Setting Up and Running Standard Hera

Hera currently runs on unix, Mac OS, and Windows. Unix users should install fv (version 4.4 or higher). Both Mac and Windows users will need to install a special Hera utility in addition to fv. Detailed information on downloading and installing the packages can be found at
http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/software/ftools/fv/fv_download.html

The Hera GUI is called by either typing fv -hera on the command line or fv & on the command line and clicking on the ``Connect to Hera...'' option in the fv pop-up window, and logging in (see Figs. 4.1 and 4.2, respectively). If you do not yet have a Hera account, enter a username in the right-hand textbox and follow the instructions.

After logging in, the main Hera window will appear (see Figure 4.3). The main Hera window has five sections. The upper panel on the right side (``Remote Directory List'') lists the directories and files on the NASA server in the user's account. Directly beneath it is a panel showing the directories and files on the user's local machine (``Local Directory List''). To the left are three smaller panels: the top lists any scripts the user may have (``Special Analysis Scripts''), the middle shows which packages and tasks are available (``Available Tools''), and the bottom lists which task is active, gives a short task description, and has the clickable ``Help'', ``Run Tool...'', and ``Cmd Window'' buttons. New accounts are created with a directory called data and two sample fits files, visible in the Remote Directory List window. Right-clicking on these files will bring up various options, including copying, deleting, and renaming them. Similarly, right-clicking on the data directory will bring up options including renaming the directory or creating a new one (under data).

Figure 4.1: The fv menu list.

Figure 4.2: The Hera login screen.

Mission-specific software is found by single-clicking on the mission name in the middle window. SAS tasks are listed under ``XMM-SAS''. Once a file has been selected in the Remote Directory List panel by single-clicking it, a task can be run on it by either single-clicking on the task name, then clicking ``Run Tool...'', or by double-clicking the tool name. When a task is selected, its description will automatically appear in the ``Description'' box. Clicking on the ``Help'' button will pull up a website detailing the highlighted task, and clicking ``Cmd Window'' will cause a blank window with command line to pop up (see Fig. 4.4).

Running a task will cause a parameter window to appear, where the user can set the parameter values. When the parameters are set, clicking ``Run'' in the parameter window will run the task. If a Command Window is not already open, one will appear automatically, echoing the task name and all its parameter values. If Hera encounters problems while running the task, the warnings or error messages will be displayed there.

Figure 4.3: The main Hera GUI.

Figure 4.4: The Command Window.

Command lines can often be quite long with a variety of parameters. To avoid considerable typing when creating command scripts, a feature of the standard Hera GUI interface can be of assistance: when invoking a task through the GUI, a copy of the full command appears in the Command Window; this can quickly be cut and pasted into a text file for future use.