Latest version changes for Probe for EPMA (and CalcImage) v. 14.4.3

[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"!

11/07/26    Bump version for distribution.
v. 14.4.3

11/04/26    Fix elemental H by difference bug in ZAFSmp (Seward/Boro).

09/25/26    Modify JEOLInitInterface code to check for stage port numbers
v. 14.4.2

09/19/26    Modify PFE full view PictureSnap code to load image from existing control (von der Handt).

        Remove double menu separators in Run menu.

09/17/26    Direct stage code only works for 8230/8530. Add check for direct stage port numbers.

09/14/26    JEOL direct stage calls tested and working using JEOL driver v. 2.2.5 (Moy, Fellowes
        and Desormeau). Remove obsolete MEC stage/column code.

09/11/26    In IOGetFilename remove enable hook flag to improve Win32 API compatibility (Boro).
v. 14.4.1

09/08/26    Add Closehandle Windows API call to cleanup in IOIsProcessTerminated() (Boro).

        Modify JEOL code modules to just use Use8x30DirectStageInterface flag in JEOLInitInterface.
        since new v. 2.2.5 JEOL driver from Moy checks for stage IP address and socket.

09/04/26    Fix bug in AcquireDoVolatile2 for samples with multiple elements per spectrometer
        (assigned TDI samples).

08/29/26    Fix bug loading digitized positions in PictureSnap for selected samples (Boroughs).

        Fix error message in Run | Display MPB samples when no samples are loaded and clicked Load
        Wavescan (Jiang).
       
        Set background fit type to MPB when setting all elements to MPB in Acquisition
        Options (Jiang).

08/26/26    Add call to close EDS interface when closing MDB file (in addition to closing application).

08/24/26    Modify start up of Bruker EDS interface (Jiang). Add "v" units to Bias/PHA scan titles.

08/21/26    Modify MECWRAPPER.DLL check code to use file date because original DLL has no file version info.

08/20/26    Add new call to MECW_CloseEdsAnalysisData after getting net intensities which closes spectrum
        window in JEOL software (Kuan-Yu).

08/17/26    Null out WDS parameters in GetElmSetElmSave if EDS crystal.

08/16/26    Add DT% display to EDS PLot Y axis (Jiang).
v. 14.4.0
        Modify maximum digits code (Locock).
       
        Add code to FormACQUIRE to update ShapeFaraday automatically (Jiang)
       
        Add code to check for assigned interference standard when loading
        default MAN assignments (Jiang).

08/09/26    Fix Force Conditions flag in Combined Conditions form where the flag was not getting saved (Buse).
        Also force column condition text in GridConditions grid to be left aligned so it is always visible.
       
        When using statistically significant formatting, output numbers less than detection limit to
        "<" detection limit (Lowers).

07/17/26    Add direct TCP/IP calls for 8x30 instruments for get Faraday state and insert/remove Faraday.
v. 14.3.9

07/11/26    In AnalyzeTypeResults add Zbar output if MAN and Z fraction. Add Zbar output if DAM backscatter
        and using different beam energies.
       
        Add MAN Z fraction flag and exponent to probewin;ini file and set Z fraction MAN default
        to true and 0.7 exponent (Neill). This only affects new runs.

07/07/26    Fix formatting bug in Zbar output in TypeLoadDescription.

07/05/26    Update Proper PHA Tuning document for Help menu.

07/01/26    Modify program defaults to:
v. 14.3.8
        [software]
        MACTypeFlag=6            ; default MAC file (1 = LINEMU, 2 = CITZMU, 3 = McMaster, 4 = MAC30, 5 = MACJTA, 6 = FFAST
        DeadtimeCorrectionType=4    ; 1 = normal, 2 = high precision deadtime correction, 3 = super high precision, 4 = log expression (Moy)
        DefaultZAFType=11        ; default ZAF/Phi-Rho-z correction (11=Armstrong/Brown/Donovan Moy)

06/30/26    Add code to ensure that when acquiring an image using the Confrim Only option
        in Acquisition Options, that the image is only acquired when confirmiung samples
        because it was acquiring images even on normal sample acquisitions (Locock).
       
        Add keyword JEOLMECEDSMilliSecDelayStart& to Probewin.ini file to avoid "empty
        GUID string" error with JEOL MEC EDS interface when adding a point resevration.
       
        Add JEOL EDS delay keywords to Reference manual and Help file.
       
        Fix JEOL EDS and JEOL MEC EDS bug when acquiring EDS spectra with a wavescan
        sample (McAleer amd Fellowes).

06/29/26    Fix mineral end member bug (check elements).

06/27/26    Tweak FormGetCmp enable properties for mineral end member options in Standard.

06/26/26    New flag (LoadMineralFlagsFromStandardDatabase) for loading mineral end member
v. 14.3.7    flag from standard database to a new standard (Carpenter).

06/22/26    Add sample name field for manual PHA acquisitions. Edit pop up help for Differential
        mode to suggest using Integral-baseline method.
       
        Add standard published values, percent variances and algebriac differences to
        Output | Unknown and Standard Plot output.

06/09/26    Modify blank correction error for very negative k-ratios to be just a warning (Buse).

        Modify string selection text control code in Plot window (Ducharme).

06/03/26    Modify PHA simulation code to produce more realistic bias and gain scans. Update PHA
        tuning PDF.

06/02/26    Move warning about "Do Not Insert PCD After Acquisition" for JEOL MEC EDS" to before
        faraday cup is removed (Boroughs).
       
        Add Tuning PHA for High Accuracy pdf to Help menu.  Fix link to forum in Tip of
        the Day popup.

05/29/26    Disable JEOL get map net intensities code in CalcImage because it only works for the
        PC-SEM video generator (Buse).

05/27/26    Add ForceStoichiometryOfElementByStoichiometryToOxygenFlag to Analysis OPtions dialog
v. 14.3.6    to force an element (e.g., carbon) calculated by stoichiometry to calculated oxygen
        to be the extract stoichiometric ratio specified by the user. This could cause problems
        if the user is wrong about the assumed stoichiometry, or if the mineral has some
        unanticipated ferric iron (or other multivalent cation) and the stoichiometry specified
        by the user is not exactly what is being assumed (Locock and Allaz).
       
        Note that old probe runs will require this flag to be checked for each session, but
        new runs will store this flag for future calculations.

05/22/26    Add more direct stage code for iSP100/iHP200F instruments (wait for new JEOL driver).

05/20/26    Add code to load raw cps variables for statistics for EDS elements (Bruker,
        JEOL and Thermo and stored interfaces) (Allaz).

05/17/26    Work on JEOL EDS SI mapping code to extract net intensities from JEOL 8x30 EDS API and
        live times from.JEOL PTS file (Boro and Buse) and write to GRD files for quant.

05/06/26    Increase maximum beam current from 1000 to 2000 nA (Buse).
v. 14.3.5
        Modify FileInfoGetVersion GetAttr() function to return Long integer as some
        NTFS operating systems can return a long..

05/02/26    Remove EDSLive call for JEOL 8230/8530 EDS in JEOLEDSSpectraStop to try and unlock
        JEOL stage controls because it does not unlock stage controls and sets mag to 4000x.
       
04/30/26    Improve AnalyzeTypeReport code for instrument type to use stored EOS Type parameter
        for JEOL instruments.

For revisions prior to the latest above date please check the VERSION.TXT attached below or the PFE Help menu.

[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