Bruce: You asked for implementation ideas and so are some thoughts. First of all, I really like the Artemis interface. While it is complex, it needs to be to actually make it useful for complex analysis projects. I like the idea of selecting "Single scattering cluster" and then getting a left hand window with a tab labeled "Cluster" and one labeled "Interpretation". I agree that there is no need for a "feff.inp" tab here because the power user will just use one of the other ways proposed in this thread to generate paths the way they want them. Now, how to best build a cluster. Selecting the absorber and scatterer could be drop down lists as could be the absorbing edge. The distance could be an input box and the coordination would be a drop-down list with common coordination types single (1 atom only), linear (2 atoms in linear arrangement), tetrahedral, octahedral and icosahedral. If there is a desire, one could even offer the complete IUPAC list http://www.iucr.org/iucr-top/comm/cnom/inorg/node4.html but this probably would be overkill, a simple subset should do. There could be a drop down list of standard coordinations from a database that, when selected, would just fill in the boxes appropriately. At the bottom, I would put a big FEFF button and then allow the user to proceed with analysis just like as the current system. Carlo On Thu, 6 Jan 2005, Bruce Ravel wrote:
The solution I see is a combination of Sam's periodic table thing and the solution I suggested two emails ago. It could work something like this:
a. Choose "Single scattering fit" from one of the menus b. Pop up a dialog in which the user tells Artemis: i. the species of the absorber ii. the species of the scatterer iii. the approximate distance to the first shell iv. the geometry c. Artemis constructs a suitable feff.inp file, runs Feff without asking for confirmation, and imports only the first path d. Variables for amplitude, sigma^2, delr, and e0 are generated automatically, just like they are now e. Artemis pops up a dialog asking the user if she wants to run the fit immediately or later. The immediate choice is just like the big green button, the later choice lets the user examine things before pressing the big green button.
A few comments:
Regarding step b.i. and b.ii.: This could be a periodic table, like Sam uses or a couple of entry boxes, which would be more compact
Regarding step b.iv.: I think I would include some real diatomic crystal structures, such as rock salt, cesium chloride, zinc sulfide, along with the things in Sam's list (square planar, octahedral, tetrahedral, according to the screenshot on his web site)
This approach is simpler than how Artemis currently works only in that it automatically jumps through several steps without stopping. Once the fit is done, the user is still looking at Artemis and Artemis is just as complicated as it ever was.
However, the advantage of this approach over, say the overlap thingie, is that one is in a position to begin using some of Artemis' tools to look beyond a simple first shell fit.
In short, the bad news is that it is still Artemis, but the good news is that it is still Artemis.
Like Scott, we all vote that Artemis work better. But Artemis is the product of a benevolent dictatorship rather than of a democracy. While you all are welcome to cast a vote for the goodness of Artemis, I'm really looking for concrete design suggestions.
B
-- Carlo U. Segre -- Professor of Physics Associate Dean for Special Projects, Graduate College Illinois Institute of Technology Voice: 312.567.3498 Fax: 312.567.3494 Carlo.Segre@iit.edu http://www.iit.edu/~segre