ATCASCHED Commands

@ filename

Calls the command file filename which is then executed from within ATCASCHED. This is useful if you prefer to make schedules with an editor and then execute the command file from within ATCASCHED.

add

Transfers the currently defined scan (as displayed on the ATCASCHED screen) to the schedule that is being built up in memory. It will be the nth scan in the schedule - where n is the scan number shown on the screen. The schedule is still volatile at this stage, requiring a write command to write it permanently to disk.

cat [sourcename [catalogue]

] The catalogue catalogue in the $ATCA_CAT directory will be searched for the source sourcename and the fields source, ra, dec, epoch and calcode will be filled in automatically. If catalogue is not specified, then the catalogue specified in the defcat field will be used. If sourcename is not specified, then the name in the source field will be used and the catalogue specified in the defcat field will be searched. Example catalogues include AT, VLA and PKS. Note: As the cat command changes the epoch field, you may need to change this for subsequent scans.

clear

Erases the current schedule.

copy i:j [to k]

Copies the block of scans i through to j inclusive and then inserts the copy in the schedule starting at scan k. The previous scan k and all subsequent ones are moved after the copied block. If to k is not specified then the copy is made to the end of the current schedule.

delete i[:j]

Deletes scan i to scan j inclusive (j must be greater than i). The schedule is closed up so that scan j+1 becomes scan i. If only i is specified then only that single scan is removed. Don't forget to use the write command to get your changes out of memory and onto disk.

exit

Stops ATCASCHED and optionally saves schedule before returning you to the operating system prompt.

fetch n

Copies scan n from the schedule to the screen. Leaves the original scan (at n) unchanged. See also replace.

fsched [filename]

Retrieves the schedule file filename from disk. You will be asked if the schedule is to be added to the end of the current schedule (if there is one). If not, ATCASCHED asks for an LST start time, so that the drive times can be evaluated. The schedules on disk are without a start time. The default name for filename is source.sch. See also write.

get [filename]

Retrieves a schedule file screen, saved as filename. This is useful as a way of defining a general default setup - c_band, for example. Useful if you have many scans with only a few different fields. You can call this screen again and again without affecting the current schedule. The default name for filename is menu.dat.

global

This feature allows you to make a change to many or all scans in the schedule. You will be prompted for a keyword to change and should reply in the form: fieldname oldvalue newvalue. ATCASCHED will replace every occurrence of fieldname oldvalue with newvalue. If oldvalue is omitted then every occurrence of fieldname will have newvalue.

Example:	1frequency 4790 4740	This will change to 4740 only those frequencies previously set to 4790.
	1frequency 4790	This will change all frequencies to 4790 regardless of what they were before.

You will then be prompted as to whether you want to apply the change to all sources or a specific sourcename. Notes: 1. There is no check on the validity of sourcename. 2. Global will not work for fields which change other fields, e.g. changing config in global mode will not change the bandwidths for all sources in the ATCASCHED file.

help [topic]

Invokes the on-line help facility on topic. The default is to list all available topics.

insert n

Expands the schedule so that the current scan can be placed at position n. The previous occupant at n is moved up to (n+1).

list

Produces a listing of the schedule. Four options are offered:

1. a listing primarily concerned with the drive times, az and el.
2. a listing showing the precise positions as well as the frequencies and bandwidths.
3. a list of everything in a landscape format.
4. a summary of times and sources.

Note that listing times are given in LST. The option is given of writing the information to the screen, a file or both.

move n:m [to s]

Takes the block of scans n to m inclusive, deletes them from the schedule and then inserts them back into the schedule starting at scan s. If to s is omitted, the block is inserted at the end of the schedule.

newstart

Recomputes the entire schedule with a new start time. The start time will be requested after some preliminary checks.

offset

Enables you to offset the array phase centre by a few arcseconds from the original source positions, so the source is not in the centre of the image. You will be prompted for the actual offsets in arcseconds and then asked which sources for application of the offsets. This can be done by selecting a specific source name, or a scan number. This can be useful when observing point sources, as image analysis problems sometimes occur at the image centre. Use PtCtr to change pointing offset.

quit

Writes the schedule file to disk and exits ATCASCHED.

replace n

Places the current scan into the schedule file, over-writing the previous scan at position n.

redraw

Refresh the ATCASCHED display after error messages, system bulletins and the like.

save [filename]

Saves the current screen to filename - default for filename is menu.dat. This screen can be used again with the get command. Note this does not write a file that can be read by CAOBS.

write

Writes the schedule out to a file, with the filename specified on the ATCASCHED screen. The schedule can be called back to the program with the command fsched, or used by CAOBS to observe.