Version-4.2 release notes, November 1998
These are release notes for FTOOLS v4.2, released 20 November, 1998. In this
document we discuss the new tools and scripts in v4.2 and highlight the
major changes since v4.1.
XTE Specific Tools
For complete details and up-to-date information on using FTOOLS v4.2
to analyze RXTE data, please refer to:
http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/xte/xhp_proc_analysis.html
For more information on any FTOOL type "fhelp " once you've installed the package. "fhelp ftools" will provide a full listing of all the tools available in v4.2, while "fhelp " lists all of the tools in that package.
New since v4.1
- closereturn --- Uses the method of close returns to aid the user in
detecting unstable periodic orbits embedded in the
evolution of a time series. Uses light curves as
input and displays the result as a two dimensional
image, as well as stores the image in an output file.
- decodeevt -- Decodes event keywords in XTE Science Event files and
generates an output file with separate columns
for TIME, CHANNEL, PCUID, ANODE, and PROPANE.
- dyenspec -- Generates dynamic energy spectrum for each row of
the input XTE Science Array data (mode 2), and then
displays this two dimensional image on the screen
as well as stores the image in an output file. Users
can look at the spectrum for each row by
clicking on the image.
Major changes since v4.1
- fasebin,
fbadd,
fbfsum,
fbssum,
fbsub:
Fixed bug that caused wrong channel-binning for some Event modes;
now can use JPL DE405 ephemeris though default is still DE200;
Linux-specific bugs fixed.
- fcollect/xtederive/xtefilt:
Can collect scalar quantities from PCA science files and cycle over
multiple files. Calculates the additional quantities TIME_SINCE_SAA
and ELECTRON[0-4] when the new appidlist is used (ck. "xtefilt -h")
(THESE CHANGES WERE MADE IN THE XTE v4.1.1 UPDATE, 26 JUNE 1998)
TSTART/TSTOP now always correspond to first and last values in
"Time"
column. TIMEPIXR keyword now present in filter files. Now handles
mixed production and realtime data in the same directory.
- hxtlcurv:
This tool has been disabled in FTOOLS v4.2 due to incompatibilities
with the current version of hxtdead. A revised version will be
released as part of an update to FTOOLS v4.2 in the near future.
Please check our web site for up-to-date information on the release
schedule for software updates.
-
pcabackest/runpcabackest:
Uses an additional parameter, "saafile".
(CHANGE MADE IN THE XTE v4.1.1 UPDATE, 26 JUNE 1998)
CALDB removed as default for model files parameter (see
http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/xte/whatsnew/software.html for
model file instructions); "syserr" parameter is now hidden and not
recommended; correction applied for slow gain drift; fixed bugs
on DEC Alphas; interpolation to 256 channels improved; documents
which saa_history file used.
- pcarsp:
Added options to specify alternate RA/DEC, in case of off-source
pointings.
-
rddescr:
Bug fixed which caused the tool to produce error messages and
generate
an incorrect output ascii channel file whenever the CPIXn keyword
was
longer than one line in the FITS header of the input .pha file.
(CHANGE MADE IN THE XTE v4.1.1 UPDATE, 26 JUNE 1998)
- sbmerge:
Major revisions related to making output acceptable to SAEXTRCT
(1DELT2, 1CTYP2, TDDES2, ModeSpecific); XeCnt counts handled
differently.
Bug Fixes and Minor changes since v4.1
Fixed pervasive bug performing formatted writes without specifying field
width; this only affected FTOOLS compiled from source distribution by
users with the most recent versions of g77 (ie, Linux only). In the XTE
subpackage this applied to hxtarf, xpcaarf, pcaclrsp, and xtecol only.
- addshots:
Removed case-sensitivity in input parameters.
- correctlc:
Made more robust; documentation improved.
- fxbary:
Bug fixed which caused crashes on some systems.
(CHANGE MADE IN THE XTE v4.1.1 UPDATE, 26 JUNE 1998)
- mkgtif:
Bug fixed which caused crashes on some systems.
(CHANGE MADE IN THE XTE v4.1.1 UPDATE, 26 JUNE 1998)
- pcaclrsp:
- xtecol:
Time format increased to allow Time .ge. 1e08; bug fixed in
handling
null values while accumulating avg and std dev; fixed bug related
to CALDB access
- pcadtlc:
IRIX-specific bug fixed; TUNIT2 keyword added to output file.
- pcarmf:
Bug in retrieving energy-to-channel info from CALDB fixed.
- sa2phaII:
Change in handling of 1CPIX keyword; changed EXPOSURE computation.
- trans2fits:
Bug fixed in Check_and_Write_Info subroutine which caused crashes
in some circumstances.
If you have a question about RXTE, please send email to one of our
help desks.
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