Import Maps Tool
Based on XMapTools 4.5 embedded documentation – Help file version 14.01.2024 by M. Tedeschi & P. Lanari
This page describes the Import Tool, which can be used to import maps, set the destination, and make basic corrections. Closing the Import Tool will stop the import process (no data will be imported).
Selecting Files
The Select 
button allows a set of map files to be imported. Select compatible files from the pick map file(s) pop-up window. Multiple files can be selected together. If a selected file cannot be imported (e.g. due to an incompatible format), it will be skipped during the import.
File Format
Map files must have the *.txt, *.asc, *.dat or *.csv extension, no header, and a name compatible with the XMapTools default element names for identification. The default lists of compatible element and oxide names are listed below.
Import Table
Selected map files are listed in the main table. Additional maps can be added by pressing the Add button.
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| File | Contains the file names |
| Map Name | Contains the name of the corresponding element in the database |
| Type | Element or oxide |
| Data | Intensity or wt% |
| Special | EDS or WDS(?); in the case of WDS(?) a DTC is automatically selected |
| DTC | Dead time correction |
| OC | Orientation correction (do not use for EPMA and LA-ICPMS using the approach of Markmann et al. 2024) |
| Destination | In XMapTools, can be: Intensity, Quanti, Merged, Other; drop-down menu, can be edited |
| Action | Keep or eliminate; drop-down menu, can be edited |
Corrections
Settings such as the dwell time can be changed in the Corrections section.
Press Import data 
to import the selected maps into XMapTools after the corrections have been applied.
- Intensity maps will be available in the Intensity category
- Other maps will be available in the Other category
Compatible Element Names
XMapTools supports all standard element symbols from H (1.00797) to Lr (260), including all lanthanides and actinides. Map files should be named with the corresponding element symbol for automatic identification.
Compatible Oxide Names
The following oxides are supported (non-exhaustive list of common oxides):
| Oxide | Element | Conversion Factor |
|---|---|---|
| SiO2 | Si | 0.467 |
| TiO2 | Ti | 0.600 |
| Al2O3 | Al | 0.529 |
| FeO | Fe | 0.777 |
| Fe2O3 | Fe | 0.699 |
| MnO | Mn | 0.774 |
| MgO | Mg | 0.603 |
| CaO | Ca | 0.715 |
| Na2O | Na | 0.742 |
| K2O | K | 0.830 |
| P2O5 | P | 0.436 |
| Cr2O3 | Cr | 0.684 |
| NiO | Ni | 0.786 |
| ZnO | Zn | 0.803 |
| ZrO2 | Zr | 0.740 |
| BaO | Ba | 0.896 |
| SrO | Sr | 0.846 |
| H2O | H | 0.112 |
| CO2 | C | 0.273 |
| SO3 | S | 0.400 |
Additional oxides are supported including rare earth element oxides (La2O3, Ce2O3, CeO2, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Dy2O3, Er2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, etc.), high field strength element oxides (Nb2O5, Ta2O5, HfO2, ThO2, UO2, U3O8, WO3, etc.) and many more.