The DXM 1200 software package (ACT-1) is equipped with an advanced file saving feature that allows the user to rapidly record and save digital images in an efficient and organized manner. By enabling the specification of a set of storage conditions prior to conducting photomicrography sessions, the software automatically records, names, and stores image files as they are captured by the camera system.

Images can be saved in one of two schemes: by automatically saving each image (after it has been captured and/or digitally enhanced) in a pre-specified folder, under an incrementally numbered filename and in one of five image file formats, or by individually specifying a folder (directory), filename, and file format, then saving the image. The former method is the most convenient and allows the microscopist to record a large number of images in a single session, while the second method provides greater control over shuffling images through different locations on the computer hard drive.

The most convenient file saving mechanism involves choosing the folder (directory), filename and format in advance, allowing the operator to save a digital image simply by clicking on the Save button in the tool bar or by clicking on the Exposure button. The Save settings panel (Figure 1) is utilized to specify a folder and filename, while the Photo settings panel (Figure 2) contains elements that allow the user to choose a file format for the digital image. Photomicrographs captured digitally by the DXM 1200 camera system may be saved in one of five different file formats. For low-resolution files, choose the *.JPG (JPEG or Joint Photographic Experts Group) format, which has three levels of file compression algorithms: fine (highest resolution), normal (standard resolution), and basic (lowest resolution).

Higher resolution files should be saved in either *.TIF (TIFF or Tagged Image File Format) or *.BMP (Windows Bitmap), which are both compression-free formats capable of storing files without loss of image information. The JPEG format produces relatively small file sizes and is convenient for images that are destined to be posted on the Web or transmitted by email or file transfer protocol (FTP). Use either the TIFF or BMP format for high-resolution images that will ultimately be printed or published. File sizes range from several hundred kilobytes (Kb) for highly compressed JPEG files to over 35 megabytes (Mb) for the highest resolution TIFF and BMP files.

Default file storage settings for the Save panel are C:\Image for the directory (folder) and Img_$### for the individual image files. Filenames specified in the Save panel may start with any character string as a prefix. In addition, a variable can be assigned as a filename that corresponds to the date, time, and serial number, providing greater freedom in filename assignment. The following prefix variables are utilized by the software to assign filenames:

• $YYYY - Year specification utilizing all four digits as in 1999 or 2000.

• $YY - Year specification utilizing an abbreviation of only the last two digits as in 99 or 00.

• $MMM - Month specification stored as a three-letter abbreviation, such as JAN, FEB, MAR, etc.

• $MM - Month specification abbreviated as a two digit number as in 01 for January and 10 for October.

• $DD - Two-digit day specification for each day of the month.

• $HH - Two-digit hour specification ranging from 1 to 24 hours, such as 06 (6:00 AM) or 18 (6:00 PM).

• $hh - Hour specification using lower case letters for a 12-hour period ranging from 1 to 12 (either AM or PM).

• $mm - Minutes specification using lower case letters for a 60-minute period ranging from 1 through 60 for each separate hour.

• $ss - Seconds specification using lower case letters for a 60-second period ranging from 1 through 60 for each separate minute.

• $DXM - Setting filename. When this variable is utilized in the Prefix text input box, a directory is created for image storage that bears the name of the settings file. Use of this abbreviation as a filename is not allowed by the software if a setting file has not been loaded.

• $### - An individual serial number for each file within the same folder (directory), such as 001, 002, 003, etc.

As an example, images recorded on November 14, 2000 (a Tuesday) at 4:45:03 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) assigned to specific input strings would have the following filename abbreviations and names:

Use of this system ensures a unique filename for each image captured, regardless of how many images are stored during a particular period of time. To further organize images, a new folder named to indicate the date will automatically be created each day if the following filename-matching variables are utilized to assign a filename:

In this case, it is important to add the backslash character following the $DD string. To further organize digital images, a specific filename can be chosen as the name of a setting file and all images recorded when the setting file is loaded into the software will be subdivided into a directory of the same name. To specify use of a setting file, add the appropriate sting to the filename variables:

Use of the string $DXM as a filename will not be allowed by the software if the setting file has not been created and properly loaded before execution of the image capture routine. This topic is reviewed in the section on Configuring and Loading Setting Files.

Prior to capturing digital images, the Save panel should be properly configured to store the files in a desired location. The first step is to load the Save settings panel into the window by clicking on the Save tab, which is one of five navigational tabs on the settings panel header. Choose a directory to load into the Image Folder input box, either by typing in the name of the target directory (for example C:\images) or by clicking on the Browse button adjacent to the text input box and working through the directory tree to locate the folder. Next, click on the Prefix text box and type in a filename, character string, or other variable. Filename-matching variables can then be entered into the Body text box, and the Apply button triggered to initialize the new filename variables. Clicking on the Default button will set the directory (folder) and filenames in the Prefix and Body text boxes back to their default values:

During the process of configuring settings in the Save panel for automatic storage of digital images, a desired file format should also be selected. This is accomplished by clicking on the Photo tab in the settings panel menu header to access the File Format menu (see Figure 2). The Photo settings panel is also utilized to select the digital image resolution mode.

Once the Photo settings panel has been loaded, use the Format pull-down menu to select between one of five image file formats. Formats utilized by the ACT-1 software include *.JPG (JPEG), *.BMP (Windows Bitmap), and *.TIF (TIFF). After the file format has been chosen, the software is ready to save images of a particular format in the selected directory using a pre-determined naming scheme. Images appearing in the Live window can then be saved either by clicking on the Save button in the ACT-1 toolbar (Figure 3) or by selecting the File option from the main software menu and scrolling down to the Save menu item.

In cases where only one or a several digital images must be saved, it is often convenient to specify the directory (folder), filename, and file format prior to saving each individual image. First, click on the File choice in the ACT-1 software main menu bar (Figure 3) to launch a pull-down menu containing a list of the File menu commands. Choose the Save As... option, and the standard Windows File Save dialog box will appear. The next step is to select a location on the hard drive for storage of the digital image file. To do this, click on the down-arrow button positioned on the right side of the Save In box to select a location. A pull-down menu will appear that contains a breakdown of the computer's directory tree, starting with the Desktop and proceeding through the local and network drives available for file storage. Once a storage location has been selected, type a filename into the File Name text input box, which appears on the lower portion of the dialog box. Beneath the text input box is a Save As Type pull-down menu that allows the user to select a file extension type that will automatically be appended to the file name. After the file name and extension have been entered into the File Name text box, click on the Save button to save the file.

If the user attempts to save a file in a folder (directory) under a filename that is identical to a file already stored in the folder, the Windows Overwrite dialog box appears to present a choice of overwriting the file or canceling the operation. Click on the Yes button to overwrite the existing file or the Cancel button to close the dialog box and abort the operation. In order to save the file under a different name, click on the No button and the File Save dialog box appears, allowing the user to select a new filename.

As mentioned above, the user can choose to automatically save digital images recorded with the DXM 1200 ACT-1 software immediately after they are captured. An option entitled Auto Save appears in the Photo settings panel (Figure 2), which will enable automatic storage of images. When the Auto Save feature is turned on (by clicking in the checkbox), images are saved in the folder and under the filenames and format specified in the Save settings panel. The default value for the Auto Save function is off. Note that images captured by time-lapse cinemicrography are automatically saved, regardless of the Auto Save setting state.

In order to enable the Auto Save software routine, click on the Photo tab in the settings panel header, then click on the check box positioned in the File portion of the panel. Once a check mark appears in the box, the auto saving function is turned on. Clicking again on the check mark will cause it to disappear, turning the function off. When conducting extensive digital photomicrography sessions, the automatic image saving feature is very convenient, allowing the user to capture a large quantity of images without having to stop and enter individual filenames and directory storage locations.