How do I add new lenses to my Private Lens Database?

Synopsis

Updating the Private Lens Database

Solution

In addition to the traditional " Open Lens" dialog box, it is possible to easily browse through the Public Lens Library shipped with OSLO, and even though your personal lens files (*.LEN and *.OSL).

How to use it?

Clicking " Browse (Public or Private) Library" from the " File>>Lens Database" menuwill bring up a list (a database) of systems, as well as a collection of description data. Selecting a lens by clicking in the data row will display a lens drawing along with a set of ray intercept curves.

How to update my Private Lens Library?

The database file you browse is generated by a routine that opens all the files in your Private directory and gathers all the information needed for the database. As a consequence, if you work on a new system, and save it under PRIVATE/LEN/MY_NEW_SYSTEM.LEN, it will not appear in the Private Lens Library. All you have to do is rebuild the Library. It only requires one click from you: " File>>Lens Database>>Make Private Database". (See the "mklib" command in the on-line help)

How to add more folders to my Private Lens Library?

By default, the Private Lens Library will only include the systems defined in the PRIVATE/LEN/ folder. You can add as many folders as you want by editing the Folder List (" File>>Lens Database>>Edit Folders..."). Each line corresponds to one folder. The path separators should be marked as '/' (slash), not as '' (backslash). For example:

%private%/len/

%private%/len/old/

C:/My Documents/Oslo/Archived Systems/

Note: " %private%" refers to the path of your private directory, as defined in the string preference " Private_directory". You will have to rebuild the Private Lens Library to see the new folders appear.