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The Mira Plug-in Interface
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A plug-in is a program extension module that is not
part of the application, but which can be accessed by
the application to extend its functionality.
Plug-ins allow your copy of Mira to do things it
didn't do "out of the box". For example, you might
use a plug-in to apply some special type of filter
to an image.
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The Plug-in Interface
is provided with all Mira Version 7 Software
Platforms.
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Mira Plug-ins are available from
Mirametrics, from 3rd
party authors, or you can write them yourself or
have them written by a Windows programmer.
The plug-in Interface
greatly enhances Mira's functionality by providing
an open standard to which users may write their own
software extensions. Mirametrics does not control or
otherwise license the plug-ins it does not write.
Hence plug-ins may be developed by the customer for
their proprietary use, or may be shared, sold, or
licensed by their authors.
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Available Plug-ins
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The table below lists publicly
available plug-ins that we know
about. This list is not complete. If you have authored a
Mira plug-in that you want to be listed here, please
contact
Mirametrics.
Disclaimer:
Mirametrics, Inc. makes no claims or warranties as to the value
or worthiness of the 3rd party products listed in the
table below.
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Plug-in |
Description |
Source |
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LAUM (Local Adaptive Unsharp Masking)
Jun 2001
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Performs adaptive
filtering to improve image sharpness and enhance subtle
structures without significantly enhancing noise. |
Balt Indermuehle,
http://www.inside.net/plugin |
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Unwrap PMIS Image
Jan 2002 |
Corrects
unsigned 16 bit pixel data in FITS format images written
by PMIS software for Photometric cameras. |
Mirametrics |
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Fix SSI FITS Data
Dec 2003 |
Corrects
unsigned 16 bit pixel data in FITS format images written
by SpectraSource camera control software. |
Mirametrics |
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Starlight SX
Aug 2003 |
Loads SX format images acquired
using a Starlight Express Model SX CCD camera. |
Mirametrics |
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Star1
Aug 2003 |
Loads Star-1 format images acquired
using a Photometrics Star-1 CCD Camera. |
Mirametrics |
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Princeton SPE
Jan 2004 |
Loads SPE format images acquired by
Princeton Instruments or Roper Scientific CCD cameras. |
Mirametrics |
Plug-in Types
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Three
types of Mira plug-in exist. The first two can be used
for 3rd party add-ons.
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File
Open Piug-in Interface™
("FOPI") plug-ins are used for opening image
files. They are located in the '[mira]\Plugins\Open' folder.
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Image Processing Plug-in Interface™(“IPPI”)
plug-ins are used for processing or inspecting
images. They are located in the '[mira]\Plugins\Process'
folder.
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Image Opening Plug-ins
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Open plug-ins are used for loading images in formats not internally supported by
Mira. The Opening plug-in interface is included in the basic
Mira AP. Open plug-ins appear as a normal file filter when you load an image using the standard “File | Open” command.
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Example
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Use a File Opening Plug-in to read legacy images produced by the discontinued Photometrics Star-1 CCD camera. The plug-in might add header information obtained from a log file produced at the time of image acquisition. The plug-in might create a file filter for the Star-1 images, for example,
*.st1.
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Processing Plug-ins
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Processing plug-ins extend
Mira's basic functionality for processing images or performing measurements. The Processing plug-in interface
for running plug-ins is a standard feature included with
all copies of Mira, beginning with version 6.
Processing Plug-ins appear as normal command items in the
Mira menu bar. Mira sends the plug-in the image, its header, the cursor center coordinate, and the region of interest marked by the rectangle cursor. What the plug-in does with these data is unknown to
Mira. After returning from the Processing Plug-in, Mira automatically sets up an undo version of the original image and displays the new image that was passed back from the plug-in.
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Example
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Use an Image Processing Plug-in to perform a specific type of filtering on an image.
Measure some aspect of an image inside a Region of Interest marked by the rectangle cursor. The plug-in might report the measurements in a pop-up dialog or save them to a text file for further use.
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Authoring a Plug-in
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The Mira Plug-in Interface is a simple Windows API that Windows programmers will find straightforward to use.
Mirametrics provides sample source code for use as a programming template. The effort involved writing a
Mira plug-in depends on the sophistication of the processing done by the code. A programmer experienced in Microsoft Visual C++ programming can write an elementary plug-in in a matter of minutes.
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Support Options
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All that is needed to write a successful
Mira plug-in is an understanding of Windows programming using Microsoft Visual C++, or an equivalent development tool, and the Plug-in SDK from
Mirametrics. Mirametrics
can provide support for developing Mira plug-ins on a
charge per incident basis. Services range from minority
participation in the development project to delivery of
turnkey solutions to meet the customer’s needs. Our
development team understands Mira better than anyone and
can efficiently develop top quality plug-in solutions
for commercial and proprietary use.
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Obtaining the Mira Plug-in SDK
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Software Development Kit ("SDK") is available free of charge to programmers wishing to develop
Mira plug-ins. The plug-in SDK consists of the source code templates and instructions.
No tech support is included in the no-cost distribution
of the plug-in SDK's. See "Support
Options", above.
Contact
Mirametrics to obtain the Mira Plug-in SDK or to discuss your specific needs
or to get a quotation for development costs or tech
support.
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