Page History

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Functionally, ScanImage 3.7 is very similar to 3.6, so the transition should be fairly straightforward. However, there are [changes and other recommended steps|ScanImage r3.7 Documentation#UpgradeInfo] in upgrading to 3.7 from 3.5.x or 3.6.x.

New users, and existing users who can benefit from the new features (listed below) should use ScanImage 3.8. Other existing users of 3.5.x-3.7.x may  or 3.6.x may want to defer upgrading until ScanImage 3.8 (expected spring or early summer of 2011), which will have further new features.
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{multi-excerpt:name=MajorEnhancements}
* Cycle mode has been restored, using new table-based *Cycle Controls* to specify changes (motor steps, CFG file loads, and/or other settings) to apply at each _Cycle iteration_
* Operation under 64-bit Windows 7
* A 'Mosaic' macro allows configuration of Cycle for acquisition at multiple, tiled fields-of-view
* Point/Line/Rectangle/Square ROIs all now treated via unified ROI concept, managed in the new *ROI Controls* dialog
* Extended support for User Functions, including USR file bindings and configurable 'override functions'
* Support for a display rolling average, independent of any file frame averaging
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h3. Other Enhancements
{multi-excerpt:name=OtherEnhancements}
{comment}* Display frame averaging now decoupled from file frame averaging{comment}
* Support stack acquisitions centered at the current axial position
* Support for separated XY & Z motor controllers
* Support for secondary Z motor controller, e.g. case of XYZ stage plus additional piezo controller
* Support for Physik Instrumente stage controllers, for standard stack acquisition
* Sub-unity zoom factor values are permitted, in relation to new _ScanAngularRangeReference_ values defined in INI file
* PMT Offset values can now be auto-subtracted from displayed/stored image data, per channel (set in *Image Controls* or *Channels* panels)
* Support for fast scanning, e.g. with AODs or small-angle galvos:
** Line periods of 0.125 and 0.25 ms/line
** Fill fraction range extended from 0.5 to 0.975
** Output sample rates up to 800kHz
* Faster CFG file loading
* Faster Fast Configuration switching
* New _scim_pointLaser()_ utility function
* Option to park scanner between stack slices (e.g. useful when no/insufficient Pockels blanking present)
* Improvements to _scim_openTif()_:
** Support MPEG video creation
** Much faster read times, now using Matlab TIF object instead of imread()
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h3. Changes

* The *Acquisition Controls* dialog has been eliminated, with the various controls (_\# Frames_, _Repeat Period_, etc) redistributed to the (significantly redesigned) *Main Controls*, *Motor Controls*, *Image Controls*, and *Configuration* dialogs
* The ROI addition/selection tools on the *Main Controls* have been significantly changed, with much of this functionality now shared with the newly added *ROI Controls* dialog
* The motor position controls, e.g. to define/goto/save/load motor positions, have been moved from the *Motor Controls* to the new *Position Controls* dialog
* The _Scan Angular Range_ values (fast & slow) have been replaced by the combination of:
** _ScanAngularRangeReference_ values (fast & slow), specified in the INI file, and
** _ScanAngleMultiplier_ values (fast & slow), specified as part of the Configuration on the *Main Controls* dialog
* The _externalTriggerInputTerminals_ no longer need to be specified in the INI file; PFI numbers can simply be entered in *Triggers...* dialog
* The *Channels* dialog is no longer modal -- any changes take effect immediately
* Figure size no longer changes upon change in aspect ratio (e.g. rectangular ROIs); rectangular area is simply shown in existing (typ. square) figure window
* PMT Offset values are now per-sample, not per-pixel, so value does not depend on configured bin factor, etc.

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h3. Upgrade Notes

As always, please note the [Windows, Matlab, NI compatibility chart|ScanImage Version Compatibility] for ScanImage 3.8. Using DAQmx version 8.8 allows co-installation of ScanImage 3.8 and 3.5.x or 3.6.x, i.e. allowing users of these versions to try SI 3.8 without affecting the current installation. Otherwise, DAQmx 9.3 should be used -- this allows use of [X Series|http://www.ni.com/xseries/] devices, avoids known bugs with some multi-channel use cases, and is the most currently tested version.

To upgrade from ScanImage 3.7.x, you may use the utility _scim_upgrade_ to upgrade your existing INI/CFG/USR files for operation with SI 3.8. You must simply specify the source and destination directory(s) for your existing files.

To upgrade from earlier versions, you must create new INI/CFG/USR files.

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h3. Known Issues
[Full List of Known Issues|ScanImage r3.8 Known Issues]
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