This article contains a description of the Converter for EPMA data which can natively read data from JEOL and CAMECA microprobes. Compatible formats are described on separate pages for JEOL and CAMECA
How to use the Converter?
The converter is accessible via Project and Imports, using the button Open XMapTools’ EPMA Converter.
Main steps
- Select the data format (e.g. JEOL or CAMECA; check compatible data formats: CAMECA)
- Select the destination folder, usually an empty folder where data with a compatible format will be saved
- Select Maps in a given folder; text or csv map files generated by the microprobe software
- Validate map selection
- Add standard data exported as text or csv files by the microprobe software (can be repeated until all standard data have been imported)
- Generate Standards.txt containing the map coordinates and the spot analysis data to be used as internal standards for map calibration.
Detailed description
Data format
Use the dropdown menu Select the format to select data format.
The following options are available:
- EPMA – JEOL (SUN) for old JEOL instruments
- EPMA – JEOL (WINDOWS) for recent JEOL instruments
- EPMA – CAMECA for all CAMECA instruments
After selecting the data format two text boxes are shown indicating the types of files required for the selected format. The first on the left is for the map and the second one for the spot analyses.
- JEOL (SUN) requires two files for each map: ‘XX.cnd’ and ‘XX_map.txt’, and two files for each dataset of spot analyses: ‘summary.txt’ and ‘stage.txt’
- JEOL (WINDOWS) requires two files for each map: ‘data00X.cnd’ and ‘data00X.csv’, and a single file for each dataset of spot analyses: ‘summary.csv’
- CAMECA requires a single file for each map: ‘XXXX.txt’, and a single file for each dataset of spot analyses: ‘YYY.csv’
Destination folder
After selecting the data format, press the button Set a destination folder and select an empty folder for saving the data in a comptatible format. This folder must be empty and existing data will be deleted!
Import Maps
After selecting the destination folder, press the button Import Maps to select the folder containing the map files. XMapTools will convert all maps available in this folder.
After selecting the maps, press the button Validate map selection to continue
Import spot analyses (internal standards)
After selecting all files for the spot analyses, press the button generate Standards.txt. This will end the procedure and close the Converter. Note that when you return in XMapTools, the working directory has been adjusted and you can start importing your maps.
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