Technical Issues -
ActiveX Servers (DESIGN/MEASURE/Scantraq)
During installation you may have wondered about spectrometer
servers in the Select Components dialog. There are two types: DDE
(16-bit) and
ActiveX EXE (32-bit). DDE is used to communicate with legacy PerkinElmer drivers
(Lambda 19, Spectrum BX & GX FTIR).
With a DDE server, the instrument is specified in the pull-down list in MEASURE.
ActiveX servers are now (Feb 2005) provided for Ocean Optics
diode-array and PE Spectrum One FTIR
spectrometers. In these cases it desirable NOT to include DAQ modules in the
main body of MEASURE (Scantraq). An added benefit is that ActiveX servers also
work in DESIGN as well as Excel.
Each server can be operated in standalone mode for testing and
under the control of FilmStar MEASURE (or DESIGN) during actual use. In both cases the control software supplied by the manufacturer
(OOIBase32 or Spectrum) must also be installed on the computer!
Server Scan Parameters dialog
|
1. Test the ActiveX Server as a
standalone program before attempting to use it with FilmStar!
Be sure to close the manufacturer's software during your testing!
Note how the server's Scan Parameters references a setup
file (.set or .spec depending on instrument). Ultimately all the values in the dialog can be changed
remotely via FilmStar BASIC.
In Transmittance, the Standard Value
will generally be 1.0. A dispersive file, say the known reflectance
of BK7, can be substituted. This file is in .csv format (R/T vs.
nanometers). The format is the same as files saved in FilmStar
DESIGN, MEASURE or Scantraq. |
Specifying ActiveX Server in MEASURE/Scantraq
|
2. There is one Scan Parameters
Device setting for all ActiveX servers. |
Assigning MEASURE/Scantraq menu commands
|
3. Assign BASIC programs (macros) to
program commands. The Sample Scan macro is assigned to the Scan
button, while others are assigned to Setup menu commands. This is
actually the same as assigning BASIC programs to macro keys, or even
in running BASIC programs in the IDE. By assigning to menu commands,
macro buttons are conserved for other purposes.
The Device Name and Type are utilized
when saving spectra in .dx or .spc format. Leave blanks for commands
which do not apply to your particular instrument. |
MEASURE/Scantraq BASIC program assigned to Scan button
|
4. This shows the corresponding BASIC
program for a Spectrum One sample scan. This and similar sample
programs are included with FilmStar and Scantraq. Note that
s1.Parameters includes the entries in the Spectrum One Scan
Parameters dialog.
IMPORTANT: Be
sure to test BASIC programs in the IDE
before assigning to macro keys or to menu commands!
|
SPECIAL NOTE: SPECTRUM ONE
If you get an Instrument Busy error, it is
likely that InstCtrl.exe was not shut down. You can fix the problem by
rebooting the computer. But before doing that, try removing it from the
Processes List in Windows Task Manager. Hit <Alt-Ctrl-Del> to bring up the
Task Manager and go to the Processes tab. Click Image Name to alphabetize
and look for InstCtrl.exe. Select it and click the End Process button.
You may also need to close and reopen the FTG
Server SpOne.exe. If you cannot close it, just delete it from the active
processes as above.
Back to Technical Issues
|