2DFLT

2DFLT - it is first out of two programs which allows implementation of Phase Sensitive Detection (PSD) and/or Modulated Enhanced Diffraction (MED) techniques on the in situ data. This software allows collecting individual data files from in situ experiment into one dataset. After that this data set can be visualized, edited, normalized and averaged. Resulted data can be saved as one flat file (FLT-format) which can be used for PSD/MED calculations via 2DMED software. 2DFLT specifically was written to target in situ X-ray Powder Diffraction data from synchrotron measurements. Hence it can read CHI, XYE (TOPAS), FXYE(GSAS/ GSASII) and XY- files formats. However it can read general in situ data written into individual TXT or XY – files.

1. Installation

There two ways to install and use 2DFLT. First it is via precompiled package with executable and second by using Python-based sourcecode file in your favorite python shell.

Installing Precompiled Package

To install the software download most resent version of the precompiled self-extracting package.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/twodflt/files/

Double click on the downloaded file and the program will ask where to install the package. As default program will install itself to the route C:. I would highly recommend doing so.

After that press Extract and the software will install itself in the folder C:\2dflt. It will also create a 2DFLT shortcut on the desktop.

Addition of Environmental Variable. Before using the software the C:\2dflt path needed to be add to the system environmental variable Path. To do so, use mouse right button click on the Computer link in the Start menu and select Properties. Then click on Advanced System settings. It would probably require administrative privileges; hence enter your administrator login and password.

In the opened System properties window select Environment Variables button. In the opened Environment Variables window under System variables find variable Path and Press edit.

Add at the end of variable value the path to 2DFLT executable file. It should be “C:\2dflt\;”

Click Ok on all previous windows which were previously opened.

Now software should be able to run without problems.

Using Python-based Sourcecode File

If you have python 2.7.X installed on your computer, you can run 2DFLT from the sourcecode file. You can download sourcecode file 2dflt_3.4.3.py from the following link:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/twodflt/files/Sourcode/

The best Python package to use which includes all libraries which allows to run 2DFLT is Python XY. And it can be downloaded for free from the link below:

https://code.google.com/p/pythonxy/wiki/Downloads

Create a folder named “2dflt” in the root of your disc drive (e.g. “C:\2dflt\”)
Place the sourcecode 2dflt_3.4.3.py file in the folder you created. After that in the same folder make a 2dflt.bat file via text editor with following commands:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
:::bat
@set myloc=%~dp0*
@set myloc=%myloc:\*=*%
@set myloc=%myloc:*=\%
@
python %myloc%2dflt_3.4.3.py %1
@REM To keep the window from disappearing with any error messages
pause
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then add path “C:\2dflt\” as system environmental variable Path as shown in the previous paragraph.
Now the program should run fine from any folder.

2.Optimization of the Console Window View

If the console window after opening of 2DFLT is too small the size of it can be easily modified. First, you need to modify size of the window in the properties of the Desktop shortcut. Click with right button of the mouse on the 2DFLT desktop shortcut and select Properties. In the opened window select Layout tab. By changing the numbers on the Width and Height lines under the Window Size optimize the window size. Usually following parameters are recommended: Width 110 Height: 35. The Screen Buffer Size is 110x 300 (Width x Height).

Then press on the Font tab and select the appropriate font for your window size recommended is Lucida Console Size 20. Click OK and now the program will be opening in the good window size.

Second, you need to optimize the size of the console program itself. Go to the folder were program is located as default it should be C:\2dflt and start 2dflt.exe. Go to the left top corner of the opened window and press right button of the mouse. In open menu select Properties.

Change the font and the window size as described above. Save it by clicking Ok. Next time when you use this program directly, it will open in the desired window size.