NAME

xdf -- The GUI XTE data finder

USAGE

xdf

DESCRIPTION

XDF is a tool to navigate the XTE FITS Database (XFDB). Its purpose is to select FITS data tables based on selection criteria provided by the user.

The user interface consists of six 'Selection Boxes', one text widget, and various action buttons.

Selection Boxes

All boxes contain four or five buttons that operate on them:

        Help:  Pop up help window for Selection Box.
        All:   Select all items in the Selection Box.
        None:  De-select all items in the Selection Box.
        Reset: Reset contents of Selection Box to default value.
        Edit:  (for some) Edit the contents of the Selection Box.

The boxes are:

1. Source List

>>Created by the user.

Allows the user to specify particular source names. Wildcard characters are accepted. No selection means 'no constraints'.

2. Time Range List

>>Created by the user.

The user may specify certain time ranges in the format: yyyyMMMdd at hh:mm:ss.s to yyyyMMMdd at hh:mm:ss.s For instance: 1995Apr07 at 12:00:00 to 1995JUN30 at 22:23:24 No selection means 'no constraints'.

3. Subsystem List

>>User selects from a fixed list.

Allows the user to select one or more from the list of 15 XTE subsystems. No selection means 'all'.

4. Observation List

>>Created by action button.

Observations are selected from the database on the basis of the selection criteria currently set by the Source List and the Time Range List. The user _has_ to select one or more items from this list.

5. AppId/Configuration List

>>Created by action button.

AppIds (spacecraft data sources) and, for the science data, data modes and configurations are selected from the database on the basis of the selection criteria currently set by the Observation List and the Subsystem List. The user _has_ to select one or more items from this list.

6. FITS File List

>>Created by action button.

FITS data table files are selected from the database on the basis of the selection criteria currently set by the Observation List, the Subsystem List, the AppId/Configuration List, and the Time Range List. Files may be selected and their names saved in the file ./fits_files.xdf. If none are selected, the Save FileList action will save all names in the list. This is, at the moment, the end product of XDF.

Directions for Use

1. Set the path to the top of the database.

2. Set source name selection (if any).

3. Set time range selection (if any).

4. Press action button to make Observation List.

5. Select observations.

6. Set subsystem selection (if any).

7. Press action button to make AppId/Configuration List

8. Select AppId/Configuration combinations.

9. Adjust observation, time range, subsystem selection, if desired. Only additional restrictions will have effect!

10.Press action button to make File List.

11.Select files and press action button to save their names.

The Button Bar

Reset

Reset the contents of all boxes to their default values.

Save

Save the current contents and state of all boxes.

Restore

Restore the contents and state of all boxes as it was last saved.

Make ObsList

Construct the list of observations on the basis of source names and time ranges.

Make AppIdConfigList

Construct the list of AppIds and Configurations on the basis of the selected observations and subsystems.

Make FileList

Construct the list of FITS data files on the basis of the selected observations, subsystems, AppId/configurations combinations, and time ranges.

Save FileList

Save the names of selected files (all if none selected) in the file ./fits_files.xdf.

Help

Display this text.

Path

The (file system) path to the XFDB Master Index that is to be used.

Quit

Exit XDF. The contents and state of all boxes is saved before exiting. This is automatically restored at the next execution.

CATEGORY