The General Structure and Analysis Software II (GSAS-II) package is an all-new crystallographic analysis package written to replace and extend the capabilities of the universal and widely used GSAS and EXPGUI packages. GSAS-II was described in a 2013 article, but considerable work has been completed since then. This paper describes the advances, which include: rigid body fitting and structure solution modules; improved treatment for parametric refinements and equation of state fitting; and small-angle scattering data reduction and analysis. GSAS-II offers versatile and extensible modules for import and export of data and results. Capabilities are provided for users to select any version of the code. Code documentation has reached 150 pages and 17 web-tutorials are offered.

Some improvements have been introduced in the current computer program for powder diffraction pattern indexing using the dichotomy algorithm. The resulting version, DICVOL14, includes optimizations and extension of scanning limits for triclinic cases, a detailed review of the input data from the indexing solutions, cell centering tests and a new approach for zero-point offset evaluation. The performance of the new version is illustrated with many examples, such as triclinic cases with long axes and dominant zones. Some important parameters in pattern indexing based on the dichotomy algorithm are commented upon, e.g. the precision of data and spurious lines.

HighScore with the Plus option (HighScore Plus) is the commercial powder diffraction analysis software from PANalytical. It has been in constant development over the last 13 years and has evolved into a very complete and mature product. In this paper, we present a brief overview of the suite focusing on the latest additions and its user-friendliness. The introduction briefly touches some basic ideas behind HighScore and the Plus option.

The Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) is a database of small molecule organic and organometallic crystal structures elucidated using X-Ray and neutron crystallography. The CSD is distributed alongside a system of software (the Cambridge Structural Database System) to academic and industrial users. The system contains a number of applications (in particular DASH, ConQuest, and Mogul) that can be used to aid crystallographers in the solution and refinement of crystal structures from powder diffraction data, and in the interpretation of crystal structure models (in particular, Mercury). This publication uses a racemic form of ornidazole (Z′ = 3) to illustrate the efficacy of DASH in the crystal structure solution from powder diffraction data. Furthermore, numerous features in Mogul and Mercury that aid crystal structure solution and interpretation of crystallographic data are revised. Finally, a review of a new method for using database-derived geometric information directly in structural solution is presented.

A new software application has been developed to provide a convenient method for the submission of diffraction data directly to the International Centre for Diffraction Data, for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF)™. The application, titled Genie, acts as a portal for the merging of data from separate sources allowing the user to quickly and easily submit their data for the PDF. Using Java Web Start technology Genie can be run using all common computer platforms. Genie is flexible and can be used to read a variety of common file formats. Furthermore, Genie can also be used for submission of New Diffraction Data for publication in the Powder Diffraction Journal.

The possibilities of modelling the diffraction profiles from bimodal microstructure in computer program MSTRUCT are demonstrated on two examples. A special “Double Component” profile effect can be utilized for such problems. At first it was applied to an analysis of a mixture of two nanocrystalline anatase powders with different crystallite sizes and the relative ratio of both components was determined from X-ray diffraction data. In the second case study, diffraction peaks from a pure polycrystalline copper sample treated by equal channel angular pressing were fitted using a two-phase model of large recrystallized defect-free grains and ultrafine crystallites with high dislocation density. The method is shown to be suitable for determination of the relative fraction of the microstructural components as well as other parameters (e.g. dislocation density).

Ongoing software developments for creating three-dimensional (3D) printed crystallographic models seamlessly from Crystallographic Information Framework (CIF) data (*.cif files) are reported. Color versus monochrome printing is briefly discussed. Recommendations are made on the basis of our preliminary printing efforts. A brief outlook on new materials for 3D printing is given.

The importance of software continues to grow for all areas of scientific research, no less for powder diffraction. Knowing how to program a computer is a basic and useful skill for scientists. This paper explains the three approaches for programming languages and why scripting languages are preferred for non-expert programmers. The Python-scripting language is extremely efficient for science and its use by scientists is growing. Python is also one of the easiest languages to learn. The language is introduced, as well as a few of the many add-on packages available that extend its capabilities, for example, for numerical computations, scientific graphics, and graphical user interface programming. Resources for learning Python are also provided.