Change log (since version 2020.07; some refactoring, bug fixes and minor improvements are not included):

• Windows 7/10 installer (NSIS, built with pynsist): Software can now be installed with bundled Python environment and dependencies in a user-friendly way. Default installation directory: C:\Utilities\SBEMimage
• Dynamic resizing of Viewport and Main Controls windows
• Easy new option to create new grids and overviews: Press Alt or Ctrl and draw rectangles with the mouse.
• Measuring tool with dynamic update: Right mouse click at start position, drag to end position, and release
• Improved logging and exception handling; central application log file in \SBEMimage\log
• Use of Enum for error states instead of 'magic numbers'
• Improved start-up instructions about configuration files when starting SBEMimage for the first time
• Active user flag (shown in upper left corner of Viewport when activated) and "Notes" tab. Notes about the on-going acquisition are saved in the base directory of the current stack and to the mirror drive.
• Updates to Focal Charge Compensation (FCC) and Variable Pressure (VP) functionality. Fixed bug in FCC status display.
• Further work on Gas Cluster Ion Beam (GCIB) functionality and katana microtome integration
• MAPFoSt autofocus option integrated in autofocus module and GUI (under development; full functionality to be added in early 2021)
• High-current option for Zeiss SEMs
• Improved stage calibration routines (added cv2 option)
• Added check in Grab image dialog to prevent overwriting existing files
• Updates to the User Guide on readthedocs.io: more information on installation and calibration, added notes for developers
• Autofocus option added to Focus Tool
• Added dialog to numerically set XYZ stage coordinates

Intended for users who would like to run the latest development version (stable enough for routine use).

A major release with several new features and improvements currently under development is planned for Nov/Dec 2020. That release will include a full change log (with regard to the 2020.07 release).

This 2020.10 beta release is the first with an installer for Windows 7 and 10 (see attached in the assets). Feedback is welcome! For more information see: https://sbemimage.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation.html

Main updates:

• ZEISS Sigma now fully supported: A problem that occurred when changing the frame size was resolved; support for apertures was added
• Stage motor diagnostics: number of moves, distances, move durations, warnings, and errors are now tracked and displayed in a status dialog
• SBEMimage will carry out 'maintenance moves' in user-specified intervals for the X and Y motors (with the goal to prolong their lifetimes).
• Automatic measurement of motor speeds (stage calibration dialog)
• Variable pressure (VP) and the Focal Charge Compensator (FCC) can now be controlled via the SBEMimage GUI
• User can choose at which grid/tile to (re)start an acquisition

After a major refactoring of previous version 2.0, branch 'dev' was merged into master.
Future releases will follow the format 'year.month'.