Latest version changes for Probe for EPMA (and CalcImage) v. 14.3.6

[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"!

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.

04/29/26    Add EDSLive call for JEOL 8230/8530 EDS in JEOLEDSSpectraStop to try and unlock
        JEOL stage controls (Buse).
       
        Fix typos in various modules from "Analysis | Acquisition Options menu" to
        "Analytical | Analysis Options menu" (Ducharme).

04/22/26    Rename PAP/DAM to Armstrong/DAM correction (Ducharme).

04/08/26    Add Ducharme, Moy and Donovan DAM backscatter supplement citation to Report output (Locock)

        Add SX50/51 InterfaceType back for old SX50 MDB data files.

04/05/26    Modify ATWT_S and ATWT_U output in AnalyzeTypeResults to check with 0.0001 tolerance.

04/04/26    Display disabled element flags in sample setup dialog (Ruth).

        Fix bug in SampleSetupSave when SetupSampleFlag = 1 (allow changes).from FormSetupSam.

        Modify Bruker tStartNew and tGUI flags init.

04/02/26    Modify GetOpt code when asking to interface EDS (von der Handt)

04/01/26    Increase MAN/Interf maximum iterations from 100 to 300 for pathological
        interferences (Locock).
       
        Ask user when removing shared MPBs whether to also delete manual flags
        (von der Handt).

03/31/26    Add error trapping for subsequent samples containing EDS or MPB data when combining
v. 14.3.4    samples in the Analyze! window.

        Add code to fix problem with Search for shared bgds when samples have different
        numbers of elements and EDS elements gets flagged as an MPB element.
       
        Modify MultiPointLoadSamplesChans to skip EDS elements explicitly.

03/26/26    Add On Top checkbox for BasicEPMA and AdvancedEPMA forms (von der Handt).
   
        Modify All Matrix Corrections output for unanalyzed elements.

03/17/26    Modify TDI plot labels Log to Ln (Allaz).

03/10/26    Modify CalcZAF effective takeoff angle calculator to also calculate k-ratios for all
v. 14.3.3        matrix corrections at the default take off angle.

03/03/26    Modify traverse scripts (TRAVXY.BAS, etc.) to be compatible with new version of
        Golden Software Grapher Scripter.exe (swap "firstrow" and "lastrow" lines.

02/27/26    Modify custom output 17 (spectro/element wavescan output) to handle wavescans of
        different lengths (Ducharme).

02/26/26    Delete some unused variables and passed parameters.
v. 14.3.2

02/23/26    Add some comments for Donovan MACs and re-order emitters for boron in the EMPMAC.DAT
        file for empirical MACs..

02/17/26    Reduce misc delays in JeolMECSpectraStart (McAleer).
v. 14.3.1   
        Unzoom automatically when loading another peaking or PHA scan.
       
        Modify GetSpec code to not load specified oxygen from a standard composition if new
        "Do not load specified oxygen" checkbox is checked (Buse).

01/26/26    Modify Penepma extract k-ratio code to output more information and calculate k-ratio
v. 14.2.9    variance more rigorously.

01/26/26    Add Bragg order k-ratio document to Help menu.

01/24/26    Modify TimeCalculate code to not include on-peak move time for disabled element
        channels even if they are the first element on that spectrometer (Boroughs).
       
        Also skip simulation calculations for disabled acquisition elements.

01/19/26    Change default PositionImportExportFileType value in Probewin.ini file from 1 to 2.

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).
v. 14.2.8

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 better 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

[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