The data file must start with a system block declaring the top-level system in the file.
Each system block commences with a heading containing the system Tag in square brackets, such as
[Sys_00966444]
The Tag must uniquely identify the system within the file, but is not visible, and cannot be edited, by the user through the LaserCanvas interface.
For the top-level system, the second line must declare one of the following system type keywords:
Resonator
Propagation
All subsequent systems in the file are assumed to be out-coupled systems.
For the top-level system, the requested variable values and ranges are listed next. For example, the x variable could be described by the lines
Variable(x) = 50.000
Range(x) = 0, 100
If another system is already open, the variable values and ranges are ignored from any subsequently opened files. See the section on Equations and Variables.
The variable names must match those pre-defined by LaserCanvas, viz. 'x', 'y', and 'z'.
The system header concludes with a list of system properties. All of these properties can be defined as constants or equations.
| Property | Default | Description |
| Wavelength | 1064 | The laser wavelength, in nm. |
| MSquared | 1 | The beam propagation factor. |
| InputType | 0 | For propagation systems, specifies how Input- parameters are to be interpreted. |
| If InputType is 0, wSag and wTan specify the waist (in um) and RzSag and RzTan the distance (in mm) to the waist. | ||
| If InputType is 1, wSag and wTan specify the mode size (in um) at the Source optic, and RzSag and RzTan the wave front radius of curvature (in mm). | ||
| InputwSag | 200 | The input beam waist or mode size in the sagittal plane, in µm. |
| InputwTan | 300 | The input beam waist or mode size in the tangential plane, in µm. |
| InputRzSag | 0 | The distance to the input beam waist, or the wave front radius of curvature, in the sagittal plane, in mm. |
| InputRzTan | 0 | The distance to the input beam waist, or the wave front radius of curvature, in the tangential plane, in mm. |
The remaining system properties are available for all system types, including output coupled systems.
| Property | Default | Description |
| Rotation | 0 | The Canvas rotation of the first optic in the system, in degrees. |
| StartX | 0 | The Canvas X location of the first optic, in mm. |
| StartY | 0 | The Canvas Y location of the first optic, in mm. |