Acquiring Point and Area Scans
Point and Area scans in AugerMap 2 are different from other acquisition type,
in that the actual data acquisition is performed by your AugerScan software.
However, the position and type of raster is determined by AugerMap, hence you
initialize the acquisition using your AugerMap software. After data is acquired,
you can still use AugerMap to track the point or area acquisition by using the
reference on one of your image acquisitions.
Acquisition Options
By default, if you use your scanning control to place your electron beam in “point mode”, the beam will rest in the center of the TV image. While this is useful most
of the time, you may often want to take an AugerScan acquisition (survey,
multiplex, or depth profile) at a particular point, or to acquire data over a
specific area (while rastering at high speed to reduce noise). Additionally, you
may want to acquire a group of points/areas at once. This is not only helpful to
save time, but to acquire depth profile data at multiple locations (which must
be automated since sputtering is destructive).
Single Point Acquisitions
With a single-point acquisition, you define the point of interest, and acquire
the data using AugerScan. If you are happy with the results, you save the
acquisition in AugerScan. AugerMap will then keep track of the reference to the
point, along with the filename.
Single Area Acquisition
Single area acquisitions are similar to single-point acquisitions, except that
you instead define a rectangular area within which you wish to raster during
acquisition. During the AugerScan acquisition, the beam will quickly raster
over the area, meaning your resulting data will be averaged over the defined area.
Like single-point acquisitions, if you are happy with the results, you save
the acquisition in AugerScan. AugerMap will then keep track of the reference to
the area, along with the filename.
Multiple Point/Area Acquisitions
While you can acquire as many single-point/area acquisitions on a map as you
want, there is a special case whereby you may wish to acquire the same type of
acquisition at each point/area defined on a map. This comes in handy especially
for depth profiles, where you cannot necessarily sputter at one point while
taking a profile, then move to the next. This special case is a
multiple-point/area acquisition. With multiple-point/area acquisitions, you define a set of
points and/or areas on a map, and acquire them at once. When AugerScan acquires
the data, it creates multiple sets of the same acquisition type in a file, one
for each point/area. For example, if you define three points and start a
multiple point acquisition, and setup a multiplex in AugerScan, you will acquire
three of the same multiplexes, one for each point. These multiplexes will all be
stored in the same AugerScan file when you save the results. AugerMap will
then keep track of the reference to these points/areas, along with the filename.
Mixing Single and Multiple Point/Area Acquisitions
You cannot mix single and multiple point/area acquisitions in the same map
file, even if you define them on different images. If you perform a multiple
point/area acquisition, it will acquire all points/areas defined. You can easily overcome this limitation, however by
saving the file with the multiple point/areas under one name, then deleting them,
defining the single point/areas, and saving under a different name.
Defining Points and Areas
You can define points and areas using any image (except a composite). Note
that the points and areas are not tied to the image they are defined on - they
are part of the entire map file, and show up on any images that contains their
location.
To Define a Point
Select the image you wish to use to find the location for the point. Then,
select Point/Area from the Acquisition menu. The cursor will change to a set of cross-hairs. Click on the location
you want the point defined at.
To Define an Area
Select the image you wish to use to find the location for the area. Then,
select Point/Area from the Acquisition menu. The cursor will change to a set of cross-hairs. Click on the location
you want for one of the corners of the area, but do not release the mouse
button. Drag the mouse to the opposite corner of the area, and release.
After defining a point or area, you’ll be presented with the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog. From here, you
can either acquire the point/area now, or add it so that it can be acquired
later. If you are going to be acquiring a multiple-point area acquisition, you’ll need to add all of them first before acquiring.
Acquiring a Single Point/Area
If you have just defined a point/area and are viewing the Edit Point/Area
Acquisition dialog, you may wish to first enter a Comment before acquiring. When you are ready to acquire, click the Acquire button. For a point or area you have defined but not yet acquired, either
double-click anywhere on the point/area (or its comment). Or, you can select the
point, and choose Point/Area from the Acquisition menu.
Once you click Acquire, your AugerScan software will automatically run (if it is not already). From
here, you can choose any acquisition type.
When the acquisition is done, you will automatically be prompted to save it in
AugerScan. If you do not save the file now, it will not be flagged as
acquired in AugerMap, even if you save it later.
You can always cancel the acquisition normally from AugerScan if you wish to
do so.
Acquiring a Multiple-Point/Area
To initiate a multiple-point/area acquisition, you must first have defined all
the points/areas you wish to acquire. Once you have defined your last point,
click the Acquire All button. If you have already defined all the points/areas, and are not yet
viewing the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog, you may select any point and choose Point/Area from the Acquisition menu, or double-click on any point or area.
Once you click Acquire All, your AugerScan software will automatically run (if it is not already). From
here, you can choose any acquisition type. You only need to define and run one acquisition – the AugerScan software will automatically create separate copies for each
point/area.
When the acquisition is done, you will automatically be prompted to save it in
AugerScan. If you do not save the file now, it will not be flagged as
acquired in AugerMap, even if you save it later. Note that for multiple-point/area
acquisitions, there is still only one file, with a separate copy of the
acquisition for each point/area. Therefore if you acquired a survey for three points,
your file will contain three surveys.
Adding Comments to a Point/Area
You can add a comment to any point/area by typing something in the Comment field in the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog. After you complete the
acquisition, this comment will also appear in the AugerScan file as an additional
identifier for the point/area acquired. This can especially come in handy for
multiple-point/area acquisitions.
Note that for this reason, it’s important to enter your comment before acquiring! Although you can always add/change a comment after acquisition, any changes
will only affect the comment as seen in AugerMap. The comment in the
AugerScan file cannot be modified.
Viewing Points/Areas After Acquisition
Even though point/area acquisitions are stored in AugerScan files, you can
call those files up directly from AugerMap. For a single-point/area, simply
double-click the point/area (or select the area and click Point/Area in the Acquisition menu). If the point/area has been acquired, the filename will appear in the
Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog box. Simply click the View button to view the acquisition. AugerScan will automatically run (if it is
not already), and the appropriate file will be opened.
Alternately, you may view a point/area acquisition by double-clicking it (or selecting it and hitting Enter) in the Project Window.
To view a multiple-point/area acquisition, follow the instructions above.
However, in this case you may click on any point or area.
Changing the Point/Area Filename After Acquisition
If, after acquiring point/area data, you move or rename the AugerScan
acquisition file, you may want to update the reference to that file in AugerMap. To do
so, simply double-click the point/area (or select the area and click Point/Area in the Acquisition menu) to bring up the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog. If the point/area
has been acquired, the filename will appear in the Edit Point/Area Acquisition
dialog box. Click the Change button. From the File dialog, select the filename/location that this
point/area is now assigned to.
To change the filename of a multiple-point/area acquisition, follow the
instructions above. However, in this case you may click on any point or area.