Leica QUIPS

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Macro programming supplied with QWin

Leica QUIPS

Overview

Leica QUIPS is the Quantimet™ Image Processing Software accessed from the Leica QWin interface. Leica QUIPS provides a macro programming facility which can access the system's image processing commands. Menu items are provided to Set up and Run QUIPS routines.

Key Features

  • A unique, powerful macro program with simple instructions.
  • Rapid creation of macros to suit unique applications or for instant feasibility studies.
  • Creates fully automatic macros incorporating all the system's function.
  • Step-by-step user messages can be displayed for routine operations.
  • Instructions are modified from the corresponding Leica QWin dialog; there is no need to type instructions.

A QUIPS routine is a sequence of instructions that perform repetitive image analysis tasks, allowing Leica QWin to be customised to specific application needs. The routine is resident at the same time as the Leica QWin menus and switching between the programming and operation modes requires only a single mouse click.

QUIPS Instructions Routines are easily created by automatically adding instructions that are configured from the corresponding Leica QWin dialog. An instruction is modified by calling up the Leica QWin dialog and clicking on the required instruction. Interactive adjustment is made to the dialog settings and the instruction updated. In Run mode, instructions may be 'Paused' displaying the appropriate Leica QWin dialog boxes, to allow on line adjustment.

Instruction types Virtually all Leica QWin functions can create a corresponding instruction that is placed in the routine. Instructions are provided to control the flow of execution by for/next, do/until, repeat/while display, file and print. All measurements perform arithmetic calculations. The user can specify heading text that will accompany any subsequent data printout. The number of fields over which the sequence is to be performed can be specified or determined by a stage scan instruction. Instructions are listed in a descriptive form and require no typing to enter.

Control sequences A message window allows step-by-step instructions to be given to the user. A Flag/Button Pause Box allows the selection from a number of user defined alternatives. Routines can be saved and recalled to/from disk and a specified routine can automatically be run on system start-up. Because QUIPS works interactively, you can see the results immediately, avoiding lengthy development.

QUIPS facilities The program facilities are grouped under the following menus:

Variable This menu is concerned with the traditional program calculations on numbers and strings such as arithmetic, trigonometric and input and output to/from file. Additional instructions perform feature expressions giving the convenience of processing arrays of data without the need for programming loops. Instructions are provided for formatting the results output. For example, these allow images to be printed at a specific size and position on the page and the display of results on the screen to be positioned to be easily visible so that an automatically updating histogram may be displayed. DDE links can be started and stopped to transfer data between Leica QWin and other Windows applications.

Control These provide instructions that control the flow of the instruction execution. Examples include For/Next, While/End While, Repeat/Until, If/End/Endif, GoSub, SubRoutine.

Interact The Interact menu supplies information to the operator and allows the operator to input and select from options presented. Flags can be displayed in a dialog, with names defined by the user, which allow the setting of program variables used to decide how the routine operates. Buttons can be displayed in a dialog that present a selection of options to the user.

Results All the measurement functions have equivalent pre-formatted result output control instructions. This makes it simple to output the results, without the need for special programming. If you need to create report forms in a customised format, the more general print instructions under ‘Variables’ may be used Measurement types that create results are Field, Field Histograms, Feature, Feature Histograms, Grey, Profile, Interactive. For all these types, the output may be to the display, printer, file or to other programs by DDE.