Latest revision as of 12:00, 24 May 2023

Feedback to this page: click here

All text by reet, DTU Nanolab

Apex software for data analysis

The Tencor-KLA P17 stylus profiler comes with advanced data analysis software called APEX. We have an extra license for the software on a computer in the basement of building 346. The computer is located at the back of room 904 between the XRD Powder and the AFM. At the moment remote access is not possible, but you are able to access your files on the M-drive from the computer. Let us know if you would like us to find a solution for remote access and/or would like us to move the analysis computer to a room with daylight, as we are not sure how many of you would actually like to use the software.

To use Apex, your data must be in a format that Apex can open. For line profiles that means you have to open the data in the Profiler Software first, which can only be done on the P17 computer in the cleanroom. With the data open or selected, press the Apex button and save it in Apex in a native format. It is also possible to check a box in the scan recipe that makes it possible to open the data in Apex automatically (see the Profiler Help document for more details or ask staff). Finally some data formats (e.g., 3D maps and 3D stress data) can always be opened in Apex.

How to use the software

How to choose to show only the measured line scans rather than the interpolated surface that APEX likes to calculate (see orange arrow). Screenshot by reet, DTU Nanolab, from Apex.

There are a number of tutorials and a thorough help document which you will find when you open the program. There is also a small introduction as an appendix to the P17 help document (requires login).

Apex offers many formats for saving the data in nice reports and various options for exporting data.

If Apex has automatically generated a surface from your line profiles of data, it is possible to view the underlying profiles by right-clicking on the surface and choosing Points Drawing instead of Lines Drawing or finding the same option (Points drawing) in the top ribbon. See figure on the right.

Best of luck and please contact characterization@nanolab.dtu.dk if you have any questions or helpful tips.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
-=Apex software outside the cleanroom=
+''All text by '''reet, DTU Nanolab'''''
-The Tencor-KLA P17 stylus profiler comes with advanced data analysis software called APEX. We have an extra license for the software installed on a computer called NTCH-D0186 at Nanolab. The computer is currently located in the basement of building 346 in room 904. You will find it at the back of the room between the ALD and the PowderXRD.
+=Apex software for data analysis=
-On the NTCH-D0186 desktop, you will find a shortcut to the APEX software.
+The Tencor-KLA P17 stylus profiler comes with advanced data analysis software called APEX. We have an extra license for the software on a computer in the basement of building 346. The computer is located at the back of room 904 between the XRD Powder and the AFM. At the moment remote access is not possible, but you are able to access your files on the M-drive from the computer. Let us know if you would like us to find a solution for remote access and/or would like us to move the analysis computer to a room with daylight, as we are not sure how many of you would actually like to use the software.
-Access your data on the M drive, O drive or through files.dtu.dk and open it up with the software.
+To use Apex, your data must be in a format that Apex can open. For line profiles that means you have to open the data in the Profiler Software first, which can only be done on the P17 computer in the cleanroom. With the data open or selected, press the Apex button and save it in Apex in a native format. It is also possible to check a box in the scan recipe that makes it possible to open the data in Apex automatically (see the Profiler Help document for more details or ask staff). Finally some data formats (e.g., 3D maps and 3D stress data) can always be opened in Apex.
-==Remote access the analysis computer ==
+==How to use the software ==
-Remote access to the Apex program is unfortunately a little bit complicated. You will need Cisco Anyconnect to connect to DTU's network by VPN, the Windows Remote Desktop application and yet another VPN application called TeamViewer. This is because the Apex program doesn't recognize it's license dongle if you simply use Remote desktop.
-We have a number of pro licenses for TeamViewer which you can obtain by writing to our IT administrator, Thøger Eskildsen (thes@dtu.dk). If you are a student or just want to try it out, you can use a free version.
-===How to open Apex on the analysis computer ===
-*Connect to DTU's network by VPN. This is usually necessary even if you are physically located at DTU.
-For this you can use the service Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client. Connect to AIT Extra-VPN with your usual credentials.
-*Make a remote desktop connection to the computer NTCH-D0186.
-For this you can use the Remote Desktop Connection app on Windows. In Danish it's called Fjernskrivebord. Again log on with your own credentials. If someone else is logged in, try again a bit later.
-*On the NTCH-D0186 computer, open TeamViewer (it is pinned to the task bar).
-*Close the Remote Desktop Connection and open TeamViewer on your own computer.
-You can download Teamviewer from www.teamviewer.com. As mentioned above, write to Nanolab staff to request a pro license.
-*Now use TeamViewer on your own computer to log on to the analysis computer. Under "Control Remote Computer" put in the computer name 631 851 324. The password is DTU_Nanolab. You may subsequently need to login to the computer with your DTU credentials as though you were physically present in front of it.
-*Now you can open and use the APEX software with the shortcut on the Desktop.
+[[image:pick-points-drawing.png|500x500px|right|thumb|How to choose to show only the measured line scans rather than the interpolated surface that APEX likes to calculate (see orange arrow). Screenshot by reet, DTU Nanolab, from Apex.]]
-*IMPORTANT: Remember to close your connection after use.
+There are a number of tutorials and a thorough help document which you will find when you open the program. There is also a small introduction as an appendix to the [https://labmanager.dtu.dk/view_binary.php?fileId=4699 P17 help document] ''(requires login)''.
-==How to use the software ==
-There are a number of tutorials on how to use APEX and a thorough help document which you will find when you open the program. There is also a small introduction as an appendix to the P17 help document.
-Notice it's important to have the data in a format that Apex can open. For line profiles that means you have to open the data in the Profiler Software first (on the P17 computer in the cleanroom, at least until further notice), press the Apex button and save it in Apex in a native format. It is also possible to check a box in the profiler scan recipe that makes it possible to open the data in Apex automatically (see the Profiler Help document for more details or ask staff). Finally some data formats (e.g., 3D maps and stress data) can always be opened in Apex.
 Apex offers many formats for saving the data in nice reports and various options for exporting data.
-If APEX has automatically generated a surface from your line profiles of data, it is possible to view the underlying profiles by right-clicking on the surface and choosing Points Drawing instead of Lines Drawing or finding the same option (Points drawing) in the top ribbon.
+If Apex has automatically generated a surface from your line profiles of data, it is possible to view the underlying profiles by right-clicking on the surface and choosing Points Drawing instead of Lines Drawing or finding the same option (Points drawing) in the top ribbon. See figure on the right.
-If you learn something cool about Apex that you'd like to share, please let us know.
-Best of luck and please contact [mailto:thinfilm@dtu.dk thinfilm@dtu.dk] if you have any questions or helpful tips.
+Best of luck and please contact [mailto:characterization@nanolab.dtu.dk characterization@nanolab.dtu.dk] if you have any questions or helpful tips.