Technical Support

While SurfaceSpectra strive to produce products of the highest quality, we are only human and occasionally errors may occur.

If you discover an error in any of our databases or have problems with any of our software please let us know. We will try to correct any errors as soon as possible and post any issues and/or updates on this page.

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Email support (at) surfacespectra.com to report any problems, or if you have any questions regarding the operation of our software or databases.

Known Issues : The Static SIMS Library

These items only refer to the 3rd edition of the Library

Issue Interpretation of Poly(ethyl methacrylate) indicates that the peak at m/z +69 is due to C4H5O2 rather than C4H5O

Version(s)

 All
Cause

Typographic error
Status To be corrected in forthcoming update.

 

Issue Print button is unavailable on Preview Interpretation, Preview Library Entry (+/-) pages.

Version(s)

 3.0.2.19 and 3.0.3.22 - Corrected in all later versions
Cause

The problem is related to a change in the reporting component supplied by a third-party.

Status Corrected - download updated qrpt50.bpl file here

 

Issue When using the search engine (Window caption: Spectral Search), there is no 'Search' button.

Version(s)

 3.0.1.16 to 3.0.2.19 - Corrected in all later versions
Cause

The problem is related to using 'Large Fonts' with a high resolution screen eg 1280 x 1024.
Status Corrected - download latest version here

 

Issue Access violation on program exit.

Version(s)

 3.0.1.16 - Corrected in all later versions
Cause Error in reporting module used to produce printouts of spectra and interpretation.
Status Corrected - download latest version here

 

Issue Spectral interpretation is missing when software is running on Windows 95/98.
Version(s) 3.0.1.16 - Corrected in all later versions
Cause Error in reporting module used by SurfaceSpectra to produce printouts of spectra and interpretation. Similar error reported to module provider by other users of the reporting module.
Status Corrected - download latest version here

 

Issue Spectral interpretation is missing from the bottom of the preview page.
Version(s) 3.0.1.16
Cause Error in reporting module used by SurfaceSpectra to produce printouts of spectra and interpretation. Similar error reported to module provider by other users of the reporting module.
Status Under investigation.
Workaround Error depends on the screen resolution. Increase screen resolution to at least 1152 x 864. All structures are printed when the page is sent to the printer.

 

Issue Main structure on the spectral interpretation preview page is wholly or partly missing.
Version(s) 3.0.1.16 - Corrected in all later versions
Cause The first material previewed causes the main structure to be resized. Subsequent previews do not resize the structure. If the later structure is bigger than the first then part of it will be missing.
Status Corrected - download latest version here

 

Issue Help file relates to version 2 of the SIMS Library.
Version(s) 3.0.1.16 and above
Cause Error in creating the installation routine.
Status Currently being corrected. Free update will be issued shortly.
Workaround Most of the help file relates equally to version 2 and 3. Email support@surfacespectra.com with questions.

 

Issue Licence.txt file shipped with the Library indicates that the software is only licensed for a single user.
Version(s) 3.0.1.16 and above
Cause Error in creating the installation routine.
Status Currently being corrected. Free update will be issued shortly.
Workaround The Library ships with a site licence. Feel free to install the software on a number of computers within your institution.

Known Issues : The XPS of Polymers Database

Issue

Survey, C 1s, F 1s and valence band data files (all formats) for
PTFE are not charge corrected.

Survey, C 1s and F 1s data are shifted by about +5 eV BE

Valence band is shifted by about -5 eV BE

Note: The curve-fitted data (scanned from the original book) is correct.

Version(s)

 1
Cause Error in creating the various file formats from the original Scienta data.
Status We are producing corrected files which will be available on this page shortly.
Workaround Use the curve-fit pages (Acrobat pdf) for the correct values of peak position.

How to determine your software version

The Static SIMS Library

There are two methods to determine the version of the Static SIMS Library.

  1. Open the program. Select 'About' from the 'Help' menu. The version of the software is indicated in the pop-up box.
  2. Without opening the program, locate the software on your hard disc. The default location for the software is C:\Program Files\SurfaceSpectra\The Static SIMS Library\simslibx.exe (where 'x' is '2' for version 2, '3' for version 3 or missing for version 1). Right-click on the icon and select 'Properties' from the pop-up menu. Select the 'Version' tab from the pop-up window. The 'File version' is listed at the top.

Most recent versions

The Static SIMS Library

Version 3.0.3.22

To install this update;

  1. Download the latest version (above) to a temporary location on your computer.
  2. Locate your current version of simslib3.exe. The default location for this file is C:\Program Files\SurfaceSpectra\The Static SIMS Library\simslib3.exe
  3. Making sure the SIMS Library is not running, rename the simslib3.exe file to simslib3_old.exe (or some other name of your choosing).
  4. Open the archive:
    • Zip archive: use PKZip, WinZip, Wiz or other unzipping package of your choice.
    • Self-extracting archive: double-click on icon.
  5. Save the uncompressed file held in the archive (simslib3.exe) to the SIMS Library's default location (default location is given in step 2 above)
  6. The update is now complete. The SIMS Library should be operated as before.

New qrpt50.bpl file

To install this update;

  1. Download the latest version (above) to a temporary location on your computer.
  2. Locate your current version of qrpt50.bpl. The default location for this file depends on your operating system
    • Windows 95/98/Me location is C:\Windows\system\qrpt50.bpl
    • Windows NT/2000/XP location is C:\WINNT\system32\qrpt50.bpl
  3. Making sure the SIMS Library is not running, rename the qrpt50.bpl file to qrpt50_old.bpl (or some other name of your choosing).
  4. Open the archive:
    • Zip archive: use PKZip, WinZip, Wiz or other unzipping package of your choice.
    • Self-extracting archive: double-click on icon.
  5. Save the uncompressed file held in the archive (qrpt50.bpl) to the default location (default location is given in step 2 above)
  6. The update is now complete. The SIMS Library should be operated as before.
See also:

For further information please e-mail support (at) surfacespectra.com