Probe Scan and Image Mode

[Heather Lowers]

In the most recent version of ProbeImage (1.2.4.2029) with the check box labeled "Use current instrument column settings" selected ProbeImage turns on Probe Scan and changes the imaging Mode to B_UP. Is there a way to prevent ProbeImage from doing this? We would like Probe Scan to be off and the mode to be in SPOT which produces the best images on the 8900 and prevents us from having to set the magnification to 300,000x prior to beginning a map.

[John Donovan]

In the most recent version of ProbeImage (1.2.4.2029) with the check box labeled "Use current instrument column settings" selected ProbeImage turns on Probe Scan and changes the imaging Mode to B_UP. Is there a way to prevent ProbeImage from doing this? We would like Probe Scan to be off and the mode to be in SPOT which produces the best images on the 8900 and prevents us from having to set the magnification to 300,000x prior to beginning a map.

Hi Heather,
Absolutely.  I think you missed this post last month:

http://probesoftware.com/smf/index.php?topic=600.msg5043#msg5043

john

[Heather Lowers]

No, I saw that post. The problem is when the "Use current instrument column settings" box is checked ProbeImage still turns on scanning and changes the imaging mode from SPOT to B_UP. Are you saying that we now must uncheck that box to prevent ProbeImage from doing that?

[Heather Lowers]

This is how it was set up during our most recent run when it was switching on scanning and changing the mode to B_UP:

[John Donovan]

No, I saw that post. The problem is when the "Use current instrument column settings" box is checked ProbeImage still turns on scanning and changes the imaging mode from SPOT to B_UP. Are you saying that we now must uncheck that box to prevent ProbeImage from doing that?

I don't have a JEOL instrument handy to check, but it's worth trying.
john

[Heather Lowers]

ProbeImage seems to work properly with the "Use current instrument column settings" box unchecked.  Is there some way we can get it working correctly with said box checked with an 8900 instrument?

[John Donovan]

ProbeImage seems to work properly with the "Use current instrument column settings" box unchecked.  Is there some way we can get it working correctly with said box checked with an 8900 instrument?

Hi Heather,
What you call "working correctly" is what other JEOL users call "not working correctly".     

I wish you all could agree on this!  In the Cameca world it's either scan on or scan off that dats it.  I can't remember now who it was, but one or two of our JEOL users insisted that PI set the instrument to scan mode before starting a mapping scan, so Brian and I decided to make it an option.

Did you try unchecking the Use Current Conditions checkbox to enable the controls and then checking/unchecking the spot mode option as you like, then checking the Use Current Conditions checkbox?
john

[Heather Lowers]

By working correctly I mean that when a box that is labeled "Use current instrument column settings" is checked that universally would mean that the software would use the current instrument column settings and not change anything before acquisitions begins. I guess I just might be the odd one out assuming that though.

[John Donovan]

By working correctly I mean that when a box that is labeled "Use current instrument column settings" is checked that universally would mean that the software would use the current instrument column settings and not change anything before acquisitions begins. I guess I just might be the odd one out assuming that though.

OK, OK. I can have Brian fix that GUI issue now that you called our attention to it.  No one had mentioned it previously, so I didn't know there was an issue for JEOL instruments (let me just double check, nope, I still don't have a JEOL instrument handy to run a test).

But my question was, can you get going by doing what I suggested?     

I'm just sure that this will cause someone else to complain. How about we make the two checkboxes independent of setting the keV and beam size, etc...?  Or I'll just have Brian not do anything to the Probe Scan if the Use Current Conditions checkbox is checked?  In other words:

1. Make the Enable Probe Scan or Use Spot Mode checkbox always active even if the Use Current Conditions checkbox is checked.

or

2. Don't do anything to the probe scan (ignore both spot/scan mode checkboxes) if the Use Current Conditions checkbox is checked.

What would be better for you 8900/8200/8500 users?
john