National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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                        RELEASE NOTES FOR HEASOFT 6.3.1
                                July 27, 2007
******************************************************************************

The HEASoft 6.3.1 release is primarily driven by the release of the
Suzaku (version 6) and Swift (version 2.7.1) software, but also includes
some minor configuration changes.

As before, configuration-related changes thoughout the package means that
users who already have HEASoft v6.x.x installed will need to completely
replace their software installation; there is no clean way to simply
overlay this new release or to update an existing installation.

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                                Configuration
******************************************************************************

- ftools component:

  Fix optimization switch previously implemented: C optimization should be
  turned down (to -O, not off) any time gcc 4.0.1 is being used (currently
  on most Darwin OS), not just for Intel Mac (the previous implementation).
  This fixes a known bug in gcc 4.0.1 that breaks cfortran-generated code.
  Force Darwin g95 optimization to -O to fix xspec12 zwabs model problem.

- Xspec 12 component:

  Force Darwin g95 optimization to -O to fix xspec12 zwabs model problem.

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                                   XSPEC 11
*****************************************************************************

In the original release of HEAsoft 6.3, XSPEC v11 had a bug triggered by
using the addcomp command to insert a component into a model.  This bug
was fixed in the 6.3 release downloads on 13 July 2007 and is now included
in the 6.3.1 release as well.

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                                   SUZAKU
*****************************************************************************

Suzaku software Version 6 - Changes since HEASoft v6.3:

--------------
General tools 
--------------

 aeattcor

   -  Bug fix. Correct calculation of the keyword SGM_YOFF which produces
      in some cases a value of NaN

------------------
XIS Specific tools
------------------

 xissimarfgen: 
   -  Bug fix. Correct the behaviour for large number of event (>2**32)

 xistime: 
   -  Bug fix. Correct the time calculation when the DP_TIMC_DAT is 
      wrapping around from 2**31 to -2**31
      Also correct the time assignment for the XIS psum mode. 

------------------
HXD Specific tools
------------------
  
 hxdtime:
  - Bug fix. Correct the time calculation when the DP_TIMC_DAT is 
    wrapping around from 2**31 to -2**31


******************************************************************************
                                    SWIFT
******************************************************************************

Swift software Version 2.7.1(Bld21.1) - Changes since HEASoft v6.3:

--------------
General tools 
--------------

 swiftxform:
    - Allow access to remote CALDB.

--------------------
UVOT specific tools
--------------------

 uvotapercorr:
   - Exit with an error if the radius requested is not available
     in the calibration file.

 uvotdetect:
   - Rename 'sextractor' executable to 'uvotsex' to avoid collisions
     with other installed versions.

 uvotimage:
   - Do not make images from EVENT exposures shorter than 11ms.

 uvotmaghist:
   - Allow user to specify PSF CALDB file and frame time.
    Allow user to plot a column other than MAG.

 uvotskycorr:
   - Require corrfile to be a plain file if applying corrections.

 uvotsource:
   - Retrieve WAV* keywords from COLORTABLE CALDB file.
     Allow user to specify PSF CALDB file and frame time.
     Corrected calculation of circle radius from region area (which
     is needed when method=CURVEOFGROWTH).


-------------------
XRT specific tools
-------------------

 xrtscreen:
    - Apply the caldb query for the hkrange file depending on
     the substrate voltage.

 xrtcalcpi:
    - Apply the caldb query for the gain file depending on the
      substrate voltage.

 xrtmkarf:
   - Apply the caldb query for the arf and rmf file depending on
     the substrate voltage.

 xrtproducts:
   - Apply the caldb query for the rmf file depending on the
     substrate voltage.

 xrtevtrec:
   - New input parameters 'thrfile' to get event and split thresholds
     from CALDB file.

 xrtpcgrade:
   - New input parameters 'thrfile' to get split threshold from CALDB file.

 xrtflagpix:
   - New input parameters 'thrfile' to get PHA threshold of central
     pixel from CALDB file. Flag as BAD events outside of FOV region.

 xrtpcbias:
   - New input parameters 'thrfile' to get event and split thresholds
     for bias calculation from CALDB file. Set 'bpfile'="CALDB" in 
     xrtflagpix task call.

 xrtwtcorr:
   - New input parameter 'thrfile' to get bias threshold from CALDB file.

 xrtpdcorr:
   - New input parameter 'thrfile' to get bias threshold from CALDB file.

 xrtpipeline:
   - New input parameter 'thrfile' to get threshold levels from CALDB file.

 xrttdrss2:
   - Set 'bpfile'="CALDB" and 'thrfile'="CALDB" in xrtflagpix task call.

 xrtpccorr:
   - Bug fixed when reading mkf file.
     Changed datatype of some columns in 'BIASDIFF' extension.

Web page maintained by: Bryan K. Irby