This document contains important information regarding the installation or upgrade of your Andor Software. We recommend that you read it fully to ensure trouble free installation.

 

 Attention: For DO or DX cameras please refer to the PDF file included as part of this installation

 

Contents

 

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.87.30003.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.87.30000.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.86.30001.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.86.30000.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.85.30000.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.84.30003.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.84.30002.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.83.30001.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.83.30000.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.82.30001.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.82.30000.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.81.30004.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.81.30003.1

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.81.30002.0

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.81

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.80

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.79

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.78.5

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.78

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.77

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.76

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.75

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.74

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.73

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.72

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.71

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.7

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.6

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.5

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.4

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.3

·        Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.2

 

Software improvements and new functionality added to Andor SDK 2.87.30003.0

 

New Features

 

Bug Fixes

1.      Improved accuracy of reported Clara acquisition timings.

2.      Fixed issue with random tracks freezing in video mode.

3.      Fixed issues with random track fire pulse.

4.      Pulse width incorrect in external trigger frame transfer on a iXon 885

5.      Fixed memory leak in SaveAsFITS, SaveAsRAW and SaveAsSPC

6.      Maximum IOC frequency now defaults to 50kHz for PCI iStar

7.      iXon 885 now reports that it supports real gain

8.      Fixed timings for Luca-R in frame transfer mode

 

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.87.30000.0

 

New Features

  1. Clara E now supported
  2. Newton DU970/71P cameras now supported
  3. Cycle time reduced for imaging on Newton and iVac systems
  4. Number of accumulations can now be set in a kinetic series in overlap mode
  5. FVB cycle time reduced in crop mode provided only the height of the sensor has been cropped

 

Bug Fixes

  1. Clara near infra red mode not operating correctly when using FVB read mode
  2. Minimum exposure time increased to 1 millisecond for Clara near infra red mode
  3. Change to remove odd/even pixel noise after a number of accumulations in iDus
  4. Change to resolve image wrap around on Newton sensors
  5. Image was being shifted between frames when photon counting was being used on a Clara
  6. Fast kinetics now working in FVB mode
  7. First pulse missed in ring of exposures on Clara
  8. Updated bitmap header data to allow avi's to play in Windows 7
  9. Multiple systems was not supported for 64-bit Windows
  10. TimeStamp from Clara meta data was incorrect for a kinetic series of accumulations
  11. Video mode was eventually freezing in iCam PCI systems
  12. Fix for Spooling to fits issue in Windows 7
  13. Fix for image shift seen in DU940P newton cameras

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.86.30001.0

 

New Features

 

Bug Fixes

  1. Fixed crash in spool to disk

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.86.30000.0

 

New Features

  1. Clara meta data now stored in sif file format
  2. Vertical and horizontal flip tags added to the FITS header
  3. Newton now supports multiple images per USB interrupt to reduce CPU load
  4. Support added for new revision of Newton DU920P
  5. Control of gate mode added to iStar floating toolbar

 

Bug Fixes

  1. Fixed bug where SetPhotonCountingThreshold was always returning DRV_NOT_SUPPORTED
  2. Fixed reported acquisition timings for external trigger non frame transfer mode
  3. Fixed the SDK flipper mirror issue (problem with the port numbers being used) and updated shipped examples
  4. GetFIFOUsage is now thread safe
  5. USB driver for SR500 and SR750 updated to avoid conflicts with servo controllers
  6. Fixed External trigger, frame transfer, video mode operation

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.85.30000.0

 

New Features

  1. Andor Clara image quality improved
  2. Option to run external exposure in a kinetic series for all cameras which support iCam
  3. Photon Counting check added to GetCapabilities
  4. Added kinetic cycle time tag to spooled tiff files
  5. PrepareAcquisition now returns an error if insufficient memory available

 

Bug Fixes

1.      SetSpool now returns DRV_NOT_AVAILABLE under Linux when trying to spool to FITS

2.      Fixed crash on initialize when no Andor cameras were connected

3.      Fixed problem with reinitializing Shamrock models SR500 and SR750

4.      Fixed problem where calling IsCoolerOn during an acquisition could stop the acquisition

5.      Fixed issue where events from a previous acquisition were not getting cleared

6.      Additional pixel shift removed from overlap mode on Clara

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.84.30003.0

 

New Features

  1. Incorporating improved FPGA timing updates for Andor Clara.

 

Bug Fixes

  1. Fixes crash when no system present.
  2. Fix gate step breaking external trigger with iStar.

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.84.30002.0

 

New Features

  1. Andor Clara now supported:

            SetDACOutput

            SetDACOutputScale

            GetNumberIO

            SetIODirection

            SetIOLevel

            GetIOLevel

            GetIODirection

            SetTriggerInvert

            IsAmplifierAvailable

            SetOverlapMode

            SetMetaData

            GetMetaDataInfo

 

Bug Fixes

1.      Spooled files beyond 4GB could not be opened

2.      Data was being lost when spooled files of small images went beyond 4GB

3.      Spooled FITS file had cycle time saved as 0

4.      IsPreAmpAvailable should use channel passed rather than current one

5.      Random tracks data corrupted for consecutive tracks for cameras other than iXon+

6.      GetImages16 LabVIEW wrapper was calling wrong SDK function

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.83.30001.0

 

New Features

  1. Added SetImageFlip and SetImageRotate functions to LabView wrapper

 

Bug Fixes

  1. Added ShamrockGetCalibration function to the Shamrock SDK help

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.83.30000.0

 

New Features

  1. iVac systems now fully supported
  2. Shamrock spectrographs SR500 and SR750 now fully supported
  3. Fast kinetics now available for Luca-R

 

Bug Fixes

  1. Fixes to Delphi header
  2. Fixed discrepancies between cycle times for multi-track and random track
  3. Fixed problem in fast kinetics when there was an odd number of super pixels
  4. Removed corrupted fire pulse in fast kinetics, external trigger
  5. Fix to resolve oscillations in data for certain Newton systems
  6. Fix for potential fail of auto cooling on Luca systems
  7. Fixed maximum number in series in fast kinetics for frame transfer systems
  8. Fixed exposure time reported in fast kinetics

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.82.30001.0

 

New Features

  1. Added High Capacity Mode support for DW936 cameras.

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.82.30000.0

 

New Features

  1. Added option for horizontal binning in random track mode
  2. Added capabilities for Horizontal Binning, MultiTrackHRange, and No Gaps in Random Tracks
  3. New capability added to test for overlapped external exposure mode
  4. Deprecated SetGain for SetMCPGain which is a more accurate naming convention
  5. Added Dud column support to SDK – allows SDK to be configured to interpolate bad columns

 

Bug Fixes

  1. Fixed minimum exposure for Luca-R
  2. Updated documentation – error code correction for get data functions.
  3. Fixed missing cases of GetTemperature in LabVIEW wrapper.
  4. Updated documentation – Corrected contact information.
  5. StartAcquisition now returns an error if horizontal binning does not divide evenly into range for multi-tracks
  6. Fixed crash when StartAcquisition is called in random track mode before random tracks are setup
  7. Fixed default EM gain – Set to off when system initialized
  8. SetRandomTracks no longer returns an error if not in random track mode
  9. Image mode Linux example will now work with an InGaAs
  10. SetRandomTracks was not returning an error for certain incorrect track combinations
  11. Fixed SetBaselineClamp and SetBaselineOffset – The test for availability was not complete
  12. Fixed GetRingExposureRange - Now uses same limit as SetRingExposureTimes
  13. Fixed SetRandomTracks - Was failing for some valid tracks
  14. Fixed SetGain error code - Now returns DRV_NOT_SUPPORTED if not an ICCD
  15. Fixed bug in SetRandomTracks to prevent negative numbers for number of tracks with correct return code
  16. GetAmpMaxSpeed now tests for NULL array parameter
  17. SetCustomTrackHBin returns DRV_NOT_SUPPORTED if not available for a system
  18. Fixed GetAmpDesc – Tests negative value for 3rd parameter – could cause crash
  19. Fixed GetAmpDesc – could return un-terminated string
  20. Luca R cooler control was never supported but SDK returned DRV_SUCCESS - SDK functions now return proper error codes
  21. Fixed bug in Initialisation/Shutdown cycling – could cause crash
  22. Extra fire pulse when using kinetic series external exposure on DU885
  23. Fixed incorrect data when using kinetic series external exposure on Luca-R
  24. Fixed external exposure trigger mode for Luca-S

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.81.30004.0

 

New Features

            Improved noise performance on DZ936 cameras at 3 and 5MHz horizontal readout speeds.

 

Bug Fixes

None

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.81.30003.1

 

New Features

            None

 

Bug Fixes

1.      Fixed some documentation errors in LabVIEW context help

2.      Fixed Shamrock close and re-initialisation in C interface of Shamrock SDK

3.      Fixed Shamrock close operation in LabVIEW

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.81.30002.0

 

New Features

            None

 

Bug Fixes

1.      Fixed cooling issue on Fibre Optic systems

2.      Fixed hot column issue on iXon DU888 cameras.

3.      Fixed crash in External Trigger on Newton

4.      Fixed DLL error on Windows Install program.

 

 Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.81

 

New Features

  1. Improved shutdown in Linux during abnormal termination (Ctrl+C etc.) – signal handlers added
  2. CCI-24 support added to Linux SDK

 

Bug Fixes

  1. Removed Linux Device Driver compilation warnings for Kernel 2.6.23 and above.
  2. Crash could occur if GetAcquiredData was called before PrepareAcquisition or StartAcquisition.
  3. SetDriverEvent causes crash when called when system not initialized.
  4. GetImagesPerDMA did not return correct value unless PrepareAcquisition has been called.
  5. Timings incorrect for Frame Transfer in iCam mode.
  6. GetMostRecentImage/GetMostRecentImage16 now returns correct data when used in Accumulate acquisition mode
  7. Fixed crash that would occur if GetNumberAvailableImages called before acquisition started
  8. Acquisitions now complete correctly if camera is reinitialised after being previously shutdown
  9. 64-bit SDK will now initialise USB cameras without the necessity of having libusb0_x64.dll in same directory as executable.
  10. Calibration values returned from Shamrock SDK were offset by 2 pixels from correct locations
  11. Fixed memory leak in SaveAsSif
  12. Fixed Luca re-initialisation issue - temperature reporting incorrect
  13. Documentation updates and corrections

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.80

 

New Features

  1. iKon-L support added
  2. Added SetAccumulationCycleTime to LabVIEW library
  3. Random and multi tracks now available in frame transfer mode for iXon+
  4. SetNumberPrescans function added
  5. New timing functions added

·        GetKeepCleanTime

·        GetReadOutTime

 

Bug Fixes

  1. SetEMAdvanced was not working on Luca-R
  2. Random tracks external start was broken on a DU888
  3. InGaAs was not working in last release
  4. Multiple USB cameras could not be controlled
  5. Fast Kinetics external trigger was not working on early DV885 cameras
  6. Kinetic cycle time calculated wrongly when accumulating

 

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.79

 

New Features

  1. Memory allocation improved to allow larger kinetic series to be acquired without spooling
  2. Luca-R range supported
  3. iKon-L supported
  4. GetImageFlip and GetImageRotation added
  5. Multi tracks available in frame transfer mode for iXon+
  6. Random tracks available in frame transfer mode for iXon+
  7. Capability added to test for multi and random tracks in frame transfer
  8. SetMultiTrackHRange added
  9. Random tracks can now be configured with no gaps in between for iXon+

 

Bug Fixes

  1. Temperature drifting is now handled for all cameras
  2. GetTemperatureStatus did not return result for iXon
  3. Pixel values for last column on DU885 incorrect
  4. Fast kinetics, external trigger not operating correctly on a DU885
  5. Crash when initiailising multiple usb cameras
  6. Kinetic cycle time could not be set reliably
  7. Shutter timings not correct at 35MHz on a DU885
  8. SetShutter function not functioning correctly for iXon+
  9. Grams files created not compatible with certain software packages
  10. EM gain could not be turned off completely
  11. Glitches were found in fire pulse for FVB mode on iXon+
  12. Image flipping and rotation properties incorrect in sif file
  13. CCI-20 controller card not initialising (ERROR_ACK)

 

Software improvements and additional features for Andor SDK Version 2.78.5

 

New Features

1.      SetIsolatedCropMode added to LabVIEW library

2.      SaveAsTiffEx function added to provide choice of whether data is scaled

 

Bug Fixes

1.      SaveAsTiff function for a kinetic series saved the same image for every frame

2.      SaveAsTiff now checks for available memory to avoid crash

3.      GetHeadModel function was returning model in lowercase

4.      GetMostRecentImage16 VI was calling GetMostRecentImage

5.      iXon FPGA version not being read properly in Initialize function

6.      SetIsolatedCropMode function repaired

7.      GetAvailableCameras did not update with USB devices plugged in & out

8.      Using GetCameraEventStatus on fast acquisitions caused acquisition to fail

9.      Long kinetic series of FITS was not working

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.78

 

Features

Support for Luca 285 added.

Data transfer from USB cameras improved.

Crop mode option added for iXon+

            SetIsolatedCropMode

Improved support for integrate on chip

            GetDDGIOCFrequency

            GetDDGIOCNumber

            SetDDGIOCNumber

Option to export to raw data

            SaveAsRaw

New SDK function to get the X and Y shifts used to demosaic the CYMG images

            GetCYMGShift           

 

Fixes

SaveAsSif in SDK not storing readout speed correctly.

Shutter now works correctly for Classic cameras when software run for the first time after rebooting PC.

Data was wrapping at 65K if taking a kinetic series of accumulations.
 

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.77

 

Supports 32 and 64-bit Windows XP and Vista

Moved to new USB device driver libUSB

New Run Till Abort functionality for latest iXon (with CC-I23 controller card), and Luca Cameras.

SendSoftwareTrigger

SetRingExposureTimes

GetAdjustedRingExposureTimes

GetNumberRingExposureTimes

GetRingExposureRange

IsTriggerModeAvailable

New image manipulation functions

SetImageFlip

SetImageRotate

Save as GRAMS SPC file format - SaveAsSPC

Calculate the red and blue relative to green factors to white balance a colour image - WhiteBalance

 

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.76

 

New features

  1. Additional capabilities added to GetCapabilities function
  2. GetAmpDesc function added
  3. Timeout added for WaitForAcquisition function

Bug fixes

  1. Error returned if an invalid EM gain mode is selected
  2. Fixed issues with Fast Kinetics on an iXon
  3. Sometimes a camera was not ready to acquire when an acquisition event was sent
  4. Fixed initialization problem when a ‘.’ was in the path send to Initialize() function

 

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.75

 

SaveAsBmp was not working in latest version

Spooling to FITS, sif and tiff now available

SetBaselineOffset function added

SetShutterEx added to control both an internal and external shutter through a DV8285

GetNumberHSSpeeds now includes error checking for classics

GetCapabilities returns correct bit depth for an iDus

IsPreAmpGainAvailable now indicates yes for classic cameras as long as the gain index is zero and other parameters are valid

EMGain Capability now returned correctly for iDus, Newton, USB iStar

SaveAsSif now handles spooled files

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.74

 

Support for new Luca range of Cameras

Control of linear EM gain

            SetEMGainMode

            GetEMCCDGain

            GetEMGainRange

Option to save to FITS file format – SaveAsFITS

Crop mode available with Newton - SetCropMode

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.73

 

Support for Newton and SurCam range of Cameras

GetMostRecentImage does not now prevent access to images previous to the one obtained

Controller type can be tested

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.72

 

Multiple systems control.

GetAvailableSystems

SetCurrentCamera

GetCurrentCamera

GetCameraHandle

 

Support for new iDus range of cameras

 

New data retrieval functions along with 16-bit versions to reduce memory allocation

GetMostRecentImage

GetOldestImage

GetImages

GetMostRecentImage16

GetOldestImage16

GetImages16

 

Functions to retrieve information on run till abort mode acquisitions

GetSizeOfCircularBuffer

GetNumberNewImages

GetTotalNumberNewImagesAcquired

 

Function to track spooling

GetSpoolProgress

 

Retrieve recommended vertical shift speed

GetFastestRecommendedVSSpeed

 

Control of pre-amplifier gain – if available

GetNumberPreAmpGains

GetPreAmpGain

SetPreAmpGain

IsPreAmpGainAvailable

 

Offset and binning options available in Fast Kinetics mode on iXon

SetFastKineticsEx

 

Additional iXon controls

SetBaselineClamp

SetHighCapacity

 

New export options

SaveAsTiff

SaveAsEDF

 

Option to determine whether cooler remains on after shutdown

            SetCoolerMode

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.71

 

Photon counting functions added

SetPhotonCounting

SetPhotonCountingThreshold

 

Functions for preallocating and deallocating acquisition memory.

PrepareAcquisition

FreeInternalMemory

 

Temperature can now be returned as a float

            GetTemperatureF

 

SaveAsSif now saves temperature, gain, vertical shift speed, vertical clock amplitude and DDG info

 

Functions for adding user text to sif files when saving.

SaveAsCommentedSif

SetSifComment

 

ARM signal corrected for external trigger

 

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.7

 

1.      A number of commands have been added to control the readout of our new range of iXon cameras.

            GetNumberADChannels

            SetADChannel

            GetNumberHSSpeeds

            GetHSSpeed

            SetHSSpeed

            GetNumberVSSpeeds

            GetVSSpeed

            SetVSSpeed

            GetPixelSize

            SetVSAmplitude

2.      16-bit version of GetAcquiredData available to reduce memory allocation.

3.      16-bit version of GetNewData available to reduce memory allocation.

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.6

 

1.      SaveAsBmp command now saves individual scans in a kinetic series to separate files.

2.      Additional examples have been added covering the following topics:

            Spooling to disk

            Image Binning

            Frame Transfer acquisition mode

            EMCCD detectors

            DDG (Istar)

            Acquisition handling with Events

            Kinetic Image

3.      Full Vertical Binning mode now available for EMCCD’s

4.      Intelligate = 1 added to detector.ini file to indicate intelligate capability.

5.      Accumulate option now available in iStar kinetic series.

6.      Multitrack now works with horizontal binning.

7.      Displacement of image on DV465 systems using horizontal binning fixed.

8.      Kinetic Series acquisitions greater than 64MB can now be acquired under Windows2000 and NT.

9.      SaveAsSif now saves kinetic series acquisitions correctly.

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.5

 

1.   GetDDGIOCPulses function added (iStar only).

2.      Additional checks added to SetDDGIOCFrequency

3.   Spooling of data to disk added – SetSpool

4.      Added Fast External Trigger capability – SetFastExtTrigger

5.      SetDriverEvent now signal every scan

6.      Acquisition progress can now be monitored – GetAcquisitionProgress

7.      GetAcquiredData now works correctly for camera with L3 Vision CCDs (EMCCD)

8.      The SDK no longer allows multiple applications to communicate with the device driver. Previous if a second application attempted to communicate with the device driver the system could crash.

9.      When using the FVB readout mode in frame transfer acquisitions the system no longer shifts the image area while reading out the storage area.

10.  Minor memory leaks fixed.

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.4

 

1.      Added control of L3 Vision (EMCCD) systems.

2.      Added control of iStar systems

3.      Removed restriction on the number of tracks in RandomTrack as adjacent tracks are now allowed provided they are the same height.

4.      Horizontal binning added to FVB, single, multi and random track modes

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.3

 

1.      In the C Examples the data buffers were not being deleted after each acquisition.

2.      In the C Examples a check is now done to see if the min data value is equal to the max data value. This stops a divide by zero error occurring.

3.      Functionality added to use the I2C communication protocol. This allows the user to control IO devices such as stepper motors and LEDs.

4.      Fast Kinetics mode is now fully supported. For more information see the SDK manual.

5.      Additional control has been added for certain models of ICCD. This includes software gain control and mode selection.

6.      Data can be saved as a .sif file which is compatable with the Andor MCD application.

7.      GPIB data can be sent a received via the driver.

 

Software improvements and additional features for Version 2.2

1.      The internal variables FullImageVEnd and FullImageHEnd were not been set to the correct values unless SetFullImage or SetImage were called.

2.      GetSoftwareVersion did not return the correct values.

3.      Initialize can accept different path types.