diff --git a/.github/workflows/_dist.yml b/.github/workflows/_dist.yml
index 6f59996..a6e9f68 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_dist.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_dist.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ jobs:
           pipx run build
 
       - name: Upload sdist and wheel as artifacts
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v5
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v6
         with:
           name: dist
           path: dist
diff --git a/.github/workflows/_docs.yml b/.github/workflows/_docs.yml
index 7885921..2b83997 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_docs.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
         run: rm build/html/.doctrees/environment.pickle
 
       - name: Upload built docs artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v5
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v6
         with:
           name: docs
           path: build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/_release.yml b/.github/workflows/_release.yml
index 5801673..f9ca831 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_release.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Download artifacts
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v6
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
         with:
           merge-multiple: true
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/_test.yml b/.github/workflows/_test.yml
index 1576ffb..32476d5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_test.yml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - if: inputs.python-version == 'dev'
         name: Upload dev-requirements.txt
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v5
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v6
         with:
           name: dev-requirements
           path: /tmp/dev-requirements.txt
diff --git a/src/i19serial_ui/gui/serial_gui_eh2.py b/src/i19serial_ui/gui/serial_gui_eh2.py
index ae8e52a..2bcb777 100644
--- a/src/i19serial_ui/gui/serial_gui_eh2.py
+++ b/src/i19serial_ui/gui/serial_gui_eh2.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
     log_to_gui,
     tidy_up_logging,
 )
+from i19serial_ui.parameters.general_utils import ApertureOptions
 
 WINDOW_SIZE = (600, 1200)
 LOG_HANDLERS = []
@@ -126,9 +127,27 @@ def _setup_title(self):
         self.i19_label.setFont(QtGui.QFont(FONT, 13))
         self.i19_label.setAlignment(QtCore.Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
 
+    def _create_dropdown(self):
+        self.aperturedropdown = QtWidgets.QComboBox()
+        self.aperturedropdown.addItems(list(ApertureOptions))
+        self.selected_aperture = self.read_aperture_dropdown()
+
+    def read_aperture_dropdown(self):
+        return self.aperturedropdown.currentText()
+
     def _create_top_group(self):
         # move arrows, phi step, focuse, backlight etc
+        self._create_dropdown()
         self.top_group = QtWidgets.QGroupBox()
+        top_layout = QtWidgets.QGridLayout()
+        self.ddb_label = QtWidgets.QLabel("Select aperture size:")
+        self.ddb_label.setFont(QtGui.QFont(FONT, 10))
+        self.ddb_label.setAlignment(QtCore.Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignLeft)
+        top_layout.addWidget(self.ddb_label)
+        top_layout.addWidget(self.aperturedropdown)
+        self.top_group.setLayout(top_layout)
+        self.aperturedropdown.setFixedWidth(150)
+        top_layout.setColumnStretch(2, 1)
 
     def _create_coordinate_system_group(self):
         self.cs_group = QtWidgets.QGroupBox("Coordinate System")
@@ -233,6 +252,7 @@ def run_panda(self):
         num_images = float(self.inputs.num_images.text())
         rotation_increment = float(self.inputs.image_width.text())
         rotation_end = rotation_start + num_images + rotation_increment
+
         params = {
             "phi_start": rotation_start,
             "phi_end": rotation_end,
diff --git a/src/i19serial_ui/parameters/general_utils.py b/src/i19serial_ui/parameters/general_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea96d92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/i19serial_ui/parameters/general_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+from enum import StrEnum
+
+
+class ApertureOptions(StrEnum):
+    UM_20 = "20um"
+    UM_40 = "40um"
+    UM_100 = "100um"
+    UM_3000 = "3000um"
diff --git a/tests/gui/test_eh2_ui.py b/tests/gui/test_eh2_ui.py
index 1c288cb..4e7574a 100644
--- a/tests/gui/test_eh2_ui.py
+++ b/tests/gui/test_eh2_ui.py
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ def test_all_widgets_initialised(mock_eh2_gui):
     assert mock_eh2_gui.inputs and isinstance(mock_eh2_gui.inputs, InputPanel)
     assert mock_eh2_gui.wells and isinstance(mock_eh2_gui.wells, WellsSelectionPanel)
     assert mock_eh2_gui.grid and isinstance(mock_eh2_gui.grid, GridOptions)
+    assert mock_eh2_gui.aperturedropdown and isinstance(
+        mock_eh2_gui.aperturedropdown, QtWidgets.QComboBox
+    )
 
 
 def test_general_layout(mock_eh2_gui):
@@ -36,6 +39,15 @@ def test_general_layout(mock_eh2_gui):
     assert isinstance(mock_eh2_gui.general_layout, QtWidgets.QGridLayout)
     title = mock_eh2_gui.general_layout.children()[0]
     assert isinstance(title, QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout)
+    assert isinstance(mock_eh2_gui.top_group, QtWidgets.QGroupBox)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "aperture,index", [("20um", 0), ("40um", 1), ("100um", 2), ("3000um", 3)]
+)
+def test_dropdown_update(mock_eh2_gui, aperture, index):
+    mock_eh2_gui.aperturedropdown.setCurrentIndex(index)
+    assert mock_eh2_gui.read_aperture_dropdown() == aperture
 
 
 def test_select_visit(mock_eh2_gui):
diff --git a/tests/gui/test_utils.py b/tests/gui/test_utils.py
index c107072..72af089 100644
--- a/tests/gui/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/gui/test_utils.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from datetime import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
@@ -19,9 +20,10 @@ def test_create_icon():
 
 
 def test_get_data_main_path():
+    year = datetime.now().year
     res = get_data_main_path()
 
-    assert res.as_posix() == "/dls/i19-2/data/2025"
+    assert res.as_posix() == f"/dls/i19-2/data/{year}"
 
 
 def test_get_config_file_path_for_eh2():