include 2d.

12/31/25    Fix blank output bug in User Specified Output (McAleer).

12/20/25    Work with Ryan McAleer to decrease the time lag for starting the JEOL MEC EDS acquisition
        when using TFDI for WDS elements.
       
        Improve debug mode statements to beter indicate calling procedure.

12/03/25    Added code to handle the "spectrometer-element already loaded" error when the user has an
        underscore and an element name as part of the sample name in the file name by starting
        the string search after the spectrometer number in the filename. And finding the
        spectrometer number by searching using the InStrRev function which starts at the end
        of the string and goes backwards. See CalcImageDetermineTFDIChannel and GetQuantLoad.
       
        Use InStrRev instead of InStr function in CalcImageLoadQuantImages to search for _SP or _WD
        for similar reasons as previous comment.

12/02/25    Add force load all standard and MAN intensities in CalcImageStartAnalysis to deal with bug
        that might occur when using the Output Sample Parameters menu, then the  Calculate
        Quantitative Parameters menu.
       
        Added code to handle the "spectrometer-element already loaded" error when the user has an
        underscore and an element name as part of the sample name in the file name by starting
        the string search after the spectrometer number in the filename. And finding the
        spectrometer number by searching using the InStrRev function which starts at the end
        of the string and goes backwards. See CalcImageCreatProjectLoaded.

11/21/25    New Classify Image Exporter with static libraries. Ask user for export to Excel for
        CalcImage image statistics and check if Excel installed. (Neill).

11/19/25    Modify Math.bas MathGetInterpolatedYValue and MathGetInterpolatedYValue2 functions to
v.14.2.7    handle passed x axis positions outside of array range, to help with misplaced
        backgrounds when using exponential fits (Boroughs).
       
        Modify NewUpdateSample to save Current Parameters and NewLoadLast to not load current
        wavescan when using UseLastUnknownAsWavescanSetupFlag. Prevents MPB positions from being
        overwritten (Boroughs) by current sample.
       
        The reason for allowing these changes is so one can adjust MPB positions on wavescans
        in Plot! window to obtain APF peak shape factors.

11/15/25    Add check for BeamCurrentChangeDelay to be at least 10 seconds if using UPCE command,
        BeamCurrentType=2 (von der Handt).  Update Help file.

11/14/25    Add debug statements to direct TCP/IP set beam current command code.

11/07/25    In JEOLEDSImageStop, just exit if EDS interface handle is zero (Cortes).

11/06/25    Add new video tutorial on dead time calibrations to Advanced EPMA window (Boroughs). Edit
        GetDead.frm to read "Spectro" instead of "Scaler".
               
        Add BeamCurrentType option (2) to set beam current on 8x30 and later JEOL instruments using
        "UPCE" direct TCP/IP command. Modify read Probewin.ini code.

11/05/25    Add check for disable quant in CalcImageSaveQuant for element by different (Poirier).

        More work on Bruker HyperMap net intensity extraction.

11/04/25    Modify AcquireSetBeamModeMagnification to update condition globals to sample conditions
        similar to code in AcquireConditions (CodeAcquire2).

11/03/25    Add call to RealTimeUpdateBeamDeflection to update scan mode text in FormAcquire (Boroughs).

11/01/25    Add new global for future 8x30 direct stage move calls (Use8x30DirectStageInterface) with new JEOL
v. 14.2.6    driver version which support stage IP address (192.168.0.3).

        Add global reset in CalcImage for Project | Calculate Quantitative Images menu (Boro).

09/12/25    Fix CL display when switching to eV x axis units. Work more on Bruker HyperMap code.

09/11/25    Modify CL display to select between nm and eV units for x axis. Change warning about JEOL EDS
v.14.2.5    uncheck "Insert PCD After" a timed msgbox if running automation (Neill and McAleer).

        Add further explanation in FormSETSTD on the blank correction (Locock).

09/03/25    Fix ConvertToPrbImg.exe version number code. Replace 10000 with PPM constant in output code.

09/01/25    Fix missing MAN data display issue in Assign MAN Fits window (Boroughs).

08/29/25    Fix minor log text "could not peak center" unnecessary output (Bosenberg).

08/15/25    Work on Bruker EDS/WDS integrated mapping quant code in CalcImage.

08/05/25    Fix typo in std 259 name. Add EXSR string to 8x30 debug statements.

08/02/25    Add more information in MAN warning messages about using Update Fit button if some MAN standard
        intensities are missing when MAN dialog is loaded.

07/20/25    Modify PictureSnap scroll code to scroll better (Boroughs).

[John Donovan]

The ProbeForEPMA.msi installer now updates the Standard.exe app properly!
john

[John Donovan]

Added Thermo support files for spectrum image (SI) file access to ProbeForEPMA.msi installer (v.10.1.6).

Everyone who wants to use the new Hyper-Imaging feature in CalcImage, as described here:

https://smf.probesoftware.com/index.php?topic=83.0

will need to run the ProbeForEPMA.msi installer again (no need to un-install PFE first).

[John Donovan]

New versions (and updated documentation) are now available for the Matrix and Remote COM servers (v. 10.1.7)

https://probesoftware.com/Update.htm

[John Donovan]

The ProbeforEPMA.msi installer now automatically installs the Thermo spectrum Image (SI) DLLs for the CalcImage "Hyper-Imaging" feature, which automatically integrates WDS quantitative x-ray maps with EDS (hyper-cube) spectrum images.

Apologies for attaching a brochure from the EMAS 2013 meeting to this post, but it does already provide a nice overview of these new CalcImage features- and I'm just too lazy to re-format it!   

I should add, though current users of Probe for EPMA already know, all users may obtain new features for free, by simply clicking the Help | Update Probe for EPMA menu! 

[John Donovan]

The current version of Probe for EPMA, with all the latest software and features updates and a current copy of the Probe Software user forum (i.e., this user forum), are now available from Probe Software through our DVD subscription service.

If your laboratory computer running Probe for EPMA is not connected to the Internet for security or other reasons, please contact Probe Software to find out about our automatic DVD subscription service.  With this service you will be able to update your Probe for EPMA software and browse our user forum from your probe computer even if it is not connected to the Internet!

Please contact Barbara at Probe Software for more information:

barbara@probesoftware.com
541-343-3400

[John Donovan]

Check out this new "self documenting" feature for manual acquisition now available in v. 10.2.3 of Probe for EPMA:

https://smf.probesoftware.com/index.php?topic=71.msg649#msg649

[John Donovan]

I should have done this a long time ago, but the latest v. 10.2.4 now automatically loads all EDS spectra that are associated with standard samples if you select to have standard intensities loaded when performing a Load File Setup in Probe for EPMA.

[John Donovan]

All PFE apps and installers beginning with v. 10.2.5 are now digitally "signed":

https://smf.probesoftware.com/index.php?topic=42.msg744#msg744

[John Donovan]

Add ImageShiftPresent and ImageShiftType keywords to INI file.

For JEOL 8900/8200/8500 and Cameca SX100/SXFive this keyword will default to true, but for the 8230/8530 the keyword has to be added and edited manually in the [hardware] section of the Probewin.ini file.

[John Donovan]

Add ImageShiftPresent and ImageShiftType keywords to INI file.

For JEOL 8900/8200/8500 and Cameca SX100/SXFive this keyword will default to true, but for the 8230/8530 the keyword has to be added and edited manually in the [hardware] section of the Probewin.ini file.

Just wondering if any 8230/8530 operators have edited their Probewin.ini file and tested this set image shift code for the new JEOL instruments that Philippe Pinard sent us.

[John Donovan]

No bump in the version number, but the latest v. 10.3.3 now has modified the TDI acquisition code for combined condition samples. This should significantly reduce the delay between the Faraday cup out and the TDI counting start.

Try a TDI acquisition with a combined condition sample and let me know what you think!

[Richard Walshaw]

A nice simple question for you:

will PFE run on windows 8?

Richard

[John Donovan]

A nice simple question for you: will PFE run on windows 8?

Gareth Seward can answer this best. See this thread also:

https://smf.probesoftware.com/index.php?topic=105.0

[John Donovan]

The latest list of pre-calculated binaries for fast Monte-Carlo matrix corrections is found here:

https://www.probesoftware.com/download/Calculated%20Alpha%20Binaries.txt