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ROSAT Status Report #131





			ROSAT Status Report #131
			  
 	               Release of new ROSAT ftools

				Oct 30 1995


Two new ROSAT ftools are released as part of ftools version 3.4
(release notes appended below)


pcpicor
    -Corrects PI channel in PSPC events file for SASS spatial gain problem
  
    The  spatial  gain  correction should remove the gain variations due
    to the variable  distance  of  the  anode  wires  and  the  relative
    position  of  the  events  with respect to the anode wires. The SASS
    DCORG subroutine applies the spatial gain correction to  the  events
    data.  That  subroutine uses corrections based on ground calibration
    data from the gain_kor3_b SASS calibration file.  An  error  in  the
    implementation  of the original ground calibration file within SASS
    has lead to a mis-correction which produces spurious  variations  in
    PI  channel  across  the  detector.  To  correct this error, PCPICOR
    recalculates the PI column from the PHA column,  using  the  Y-based
    spatial correction instead of the X-based correction.

    This version of the tool does not correct for the time dependant 
    problem with the PI channel distribution. We hope to include a time 
    dependant fix in a future version of the tool.



    THE CALIBRATION FILES REQUIRED FOR PCPICOR

    The  default  setting  for  the  input calibration files is 'CALDB',    
    this  facility  can  only  be  used  by  beta-test  sites  with the    
    calibration  database  access  software installed.  
    (Sites which wish to install the Calibration Database should email 
		caldbhelp@athena.gsfc.nasa.gov  
    for information)
    Most  users will need to obtain a set of calibration files via   
    anonymous ftp from heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov. The datasets are located in 
    the directory: 

             /caldb/data/rosat/pspc/bcf/sass_ct

    and have the names/descriptions as follows:


    adc_bins.fits     - PSPC ADC non-linearity correction

    alkhist_v1_b.fits - PSPCB Gain hist from Prescott fits to Al-K obs (v1.0)

    alkhist_v1_c.fits - PSPCC Gain hist from Prescott fits to Al-K obs (v1.0)

    gain_kor3_b.fits  - PSPCB Spatial Gain Correction: Pos-dep terms (v1.0)

    gain_kor3_c.fits  - PSPCC Spatial Gain Correction: Pos-dep terms (v1.0)

    gnampl_new.fits   - PSPC Spatial Gain Correction: Energy-dep term (v1.0)

    scal3.fits        - PSPC Window Correction: Energy-dep correction term

    tabx_093_b.fits   - PSPCB Window Correction: X-axis term

    tabx_093_c.fits   - PSPCC Window Correction: X-axis term

    taby_093_b.fits   - PSPCB Window Correction: Y-axis term

    taby_093_c.fits   - PSPCC Window Correction: Y-axis term

    Some  files  are  valid  for  both  PSPC instruments, and hence have
    'PSPC' as the instrument keyword.

    Note: Correct use of this  task  requires  that  the  ymapfile  used
    should  be  either  taby_093_b.fits  or  taby_093_c.fits, use of the
    tabx files will result in a  reproduction  of  the  error  currently
    occurring in SASS.

    EXAMPLE:

    An example of the pcpicor parameter file might be:


    infile = rp700332.fits      Please enter EVENTS filename

    (gtifile = %match)           Please enter gtifile name

    outfile = pcpi700332.fits    Please enter output filename

    endepfile = scal3.fits       Please enter energy dependent correction file

    ymapfile = taby_093_b.fits   Please enter golden disk file

    adcfile = adc_bins.fits      Please enter adc binfile

    spgfile = gnampl_new.fits    Please enter E-dep spatial gain correction file

    spgkfile = gain_kor3_b.fits  Enter pos-dep spatial gain correction file

    alkfile = alkhist_v1_b.fits  Enter alk history file

    (chatter = 9)                Please enter chatter flag

    (clobber = no)               Overwrite output file if it already exists ?

    (mode = ql)               Mode

    REMINDER:

    If  your  observation  was  made before Jan 25  1991 then you should
    use  PSPCC   calibration  files,  after   that   date,   use   PSPCB
    calibration  files  (the  observation date is stored as the DATE-OBS
    keyword.

 
    For more detail, see the pcpicor help file and the OGIP memo

   http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/caldb/docs/summary/cal_ros_95_010_summary.html



fixrev0pha (was Perl script: fix_rev0_pha)
  -Changes  the  CDELT1 and CDELT2 keywords in a ROSAT PHA file



<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< SOFTWARE  RELEASE  ANNOUNCEMENT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
                    ---------------------------------
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< FTOOLS  VERSION 3.4  DISTRIBUTION >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

How:    Anonymous FTP from legacy.gsfc.nasa.gov

Where:  software/ftools/release/FTools_3.4 directory

What:   ******* FTOOLS Source and Data *******
        ***(refdata is only needed to run certain tasks, primarily ASCA)***
        ftools.v3.4.tar.gz   -  Source Code Distribution for all platforms
        refdata.v3.4.tar.gz  -  Minimal subset of Calibration Database
 
        *** Compressed Postscript Documentation ***
        ***(in software/ftools/release/doc directory)***
        develop.v3.4.ps.gz    -  Developer's Guide
        install.v3.4.ps.gz    -  Installation Guide
        users.v3.4.ps.gz      -  User's Guide
        techref.v3.4.ps.gz    -  Complete User's Guide and help pages
        Xselect_1.3.ps.gz     -  Xselect Users Guide
 
        *** HTML Documentation ***
        at http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/software/ftools/ftools_menu.html
 
Supported Platforms: (See Installation Guide for details)
        unix         ALPHA/OSF, DEC/ULTRIX, SUN/SunOS (incl. Solaris)
                     SGI/IRIX, HP/HP-UX
        vms          ALPHA/VMS, VAX/VMS

++++++++++What's New in FTOOLS version 3.4++++++++++

++ Configure Script ++

        A major change in FTOOLS v3.4 is that a configure script
        has been implemented to ease the installation process. This
        is particularly useful on systems which may have their
        libraries and/or compilers in non-standard locations, eg,
        SunOS 5.X (Solaris).

        To install FTOOLS v3.4, simply unpack the tar file and go
        into the ftools/host directory. Type ./configure and a
        Makefile which is customized to your system will be
        written. This Makefile should include all necessary macro
        definitions so that all you should have to do is type
        "make", sit back and wait. Note that the default C compiler
        will be gcc if it is detected on your system; if you prefer
        to use another compiler you must specify it *before*
        running configure, ie, "setenv CC cc". For more detailed
        instructions please refer to the FTOOLS Installation Guide
        for v3.4.

++ HP-UX Host supported ++

        As of v3.4, FTOOLS ("Host" or standalone version only) is
        supported under HP-UX. The testing here has been done under
        HP-UX v9.0.4 with X11R5 and using gcc. To install, use the
        configure script (see above and the Installation Guide).
        Report any installation difficulties to: 
               ftoolshelp@ascasrv.gsfc.nasa.gov
                
++ New mkftools script ++
        
	Minor, but important, modifications have been made to the
	mkftools script, which produces the .ftools file which,
	in turn, sets the important environment variables needed
	to correctly run FTOOLS. Be sure to run this script (located
        in ftools/bin.host) after installing v3.4 even if you've
        run a previous version in the past.

++ Questionaire ++

        So that we can better serve the user community in the future
        we have prepared a short questionaire. Your cooperation in
        filling it out and emailing it back to us will be greatly
        appreciated!

*******************************CUT HERE******************************
               FTOOLS Questionaire (v3.4, 10/23/95)

1. What type of machine are you currently running FTOOLS on?


2. What operating system is it running? (Please be as specific as possible)


3. Are you running the Host/Standalone version or the IRAF version?
   Please explain your choice.


4. Is there an architecture/OS that you'd like to see supported?


Please return to ftoolshelp@ascasrv.gsfc.nasa.gov
       under the Subject heading: Questionaire
*******************************CUT HERE******************************
 

NEW TASKS AND PERL SCRIPTS (indicated by **):

 ASCA
------
add_sis_rmf **  (was add_sis_rmf.pl)
  -Reports percentage of counts in evtfile in each chip
sisgbr **
  -QDP fit branching ratios derived from FITS data

 CALTOOLS
----------
brcaldb
  -Browse the Caldb data holdings
chkcif
  -Check entries in a Calibration Index File
cmppha
  -Converts a TYPE II to a TYPE I OGIP pha file
gcorrmf
  -Remaps a detector redistribution matrix in channel-space
lstgood
  -List "good" files found in a Calibration Index File

 FUTILS
--------
faddcol
  -Copies columns from one FITS table extension to another
fapropos **
  -Does keyword searches for FTOOLS
fchecksum
  -Verify or update the checksum keywords in a FITS file
fhelp ** (new Perl script now preempts original task)
  -Display FTOOLS help information
fimgcreate
  -Create a FITS primary array image from an ASCII template file
fmodcomm
  -Modify commentary keywords in a FITS file header
fversion **
  -Report FTOOLS version number and release date

 GRO
-----
fbbft2pha
  -Converts BATSE BFITS file to spectral PHA file
fbdrm2rmf
  -Converts BATSE DRM file to RMF format

 HEASARC
---------
ecd2pha
  -Converts Einstein HEASARC CD-ROM PHA to OGIP PHA file

 ROSAT
-------
fixrev0pha (was Perl script: fix_rev0_pha)
  -Changes  the  CDELT1 and CDELT2 keywords in a ROSAT PHA fi
pcpicor
  -Corrects PI channel in PSPC events file

 VELA5B
--------
fvelalc
  -Creates a FITS light curve for an isolated Vela 5B source
fvelgallc ***CURRENTLY OUT OF ORDER***
  -Creates multiple light curves for sources in confused fields
fvelmap ***CURRENTLY OUT OF ORDER***
  -Creates a set of FITS source maps of a rectangular region
velabox
  -Lists the Vela 5B raw data files needed for FVELALC
velamap
  -Lists the Vela 5B raw data files needed for FVELMAP

 XTE
-----
PCABackEst
  -Creates and estimated PCA background spectrum from model
asmappend
  -Sorts and appends ASM files to a MASTERFILE
asmsrcupdate **
  -Runs ASMAPPEND on a collection of XTE ASM master files and 
   their respective incoming files
pcarmf
  -Creates a .rmf file for a specified anode chain in a PCU
pcarsp **
  -Runs the tools necessary to construct response matrices 
   for XTE PCA spectral data
rddescr
  -Parses a channel descriptor from an XTE .pha file to ASCII
sebitmask
  -Creates bitmask for filtering SE data with FSELECT
seplot **
  -Queries the user and then runs SEEXTRCT and FPLOT
seselect **
  -Runs SEBITMASK and FSELECT to generate a FITS file
trans2fits
  -Creates science event FITS file from Transparent Mode data
xenon2fits
  -Creates science event FITS file from Good Xenon data
xpcaarf
  -Creates a .arf file for an input XTE PCA .pha and .rmf file