My colleague, Manan Kharwar, wrote a quick ZPL macro that automatically converts an off-axis parabola with a Standard surface type to the Off-Axis Conic Freeform surface type.  This works for circular apertures with X and Y decenters, and results in an Off-Axis Conic Freeform that is clocked radially outward.  

Hi everybody, Is there an option in ZPL to specify the number of processor kernels to use in an optimization that is launched by ‘OPTIMIZE’?The only options I can find for ‘OPTIMIZE’ in the documentation are to specify ‘number_of_cycles’ and ‘algorithm’.Thanks,!--endfragment-->Kai

Good morning everybody!I do have a question regarding the opening of zmx files in Zemax Programming Language.Basically, I just ran a 250 Monte Carlo tolerancing analysis on my system (and I saved them all). I also created a custom Merit function used to compute the optical quality of my system and to compute important parameters such as focal length, chief ray position on the detector, etc…Is there a way to easily obtain the Merit function for all of the 250MC? Maybe there is something to do with ZPL but it would require for ZPL to be able to open other zmx files. I don’t even know if that’s possible.Or maybe there is an easier way to do so (such as saving the Merit function directly during the tolerancing analysis but I didn’t find this option).So if any one here has already experienced the same need, I would be more than happy to have some help!Thank you very much :D

My colleague, Taylor Breen, wrote a macro for smarter optimization of complex surfaces. The ZERNIKE_OPTIMIZER.zpl macro optimizes Zernike Standard Sag surfaces, setting one Zernike coefficient to variable solve at a time between optimization runs. The first four Zernike terms (piston, x-tilt, y-tilt, and defocus) are not optimized as they do not represent meaningful surface figure errors and are better optimized elsewhere. After the optimization is complete, coefficients with small values are set to 0 and their solve is set to fixed. This is to remove unnecessary complexity in the surface shape. The system is then reoptimized a final time using only the significant terms.

Example ZPL script to generate a Speos ROM V1 (.optdistortion) file from sequential Zemax.Please see the printed warning regarding UTF encoding before importing the resulting ROM into Speos.

I need the opposite of ZPL numerical function GNUM(a$), where a$ is a glass name in a given catalog and GNUM(a$) returns the glass number in the catalog.  I need the string name of the glass given the glass number in the catalog.  $GLASS(i) gives the glass on surface “i” of a loaded system rather than in a catalog.  Any tips?Mike

I had a post in Chinese but maybe this helps more people who wants to simulate the tolerance of their systems using ZPL. 如何使用ZPL改变POP中的beam和fiber数据 | Zemax CommunityThe MODIFYSETTING can be applied on the .CFG which has the same name of your design file and locates under the same directory of your file. This is the file that the POPD reads. You have to manually click the SAVE button to generate this file first. If we modify the POP.CFG, it does not work.Here is the sample ZPL code.popCFG$ = "C:\Users\Desktop\Fiber Coupling.CFG"MODIFYSETTINGS popCFG$, POP_FPARAM1, 0.005MODIFYSETTINGS popCFG$, POP_FPARAM2, 0.005OPENANALYSISWINDOW POP, popCFG$PRINT MFCN()The OPENANALYSISWINDOW may not be necessary for certain users. When I run the test, I need this line to activate the modification on this CFG file.

To control the narcissus in the system, need to know the YNI and I/I’ values of each surface and to be controlled to make a better system. Is there any macro available for getting the values of YNI and I/I' for each surfaces and use in the merit function. For YNI, we have YNIP operand but for I/I' is there any operand directly 

Hello Experts,I am trying to compare a Shack Hartmann wavefront measurement with my Zemax wavefront map.Image depicting the measurement setup from the website of the Shack Hartmann Sensor manufacturer (Optocraft)The Shack Hartmann setup I have is a double pass system where the objective is illuminated with a plane wave output from the sensor with a spherical mirror placed below the lens under test. The rays from the mirror are reflected back through the lens under test and then through the internal optical system of the measurement setup to the sensor. I am trying to model the double pass system so that i can replicate the setup as closely as possible. What I have done so far is:1. Use the “make double pass” replacing the image surface with a spherical mirror. This makes the first surface of the lens under test as the new “image” surface (after making double pass the first surface is also the last surface)2. I use the knowledge base article  “https://optics.ansys.com/hc/en-us/articles/

Hello,The following  ZPL-macro is run which performs a geometric analysis and then saves the text of this window: OPENANALYSISWINDOW IMA, GIA_cfg_file$n_GIA_window = WINL()SAVEWINDOW n_GIA_window, A$ The size of the image is 125 pixels, resulting in a text file size of 400 KBWhat I observed is that the time it takes to execute the SAVEWINDOW function takes a very long time of about 20 seconds (!), regardless of whether the text file is a temporary or permanent file.The saving takes nearly as long as the execution of the image analysis.However, if the text output of the very same “Geometric Image Analysis” window is saved manually to the very same file A$, the saving is performed in no time.The subsequent extracting of specific strings from this text file by using OPEN, READSKIP and READSTRING  is also  executed within “no” time. So my question is:why is SAVEWINDOW so slow or more importantly: how can I significantly speed up the saving process?Best regards, Marcel Zemax-Version:  Ansys

Hi everybody,I would like to write a macro in which I determine the 100 largest and smallest pixel values on a detector. Only pixels in a certain region of interest should be considered. I have already successfully implemented the criterion of whether a pixel is within the ROI.I also have a solution in mind for determining the 100 largest and smallest values, which I think should already work.When I run the macro, the array with the values also fills up at first, but at some point it stops and no new values are added.Do you guys have an idea why this is not working? Could there be some kind of buffer overflow or so? Or do I have a fundamental error in my macro?I added my macro and an exemplary result belowThanks for any help or hint :)  Best,Matteo ! Calculates the max and min intensity (from the 100 largest and lowest pixels) in a circle centered in the detector plane! Calculates the uniformity = min/max from the in that circledetector = 28size = 51max_radius = 25center = 26total = si

When I use Q-Type Asphere (Qcon), F-number solve calculates wrong value.I want to know if this is solve error.If this is an solve calculation error at Q-Type, I hope to fix it.  Radius Solve: F-number 2.65<Standard> <Q-type Asphere (QCon)>All extended parameters values are zero. 

Hi,I am trying to optimize a simple lens that focuses and couples a Gaussian beam into two different fibers. I want to optimize a lens that will yield the best combined coupling efficiency for both fibers. Just to clarify, the beam will be coupled into one fiber at a time, but the same lens will be used to couple a Gaussian beam into both fibers. The fibers are represented by .zbf files which are loaded in the Fiber Data tab in Physical Optics. Right now, I’ve written two ZPL macros that will each open a different .zbf, and they are called in the MFE using two separate ZPLM operands. Each ZPLM operand is immediately followed by a POPD operand to get the coupling efficiency which is then optimized, as shown below. I am not sure if this works as intended. When optimizing, are the operands in the MFE cycled in a loop, so to speak? Also is there a more elegant way of doing this, other than using ZOS-API, or should I use ZOS?Thank you,Sam

I tried those code:FOR i = -0.500, 0.500, 0.1      PRINT $STR(i)," ",NEXTPRINT! This one starts from -0.5 and ends at 0.5FOR i = -0.500, 0.500, 0.05      PRINT $STR(i)," ",NEXTPRINT! This one starts from -0.5 and ends at 0.5FOR i = -0.500, 0.500, 0.01      PRINT $STR(i)," ",NEXTPRINT! This one starts from -0.5 and ends at 0.49, WHY? Thanks!Xing 

Hi,I would like to use zpl to update my detector viewer and save it as an image.However, neither Ray Database nor Filter are adjusted in the detector viewer.#trace rays & evaluate Detectorfilter$ = "h3&h6&!x_hitface(8,0)&!x_hitface(8,2)&!x_hitface(4,0)&(x_hitface(7,1)|x_hitface(7,0))"filter2$="h3&h6&!x_hitface(8,0)&!x_hitface(8,2)&!x_hitface(4,0)"fileName$ = "ZMPRays.ZRD"NSTR 1, 0,0,0,0,1,0,1,fileName$temp = NSDD(1,0,0,0) ZRDPlayback fileName$,1,0,1, filter2$UPDATE ALLPRINT NSDD(1,9,0,0)ZRDPlayback fileName$,1,0,1, filter$UPDATE ALLPRINT NSDD(1,9,0,0)settingsFile$= "...\Zemax\Configs\DVR.CFG"MODIFYSETTINGS settingsFile$, DVW_ZRD, fileName$MODIFYSETTINGS settingsFile$, DVW_FILTER, filter$UPDATE ALLThe  PRINT NSDD(….) commands give the correct outputs, but the detector viewer is not updated.How can I use ZPL to update the detector viewer using the Ray Database fileName$ and the filter string filter$?

The current Through Focus Spot Diagram (TFSD) merges all wavelengths in the same plot, however it provides separation between fields. Right now I’m cloning windows and set the wavelength separate in each window.Is it possible to have a “simple” script to have them separate by wavelengths for a single field? What could be a command for the TFSD plot then?In principle it gives a different view to a Focal Shift.  

Hi,I would like to use the ZRDPLAYBACK function, but it doesn't seem to work, I think it doesn't take filters string into account.I have similar problem iy I use a function like  NSTR 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, A$ ,”W1”,2Marc.

Good day everyone,since ZPL is based on BASIC, I thought some of it generic functions could be used for converting variable types such as VAL(), INT() etc. Only $STR works, the other conversions are not recognized by ZPL.In particular, I want to define a single variable in my script (a particular detector number) and use it for both console output (with PRINT), non-sequential raytrace (with NSTR) and changing Detector Viewer settings (with MODIFYSETTINGS).I could define either a numerical variable and change it to string, but doing so outputs a floating point number (such as 5.000 for instance). Unfortunately, NSTR is having trouble with "h5.000” filter string. Then I thought I can define a string variable "5” and change it to numerical but no commands that I know seem to work. Is there a solution to my issue that would allow me to stay within ZPL script, not switching to ZOS-API?

Dear Zemax community,I am building upon your 'How to design a Gaussian to Top Hat beam shaper' tutorial.Instaed of TOP HAT, my goal is to create a Uuniform Radial Distribution at distance of 1M from the  beam shaper.i.e my goal is to create a uniform distribution on a sagment from a rolled screen. But the ZPL calculates the desired distribuion up on a flat wall, so what should be the distribution up on a “Flat screen” , so it generates a unifrom radial on a rolled sceen ? Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated.Thank you very much, Tali

when i use ZPL output to a text file , The output always stops halfway, and Zemax prompts "cannot open text file". Does anyone know why? For example, I plan to output 40,000 lines of data, but it stops at 10,000.

I have a question about Zemax Macro. My macro outputs the results from 1 previous macro setting, even though I edit and save the new setting in the macro every time. I put the screenshot that explain this problem. I have no idea why it happens, so I would like to have any suggestion and comments.  

I have run both the “phases” macro to locate where the steps are for a binary 2 on an aspheric surface and the “DoeSag” macro. However, I get different results as the radius increases. Sometimes, the number of zones ends up different.Which one is correct? I’ve used the “phases” macro for a long time without much issue. Recently, we have had requests for the sag tables on a binary, but I’m not sure I can trust the DoeSag results as the number of zones and zone locations do not match.

How to get FFT MTF, EFL values of Montecarlo runs when RMS wavefront is selected as criteria in tolerancing, any macro is available or can be done 

Is there a way to access the field 'Convert To' function in a ZPL macro?  If not, can this be added to the new features list? Thanks. Pat.

Hi everyone,I am new here and trying to write a macro for a simple setup that I have. I have a beam at source with specific NA and goes through few optics and get focused on a surface with floating aperture. My inputs are relative position of source/object respect to image in X and Y and output is efficiency at “Geometric Image Analysis”. How can I write such a Macro?