• After edition of the sample identification, the path density profiles are updated if the sample thickness have been changed (now works for multi-segments paths).
• The sample thickness (used by density analysis) is now saved in column 25 of ring based data files.
• Two more options in Analysis/Preferences.
• Bugs (crashes) fixed.

This is the first version designed for and tested under Windows Vista (but it also works under XP). It has been produced by a different compiler (the latest available) and thus has inherited some enhancements of modern tools built-in (increased capacity or limits of some functions related to maximum image size).

Note: WinDENDRO 2008a will not read analyses stored in tiff image files made with versions 6.5 and less. Those files can be read only if they are first converted to an earlier version with a previous version of WinDENDRO (such as 2003, 2004, 2005 or 2006).

New Features

• You can undo and redo interactive ring and path modifications commands such as moving, reorienting, adding and deleting rings.
• It is now possible to recreate paths which have been deleted (using Path/Delete Active Path or Path/Cancel Analysis).
• Paths can now be continued (prolonged) after they have been closed (terminated).
• The last segment of a path can now be deleted after it has been closed (terminated).
• Brother paths (having a common beginning point such as the centre of a disk) can be added to existing paths (works for single or multi-segments paths).
• Analysed images saved in Tiff files contain more of WinDENDRO’s analysis settings (interactive compression and void areas (Density version), ring features names and interactive markers...).
• You can choose what to do with the analysis when a tiff file previously analysed in WinDENDRO is loaded. WinDENDRO can: 1) load the image without the analysis or 2) load some or all of the analysis settings along with the analysis in the file. The choice of which settings are loaded is done in a new command, Path/Analysis Preferences.
• A batch reanalysis command has been added. Used in conjunction with the preceding feature (selection of which settings are loaded from tiff files) it allows to reanalyse a series of images with different setup parameters (e.g. new calibration, earlywood definition, data file format...) without operator supervision.
• It is now possible to create reference series (master chronologies) from unequal number of ring widths series. Messages are now displayed in more error situations.
• It is possible to create reference data series (master chronologies) by merging existing reference data series (thus creating them with or without analysed images). It also takes into account from how many series they have been averaged from to keep their respective weight.
• The reference data format has been modified (.ref2 format) to hold the information about from how many data series a reference data set come from (so its weight is kept when later averaged with other series).
• The area measurement module is now included in the Density version. It allows to measure the area of regions you outline in the image (such as void, cracked or compression areas).
• When area measurements are done (Density version) with or without paths created, WinDENDRO will write their total area in the Command area. In earlier versions, it was written only if a Log outline analysis had been done.
• The tree (sample) name of files converted to Tucson (decadal) format now have a different digit given by WinDENDRO (as the last character of the name) if the user have turned on Path identification in Path/Identification/Preferences. This allow to have different sample identifications in Tucson's files for multiple radii made on the same sample.
• 10 to 16 bits per pixel grey levels images are saved in 10 to 16 bits (not 8 as before) with or without their analysis.
  

Modifications to the interface

• The Command Area width is now adjustable.
• Information about the scanner calibration stored in the Scanner.cal file is now visible in Calibration/Method. This comprises its manufacturer, model and serial number. Dual lens scanners are also supported.
• More data about the intensity profile (min, max and average) are displayed in the Command area when density analysis is not active (intensity related data not density data). Also this information is now written with a three digits precision instead of one.
• After a click to create a ring, it is highlighted so it can be deleted right away just by clicking again (without having to move the mouse).
• The Channel selection command has been moved from the Image to the Display menu.
• Background light uneveness compensation in the scanning direction can be defined from any vertical or horizontal direction. A rectangle is now drawn around the area used for compensation.
• Background light uneveness compensation in the scanning direction now works with 16 bits per pixels images and works better in 8 bits.
• When you activate Density/Density Analysis and that Light calibration is set to After Image Acquisition (in Density/Light Calibration Parameters), a message indicating to do a light calibration is displayed rather than starting the calibration.
• The graphic of light calibration (in Density/Light Calibration Parameters) now displays in red invalid portion of the curve and will clip it to the graphic boundary.
• Some command names have been simplified (shortened and/or reorganised into hierarchical menus) or their window have been redesigned.
• The WinDENDRO’s welcome (copyright) window displayed at startup fades away after a few seconds.

Bug Fixes / Annoyances Removed

• Alt + click to reorient a ring, did now work for the last ring of a path which had descending paths.
• Earlywood width manually set by the user will remain after modifications to paths.
• The keyboard commands to shift rings (W, Z, Shift+W, Shift+Z) also shifted rings highlighted on inactive paths (a very rare situation since rings are only highlighted on the active path).
• A freeze which occurred sometimes when activating Path/Define Gap Area and zooming the image or scrolling it instead of clicking it right away.
• The double confirmation (Ok or Cancel) after Path/Edit Active Path Identification.
• Ring angle on descending segments was not displayed in the Command Area when the mouse was over a ring.
• Graphic of light calibration will not crash if the same intensity is entered for two consecutive steps.

Commands Removed

• Data/Format Preferences. The dot is always used as a decimal separator.
• The 16 bits display range sub-menus items of the Image menu.
• Image/Save Image Selection.
  
• Light equalization (the method other than in scanning direction).

NEW MEASUREMENTS

• OPTION (not offered as a standard feature in WinDENDRO 2005): A new menu called Area has been added to accommodate the following new measurements' commands for disks or log analysis. It is now possible to measure semi-interactively;
  • Compression (reaction) wood area
  • Voids (cracks) area
  • Disk area, shape (form coefficient), perimeter, average radius, ring density per inch or cm in function of distance to pith).
• Ring features. For each ring, you can set up to five features or observations that you define (frost ring, wide, missing...). All these features can be set and retrieved on a ring basis. They are also displayed in the ring width graphic and saved with the analysis data.
• Comments have been integrated with the above ring features (they share the same commands and can be set and retrieved in the same windows).
• Paths length are saved (equivalent to disk radius if path goes from pith to bark in straight line).
• An optional data file format has been added. It stores more information along with the ring width. This information comprises image acquisition conditions (scanner or camera model, focal length, aperture, exposure, program and firmware name and version), WinDENDRO's analysis settings (ring detection method, path width...), the image file name and the new measurements added (compression and reaction wood area, disk area, disk shape, perimeter, form coefficient...). The old ring width format (used since years) is still available.

NEW FEATURES

• You can edit the image (modify its content) with any color present in it (by picking it up interactively) or by defining your own colors. This allows to remove defects that prevent ring analysis from being done accurately. It can also be used to remove artefacts for density analysis (on x-ray films or wood). Any modifications done to the image are permanent and are saved with it (if you save the image after edition). For temporary drawing over the image, see the next feature.
• You can draw temporary markers over the image (to help you keep track of rings along a disk to find missing ones for example). Markers appearance (thickness, color) can be changed after they have been created and can have an identification name.
• You can create any number of paths up to 128 with one mouse click. Previously it was limited to 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32, now you can create also 3, 5, 6, 9, 11....up to 128.
• When creating 1 or 2 paths with one mouse click, you can choose the paths direction in the image.
• Ring width graphic
  • Skeleton plots have been added (for cross-dating).
  • Ring features (frost ring, wide, missing...) can be displayed.
  • A command has been added to delete reference data.
  • Paths can be shifted and splitted individually (for cross-dating).
  • Paths can be shifted and splitted at more than one place per path (for cross-dating).
  • Modifications done to the reference data (splits, shifts) can be permanently kept in the original ring width data (null rings are automatically inserted at the right places and ring years adjusted).
  • Reference data are now saved with 3 digits after the dot (instead of 2).
  • Zoom buttons and factor have been moved to the graphic lower right corner.
  • A few minor improvements to improve readability of the graphic data.
  • A new command to set the graphic preferences has been added.
  • Right mouse click functions have been added for graphic settings and ring features.
  • Rings highlighted in (in yellow) in the image (when the mouse is moved over them or that an image selection is made around them) are also highlighted in the ring width graphic by drawing a grey background behind them and by writing their year and number above the graphic.
  • When the mouse is moved over rings in the graphic, they are highlighted (greyed out) in the graphic and in highlighted in yellow in the image.
  • When activating paths from the graphic (with the tab key) the same year (as the current active path) is highlighted on the newly activated paths rather than the same ring number.
  • When paths are activated from the ring width graphic, the selected ring on the graphic is also highlighted in the image.
  • Cross-dating series import supports more formats and is more easily done. You can load a WinDENDRO data file, a decadal (Tucson) data file (1/100 of inch precision delimited by 999 or 1/1000 of inch precision delimited by -9999) and earlier REF data files.
  • There can be up to sixteen reference data series (up from 1).
  • The Cross-dating menu has been renamed Graphic and has been redesigned. Commands have been renamed, added and grouped in pop-up menus.
  • The path(s) used to create reference data is (are) no more related to those displayed but is (are) selected from menu commands.
  • The correlation coefficient is now calculated between the active path and the active reference data series and is now compatible with the multiple splits and shift.
  • There are more ways to created reference data (master series). It can be as before from the path(s) under measurement or by loading any decadal (Tucson) or WinDENDRO standard ring-width data file.
  • Automatic log scale range selection now works better.
• Calibration of images from a camera can be done with a single mouse click when Regent's new calibration targets are included in the image.
• More options are available for calibration of images from a camera as to how and when calibration is done (manually or automaticaly after load). Targets used for calibration can be in same image as the sample to analyse or in a separate image.
• New functions have been added to remove background light variations for images that come from cameras.
• Density/Remove Background Uneveness has been moved to a new submenu Density/Background Equalisation that contains other functions for background correction and has been renamed Density/Background Equalisation/In Scanning Direction.
  
• The maximum number of paths has been increased by four.
• Images acquired from a scanner or camera can be color inverted like a photo film negative (black becomes white and vice versa). This works for grey levels or color images.
• A WinDENDRO data file can be converted to decadal (Tucson) format within WinDENDRO (previously this was possible with the Convert.exe program).
• More analysis settings are retrieved from analysed images stored in tiff files (path width, ring detection method and its parameters, smallest ring width, year of last ring).

USER INTERFACE MODIFICATIONS

• In the information about a highlighted ring in the command area, the ring year is written before the ring number (ring number used to be written first).
• The paths ring count written in command area is easier to read (especially in 2 or more mouse clicks mode). The active path number of rings is drawn in bold.
• When creating paths, after the first mouse click, the image will automatically scroll when the mouse is close to the displayed image boundary.
• When creating multi segment paths, the sample identification is asked at the end of the last segment (instead of the first one).
• Year and ring number on horizontal paths are drawn vertically for improved readability.
• Gap areas (cracks or regions to skip on paths): can be defined by making an image selection or as before by drawing two lines that cross the path.
• Scrollbar thumb now works with larger images.
• 10-16 bits image range selection commands have been moved from the Display menu to the Image menu.
• Color channel (Grey, R, G, B) commands have been moved from the Display menu to the Image menu.

BUG FIXES

• Tab key commands sometimes not working
• The settings of major and minor divisions in the Horizontal scale of the ring width graphic are now effective.
• Gap areas that include a junction of two segments can be deleted.
• Gap areas made while creating multiple segments paths: the line drawn in the creation process are now drawn correctly.
• When creating paths, no more line residues are left if the image is zoomed or scrolled.
• After moving a ring while earlywood boundary is displayed, the ring year and number are redrawn properly.
• Path width units (mm) in Path/Creation Parameters are displayed correctly when they are changed from the default (mm) (when the calibration method is changed from the default Intrinsic to Object of known dimensions for cameras).
  

• Bugs corrected
  • A crash which occurred sometimes when paths were created close to image boundaries. It happened only when Rings/Detection Parameters/Ring Boundary was set to Tangent.

Density version

• Color images can be visualized and analysed on one of its three color channels (Red, Green, or Blue) or as before using the three of them (a regular color image analysis). As the color channel is changed, the paths intensity profile and density values for each ring (min, max, average) are recalculated automatically.
• Grey levels images with more than 8 bits per pixels of information (typically 10, 12 or 16 bits/pixel) can be visualized and analysed in a user selectable bandwidth range of information. For example you can view and utilize only the 8 most significant bits, the least significant or any range in between. You can also use the whole range as before. As the range is changed, the paths intensity profile and density values for each ring (min, max, average) are recalculated after a modification is done to a path.

All versions

• Paths can be exported to file and later retrieved from it. This allow to analyse the same region on different images or on the same image after it has been modified in WinDENDRO or externally.
• Calibration of images from a camera (not necessary with scanners) can be done in one or two images.
• Camera has been merged with Scanner in Image/Origin.

• Added support for our new LC4800 scanner.
• Default suggested dpi (in Image/Acquisition Parameters) has been adapted for very high resolution scanners.
• Bugs corrected
  • The first color scan was not completed correctly for analysis.

This version simply solves two minor bugs introduced in version 2003a. It is free (by email) to owners of version 2003a who asks for it.

• Bugs removed from version 2003a
  • "Cross-dating/Keep Previous Sample As Reference Data" will now create the reference data before acquiring a new image.
  • The name of the previous and current sample being analysed is now updated as it should.

• You don't have to specify anymore the Maximum number of rings per segment in Path/Creation Parameters. This setting is now automatic.
• Can analyse larger images.
• Can scan images from more scanner models including our new LC3200.
• The mouse wheel can be used to scroll the image.
• Image horizontal offset (used for scanning) is now saved in the configuration file. The default value has been changed.
• Year of last ring is now saved in the configuration file.
• The mouse position in the image is displayed to the fourth digit after the dot instead of two.
• The number of rings per path displayed in the command area is written at better position around the disc icon (the difference is more noticeable when four or more paths are analysed per image).
• Items of the Image Acquisition Parameters window are deactivated instead of being hidden when Use TWAIN interface is active.
• The Intensity setting of Image Acquisition Parameters has been removed.
• If you cancel data saving when paths are created (if you click Save nothing when you get the message that data are ready to be saved), you won't be asked again to save data for subsequent paths creation until another image is loaded and analysed or the analysis is cancelled and restarted.
• Default font size is medium instead of small.
• About WinDENDRO has been moved from the Misc. menu to the new Help menu.
• Bark thickness and sapwood width when entered numerically (not interactively) are precise to three digits after the dot instead of two. The word "information" has been replaced by "Width" and "Thickness" respectively when WinDENDRO ask for that information.
• Minor esthetic modifications have been done to Rings/Earlywood Definition, Path/Identification Preferences.
• It is now possible to print the whole image while the vertical profile area is hidden.
• The Regular version can output the pixels values (intensity profile) along a path.
• The number of decimals of Convert.exe (to convert WinDENDRO files to decadal format) has been increased by one digit. It is now precise up to .001 mm (instead of .01mm). The new convert is free to owners of WinDENDRO 2003a.
• A new program for stem analysis called WinSTEM is now available. It does not have the 256 columns limit of XLSTEM and runs hundreds of time faster than XLSTEM. Click here for details.

Bugs solved

• Pixel based data files in Row format with the comma as decimal separator: four columns used to have a dot instead of a comma.
• After Path/Delete Gap Area was activated, rings created by moving the sensitivity selectors were created at wrong positions which required operator intervention.

• Measurements made on images acquired in dots per cm (rather than dots per inch) from programs not made by Regent Instruments are now more precise (the conversion from dpcm to dpi is more accurate).

• Ring width (and all other measurements) are now saved automatically and continuously rather than just before acquiring a new image. The data file that contains measurement is updated each time a modification is done to a ring path (ring added, deleted, reoriented...).
• A line is drawn between the mouse position and last clicked point during the creation of a One Segment or Multiple Segments paths.
• When an absolute density threshold is used for the selection of the earlywood to latewood boundaries, it can be displayed in the profile areas.
• Null rings have a value of zero for maximum, minimum, average ring densities and earlywood and latewood average densities.

  Bugs solved

  • Earlywood and latewood average densities were not updated when the earlywood to latewood boundary was moved interactively by the operator.
  • A crash occurred occasionally when changing the sensititivity selector position when the Teach & Show ring detection method was active.

• Earlywood width can now be measured in function of absolute density (always occur at a specific density value) in addition to the relative method previously available (based on a percentage of the difference between minimum and maximum density).

  Bug solved

  • The bug was with earlywood width measurement when density analysis was active. Under some circumstances, earlywood widths were zero for all rings. This had for effects also to produce wrong earlwood and latewood average densities. Other measurements were not affected.

• This version (like all the others to come after) is for Windows 2000, ME and 98. It does not work under Windows 3.1 or 95.
• A function has been added to estimate the number of missing rings on a core when the pith is not present.
• You can print the image with its analysis over it directly from WinDENDRO. You can also save it in a bmp file so that it can be read by other programs.
• Ring boundary tracking has been improved. Fewer rings are oriented incorrectly.
• Skipped area are drawn in white instead of yellow. They are easier to see on yellow paths.
• The analysis is slightly faster.
• Help information about WinDENDRO's windows and controls is given in the form of tooltips (temporary floating text ) when the mouse is held idle over an item for a few seconds
• There is less flickering (image redraws) as rings are added or deleted. Note: Image redrawing is minimized when ring year and number are not displayed in the image. Perfectly vertical and horizontal paths also have less flickering.
• Double clicking to end a multi-segments path is now easier.
• Messages in the command area are clearer.
• A lower cost limited edition (LE) version is now available.
• Icons that indicate the working mode (path creation or edition) have been improved. It is now easier to identify the active mode.
• Clicking validation (verification if the clicked position is not too close to the image boundary) is done earlier when you create paths or path segments. You can redo the click without cancelling the segment or path.
• Black protection keys are no longer supported. Contact us for an exchange.
• Totally rewritten manuals with more illustrations and an improved presentation.
• Modifications to density analysis
  • Images in 12 or 16 bits per pixels can be analyzed. These images have a larger pixel intensity range and should produce more precise measurements. A 16 bits image can have up to 65536 grey levels while an 8 bits image has only 256.
  • Background light can be compensated to remove uneveness. It can be used to remove light variations in the scanning direction especially. This increases the precision of the density measurement.
  • Punctual density value at the mouse position on a path is displayed in the command area.
  • Ring minimum, maximum and average density values are displayed in the command area when the mouse is held over a ring.
  • Calibration wedge steps identification can be done more rapidly (click the wedge beginning and end instead of all steps).
  • Density/Show slit has a fixed displaying time (it does not ask for a value).
• Bugs removed
  • The density profile displayed for multi-segments path (3+ mouse clicks) is now global for the whole path rather than per segment (in earlier versions, discontinuities were observed at path junctions). This affected only the display, not the measured data.
  • A crash situation when clicking (to add a ring) at intersecting areas of a multi-segment path (at the junction of two segments with very different orientations).
  • A crash that happened after deleting the last ring of a path when that ring number was also the maximum number of allowed ring on that path.
  • During density calibration if you simply clicked rather than made a selection, the following happened with earlier versions: in 6.5c the measured intensity value at the click position was always zero, in 6.5d that value was wrong. This is now solved in 6.6a.

• It can analyze images stored in jpeg or windows bmp files.
• It can analyze tiff image files with a resolution in dot per centimetres.
• During the density step wedge calibration, you can now click the step or make an image selection (as before).
• The computer processor is freed when WinDENDRO is idle.

a)Supports the new STD1600+ scanner (1600x1600dpi). View sample images taken with this scanner
b) Retrieves tree-rings analyses stored in tiff files produced by versions 6.3 or 6.4 (and 6.5).
c) Text size of information displayed in the command, information and image area can be changed. See Display/Text Size.
d) The name of the sample being analyzed (Tree name+Disk height) is displayed in the upper left corner of the ring widths graphic. It is also visible on printouts.
e) A new method of calibration (dimensions not density) has been added. It allows you to measure tree rings on scanned photos or in images taken with a digital or video camera. See Calibration/Method.
f) Path/Path Identification Variables has been redesigned.
g) You can choose more variables to be displayed or hidden.
h) You can choose the data type for some variables (text and/or integer or real number).
Ex: User Variable was a real number in earlier versions. With 6.5, you can enter alphanumeric text (made of letters and or numbers) if you prefer.
i) You change the name of some variables. Ex: User Variable can be changed to Species.
j) Path identification variables settings can be changed by clicking Settings when the path identification window is displayed.
Note for French users/Note pour les utilisateurs francophones: Cliquez sur Noms et types par default (dans la fenêtre Settings) pour afficher les noms par défauts apres avoir changé la langue de travail dans DENDRO.
k) Scanner.cal shipped with new high resolution (3200dpi) scanners is more precise.
l) Each path is drawn with a different color (in the image and in the ring widths graphic) to differentiate them more easily.
m) Rings reference data format has been simplified.
n) The last segment of a multiple segments ring path (3 or more mouse clicks path) can be deleted during their creation (before the path is completed). Path segment can be deleted one by one up to the root segment (first segment of the path). See Path/Delete Last Segment.
o) The ending point of a two mouse click path can be deleted and recreated somewhere else without having to re-click the starting point. Paths can also be deleted completely as before. See Path/Delete Last Segment.
p) If you click the mouse close to a highlighted ring, it will be deleted. In earlier versions, a ring was deleted only when the mouse was over it.
q) A selected ring in the Ring-width graphic (when you click it on the data line) is now highlighted in the image also.
r) You can choose among a comma or dot decimal separator for data output.
s) Skipped areas defined interactively by an operator, to eliminate voids made by cracks in wood for example, can be deleted one by one.
t) New manuals with more illustrations and improved text.
u) The mouse button does not have to remain pressed-down during Gap area definitions. Two mouse clicks are sufficient per intersecting line.
v) The calibration procedure can be canceled during or after it has been done.
w) A highlighted ring can be deleted by pushing the Delete key.
x) 3+ mouse click path creation with Teach & Show method shows proper instructions.

Density analysis modifications:

a) The light-to-density calibration maximum number of steps has been raised from 10 to 16.
b) The Density/Light Calibration Parameters command has been redesigned.
c) Positions in the image where density calibration has been done (where operator has made selections) are visible during the calibration.
d) Light calibration is now easier. Wood sample thickness is taken into account and calculations are done automatically. More than one piece of wood of different thickness in the same image can be analyzed with only one calibration.
e) The slit passage can be visualized over the analyzed sample.
f) Improved manuals.
g) Image selection over wedge steps during calibration is faster.
h) Density analysis from analyzed and saved images can be retrieved as for ring width analysis.

Minor modifications:

• The Paths menu has been renamed Path ('s' removed)
• The Rings menu has been renamed Ring ('s' removed)
• Paths/Path Identification Variables has been renamed Path/Identification preferences. This command is also available from the sample identification window when you click Settings.
• Paths/Path Creation Parameters has been renamed Path/Creation Parameters
• Paths/Edit Path Identification has been renamed Path/Edit Active Path Identification
• Rings/Ring Detection Parameters has been renamed Ring/Detection Parameters
• Rings/Ring Selection Sensitivity has been renamed Ring/Selection Sensitivity
• The ring width graphic title has been changed from GRAPHIC to Ring widths
• The configuration file is now called WinDENDRO.cfg instead of WinDEND.cfg
• Path identification window entry fields now accepts more characters than the width of the case (they are horizontally auto-scrollable)
• Crosshairs are no more drawn at the extremities of paths (this make multi-segment paths easier to analyze in these areas).
• Ring displacement and orientation can occur as long as mouse button is kept down (rather than as long as the shift or shift-command keys remain pressed down).
• Skipped areas are now called Gap areas.
• Image/Acquire image has been added. It is equivalent to clicking the Acquisition icon.
• Earlywood/Latewood replaced by Earlywood boundary.
• Image/Automatically save has been redesigned.
• In Path/Creation Parameters, Maximum number of rings per path has been renamed Maximum number of rings per segment. 

a) Color images saved in tiff files that can contain the analysis. Before it was only available for gray level images.
b) If you quit DENDRO by the Close box instead of the quit command, data are saved before quitting.
c) Images stored in Windows .bmp files can be analyzed (they must be calibrated however).
d) Some flickering has been eliminated.
e) The command area is larger.
f) You can push the 'c' or 'x' key on the keyboard (in addition to backspace) to delete a ring definition while the ring definition palette is displayed.
g) The ring definition palette size has been increased. Its title is now RDefs (ring definitions) rather than TS.
h) The Image/Acquisition Parameters command has been updated for new scanner models (STD1600 and LA1600).
i) The custom resolution choice in Image/Acquisition Parameters remains effective more than one scan and is stored in the configuration file.
j) A problem with the menus which occurred occasionally when changing the working language has been solved.
k) Saving of image in tiff files has been updated for larger images.
l) Density/Calibration Parameters has been renamed Density/Light Calibration Parameters. 

Known issues and bugs:

a) It cannot retrieve the analysis stored in a tiff files produced by version 6.3 (it has been solved in 6.5).
b) Occasional crashes during creation of 3+ mouse click paths.