Author: kagoldbergtf3

Normally, if you have already installed and licensed ThroughFocus3, updating it only requires the downloading and replacement of a single, small file. The latest version is built on IDL (8.5.1). Please follow the instructions below.

Download tf3_sav_190403b.zip [3 MB]  (the latest version)

1. Download the t3_sav_yymmdd.zip file, linked above.
2. Unzip the file. After unzipping, the file should be called tf3.sav with no date in the name.
3. If you wish, rename the existing tf3.sav file, in your ThroughFocus3 folder, before you replace it. (I recommend giving it a date in the filename.)
4. Replace the existing tf3.sav file, placing the downloaded version into the ThroughFocus3 folder.
5. Launch ThroughFocus3.exe (Win) or ThroughFocus.app (Mac) as before. There should be no need to re-license the program if you follow these steps.

• USA FIRST-TIME INSTALLATION (Windows or Mac)  ⇐ Start Here!
• International (Non-USA) FIRST-TIME INSTALLATION (Windows)   ⇐ or Here!
• Licensing ThroughFocus3
• Optimizing graphics settings for your machine
• Updating ThroughFocus to the latest version
• Troubleshooting / Error reporting
• Patching Windows (if necessary)

Windows Version Download Link (version 3.151221)

Mac OSX Version Download Link (version 3.151221)

1. Download and expand the most recent .zip archive, which contains the ThroughFocus3 folder.
2. Place the folder in a location where applications are normally stored, such as the Program Files directory [Win7] or /Users/(user_name)/Applications/ [Mac].
3. Launch the program by double-clicking ThroughFocus3.exe [Win7], or ThroughFocus3.app [Mac]. (You may be given a security warning asking you to allow the executable program to run. Please do.)
4. Click through the splash screens that appear.
5. The first launch (only) will present you with the End User License Agreement.
6. The program will launch into a limited, 2-minute demo mode until it has been licensed.
7. Instructions for licensing can be found here.

Notes:

• Running ThrougFocus3 on MacOS may require you to install XQuartz, if you have not already installed it.
• ThroughFocus3 (Mac) should run on Mac OS X 10.7, 10.8, and 10.9. It has not been tested on 10.10.
• ThroughFocus3 (Win) has been developed on Windows7 only. Please let Ken know if you are running it on a different Windows version.

ThroughFocus3 has undergone tremendous development. When and if problems arise, you can help me to improve the program by reporting what went wrong as clearly and specifically as possible. Here is a short list of helpful things you can do.

1. Screen Capture. If an error occurs, write down any error messages or dialogs, or make a screen capture of what you see and send that to Ken:

KAGoldberg(-at-)KanayamaConsulting.com

2. Restart, Try Again. Restart the program and see if you can make the same error happen again.

3. Export Program Logs. ThroughFocus has built-in logging for diagnostic purposes. Click on the Log tab, and use the button at the top labelled “Export Error Logs.” Save the error logs and then email them to Ken.

4. Problem Files. I have found that some working files that ThroughFocus3 creates can cause problems when they are stored and re-read. Removing such files can often fix crashing problems. In the same folder as your image data, please locate these two files: (a) tf3_output_store.dat and (b) imagelog.dat. Close ThroughFocus3, and you can remove these files from the directory. ThroughFocus3 will create fresh versions that may work fine. Note that file (a) is where your analysis in-progress is stored. File (b) stores the image metadata and analysis parameters, including the locations and sizes of your region of interest. That information comes originally from the imagelog…csv files or from the images themselves.

Thank you for your help in improving ThroughFocus!

ThroughFocus3 is built on Windows7 and Mac OSX 10.9. Users have encountered problems attempting to run it on older Windows systems, including WindowsXP. The following two patches have been released by Exelis, the makers of IDL, to enable ThroughFocus3 and other IDL runtime applications to run on older systems. These are only necessary in cases where ThroughFocus3 crashes within the first few seconds of launch.

This patch is provided by Exelis Vis to enable the distribution of “runtime applications.” If Windows crashes abruptly and you are running 64-bit Windows, please install this patch.

PATCH 1 [Windows 64-bit]

PATCH 2 [Windows 32-bit]

ThroughFocus3 operates with a timed license and expires at a given date in the future. License the program as follows. A video demonstration is available, below.

1. Contact Ken (KAGoldberg@KanayamaConsulting.com) to discuss your licensing needs. Ken will send an email containing a license code to unlock the program, including any additional features that have been ordered.

2. Click on the Information Tab. At the top there is a field where you can enter the license code. Enter the code exactly as given.

3. You can check the weeks and days remaining in the license in the Information Tab.

4. Should you ever need to un-license a computer with a valid ThroughFocus3 license, there is a button with that purpose.

Please note that the licensing is a time-sensitive process. Once you receive a license code, please enter it and activate the license as soon as possible. When you complete the process, please communicate to Ken whether licensing was successful.

Occasionally, Windows updates can cause the program to forget that it has been licensed. Should that occur, please contact Ken for a new license code.

The IDL platform that runs ThroughFocus3 provides control over two primary graphics parameters that strongly influence how smoothly and well the program will run. These parameters are labeled retain, and renderer.

The default values are {retain = 1}, {renderer = 0}. In most cases, these values should work. Optimal settings depend on your hardware and software platform, therefore it may be necessary to adjust these, if the above settings cause graphics-related crashing to occur.

If the selected graphic settings are incompatible with the hardware, a program crash may occur. Upon the next launch of ThroughFocus, the program will detect that it did not close properly, and it will first present you with an opportunity to change the settings. If you do so, please note what settings you have selected, to test if they work. There are only six possible combinations. Once you find a setting that works, the program will remember it.