Downloads

SLICE Update to version 2.0.6 for USB HASP (4.5 MB)
SLICE Update to version 2.0.6 for Parallel HASP (4.8 MB)

FLAME Update for PSEM to version 4.6.1 (1.80 MB)
FLAME Update for Windows to version 4.6.1 (1.80 MB)

What's new in SLICE™ version 2.0.6 for Windows

This version may require you to update your current database after backing it up, by running "DB Updater.exe" (included in the download). The data stored in your database is not altered, but additional columns will be added to the database for the additional properties added in this release.

1. Fixed a few bugs and improved the overall stability.
2. Added the ability to import spectra with known chemistries in oxide percent.
   A checkbox was added to the User preferences, that when checked, modifies
   the input to accomodate the chemistries properly. There should be an element
   list that includes the atomic numbers of all elements certified (or known).
   The Sample type should be listed as known or certified, and the category
   should be listed as minerals, clay, etc. A typical partial input is as follows:
   #ELEMENTS : 8,11,12,13,14,20,22,24,25,26
   ##CATEGORY : minerals
   ##SAMPLETYPE : certified
   each element with its atomic number and oxide concentration should be listed:
   ##QUANT : 11, 0.12
   ##QUANT : 12, 9.43.
   The oxygen concentration needs not and should not be entered.
   Alternatively, the chemistries, etc., can be edited after importing, by first
   changing the category to minerals, the sample type to known or certified, etc,
   and executing a quant. This will add the oxide percent, and oxide formula
   columns to the elements tab, and they can be edited normally by adding the
   known oxide chemistries as listed in the NIST certified specs, etc.The oxide
   formula's can also be edited if necessary.
3. Fixed a bug which prevented importing spectra in certain cases;
   
4. Fixed a few small bugs discovered during final testing
5. Update Database" has been added to the main menu. However it will not
   update the current (opened) database. It will only allow you to select another
   database for updating (If you are currently in SLICE, the current database is
   already updated).
6. When the target of a query is an XRF spectrum, or if the detector has a
   beryllium window, the "Search" page automatically sets the "Best Fit"
   parameters to "Selected Range" and sets appropriate upper and lower limits
   for the search. They, of course, can be overwritten, but they at least suggest
   optimized conditions.
7. When starting a Search, if nothing is checked in the "Use Source" group, the
   background color for the group box is highlighted in Cyan, and the Source type
   of the unknown spectrum is highlighted in red, suggesting that the appropriate
   check box should be checked. If nothing is checked, the search will look
   through the entire database, adding to the time and uncertainties
8. Similarly, SLICE will suggest items to be checked under "Search Options".
   Ignoring the suggestions will usually increase the search times, and increase
   the uncertainties.
9. The main menu item "Check Database" has been replaced with "Populate
   Database". which is more descriptive of the action taken. When a database is
   updated, spaces are created to contain additional parameters and metadata.
   Populate Database' fills in these spaces, so that spectra can be queried more
   efficiently.
10. On import, the file is scanned for the presence of "TUBE", or "TUBEKV", or if
    the "SIGNALTYPE" (source) is listed as "EDS/XRF", SLICE assumes the
    spectrum is from an XRF system.
11. The "Known Weight %" column has been added to XRF spectra (since SLICE
    currently does not calculate chemical compositions other than "Relative %").
    If the Material Type is specified as "known", "certified" or "nominal", the
    column is created and remains as long as the Material Type remains as above.
12. If the spectrum source is SEM or TEM, and the Material Type is specified as
    "known", "certified" or "nominal", the column is created and remains as long
    as the Material Type remains as above. The known chemistries are also
    imported for these souce types.
13. It is now possible to Search XRF spectra based on compositions of either
    "Known Weight %" or "Relative %", and also to Tabulate "Known Weight %"
    and "Relative %" from XRF spectra.
14. Export as EMSA File" has been updated to handle additional XRF parameters
    and to export the current element list, as well as a list of elements and "known"
    chemistries, when the Material Type is specified as "known", "certified" or
    "nominal" as above. The element list and known chemistries are exported (if
    available) for SEM/TEM spectra as well.
15. Check Zero Offset"has been removed from the main menu.
16. Modified to collect directly from a system with PulseTor detector and electronics.
17. Modified User Preferences.
18. Updated report to reflect more of the recently added parameters.
19. Expanded the number of files that can be "batch edited" in the Spectrum Explorer from 500 to 1000.
20. Fixed a problem that occurred when "batch editing" spectra from the Spectrum Explorer.
21. Search has been modified to fully utilize the additional xrf parameters.
22. SLICE has been updated to allow additional XRF parameters to be stored with the database. If the xray incidence angle (typically -135 degrees) is included, and the statistics adequate, the Compton Scatter peaks are properly labeled.
23. SLICE is now able to recognize the HASP and runs properly under Windows VISTA.
24. Fixed a problem which caused some windows to be distorted when running under Windows XP or Windows VISTA.
25. The "Search" page has been redesigned to be more compact and efficient and to permit expansion of SLICE to other spectroscopies.
26. Added the ability to supress summary results when they are below a user defined minimum.
27. The "SLICE Preferences" page has also been redesigned for the same reasons.
28. "Check Database" will search out and correct some potential problems in the database (e.g. missing data).
29. The "Search" page will now suggest upper and lower search limits when appropriate (e.g. when the unknown spectrum is from xrf, or is from a detector with a Be window).
30. The Overlap and Summary pages were modified to eliminate potential problems.
31. In cases where spectra are from a TEM or XRF instrumrnt, The grid or tube are automatically added to the qualitative analysis, but fully ignored for the quantitative analysis
32. Source has been changed from "tem" to "TEM/EDS", from "xrf" to "XRF/EDS", and from "sem" or "micro" to "SEM/EDS" for consistency..
33. An additional line has been added to the "Database Properties" form to report the number of spectra that are not of the above types.
34. Properties can now be tabulated, and the statistics displayed for those that are strictly numeric.
35. When printing the Overlap window (after a Search), if the "Add Report" item (new item) in the PopUp Menu is checked, the printout is formatted into a report in which all items relating to the query are listed. The laboratory, analyst, date and sample name are a prominent part of the report. The analyst and laboratory, are obtained from the "User Preferences" (Cntrl+U), If they have not been entered, the info is derived from the properties of the top spectrum in the spectrum list (usually the "Unknown").
    
36. Added the capability (for those systems that can collect spectra directly) to collect a spectrum relative to a displayed reference spectrum, chosen from the spectra contained in the database.
    
37. Modified the "Intelli-Search" rules to aid the users, by defaulting to more practical values, based on the last 6 years of use with mixed spectra.
38. Modified the Spectrum Explorer and added "Source" to the "View By" list, making it possible to easily observe spectra collected only by XRF/EDS (xrf), SEM/EDS (micro), or TEM/EDS (tem).
    
39. "Classified" has been added to the Classification menu..
40. The "Properties Info - Notes section has been modified to allow opening URLs (if any are present & if there is an internet connection), by clicking in the Notes tab.
41. Radiopacity has been added to the properties in the SLICE database. It can be included in Searches, tabulations, etc.
42. "Dental" has been added to the "Material Category" menus on the Search page and the "Import Template" page.
43. The oxide indication has been added to the results header, and Search has been modified to change the drop-down menu from elements to oxides
44. The peak ID sensitivity has been modified, so as to allow smaller peaks to be identified and labeled
45. The main window and explorer window have been modifed so as to note more succinctly when an image is missing, that should be present, as reported in the database
46. Oxide concentration has been added to SLICE for materials corresponding to the following requirements. The spectrum must be from a mineral, glass, clay, sand, soil, meteorite, or concrete, and must contain oxygen. PeakID or quant will add an "Oxide" column in the Elements Tab, which will contain the oxide formulas corresponding to the oxide analysis. Default oxide formulas are inserted, but may be edited ( e.g. Fe2O3 instead of FeO). The quant results may change to reflect the composition of the new oxide formula. Clicking in the column headers will cause the element display to cycle from Weight, to Atomic, to Oxide to Relative percent.
47. Other modifications were made to eliminate software bugs, or to increase stability
    

What's new in FLAME™ version 4.6.1 for Windows

1. Disabled Analysis->Preferences->Oxide check box if Window Type is anything but Beryllium. (All versions)
2. Corrected export of EMSA Window types. (All versions)
3. Corrected a situation which could have prevented quantitative analysis with Match if the standard's chi-square was too large. (All versions)
4. Modified FLAME so that when "Verify" is selected, the regions that contain the element peaks of interest are drawn in Cyan, the reconstructed spectrum is in red, and the raw spectrum is in yellow. Appropriate legends are also displayed. (All versions)
5. Trimmed the quantitative output for better column alignment. (All versions)
6. Updated the TIFF import to properly handle both PSEM 75 and PSEM 2000 software. We have found that in many cases, the TIFFs do not contain all the information required by FLAME. We therefore insert reasonable values for those parameters (e.g. live time). We suggest that you examine the Spectrum Info after import to see if in fact, the parameters are reasonable and correct. If not, edit them before going on. (All versions)
7. Added the ability to turn off the TIFF import warnings (for batch imports). (All versions)
8. Disabled all but NotePad under Word Processor. (All versions)
9. Modified File->Open... to remember the last location and file type opened ( *.prf, *.fdb, or *.ems/sp). (All versions)
10. Modified to open EMSA files independent of line terminator (or lack of line terminator). (All versions)