19th March 2000

I have added an examples page which should explain how the templates aspect of the code works. I will write something into the manual about this when I find the time ! Version 1.02d has also been posted, both in normal and zipped versions to speed up downloads. This version sees some more features added, primarily that the time estimate routine is now recursive and more accurate. 

Some further work has also been done on the template capability of the code, please note the the template files are still very sensitive to the layout of the information within them. This latest version has three check boxes which relate to frequency dependent refractive index models which are in the code, at present these are hard wired, it is my intention to make several models available and user pickable from the interface.

12th March 2000

Version 1.02c has since been posted (12th March) This overcomes the memory allocation problems and a bug in the reading of the template file, i.e. templates now really work ! I have also updated the web pages and removed dead links that were pointed out to me, I had no idea that there were so many dead links. If you find any more, please tell me !!

10th March 2000

Dear Colleagues,
It is with great pleasure that I announce to you that I have posted the latest version of my code (Version 1.02b) onto my web site for download.

Home page: http://www.elec.gla.ac.uk/~areynolds
Software page: http://www.elec.gla.ac.uk/~areynolds/software.html

This version has been updated considerably. As this version is a single thread windows code to exit the program prematurely you must first stop the calculation and then press the exit button, please let me know which version you prefer(red)!! This version will allow you to design your own crystals so long as the elements used to build them are either cylinders or spheres. I am currently developing the other routines, these should be ready soon but these other routines took a little longer than expected !

You will now also find a more useful progress screen once the calculation has started. Please note that for 3D structures or multicell crystals that this dialog box may become unresponsive as the processor only checks for messages (start,stop & exit) when it is not crunching numerics, just be a bit patient and the box will respond. For general 1D and 2D calculations the box is responsive as not so much time is spent in the numerical routines.

If the program crashes please check the files in the /reports directory for any errors as not all on screen warnings have been implemented !

To install:
Delete any previous version that you have along with any folders that are related to the code that are in the same directory. Place this new version in the same directory (or create a new directory) and run the code once. This will present a menu system which you should just hit the RUN button. Just sit back and watch the program execute once and this will install all the directories and files that you will need. Thereafter you can change the crystal through the predefined systems in the code, by altering the control.dat file in the program root directory or be creating your own templates found in the /template directory.

To generate a template pick a predefined crystal that is close to your needs. Go to the templates tab and generate a template. EXIT the program. Look in the template directory and edit the cell*.dat files.

To use a template, open the control.dat file. Make systemno=0. For each cell the start number relates to the file number in the /template directory. So if your template uses 1 cell, then the bottom end of the Control.dat file will look like this, you must adjust the <SET HERE> values to suit your crystal.       
 

For a template that uses 2 cells and 1 block then it will look like this

For more information on how to use cells and blocks please visit my web site and consult the manual page related to the code http://wwww.elec.gla.ac.uk/~areynolds

This is not yet the final version of code, I will update this some more. If you want any other crystals placed in as predefined crystals then please let me know. As yet I have not had the time to update the manual web page nor the manual PDF file, this will happen soon.

To be added:
I) Diffraction controls, propagating orders and non propagating. Work is done, just need to add the controls to the GUI.
II) On screen feedback boxes, will be completed shortly.
III) Different models for frequency dependent refractive indices, model user pickable (underway).
IV) Updated and more efficient time routines for algorithm estimation (underway)

Known issues.
I) If you set use template and try to generate a new template code will crash.
II) Program will not respond properly if another instance has not been closed and quit.

Please let me know how you get on with the code, the more feedback I get the better I can make it !! If there is something missing from the code that you want to see added then let me know, I think I'll add a button to output the free space wavelength rather than frequency in the files.