Graph Annotation *

An important feature of CasaXPS is the ability to write Enhanced Metafiles. This permits data to be visualised through the data system, then exported in to other programs in order to provide the final form used in a document or report. Enhanced Metafiles supply the drawing information used to display the data in CasaXPS to a word processor such as Microsoft Word, which can then be used to edit the drawing in remarkable detail. The button to save these graphics files is indicated in Figure 1.

Although the tile display options permit text, such as the title, to be adjusted and enhanced metafiles allow sophisticated visual editing, XPS spectra can sometimes best be annotated with information derived directly from the data. The most obvious being tables related to the quantification of the chemical state. CasaXPS therefore provides some options that allow the inclusion of such information as part of the annotation.

The options for adding annotation are found on the main menu "Options" or via the main toolbar (Figure 1).

After quantification regions have been defined for a spectrum, a tabulated form of the information gathered from data may be added to the graphical display. The procedure to include region information is similar to that used for synthetic components. Both types of tables are added using the "Region" or "Component" property pages found on the "Annotation" dialog window. The font used for the table may be selected before pressing the "Apply" button on the page of interest. A table of the current values derived from the source in question will appear in the display area, and it is then repositioned via the "Annotation History" property page found on the same dialog window.

Annotation, either tables or text, can be moved using the list of annotation entries currently defined for the active spectrum. To move a piece of annotation, select the line in the annotation list found on the history property page, and then click on the spectrum with the cursor positioned at the desired location for the annotation. The spectrum display will be updated with the annotation now at the new location.

Other attributes for the annotation can be adjusted using the history list. Select the line describing the annotation for which the change is required. Then adjust the settings using the options found below the history list. Press "Apply" to see the result of the changes.

Text lines may have the orientation adjusted in addition to altering the contents via the text edit box. Fonts and colour are reselectable through the history list and the edit options on the "Annotation History" property page.

Entries on the "Annotation History" property page are in the format used to save the annotation in the VAMAS file. A block of data within the VAMAS file includes a number of comment lines. It is within these comment lines that processing, annotation and quantification information is stored. The idea of offering the full description used to save the data to file is that the parameters can be understood (if desired). It is then possible to save the data and include CasaXPS information from the start.

Spectra can be labelled using the names from the element library. The element markers currently displayed are made available for annotating the spectral features on the "Peak Label" property page of the "Annotation" dialog window. The element marker text is entered in the scrolled list, found on the page of interest. To annotate the spectrum, the element names must be selected within the scrolled list and the desired attributes chosen. The annotation text entries are added to the annotation history list when the "Apply" button is pressed. Again, the exact location for the annotation will need to be assigned through the normal positioning procedure.

Peak labels are merely multiple instances of text annotation. Individual lines of text can be added to the display using the "Text" property page. A text edit box allows the desired text to be entered and any attribute, such as, vertical/horizontal, font or colour may be chosen before pressing the "Apply" button.