MDM Observatory's 8K CCD array project based at Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory: DetCom HELP PAGE
Arlin Crotts e-mail: (arlinastro.columbia.edu)
Telephone: (212) 854-7899



HELP PAGE FOR MDM 8K CONTROL SOFTWARE (DetCom) :

> help

*---[ Command Set ]-------------------------------------------------------*

*--- Observing Commands --------------------------------------------------*

defaults : Resets filename, etime, etype, and raster settings

mef on|off : Toggle saving multi-extension FITS / separate files

etype <c> : Choose o)bject, b)ias, d)ark, f)lat, c)omp or x for focus

etime [<mn>:]<sec>: Set exposure time; <sec> can be a floating point number

header <c> <val> : Set header `<c>' (comment,observer,object) to `<val>'

raster <rspec> : <rspec> is `xc yc xs ys [xb yb]' (`raster help' for more - see below )

go [n] : Start (n) exposure(s) with current etime and etype

clean [n] : Clean the CCDs `n' times in a row (default=once. Also known as "flush")

help : Displays this help screen of DetCom commands

cd [<directory>] : Change/Show current working directory for images

ls [<files>] : List files in the current working directory

say <message> : Broadcast a message to other users on-line

builtin : Displays help for director builtin options

!... : Passes ... to a unix shell (e.g. `!ls -l *.fits')

*--- Engineering Commands ------------------------------------------------*

* `LB' means a leach board name-- `lub' for utility board and `ltb' for timing board. A `0' / `1' (or `M' / `S') can be appended to select only the master or slave controller. For example, `lub' selects both utility boards, `lubS' selects only the slave's utility board. Just an `M', `S' or `*' can be used to select all applicable boards on the master, slave, or both controllers.

* `addr' can be either a symbol name from the DSP source or an address. (E.g. `OPTION' or `Y:0000'.) Address values are assumed to be given in hexadecimal.

* `data' can be a symbol as well, but is usually a numeric value. Unlike addr the value of `data' is assumed to be in decimal, unless given with a leading `0x'. A leading `0' implies an octal value (consistent w/ the C strtoul function).

mode "modename" : Use `mode observing' for normal operations

tdl [LB [1234]] : Test Data Link (Board and data pattern optional)

download LB <name>: download DSP lod file <name> to specified boards.

symbol LB [name] : Print values of DSP code symbols found in .lod file

shutter [OP] : Operate shutter; OP=open close recock wait status

shuttercount <arg>: `reset' or `increment' the shutter counter

filename <string> : Set filename base string for next exposure

fileno <N> : Filename with ??? only: next sequence

testpat : Verify in-memory data against test pattern

testccd : Verify that in-memory data looks like a CCD

temp : Check CCD temperature

tcs : Get TCS header info in background (handled by `go')

tcswait : Wait for tcs to finish and read values from parfile

save : Save in-memory data to disk (use w/`auto save off')

savepreview : Save in-memory data to disk as binned 8x8 composite

waitdata : Data writing runs in the background; Use this to wait

abortdata : Kills any data writer threads as soon as possible

rdmem LB addr : Read DSP memory (optional args: expected_data, mask)

wrmem LB addr data: Write DSP memory (optional arg: mask)

auto <fnc> on|off : Toggle auto <fnc>=`save' `clean' or `voltage'

cmd LB XYZ : Issue any basic leach command to any board(s)

syr : Send an SYR command to each board

power [OP] [LB] : OP=on:PON off:POF test:PTS, or read voltages

preexp : Used by go to set up pre-exposure DSP parameters

expose : Used by go to time an exposure (SEX to lubM)

readout : Used by go to readout CCDs (RDC to ltbM)



> raster help

Using the `raster' command:

raster <xc> <yc> <xs> <ys> [<xb> <yb>]

raster CENTER <xs> <ys> [<xb> <yb>]

raster FULL [ BIN2 | BIN4 | BIN8 ]

Where <xc> <yc> is the center of a region of size <xs> by <ys> pixels. The current detector has a maximum image area of 2048 by 4096 pixels, so the center must be [1:2048,1:4096], and the size must remain within this as well. The 4 parameters can be replaced by `FULL' to choose the full detector. Or, the first 2 parameters can be replaced by `CENTER', followed by <xs> <ys>.

Optionally two more arguments giving the x and y binning factors <xb> <yb> can be specified, or the single word `BIN2' `BIN4' or `BIN8' can be used for equal binning in x and y.

Regardless of the syntax you use to enter the raster, a string will be generated with the equivalent raster command, using the `CENTER' `FULL' `BIN2' keywords if possible, and will appear on the status bar. This indicates the raster that will be used with the next `go' command. Changing raster/binning after a readout does nothing to the current image in memory, even if you do it before saving the exposure to disk.