Chapter 1. Characteristics of X-radiation -- Chapter 2. The crystalline state -- Chapter 3. Diffraction theory -- Chapter 4. Sources for the generation of X-radiation -- Chapter 5. Detectors and detection electronics -- Chapter 6. Production of monochromatic radiation -- Chapter 7. Instruments for the measurement of powder patterns -- Chapter 8. Alignment and maintenance of power diffractometers -- Chapter 9. Specimen preparation -- Chapter 10. Acquisition of diffraction data -- Chapter 11. Reduction of data from automated power diffractometers -- Chapter 12. Qualitative analysis.