ZPL

Find out how you can save time and energy using the Zemax Programming Language!

  • 159 Topics
  • 427 Replies

159 Topics

Michael.Young
Michael.YoungInfrared
asked in ZPL

Record GUI interaction as ZPL commands?

I was helping a colleague with ZPL the other day. He wanted to know how to set a field as a variable and then constrain it. Additionally, he wanted to do this through a ZPL.The first part is easy enough. My approach was to expose the field as a variable through the multi-configuration editor using “YFIE”, declaring the solve as “Variable” and then constraining it in the merit function editor with “MCOL”, “MCOG”, or “MCOV”.For the ZPL portion, I wrote a small script for him demonstrating how to assign a variable in the MCE with ZPL.CLOSEWINDOW ! INSERTMCO, 1 # insert a row into the mce.SETMCOPERAND 1, 0, "YFIE", 0 # changes the operand to "YFIE"SETMCOPERAND 1, 0, 1, 1 # assigns YFIE to field no. 1 SETMCOPERAND 1, 1, 15, 0 # changes the value of row 1 config 1 to 15SETMCOPERAND 1, 1, 1, 3 # changes the solve type to "V"BEEP This made me think that it would be useful if there were a way to record GUI interactions as lines in a ZPL. For example, I could turn on the propose

2
Michael.Young
13 days ago
liz_strong
liz_strongInfrared
posted in ZPL

Geometric image analysis ZPL API incomplete

Hello! A feature request -- could you please complete the ZPL API for geometric image analysis? It would be handy to be able to modify parameters available in the GUI that aren’t included in the API yet like the “use polarization” check box & the reference dropdown menu. Thanks!Liz 

4
liz_strong
13 days ago
R
Renaud.LigotInfrared
asked in ZPL

saving txt files in a loop with incremental file name

HiI would like to save a txt file at each step of a loop. So I need to change the name of the saved file to not overwrite the previous one. Does someone have an example to share?Thank you.

2
R
14 days ago
K
Keiya.YoshidaSingle Emitter
asked in ZPL

Where is the detail explanation of MODIFYSETTINGS key word "Tfg"?

Hi, I’m trying to develop a ZPL macro that can get the Through Focus Geometic MTF which modifysettings key word is “Tfg”. But I’m not able to find detail explanation of “Tfg” in UserManual.PDF. In case of “Tfm”,  I  know the Modifysettings of “Tfm” is supported. I was able to run the ZPL code like below.    MODIFYSETTINGS tfmcfg$, TFM_SAMP, calc_tfm_sampBut the ZPL code include “Tfg” like below has errored.MODIFYSETTINGS tfgcfg$, TFG_SAMP, calc_tfg_sampERROR in MODIFYSETTINGS: Incorrect version number in settings file.Please let me know whether “Tfg” code is supported or not?Keiya Yoshida 

7
David.Nguyen
Luminary
19 days ago
alexander_dumont
alexander_dumontInfrared
asked in ZPL

Why does the merit function have different values than when I run ray trace?

So I’m trying to optimize a design in Zemax non-sequential. However I’m noticing that there is a discrepancy between what the MF editor reports, and what I see from running ray trace and running detector viewer. My MF looks like the following: And I see that the total flux (line 7) is 0.619 out of .75. This is a very good number. So then I cancel the optimization, and perform a ray trace, and when I take a look at the detector viewer, I get the following:How can the MF editor be displaying 0.619, yet the total power, which I think is the same metric on the detector viewer is indicating 0.422?

1
David.Nguyen
Luminary
1 month ago
Lucia
LuciaSingle Emitter
asked in ZPL

ZPL to save geometric image analysis images in a loop

Hi, I’m trying to use ZPL to run a couple of loops and save geometric image analysis. This loops aim to change the field and wavelength in the settings of the image, but I cannot make it work. If I go for the text-only saving option, it doesn’t change either. To guide you into the code, first I define the x and y of the fields:DECLARE setxfields, DOUBLE, 1, 9DECLARE setyfields, DOUBLE, 1, 9setxfields(1) = 0.0setxfields(2)=9.68938        …setyfields(1)=-0.0    setyfields(2)=-0.034… Then define the folders and filenames and then start the loopFOR wave2, 1, 9, 1    FOR field, 1, 9, 1    field_x = setxfields(field)    field_y = setyfields(field)    SETSYSTEMPROPERTY 101, 9    SYSP 102, 1, FLDX(field)    SYSP 103, 1, FLDY(field)    SYSP 202,1,WAVL(wave2)    window=WINL()    OPENANALYSISWINDOW "IMA"    UPDATE ALL    filename$ = arm$+"_"+mode$+"_"+"test_wave_"+$str(WAVL(wave2))+"_field_"+$str(field)+".bim"    filename2$ = arm$+"_"+mode$+"_"+"test_wave_"+$str(WAVL(wave2))+"_field_"+$str(field)

2
Mark.Nicholson
Luminary
1 month ago
JiY
JiYMonochrome
asked in ZPL

How can I import Grid Sag in macro using buffer

Hi all, I am writing a ZPL macro which calculates phase patterns and imports the phase into Grid Phase Surface automatically. (There is a typo in title. I’m using a Grid Phase Surface) I found a way to import the grid phase using IMPORTEXTRADATA keywords in a below questionMacro import of .dat file onto a Grid Phase surface | Zemax CommunityBut it requires “reading” .dat files; so, I should firstly generate .dat file for the calculated phase profiles, and after that I could read again the phase from those .dat files to import. It seems to be very inefficient method and takes too long time to write and read my phase profile.  Is there any way to import phase data directly from another data types in ZPL (like array or vec) instead of writing and reading .dat files? With best regards,Jiwoon.

4
JiY
2 months ago
cameron.vo
cameron.voStudent
asked in ZPL

ZPL Macros: Efficient ways of getting data points from the MTF

Hello,I am trying to develop a ZPL macro that will be used in my merit function so that different wavelengths and different fields will all share the same MTF. I am currently getting very good results with my code, but it is a little bit slow at roughly 8 seconds per cycle which is worrisome as I am currently only doing 1 field with 3 wavelengths. I was wondering how GETMTF actually works since it seems like it is calculating the entire MTF and only extracts the value for a single specified frequency when GETMTF is ran. For my purpose, it would be more efficient to calculate the entire MTF once for each wavelength/field, and then I could just grab the values directly from the MTF rather than having to run a loop combined with GETMTF to get the values I need to calculate MSE.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions on making my code more efficient or any alternative methods to solve this problem. 

1
Mark.Nicholson
Luminary
2 months ago
William Oak
William OakMonochrome
asked in ZPL

How to stop NSTR from resetting number of cores?

Hello,So I’ve been trying to alter the number of cores through a macro by using “SYSP 901, []”. However, each time I run the ray trace (NSTR 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0), the number of cores resets to its maximum value.To attempt to identify why, I re-used the code proposed HERE, adding a “print SYPR(901)”, and I get the following.The elapsed time varies somewhat, but stays close enough to one another to conclude that the NSTR is somehow resetting the # of core before running the ray trace.-The duration is coherent with 20 cores (~7.8s) if I run it using the Ray Trace Control window; the time at 1 core is ~40s, 16 cores 7.4 s-I’ve tried using the advanced options in the system explorer to Turn Off Threading, without it having any apparent effect.-Apparently NSTR does an update to everything before running, but I’ve not been able to reproduce the bug with “UPDATE” so I don't think that's the cause.-I’ve tried other files and seen the same issue (namely Projector Modeled Using an IES Data File.Z

1
William Oak
2 months ago
S
spacebabaMonochrome
asked in ZPL

Zemax Macro

Hi guys, I am new to learning ZPL. I have a list of macros that I am tasked to write at work. Here are the list below with their purpose. I was hoping anyone have written similar macro, p[lease share or give me tips on how to write them. Thanks.Compute the paraxial ABCD matrix between 2 surfaces. Bend a lens. Given one radius, compute the other radius to maintain the focal length. Macro to plot and optionally list the distortion over the full image format Calculate relative or absolute dn/dT values based on the Schott equations Draw the aperture(s) associated with a surface. Define a macro function to compute the clearance between two surfaces, including the sags of the two surfaces Compute the angular boresight error in object space of the system due to the decentration of a surface or a group of surfaces. Compute the edge thickness between two surfaces at a specified x,y location Plot the FOV points Tabulate the focal lengths of each component in the specified surface range. A compon

4
Georg.Nadorff
2 months ago
O
OranVisible
asked in ZPL

SETNSCPOSITION/ SETNSCPARAMETER In ZPLM

Hello, I want to push into my model an input file with data regarding new position/ parameters.When I execute the ZPL code through the GUI (Programing>Edit/Run, F9) it works just fine, but when I try to execute it through the merit function with a ZPLM row it seems that the SETNSCPARAMETER/ SETNSCPOSITION just isn’t working.I know the MFE is executing the ZPLM since I made a debug output which looks just fine, feels like I’m missing something very basic.Code snippet:OPEN INPUT_FILENAMEOUTPUT OUTPUT_FILENAMEREAD NUM_OF_PARAMS NUM_OBJPRINT NUM_OF_PARAMS, " ", NUM_OBJFOR II, 1, NUM_OF_PARAMS, 1 READ PARAM_NUMBER PARAM_VALUE PRINT PARAM_NUMBER, " ", PARAM_VALUE SETNSCPARAMETER 1, NUM_OBJ, PARAM_NUMBER, PARAM_VALUENEXTCLOSE An input/output example of the code above:## INPUT ##3 181 50 2 50000.0 3 0.005## OUTPUT ##3.0000 18.00001.0000 50.00002.0000 50000.00003.0000 0.0050 Edit: Wanted to point out that my ZPL files are located in Zemax/Macros

2
O
2 months ago
J
JHKMonochrome
asked in ZPL

Diffractive macro DOESAG.zpl is not available

Hi,I am unable to find DOESAG.zpl macro for getting the sag values for the diffractive aspheric surface. Earlier it was available in the knowledge base but now that is also not there. Can I get this macro as it is very useful to view the steps of diffractive surface and surface sag dataRegardsJ Himavanth kumar

5
W
2 months ago
James.Fry
Ultraviolet
James.FryUltraviolet
asked in ZPL

Macro import of .dat file onto a Grid Phase surface

I have a macro that converts .tif files to .dat files via the CONVERTIMAGETOGRID keyword and that all works like a charm and it creates wagonloads of .dat files.  What I’d like to do next is import those files into a prescription with an established Grid Phase surface via the same macro . . . but I don’t see a ZPL way to do that?Anybody have any ideas?Thanks!

2
James.Fry
Ultraviolet
3 months ago
David.Nguyen
Luminary
David.NguyenLuminary
posted in ZPL

Adding easing to animations

Hello everyone, I just wanted to share some work I’ve been doing today with adding easing to animations for OpticStudio.In March 2021, Dan Hill published his fine article: How do I create presentation quality graphics and animations? At the end of the article, Dan demonstrates how to produce a 360 degree animated GIF using ZPL.However, one may want to rotate an object over a smaller angular range, and go back and forth from the original position. If you were to do so naively using Dan’s approach, every frame would be at a fixed angular position from the previous one, and you would obtain a “linear” GIF. However, you can obtain a slightly different result if you apply an easing function. There’s an outstanding website, called https://easings.net/, that demonstrates how to make use of such easing functions and the website also includes the formulas necessary to calculate these easing functions.Let me demonstrate the result with an example first, and then show you the workflow I used.I wa

0
David.Nguyen
Luminary
3 months ago
Julia
Zemax Staff
JuliaZemax Staff
posted in ZPL

ZPLM tricks that you may don't know, but can be incredibly useful

I will share examples of using ZPLM as a workaround to solve some problems that I see/ you may experience in my daily support 😀.  

7
Julia
Zemax Staff
3 months ago
S
spacebabaMonochrome
asked in ZPL

ZPL TASK 4. Energy on a Detector (EOD)

Hi guys,Here is another set of task focus on Energy on a detector.  Compute and plot the EOD of a system over a defocus range for the specified field points Shift an optical element over a range of axial shifts and compare the change in EOD Compute and plot the percent EOD (energy on detector) over a linear field. Compute and plot the EOD (energy on detector) for a range of focus shifts Compute and plot the change in EOD (encircled or ensquared energy on a detector) over the 2D rectangular FOV Plot the change in EOD (encircled or ensquared energy on a detector) times the normalized PSA over the FOV. Assumes that the macros EOD_VS_FOV and VIG_VS_FOV have been run. Thank you!

0
S
3 months ago
S
spacebabaMonochrome
asked in ZPL

ZPL TASK 3

Hi guys,Task 3 Plot the RMS spot size vs. through-focus position. Compute and plot the RMS value of geometric spot size, wavefront error, or strehl ratio over a linear field. Compute and plot the RMS value of geometric spot size, wavefront error, or strehl ratio vs focus position. Compute and plot the RMS value of geometric spot size, wavefront error, or strehl ratio over the two-dimensional FOV Compute and plot the RMS value of geometric spot size, wavefront error, or strehl ratio vs wavelength. Compute and plot the RMS WFE over the FOV. Plot spot diagrams over the 2D rectangular or circular field of view. The field of view is assumed to be centered on-axis. Macro that defines a function that returns the RMS Spot Size at any surface in your system. Can be used to constrain the spot size during optimization Thank you!

0
S
3 months ago
S
spacebabaMonochrome
asked in ZPL

ZPL MACROS TASK 2 (MTF)

Hi guys,I decided to section the ZPL task to avoid confusion because I have about 100 of these macros to write. Compute and plot MTF, plotting all fields in one plot (to a maximum of 20 fields). Compute and plot the MTF over a linear field for a specified set of spatial frequencies. Compute the MTF over the field of regard (FOR) for a specified spatial frequency and a specified field point Compute and plot the radial, tangential, or average of radial and tangential MTF over the FOV for a specified spatial frequency Compute the MTF at a given spatial frequency vs. the change in a specified lens parameter. Compute the MTF at a given spatial frequency vs. the change in a specified lens parameter. The parameter minimum and maximum values may be entered as actual values or as deltas. Plot the two-dimensional MTF for the specified field points, zoom positions, and through-focus positions. Plot the optical MTF cascaded with the detector MTF to get the combined MTF for the system

0
S
3 months ago
R
RaphaelSingle Emitter
asked in ZPL

ZPLM and POP analysis

Hello. I’m interested in running optimization targeting to get a specific beam shape on image. The beam is generated using POP Gaussian angle. The analysis i want to run requires a macro code. For that I’m going to use the ZPLM operand. My question is how do I read POP analysis Text data tab with the ZPL? I want to process the data and to return the macro result to the merit function ThanksRaphael  

1
David.Nguyen
Luminary
4 months ago
Christoph.Bodendorf
Ultraviolet
Christoph.BodendorfUltraviolet
posted in ZPL

Print statements in ZPL are suppressed during the script is running

Dear support team, it seems that a 'Print' statement  in ZPL is suppressed during the script is running. Then at the end of the script all print statements are executed at once. I guess, this is a kind of optimisation? However, I am running large scripts and I would like to see the progress in the command window . So I would like the print statement to react directly when it is called. Is this possible?    Thank you,       Christof.

9
MichaelH
Luminary
4 months ago
O
Olivier.FRANCOISSingle Emitter
asked in ZPL

Unable to save file

Hi,  I've recently experienced an issue when using ZPL/Zrdplayback command for optimizing a non sequential system.  The local optimizer/orthogonal descent, worked fine, but the two global optimizers (Global search & Hammer) stopped at the start of the optimization process with the following error message 'Unable to save file...'.  I've found a design file in this forum showing the same behavior (please check the attached file). I suspect that the problem arises when  several variations of the initial model are generated and attempt to create and/or read the rayfile from the ZPL macro. Could you please comment and propose a fix that would ideally, preserve the call to zrdplayback?   Thank you  

5
SimoS
4 months ago
Davis
DavisMonochrome
asked in ZPL

how to get peak irrandiance from NSC detector through ZPL Macro

Hi Sir/Madam,I am trying to get the peak irrandiance through ZPL language, but seems do not have command fit my purpose.I am thinkging if I could use NSDD to get flux value in position space for each pixel# and compare each value with a command like “maximun” to get the peak one in a array, then I still could reach my purpose. But is there any command for me could do it to get maximun value? and how should I use it? SincerelyDavis 

2
Davis
4 months ago
Audrey L
Audrey LSingle Emitter
asked in ZPL

ZPLM uncorrectly read by merit function

Hello, I created a ZPL (ZPL02.zpl), it seems to work if I run it directly through Programming>Edit/Run, but not inside the merit function.PRINT "worst case : ", worst_colorOPTRETURN 0, worst_colorThose two lines do not give the same value. The first one gives a correct value. In addition, when I call this ZPL through the merit function, it does not update the output value.What should I do?Thanks in advance for your help,  

2
Audrey L
4 months ago
James
JamesInfrared
asked in ZPL

Is there a list of ZPL reserved terms, such as....

Is there a list of ZPL reserved terms, such as.…$FILENAME()$DATE()I know that these are not high priority terms like the optimization operands, but they are useful when crafting output text.    Others might be PATH,  and some of the System Parameters. Thanks  

3
MichaelH
Luminary
5 months ago
M
MIN SOO.KANGMonochrome
asked in ZPL

Please create a code ZPL

I want to use operand ZPLM to write code. Please create a code that optimizes the semi-diameter of all lenses to be less than the number I set as the target. Also, what numbers should I use for Mac# and Data in ZPLM? 

0
M
5 months ago

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