Controls and Data Acquisition

1ID x-ray data is almost exclusively collected using EPICS.Spec and Python are also used, as interfaces to EPICS, to perform custom scripting applications.The epics Area Detector application communicates with all detectors used at the beamline.
Data formats

The format in which data are saved depends heavily on the method of data collection.For example:

  • Area detector images are saved as tiff files or per the manufacturer's standard.
  • Metadata for each area detector image are saved as text files, one line for each image; these can be linked to the images using file numbers with post-processing analysis.
  • spec data are usually saved in ascii files.These files can grow long and unwieldy unless new files are created from time to time.
    Xplot is one tool for viewing and analysing spec files.
Data storage and transfer

Area detector and associated metadata is stored on the s1dserv, which has a dedicated storage server used to temporarily store user data (~40Tb as of 2015 but anticipated to grow).Users are responsible for making a copy of the data, usually by copying onto hard disks (e.g. external SATA drives).A copy of their data may be kept at the APS, but this is left to the discretion of their local contact.