EPICS/IDLVM Package [TOC]

By Ben-chin Cha (updated 04/01/04)
  • Introdcution
  • Sample Test Data
  • Complete EPICS/IDLVM Package
  • Environment Variables
  • Running EPICS/IDLVM Package

    Introduction

    The IDL 6.0 or later version provides a feature of running license free IDL virtual machine which is able to start any it's IDL saved applications as long as no interactive IDL command desired in the application. And the saved files should be easily ported to any other platform supported by the IDL.

    The newest IDLVM saved catcher and scanSee package now works for both synApps 4.6 and later versions of scan record (70/85 detectors).

    For more inforamtation about IDLVM please refer http://www.rsinc.com/idlvm/index.asp

    Few IDL data visualization programs developed at APS(BCDA) are prepared for EPICS users who have the access of IDL 6.0 or later virtual machine for WIN/UNIX/LINUX system.

    For IDLVM 6.0 or newer version following tools are currently available:

    Avaialable download programs for processing HDF and image files created by IDL 6.0:
    h5b.sav (2.68MB) A HDF5 dataset visualization tool for HDF5/NEXUS files
    hdfb.sav (2.68MB) A HDF4 data visualization tool for HDF4/NEXUS files
    plot2d.sav (1.34MB) A 2D ascii data visualization and analysis tool
    img.sav (1.60MB) A flexible image viewer for jpeg/png/tiff/xdr/txt files

    Available download files for catcher program created by IDL 6.0:
    catcher.sav (2.49MB) Catcher R3.1 for snyApps 4.6 and earlier versions An IDL acquisition/visualization tool for EPICS 1D/2D scan (up to 15 detectors)
    catcher3_13.sav (2.48MB) Catcher R3.2 for EPICS R3.13
    catcher3_14.sav (2.48MB) Catcher R3.2 for EPICS R3.14
    viewer.sav (2.27MB) A post-scan visualization tool for catcher

    Available download files for scanSee program created by IDL 6.0:
    sscan.sav (2.99MB) ScanSee 3.3 support synApps 4.6 and earlier versions An IDL visualization tool for EPICS 1D/2D/3D scan IOC saved MDA files (up to 85 detectors)
    sscan3_4_4.13.sav (3.27MB) scanSee R3.4.4.1, support up to synApps 5.2 (for EPICS 3.13) An IDL visualization tool for EPICS 1D/2D/3D scan IOC saved MDA files (up to 85 detectors)
    sscan3_4_4.14.sav (3.27MB) scanSee R3.4.4.1, support up to synApps 5.2 (for EPICS 3.14) An IDL visualization tool for EPICS 1D/2D/3D scan IOC saved MDA files (up to 85 detectors)
    sscan3_4_4_2.sav (3.27MB) scanSee R3.4.4.2, support up to synApps 5.2 (for EPICS 3.14) An IDL visualization tool for EPICS 1D/2D/3D scan IOC saved MDA files (up to 85 detectors)
    SB2.sav (2.31MB) A post-scan visualization tool for scanSee
    pick3d.sav (2.25MB) A post-scan visualization tool for scanScee 3D files

    Library built for WIN system:
    cadll.zip (0.14MB) Channel access libraries needed by scanSee/catcher/mca for Win system build with EPICS 3.13
    cadll2.zip (0.14MB) Channel access libraries needed by scanSee/catcher/mca for Win system build with EPICS 3.14

    Download files required for running MCA program:
    mca.sav (0.82MB) MCA Display Version 4.3.17 for IDLVM 6.0
    xrf_peak_library.txt The peak library text file required for running MCA program

    For IDLVM 6.1 or newer version following tools are currently avaialable:

    readascii.sav (7.65MB) A 2D array plot package for processing fixed format ascii data file It also provides interactive ITOOLS high quality graphic features.
    catcher.sav (2.53MB) Catcher 3.2 for snyApps 5.2 and earlier versions An IDL acquisition/visualization tool for EPICS 1D/2D scan (up to 15 detectors)
    sscan.sav (3.27MB) support synApps 5.2 and earlier versions An IDL visualization tool for EPICS 1D/2D/3D scan IOC saved MDA files (up to 85 detectors) IDLVM 6.2 required
    cadll2.zip (0.2MB) Channel access libraries needed by scanSee/catcher for Win system

    Be aware that the save file created for IDLVM 6.0 can also be run with newer version of IDLVM, but the reverse is not true.

    The mca, catcher and scanSee applications also require the external channel access library to be loaded into the IDL. The required ca.dll, Com.dll, ezca.dll, ezcaIDl.dll, EzcaScan.dll for WIN system are included in the cadll.zip file.

    These visualization tools have been fully tested on the UNIX and WIN system. You may download the desired indivisual program by click the above file links or you can download the complete set by the following IDLsave.zip link.

    Sample Test Data

    catcher / scanSee files

    ydata.zip(11.5MB) - A collection of test data for catcher and scanSee. It consists the following files: 
    	junk00		- catcher/viewer 1D scan file
	junk00.image	- catcher/viewer 2D image file
	2xfm_0003.mda	- scanSee/SB 1D mda file
	2xfm_0020.mda	- scanSee/SB 3D mda file
	2iddf_0106.mda	- scanSee/SB 3D mda file (???)
	2idd_0003.mda	- scanSee/SB 1D mda file
	2idd_0087.mda	- scanSee/SB 2D mda file

    hdfb files

    hdf.zip(10.72MB) - A collection of test data for hdfb. It consists the following files: 
    	2xfm_0003.nexus	- nexus file generated from 2xfm_0003.mda
	2idd_0087.nexus	- nexus file generated from 2idd_0087.mda
	2xfm_0020.nexus	- nexus file generated from 2xfm_0020.mda
	smith~38.hdf    - HDF CCD file obtained from Metrology Lab
	smith~42.hdf    - HDF CCD file obtained from Metrology Lab

    Complete EPICS/IDLVM Package:

    Download the complete set EPICS/IDLVM package takes long time, a separate link for each indivisual program is available in above section, it is recommanded that a user downloads desired program from the link in the above section.

    IDLsave.zip(26.4MB) - Download the complete set of EPICS/IDLVM visualization Package 

    A user can use WinZip to extract to any place he prefers, for example

	X:\idl\save_bin

	where X: is the valid drive device.
    The total size of the EPICS/IDLVM package is about 15 MB.

    Environment Variables

    Running the pure IDL visualization programs: hdfb.sav, viewer.sav, SB.sav, pick3d.sav no environment variable needs to be set.

    Only when running catcher or scanSee or mca program the same set of environment used for IDL developer version must be set for IDLVM due to the external channel access functions been used. The system enviroment variables used by catcher or scanSee programs are given below: 

    	EZCA_IDL_SHARE 
	XRF_PEAK_LIBRARY
    The EZCA_IDL_SHARE must be set to the file ezcaIDL.dll for WIN2000 or libezcaIDL.so for UNIX system. The environment variable XRF_PEAK_LIBRARY is required for MCA program and must be set to the file xrf_peak_library.txt for WIN2000 or XP system.

    If they are not in the current directory the full path to the file must also be included.

    For the example of above download, the system enviroment variable EZCA_IDL_SHARE must be set as below: 

    	EZCA_IDL_SHARE      X:\idl\save_bin\ezcaIDL.dll
	XRF_PEAK_LIBRARY    X:\idl\save_bin\xrf_peak_library.txt
    If the online help is desired a user has to download the complete set of EPICS/IDL catcher/scanSee package.

    For UNIX system the enviroment EPICS_EXTENSIONS must be set to /usr/local/epics/extensions where epics/extensions source code was installed. It is normally automatically set for users by system administrator.

    For WIN2000 system the additional variable IDL_DLM_PATH must be set to <IDL_DEFAULT>.

    Start from scanSee.R3.4.4.2 on WIN system, following additional variables must be set. The PRINTER specify the default printer to be used. 

    	SCANSEE_STARTUP   X:\idl\save_bin  (where you installed scanSee)
	PRINTER		  \\server\printername

    Start from IDLVM 6.1 on WIN system, a user also need to set the runtime property of IDLVM such that the startup directory will be same as the directory where you installed the scanSee and channel access library.

    Running EPICS/IDLVM Package

    On WIN System

    On WIN system, a user can directly start any saved application from the X:\idl\save_bin directory by double clicking the .sav file application. Then a user can use the File->Open to navigate the file system to pick the data file desired.

    A user can also create a shortcut icon for the save file and change the property of the icon to specify the desired working data directory. So the application will initially always start from the same data directory.

    On UNIX System

    The 'idlvm' is a UNIX script file which automatically sets up environment variables and starts the user specified application. For example start viewer.sav file, just enter the following at the UNIX prompt 
    	idlvm viewer