Run Time Display Tool
Updated 2001-11-05
This is a gui to display SMA FITS-IDI data quickly during observations. This is not a real time software, however, it has a mode for automatically updating the plot as the observation progresses. Main concept of this 'Run-Time' display is to provide a tool for SMA observers to assess the data quality for an on-going observation quickly with automated features while preserving the interactivity for flexibility.

main glish script: smartdisp.g (on smadata at the summit)

how to run:

    Run at smadata at the summit 
      /application/bin/aips2rtdisp

    Or if you already have started AIPS++ on smadata@Summit,
    then at glish prompt, 

    - include 'smartdisp.g';

- smartdisp();
    Now, Run-time display tool menu window should appear on your monitor like one shown in Figure 1.
 

Figure 1. Initial window
 
1) Set data
By default, the name of the most recent data file will be appeared as the input data in the data selection window.
If the name appears on the inout data window is not correct one, click on 'select&set data' to display the data setting window (Fig. 2). Enter FITS-IDI file name without extension(i.e. FIT etc) that corresponds the current observation. Then click on 'convert&load'. This will create a scan-based FITS-IDI file ,convert it to AIPS++ MS format, and then read in display parameters to create a plot control GUI. When it finishes the window automatically switches to the plot control window.
 

Figure 2. data setting window
 

2) Plot control
The plot control window is essentially the same as visdisp in smatool with two added features, (manual) update button and auto/manual update mode switch. For the common features as in smatool, see the description of smatool.

  • data update mode
    Switch between automated and manual update for display. When 'auto' is selected, it disables manual 'Update' button. 'Plot' can still be used while in 'auto' mode. Click 'start' to actually start auto updating. The 'auto' button should turned blue. Click 'stop' or select 'manual' to stop updating.
    In current setting, the update process (data conversion to plotting) will wait 1 minute before starting the next process. Actual interval between one plot to next updated one appears will depend on the data file size that need to be converted. Therefore, the updating interval becomes less frequent through an observing run as more data is collected. For example, for accumulated scans of >500, it will take 5 minutes or more to convert the data. So the plot will be updated only every 5-10 minutes after, say, couple hours of the observation.

  • Update
    Do update manually. It will recreate the scan-based FITS file from most current UV table and re-plot the data. Disabled when auto update mode is selected.

SMA data analysis AIPS++ documentation@NRAO