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T-Cube Laser Source
2.3.4 APT Server (ActiveX Controls)
ActiveX Controls are re-usable compiled software components that supply both a
graphical user interface and a programmable interface. Many such Controls are
available for Windows applications development, providing a large range of re-usable
functionality. For example, there are Controls available that can be used to
manipulate image files, connect to the internet or simply provide user interface
components such as buttons and list boxes.
With the APT system, ActiveX Controls are deployed to allow direct control over (and
also reflect the status of) the range of electronic controller units, including the TLS001
laser source. Software applications that use ActiveX Controls are often referred to as
'client applications'. Based on ActiveX interfacing technology, an ActiveX Control is a
language independent software component. Consequently ActiveX Controls can be
incorporated into a wide range of software development environments for use by
client application developers. Development environments supported include Visual
Basic, Labview, Visual C++, C++ Builder, HPVEE, Matlab, VB.NET, C#.NET and, via
VBA, Microsoft Office applications such as Excel and Word.
Consider the ActiveX Control supplied for a TLS001 APT Laser Source unit
This Control provides a complete user graphical instrument panel to allow the Laser
Source to be manually operated, as well as a complete set of software functions (often
called methods) to allow all parameters to be set and laser control operations to be
automated by a client application. The instrument panel reflects the current operating
state of the controller unit to which it is associated. Updates to the panel take place
automatically when a user (client) application is making software calls into the same
Control. For example, if a client application instructs the associated Laser Control to
move to set a particular output power, progress is monitored automatically by
