• Overview
  • About this document
  • About SCOUT
  • About the author
• Quick start: Getting around in SCOUT
  • Key commands in the main view
  • Working in the treeview level
  • Building a simple optical model
  • Generating the user interface
• Mastering the main window
  • Main window overview
  • Routine work
  • Manipulation of the displayed graphs
  • Working with the batch control window
• The optical model
  • Overview
  • Defining Materials
    • Introduction
    • Properties
      • Overview
      • Refractive index
      • Absorption coefficient
      • Energy loss function
      • Others
    • Material types
      • Imported dielectric function: Fixed data sets
        • Importing data from the workbook
          • Importing data from text files
      • Dielectric function models
        • Introduction
        • Susceptibilities
          • Constant
          • Constant refractive index
          • Harmonic oscillator
          • Drude model
          • Extended Drude model
          • Brendel oscillator
          • Kim oscillator
          • Gervais oscillator
          • Formula
          • Imported data
          • KKR susceptibility
          • KKR susceptibility II
      • KKR dielectric function models
        • Introduction
        • Susceptibilities
          • Free formula
          • OJL2 model
          • Campi-Coriasso model
          • Tauc-Lorentz model
      • Master models
        • Introduction
        • Master parameters
        • Slave parameters
        • Fit parameters
      • Interpolate n and k tables
        • Motivation
        • Data preparation
        • Object preparation
        • How to use the new object
      • Effective dielectric functions
        • Introduction
        • Maxwell Garnett
        • Bruggeman
        • Looyenga
        • Bergman representation
    • Database connection
  • Layer stacks
    • Introduction
    • Layer types
      • Halfspace
      • Simple layer
      • Thin film
      • Thick layer
      • Variable thickness
      • Thickness averaging
      • Rough interface
      • Superlattice
      • Concentration gradient
      • Anisotropic layer
      • Included layer stack
    • Assigning materials to layers
    • Working with pre-defined layer stacks
    • Thickness fluctuations
    • Wizards
      • Overview
      • Pane wizard
      • Foil wizard
      • Glass coating wizard
  • Spectra
    • Overview
    • Reflectance, Transmittance, ATR
      • Introduction
      • Spectrum normalization
      • Polarization of the incident radiation
      • Manipulation of the computed spectrum
      • Thickness determination by Fourier transform
      • Data smoothing
      • The spectrum type 'Layer mix'
      • Options
    • Ellipsometry
      • Introduction
      • Graphics
      • Stack averaging
    • Layer absorption
    • Charge carrier generation
    • Photoluminescence
      • Introduction
      • Algorithm
        • Overview
        • Absorption of the incident radiation
        • Internal efficiency
        • Emission
      • User interface
      • Qualitative examples
        • Overview
        • Thickness variations
        • Additional layers
    • Electroluminescence
      • EL overview
      • EL example
    • Angle scan
    • XRR
• Parameter fitting
  • Parameter fit overview
  • Fit parameters, sliders and 'fit on a grid'
  • Master parameters
  • Fit parameter sets
  • Automatic fitting
  • Rating
  • Batch fit
    • Overview
    • Preparation of the tables
    • Go!
    • Inspecting the results
• Optical functions
  • Global
  • Materials
  • Layer stacks
  • Spectra
  • Special computations
  • Spectrometers
  • Workbook and batch control
• Special computations
  • ColorBox
  • Optical function fluctuation
  • Function fluctuation
  • Parameter variation
• Spectrometers
  • Overview
  • Data acquisition at timer events
  • File import
  • MiniScan
  • Minolta CM-2600d
  • OceanOptics spectrometer
  • Avantes spectrometer
  • tec5 spectrometer
  • Tinkerforge components
    • WOSP shutter
    • WOSP traverse
    • WOSP color sensor
  • Trinamic traverse
    • Positioning
    • Configuration
    • Routine actions
  • Trigger
  • OPC client
• Views
  • Introduction
  • List of views
  • Defining views
  • View objects
    • Display items
      • Rectangle
      • Text view
      • Lines
      • Bitmap view
      • Metafile view
      • Parameter view
      • Grid
      • Field view
      • Workbook display (columns)
      • Workbook display (rows)
      • Deviation view
      • Rating view
      • Sample view
      • Layer stack view
      • Multiple spectra view
      • List view
    • Action items
      • Parameter slider
      • Vertical bar
      • Horizontal bar
      • Fit parameters
      • Jump to configuration
      • Next view button
      • Previous view button
      • Next configuration button
      • Previous configuration button
      • Acquire button
      • Script
        • Materials
        • Spectrometer objects
        • Spectrum simulation objects
        • Layer stacks
        • Fit parameter list
        • View elements
        • Special computations
        • Workbook
      • Script grid
      • Measurement series
        • Script examples
  • Printing views, clipboard copy
  • Automatic view generation
  • View examples
    • View example: Simple spectrum fit
    • View example: Fit and parameters
    • View example: Display many spectra
  • Presentations
• Configuring SCOUT for routine work
• Spatial and time distributions, optical monitoring
  • Overview
  • Electric field
  • Absorption
  • Optical monitoring
    • R vs. total thickness during deposition
    • R vs. time during deposition
    • R vs. time during etching
• Working with the workbook
  • The SCOUT workbook
  • Generating graphs with the workbook
  • Display graphs of workbook data in a view
  • Workbook file formats
  • Actions involving the workbook
    • Parameter variation
    • Parameter fluctuation
• Working with databases
  • File based database
    • Introduction
    • Materials
    • Layer stacks
  • Working with SQL databases
    • Making the connection
    • Tables
      • code
      • code_blob
      • code_png
      • materials
      • materials_blob
      • materials_png
      • parameter_name
      • sample
      • sample_position
      • sample_state
      • spectrum
      • spectrum_blob
      • Fit results
    • Retrieving results from the database
  • Importing spectra from a Zeiss ThinProcess database
• Automation
• Technical notes
  • General features of SCOUT objects
  • List properties
  • Spectral range selection
  • User defined functions
  • Import formats
    • Overview
    • SCOUT standard format
    • xy-format
    • JCAMP format
    • SpectraCalc format (GRAMS)
    • Perkin-Elmer format
    • Perkin-Elmer ASCII format
    • Zeiss format
    • Opus format
    • HunterLab UltraScan
    • Hitachi ASCII format
    • WVASE32 ASCII format
    • Import from Excel
  • Export formats
    • Overview
  • Options
• Tools
  • Overview
  • Data Factory
  • Collect
  • DirectDF
  • Digit
  • DF_DB
• Ole automation
  • Introduction
    • Introductory remarks
    • Installation
  • Automation object properties
    • a_filename      (string)
    • absorption_coefficient ...
    • average_time     (real number)
    • batch_configuration_file (string)
    • batch_fit_deviation (sample:string)       (float)
    • batch_fitparameter_name (index: integer)       (string)
    • batch_fitparameter_value (sample: string, index: integer)       (float)
    • batch_fp_set_stop_reason (sample : string, fp_set_index: integer) (string)
    • batch_input_path(index : integer)         (string)
    • batch_name_of_spectrum (i : integer)    (string)
    • batch_number_of_spectra   (integer)
    • batch_prefit_result(sample : string)         (string)
    • batch_sample_parameter(sample : string)     (float)
    • batch_spectrum_filename (sample : string, index : integer)     (string)
    • batch_status    (integer)
    • color_coordinate(spectrum_index,simulated,color_type,illuminant,observation_angle)  (float)
    • configuration_file    (string)
    • dielectric_function_name(i:integer)      (string)
    • df_real_part(n : integer; wavenumber : real number) (real number)
    • df_imag_part(n : integer; wavenumber : real number) (real number)
    • error_messages_all_messages : string
    • error_messages_classification(message_index:integer):integer
    • error_messages_classification_to_text(this_classification:integer):string
    • error_messages_number_of:integer
    • error_messages_text(message_index:integer):string
    • error_messages_type(message_index:integer):integer
    • error_messages_type_to_text(this_type:integer):string
    • experimental_spectrum_comment(n:integer):   string
    • experimental_spectrum_value(n:integer;wavenumber:real number):real number
    • fft_thickness
    • fft_strength
    • file_format   (integer)
    • file_object_generation  (real  number)
    • final_number_name (index:integer):string
    • final_number_value (index:integer):string
    • fit_deviation      (real number)
    • fit_parameter_mode(i:integer)  (integer)
    • fit_parameter_name(i:integer)    (string)
    • fit_parameter_set      (string)
    • fit_parameter_value(i:integer)    (real number)
    • fit_parameter_value_min(i:integer)  (real number)
    • fit_parameter_value_max(i:integer)  (real number)
    • fitting      (integer)
    • foundfiles    (integer)
    • found_filename(i:integer)    (string)
    • fp_set_name (index : integer) (string)
    • get_sim_val1(n : integer; wavenumber : real number) (real number)
    • get_sim_val2(n : integer; wavenumber : real number) (real number)
    • grid_test_max  (single)
    • grid_test_min   (single)
    • grid_test_no_points  (integer)
    • grid_test_para  (integer)
    • incidence_angle(i:integer)   (real number)
    • kappa(n : integer; wavenumber : real number) (real number)
    • layer_material(n,m: integer) (string)
    • layer_thickness(n,m : integer) (float)
    • layer_type(n,m : integer) (string)
    • load_experiment(n: Integer; const filename: String; format: Integer);
    • main_window_height
    • main_window_left
    • main_window_top
    • main_window_width
    • material_is_in_material_list (material_name : string) (integer)
    • material_is_in_database (material_name : string) (integer)
    • measurement(i:integer)    (string)
    • mutlidimensional_gridfit (integer)
    • no_final_numbers
    • number_of_dielectric_functions     (integer)
    • number_of_fit_parameters     (integer)
    • number_of_fp_sets (integer)
    • number_of_layer_stacks
    • number_of_layers_in_stack(n:integer)
    • number_of_spectra    (integer)
    • object_generation (real number)
    • optical_function(a_string : string)    (real number)
    • optical_function_by_index(i : integer)   (real number)
    • parameter (i:integer)    (real value)
    • rating   (string)
    • rating_theshold (level_index:integer) (float)
    • rating_description (level_index:integer) (string)
    • reference_spectrum(n:integer;formal:integer):string
    • refractive_index(n : integer; wavenumber : real number) (real number)
    • sample_description: string
    • simulated_spectrum_value(n:integer;wavenumber:real number):real number
    • simulation_exportfile(n:integer;formal:integer):string
    • spectrum_graphics_xmax(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_graphics_xmin(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_graphics_xticks(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_graphics_xtitle(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_graphics_xunit(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_graphics_ymax(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_graphics_ymin(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_graphics_yticks(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_graphics_ytitle(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_name(i:integer)     (string)
    • spectrum_range_max(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_range_min(n : integer)   (real  number)
    • spectrum_range_points(n : integer)   (integer)
    • spectrum_range_unit(n : integer)   (string)
    • tolerance      (real number)
    • weight_formula (spectrum_index, subindex : integer) (string)
  • Automation object methods
    • acquire
    • acquire_dark
    • acquire_reference
    • add_layer_definition_on_top(stack_index : integer;definition : string)
    • add_layer_on_top (stack_index : integer; layer_type,material:string;thickness:real number; thickness_unit : string)
    • add_to_report(text : string)
    • apply_factor_in_fit_parameter_transfers
    • automatic_spectrum_scaling(i : index)
    • batch_add_sample (name: string)
    • batch_clear_samples
    • batch_restore_fit_results (sample : string)
    • batch_go
    • clear_fit_parameters
    • clear_layer_stack (index : integer)
    • clear_material_list
    • clear_report
    • create_fit_parameter (list, object, subobject, subsubobject, parameter : integer) (copy)
    • delete_fit_parameter (index : integer)
    • df_load_from_file(n: Integer; const filename:String);
    • df_load_from_file_2(n: Integer; const filename, unit_string:String);
    • df_load_from_x_n_k_table(n:integer; const filename : string);
    • df_load_from_x_n_k_table_2 (n:integer; const filename : string);
    • do_no_apply_factor_in_fit_parameter_transfers
    • export_simulated_spectrum(n:integer; filename:string; format : integer)
    • df_to_clipboard (n : integer)
    • error_messages_add (message_type,classification : integer; text: string)
    • error_messages_clear
    • export_measured_spectrum(n:integer; filename:string; format : integer)
    • export_simulated_spectrum(n:integer; filename:string; format : integer)_2
    • grid_test
    • hide
    • hide_statusbar
    • import_measured_data_via_variants(index : string; spectral_positions, spectral_data : variant; unit_string : string)
    • load_df(n : integer, filename : string)
    • load_material_from_database (name : string)
    • load_experiment (n:integer, filename: string, format:integer)
    • prepare_shutdown
    • print_fit(i : integer)
    • rename_material (old_name, new_name : string)
    • report_to_clipboard
    • report_to_file(filename:string)
    • save_configuration(filename : string)
    • save_df(n : integer, filename : string)
    • scout_normal
    • scout_on_top
    • searchfiles(dir,pattern : string)
    • send_message(the_text : string)
    • set_bottom_halfspace_material (i : integer; name : string)
    • set_global_range(min, max : real number, no_points : integer, spectral_unit : string) )
    • set_spectrum_simulation_range(n : integer; min, mix : real number; no_points : integer; spectral_unit : string)
    • set_spectrum_x_axis(i : integer; min, max, tick_spacing : float)
    • set_spectrum_y_axis(i : integer; min, max, tick_spacing : float)
    • set_top_halfspace_material (i : integer; name : string)
    • show
    • show_statusbar
    • show_maximized
    • show_minimized
    • show_normal
    • smooth_data
    • smooth_data_like_batch_control
    • spectrum_to_clipboard (n:integer)
    • start
    • stop
    • update_data
    • update_plot
    • view_to_clipboard_wmf
    • view_to_clipboard_bmp
  • Controlling SCOUT from Excel
    • Introduction
    • Table structure
    • SCOUT menu items in Exel
    • Excel macros
      • Overview
    • Application example
  • Using SCOUT in LabView
• References
  • Articles related to optical spectroscopy