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Version: 5.0 (最新)

Material Selection Cheat Sheet

This page helps users quickly decide:

  1. whether a material should be saved as a tabulated material or a model material
  2. which import button should be used in IndexFit
  3. which upload path should be used when saving results back to the material library

Three-Step Decision​

Use these three questions in order:

  1. Do you want to preserve wavelength points or a model structure?
  2. Will you continue editing a table or continue editing model coefficients later?
  3. Is your next action import into a table editor or import into a model editor?

If the answer keeps pointing to wavelength points, choose a tabulated material.

If the answer keeps pointing to model structure and coefficients, choose a model material.

Quick Decision Table​

Your goalRecommended material typeRecommended entry
Reuse wavelength-point n/k data directlyTabulated materialImport tabulated material
Preserve model type and coefficientsModel materialImport model material
Continue editing the refractive-index tableTabulated materialTable editor
Continue editing model parameters laterModel materialModel editor
Use the material only for optical calculationEither typeUse the material that best represents your source

When to Choose a Tabulated Material​

Choose a tabulated material when:

  1. your primary data is already a wavelength-point refractive-index table
  2. you want to compare or calculate directly from existing n/k points
  3. you want to import the material into the refractive-index table editor

Typical sources:

  1. measured refractive-index tables
  2. imported text or clipboard data
  3. pointwise fitting results

When to Choose a Model Material​

Choose a model material when:

  1. your primary asset is a dispersion model
  2. you want to preserve the model type itself
  3. you want to preserve model coefficients for later reuse
  4. you want the model parameter UI to rebuild correctly after re-import

Typical sources:

  1. Cauchy or Sellmeier fitting results
  2. manually configured model parameters
  3. saved model-material templates

Which Import Button Should Be Used​

In IndexFit there are two explicit import paths:

  1. Import tabulated material
  2. Import model material

Use them as follows:

  1. If the destination is the refractive-index table, use Import tabulated material.
  2. If the destination is the model parameter editor, use Import model material.

Do not use a generic material-picking mindset here. The correct entry matters because the module preserves different kinds of structure.

Which Upload Button Should Be Used​

Use the upload button that matches the data you want to preserve.

Upload from the table editor​

Use this when:

  1. the current result should be saved as a tabulated material
  2. the important output is the wavelength-point table itself

Upload from the model editor​

Use this when:

  1. the current result should be saved as a model material
  2. the important output is the model type and coefficients

A Practical Rule​

If you may later say “I need to continue editing the model”, save a model material.

If you may later say “I only need this refractive-index table again”, save a tabulated material.

Common Mistakes​

I want to preserve the model, but I uploaded from the table editor​

This is usually the wrong path.

Why:

  1. the table editor preserves wavelength-point data
  2. it does not preserve the model structure as the primary result

What to do instead:

  1. open the model parameter editor
  2. confirm the model type and coefficients
  3. upload from the model editor

I only want to reuse a refractive-index table, but I imported a model material​

This is also usually the wrong path.

Why:

  1. a model material is intended to preserve model structure
  2. the model editor may rebuild the UI instead of keeping your table workflow

What to do instead:

  1. use Import tabulated material
  2. continue from the refractive-index table editor

Quick FAQ​

Can a model material still be used for optical calculation?​

Yes.

If the workflow only needs valid refractive-index values for calculation, the system can evaluate the model at the requested wavelengths.

Does every calculation workflow need tabulated material?​

No.

Only structure-sensitive workflows require strict separation. Calculation-oriented workflows can use either type if valid refractive-index results can be produced.

What should I save after fitting if I want to edit coefficients again later?​

Save a model material.

What should I save after fitting if I only want to reuse the final n/k table?​

Save a tabulated material.