
================================================================================
================================== XOP 2.1 =====================================
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---What is XOP?---

XOP (X-ray Oriented Programs) is a graphical user interface (GUI) to
run computer programs that calculate basic information needed by
synchrotron radiation beamline scientists and engineers. It can also be
used as a front end for specific codes or packages for
data analysis and data reduction.
XOP contains a customized database for optical and atomic constants.
It has a flexible design and new applications may be added.
 
The XOP interface is written in the Interactive Data Language (IDL) from
Research Systems Inc., and it runs on most unix platforms (including linux)
and on the Windows 98/NT/2000/XP operating systems. 

It has been built with an IDL license embedded and is available under some 
limited conditions free of charge from the authors.

The XOP Web page is: 

         http://www.esrf.fr/computing/scientific/xop

** NOTE: The provisional web page for the beta version is :

         http://www.esrf.fr/computing/scientific/xop2.1


---What is new in XOP 2.1 ---

Much of the code has been cleaned and simplified.  A new documentation in PDF is available.


Available in xop2.1 Beta1
-------------------------

- Xop->Load/Edit environment: has some help text to better understand the meaning of the
  variables. 
- Source->Wiggler-XWiggler: rewritten.
- Source->Bending Magnet-BM: much improved to allow computation of the flux/brighness 
          also in a limited vertical aperture. It allows calculations of the vertical 
          divergence of the emission. 
- Source->XRay tube generators:  More info in the resulting plots. 
- Source->Others: Added black body.

-Optics: Rearranged menus for easier access to the applications.
-Optics-> DABAX: Main interface: Option for refreshing and download files. 
                 New data file file f0_xop.dat
                 Check for automatic upgrading of index file .HIdl

-Optics->Crystals->xFH: Allow energy scans. Include calculation of temperature factor.
-Optics->Crystals->xCrystal: Include calculation of temperature factor.
-Optics->Crystals->xCrystal_bent: Include calculation of temperature factor.
-Optics->Crystals->mamon: Include calculation of unweganregun profile (psi scan).
-Optics->Others->mlayers: Not longer dependent on SHADOW optical library. Calculate
                 optical constants on the fly using dabax. 

Updated from Beta1 to Beta2:
  -EXODUS available as a main tool
  -Version compatible with NOP extension
  -Documentation started in background (for not blocking xop)


To be available in final xop2.1 
-------------------------------

- Xus: Improved interface, energy spread. 
- New Cross section and f1f2 data files. 
- A monochromator model in Xpower. 
- A tool for image display (xyplot).
- Xplot non-linear fitting module rewritten.
- Few other things...

Hardware Platforms: The same as idl 5.5
------------------


Extensions (to be) available:
-----------------------------
	SHADOWVUI (x-ray tracing)
	NOP (neutron optics)
	XAID  (XAFS toolbox)
	IMD (multilayers)
	TOPO (analysis on profiles and surfaces)
	INES (inelastic scattering tool) 
	MIAM (analysis of multiple images)
	
Reference (not yet updated)
--------------------------
   M. Sanchez del Rio and R.J. Dejus
   "XOP: Recent Developments"
   SPIE Vol. 2448 pp. 340-345 (1998)
 


Installation intructions
------------------------

   i) Unix: Edit the "xop" script in the main directory, and make the changes 
            that are documented there. 

