PAX-it and PAXcam User Interface Updates

MIS is proud to serve the scientific and industrial community with flexible tools for imaging, for over 25 years! We have seen many changes to computers, from the original PCs to the present, including changes to the Windows operating system. The user interface for interacting with the software has also changed over time.

New Ribbons

The original PAX-it Windows interface had a toolbar with 12 buttons. Currently, PAX-it has multiple toolbars, with over 200 buttons for available functions! As the PAX-it toolbars have grown, the graphics used for the toolbar buttons have changed to reflect the current size and depth of button styles available.

Recent applications have moved away from the older “toolbar” styles entirely, to what is called a “ribbon” view. In Microsoft Office, for example, there is no longer a toolbar with a main menu of topics in dropdown selections. Instead, a ribbon displays functions that are available for categories of operations.

PAX-it is also moving to this new user interface, as an exciting new look! The new arrangement will accomplish several things for our users:

• PAX-it will look and feel more like other applications, for ease-of-use.
• Associated functions will be grouped together. For example, a “Setup” area will include functions for Software Installation, Database setup, Measurement setup, and PAXcam setup. A “Data” area will have related functions for Measurement data display and report generation. This new organization should help users find their needed functions more easily.
• New graphics tools are available for buttons, allowing a more modern look to the user interface.

New Treeview for Browsing

In addition to the toolbar changes, the “File Cabinet/Drawer/Folder” layout for browsing your PAX-it collection is changing as well.  A standard treeview will be available for users, which will overcome some of the limitations of the Cabinet/Folder structure:

• Folders may be nested within folders
• Different areas of the collection may be expanded for viewing at the same time
• Drag and drop operations for moving folders will be supported
• Folders may be sorted alphabetically (or numerically) with a click

New PAXcam Interface

The final addition to the new PAX-it look will be a change to the PAXcam interface. Rather than a tabbed interface that is crowded with buttons and sliders, a sectioned interface that is highly customizable will be used. Users will be able to specify which controls they wish to expose in the interface, to help users focus on the controls that are important to their operations.

As our many long-time users have come to expect, we will be offering these changes as options for those who upgrade to this later edition that is coming. In other words, if you are comfortable with the old style toolbars and browsing in PAX-it, and the traditional PAXcam interface, then you are welcome to continue using the classic presentation. However, we are confident that the changes that are planned will be welcomed, appreciated, and popular with all our users—new and old.