1. How to start beamline control software

General Computer Layout

Our computer network can be roughly separated into five parts: (1) ADSC data collection computers, (2) MD2 operation computer, (3) two computers for the beamline control, (4) three computers for data processing and structure solution and (5) data storage and backup. You should use computers in category (1), (2) or (3) ONLY for data collection and the beamline controls (no Web browsing, games, music etc). In addition, there are two more shared computers in the back user area.

The control room for 24ID-C station is pictured in Figure 1.

Figure 1, General view of the main working area on 24 ID-C.

The beamline control software runs on two different Windows computers, namely "master" and "auxilliary". The video from these computers is output to 3 rightmost LCD monitors (see picture above). You can switch between these computers by pressing <ctrl> button twice.

Starting the Master beam line control script

First press <ctrl> button twice and choose MASTER. If the beam line control software is not running, find on the desktop the following icon labeled EXEC_Intel (it may be also called EXECUTOR):

Note After rebooting the rightmost computer (MASTER) double-click on the icon called "start_system", which will start all necessary programs. Drag to the right monitor "DT_server" window and CONSOLE window (like on the figure 2) ; leave alone other windows (Console Serial Port Server and Console SAPI Server). The rebooting of the master computer should be done ONLY after authorization of your support personnel; many problems may be resolved by simply restarting the EXEC_Intel script.

and double click on it. You should see a window appear. Make sure that the current script shown on the titlebar is C:\CONHEAP\KOHZUU.CXE. Check "clear cons server flag" under "File" menu; confirm it in the pop-up window. Click on "Execution Option" and choose "execute script". This will start the monochormator master control (see Figure 2 below). This has to be running all time during your data collection. If you ever need to restart this, you also need to restart all EXECUTOR scripts on auxiliary computer (see below), on the computer inside the experimental hutch and ADSC data collection software. The DT_server window should be fully visible, as it will be used while doing the EXAFS scans (explained later). These two windows should be placed on the most rightmost monitor (as on Figure 2).

Figure 2; MASTER script

Figure 2. View of the MASTER computer (All digits in the DT server window should NOT be covered by any window)

Starting the MD2 support table and the robot control scripts on the auxiliary computer

Now, press <ctrl> button twice and choose AUXILLARY. In the top portion of the Desktop double click the EXEC_Intel (or it may be called EXECUTOR) icon.

A new window will appear –see figure 3 below. Click on File and choose "Prior .CXE Selection", drag the mouse to the right to select the script "C:\CONHEAP\PHI_MD2_NEW2.CXE". All other scripts are for exclusive use of the beamline personnel.

Figure 3. Selecting the script to run MD2 support table and the robot applications

Click on "Execution Option" and choose "Execute Script" – figure 4 below.

Figure 4.

Suppose you have chosen "C:\CONHEAP\ PHI_MD2_NEW2.CXE" - now you should see the new window coming (Figure 5). If you are planning to use the robot, press "ROBOT" tab.

MD2 support table script

Figure 5. MD2 support table script PHI_MD2_NEW2.cxe"

This is your MAIN working area and you can do all following functions:

Access the robot control script by pressing ROBOT (see next chapter)
adjust the orientation of the MD2 table relative to the beam (either manually or AUTOALIGN)
change the size of the beam aperture (MD2 APPERTURE); check he current aperture value
change energy and run EXAFS and CHOOCH (see details below Chapter 3 and 6),
maximize the flux and optimize the beam position ( TRIM_X and TRIM_Y POSITIONs);
move in/out the sample sensor RETRACT/INSERT SS;
retract/insert the cold-steam nose RETRACT/INSERT CRYO;
recover from MD2 hardware error RESET MD2 FAULT (only after authorization from your support personnel)
open/close sample shutter; check the status of the main shutter; get APS ring status
change the beam intensity by changing attenuators; define the desired beam flux (TRANSMISSION button)
check the current values of the energy, flux (arbitrary units), transmission ( in % of the full beam), detector distance, ADSC state and the status of the beamline software (busy/ready)
access several functions of the script running on the MASTER computer (MASTER OPS)
change cold stream parameters (be very careful! ) (CRYOJET button)
read several parameters (to communicate with you support personnel, if requested)
save or recover the tune state of the beamline , or the current state of the MD2 table
Access all MD2 functions (centering, beam location/alignments, etc), ADSC data collections ( including protocols for crystal rastering and diffraction-based centering) – see here.

In case of emergency, the button "ABORT ALL" stops all MD2 table motors.

Computer layout inside the hutch

Inside the experimental hutch there are two computers, connected to one monitor: use "Shift" and the button shown on the Figure 6 by yellow arrow to switch between MD2 operation computer and beamline control computer, which is running a robotic application script. User should only operate one computer at a time: either inside or outside the hutch.

Figure 6. Computer layout inside the hutch

Prior to launching the robot script, make sure that "Serial Port Server" and "Robot Remote Server" are running in the background (on the taskbar), re-run them if necessary.

Note : The "Robot Remote Server" script should be re-started daily by your support personel.

See Chapter 3 on how to start the robot software.

Starting the MD2 diffractometer software on the MD2-operation computer

MD2_RPC_comwrapper

Restart MD2 control system, by double clicking on the icon "MD2_Control_GUI_NECAT2",

MD2_RPC_comwrapper

Data Collection

md2_comwrapper_server should have a black blank window, if it is white, or doesn't have a top menu bar with "MAIN CONFIGURE OPTIONS" (see figure above) – kill it and restart.

Check Troubleshooting section on how to restart the whole MD-2 and how to restart ALL user beamline control software.

ATTENTIION: Users are forbidden to reboot any beamline computers, unless explicitly authorized by the support personnel.

General notes for trouble-free operations:

Note1: Please always watch the status of the control system: When the system is busy doing something the indicator in the middle on the left side will say so (red button and SYSTEM BUSY), don’t do anything until the system tells you SYSTEM READY. It is normal for the software to display SYSTEM BUSY for a couple seconds at anytime.

Note 2: Do NOT open the hutch door or close the main shutter, if the system is changing energy or collecting EXAFS scan or doing the autoalignment or collecting diffraction data. This may results in the mechanical damage to MD2. Besides, the beam may be lost because the system will try to optimize zero level flux and will move the mirrors to the wrong positions: Check the troubleshooting section how to recover the lost flux

Note 3: Only ONE user operation is permitted at a time; i.e. don’t try to align the sample when changing energy , etc.
Also crystal alignment should be done only at one computer: either inside or outside the hutch

Note 4: The system responds to the location and time where and when the mouse is released , so be careful NOT to drag the mouse during the "mouse click". Please also avoid double-clicking.

Note 5. Please follow ALL instructions from your support personnel. Any deviations or shortcuts are dangerous and will lead to unpredictable results and/or physical damage of the equipment.

Note 6. During the non-business hours, if there is any problem, first check the troubleshooting section of this manual, before calling your support personnel