Mail Retreival and Processing Observe Files
When new mail has arrived, the computer will beep and the mailbox icon will turn red.

Retrieving Mail:

Open a Banshee window; at the prompt type mail <CR>
A numbered list of the new email message(s) will be displayed
To view the first or only email message in the list, hit the “Return” key  -- <CR> 
(Alternatively, you can enter the number that appears to the left of the email message to open that message)

If the message is a regular informative email (not an observe file) you need to print it
To print a message, first close it by typing the letter q  <CR> 
Then either type the word pipe <CR> ,  or simply type the “pipe” character, shift + backslash
Continue in this manner until all of the messages have been viewed and printed
If there are no observe files present, you can quit the mail program by typing the letter q <CR>
Quitting the mail program in this way moves the messages out of “New Mail” and saves them in “Old Mail”

If one or more of the emails is an observe file, you MUST NOT exit the mail program with the Quit (q) command!
You MUST exit the mail program with the Exit command by typing the letter x <CR>
This way of exiting the mail program leaves the current messages in “New Mail”, so the script called “New Fetch” (which processes the observe files) can more easily be run

Note: 
Remember that using the quit command (typing the letter q) to close an open email message and using the quit command to quit the mail program are two different commands.

 

Processing Observe Files:

Open a Banshee window
Check your current directory; at the prompt type pwd <CR>
Your current directory should be  /home/banshee/observe/to.be.fetched/
If your current directory is not as shown above, change to that directory by typing  cd  to.be.fetched
Run the script that processes the observe files (New Fetch) by typing newfetch <CR>
You will see a screen with the following prompt:
     Welcome to newfetch version 2.1
     Please enter your choice:  soundbytes (s), beeps (b), or no sound (n).
Choose your preference by typing the appropriate letter s, b, or n <CR>
A numbered list of the email messages will be displayed
Open the desired email message either by hitting the “Return” key (to get the first message in the list) or by entering the number of the message
When you have the file open, make note of the following information contained in the first several lines of the email:

Program name (AP401 on line 1 in figure 1 below)
Day the file is to be run (58,516 on line 4 in figure 1 below)
Starting time of the file (23 00 00 on line 4 in figure 1 below)


FIGURE 1

1   /.AP401  2180
2   //* ***
3   //* *** NRAO VLA Observe Program
4   //* *** Observation day 58,516 at 23 00 00 LST, 2000.09.15  23:28:MST.
5   //* *** 
6   //* *** Observer
7   //* *** D.J. Pisano        Phone
8   //* *** UW – Madison      Office: 608-262-2965
9   //* *** Astronomy Dept.    During Observation:
10  //* *** 475 N. Charter St. 
11  //* *** Madison, WI 53706
12  //* *** 
13  //* *** E-Mail address
14  //* *** pisano@astro.wisc.edu
15  //* ***
16  //* *** Observing Mode (s) : line


You will compare this information with that reflected on the Observe Schedule to make sure that the file has the correct day and starting time. 

In addition, you will want to check that the ending time of the file is the same as it is on the Observing Schedule. To quickly jump to the end of the email where the ending time is, hold down the shift key and type the letter g    shift + g
Ending time (05 00 00 on line 125 in figure 2 below)]



FIGURE 2

124  //FISZTB          1507.000            1507.000    1420.405752     1420.405752 
125  0137+331 2    05 00 00 01 37 41.2995 +33 09 35.134C    LL   A    4444   16.50
126  //DS 1A  H      30   7     0   7     0   7     0   7     0
127  //LO     -3.2    -3.2     3590      3590              0000
128  //FISZTB          2131.000     2131.000   1420.405752 


Whether or not all of the information checks out, that is to say, whether or not the file is the correct program to run during the appropriate time frame on the appropriate day as reflected on the Observing Schedule, you will continue through the steps to process the file. If there is a discrepancy in any of the information, make a note to yourself to check into it further after you have gotten the hard copy of the observe file at the end of the New Fetch procedure.

Jump back to the top of the email message by typing the letter g
Close the email message by typing the letter q <CR>
Save the email message by typing the letter s <CR>
Rename and save the email message with the command  s  filename , using the following naming convention: dddx###.tmp
Where “ddd” refers to the last three digits of the five-digit sidereal day number;
“x” is the second letter of the two letters of the program name;
“###”  refers to the three numbers of the program name



FIGURE 3

1  /.AP401  2180
2  //* ***
3  //* *** NRAO VLA Observe Program
4  //* *** Observation day 58,516 at 23 00 00 LST, 2000.09.15  23:28:MST.


For example, using the information in figure 3 above, the filename would be 516P401.tmp
There are a few exceptions:
1) If you receive a revised version of a file that has already been processed and named, or if a particular program will be running more than once in the day, just add the letter “A” (or B, C, D etc) at the end of the filename:  i.e 516P401 exists, so name the new file 516P401A.tmp
2) VLBI programs will have a B in the name, eg. BR552. In this case, keep the letter b in the filename: 517BR552 
3) You may see an unusual program name such as TEST. You can name the file 516TEST, or 516PTST where "P" is the first letter of the last name of the observer (see Figure 1, line 7 to see the observer's name location in the file).
 

After the file has been renamed and saved, you will want to email the observer to acknowledge receipt of the file.
To reply, at the prompt type the letter r  <CR>
Usually the “Re:” field is filled automatically; if not, enter Observing File “Name” & hit <CR>
You will skip to the "CC:" field; enter analysts <CR> (this is not necessary if the file came from the analysts!)
To insert the stock response in the body of the email, type  shift + `  (a tilda ~) followed by the letter  r, a space, obsrep.txt & hit <CR>  (the command will look like this:  ~r  obsrep.txt)
Skip a few lines by hitting <CR> a few times, then enter your own name & hit <CR> to advance to the next line
To close and send the message, type a period ( . ) in the first position on the line, then hit <CR>
You will be returned to the mail prompt

If you have more than one observe file to process, open the next file at this time by hitting the Enter key (this will take you to the next message in the list) ob by entering the number of the message. 
To see the list of email messages again, type the letter h <CR>
Process any remaining observe files in the method described above. 
Occasionally new mail will come in while you are in the midst of the New Fetch process. You are able to include these new files in the process by typing the command, inc  <CR>
If any of the new email messages are observe files, process them in the manner described above
If the messages are informative email messages, be sure to print them in the manner described earlier
After all of the files have been processed, quit the mail program with the quit command; type q <CR>
Quitting the mail program will initiate the next portion of the New Fetch process.
You will see the following information in Figure 4 appear on the screen:



FIGURE 4

                 newfetch starting script: startfetch

Archiving observe files.
Moving 516p401.OBS to observe/obsArchive.
Moving 516p401b.OBS to observe/obsArchive.
Moving *.OBS.orig to observe/obsArchive.
End of script:  endfetch.
Moving to /home/banshee/observe/to.be.fetched.
Removing the old PUTFILES.MC file
Turning off messages to this terminal while you are working.
Starting the mail program...   See ya later!
FIND WHAT GOES HERE!!!!!!  (if no mail, message is:     No mail for observe)
Starting cleanObsFiles...
Cleaning up all the .tmp files in the /home/banshee/observe/to.be.fetched.
FIND WHAT GOES HERE!!!! (if no mail, message is:   There are no *.tmp files in the directory!)
Turning messages back on to this terminal.
End of script:  startfetch.

FIND WHAT GOES HERE!!!
 

(If no files
EXITING, It appears there are no fetched email files to process at thtis time.
ENDING newfetch!
will return to prompt)


Next you will see the prompt displayed below in Figure 5:



FIGIRE 5

Would you like to double check each of the files you just retrieved
for correct AIPS USER NUMBERS?  (y/n)


You will answer yes to this prompt by typing the letter y <CR> 
The information shown in Figure 6 below will appear:



FIGURE 6

 Col   Format    Description

 1-2   /.        Identifies indentification card.

 3-8   A6        PROGRAM CODE  (P.C., up to 6 characters ending in col 8, ie AA123) 

9-13   I4        AIPS USER NUMBER (AUN, ending in col 13)
                 Numbers 0-10 are reserved. General User is 20

  14   $         24 HOUR PROGRAM

FILENAME: 516p401.OBS
0        1 
12345678901234
|||    ||   ||
vvv    vv   vv
/.AP401  2180
^^^    ^^   ^^
|||    ||   ||
/. P.C. AUN $ TO BE LEFT BLANK TO END OF LINE

Is this Correct ? (y/n)


If the information is correct, type the letter y  <CR>  to continue.

If the information is not correct (eg. the program code does not fall within the proper column range, or the AIPS user number is 10), type the letter n <CR>
You will then be given the opportunity to enter the information correctly as diplayed beloew in Figure 7.



FIGURE 7

GET WORDING FOR CHANGE SCREEN 


After the information above has been verified as being correct, the information illustrated in Figure 8 below will appear:



FIGURE 8

                         Starting CHKFILES script version 1.2.0
 

Cleaning up from last session

Compressing postscript files.
Then placing them in  /home/banshee2/obs.ps.files

       COMPRESSING 516P401
       ARCHIVING 516P401
       COMPRESSING 516P401A
       ARCHIVING 516P401A

Saving last OPCHK Log to:
    /home/banshee/observe/to.be.fetched/fetch.stuff/opchk.last
 
 

Please enter you initials:


Enter your initials at the prompt and hit <CR>; the program will continue and display the information in Figure 9:



FIGURE 9

Opening an xterm for a telnet session to MONTY.
At the observe prompt of the newly opened xterm type: telmonty

At the MONTY prompt type the following MODCOMP instructions:
  <NOTE: You may want to cut and past the entire MODCOMP instruction
         set that follows with the mouse from this window to the MONTY
         prompt in the xterm that just opened.)

RUN TEL
JOB
OPSED
E
JOB
GETOBS  !NoDurPls
JOB
OPCHK 516P401 LO
JOB

                                how does more than one file look???

DIE


As suggested by the script, the easiest thing to do is to copy the text block starting with the line "RUN TEL" and pasting it into the MONTY window that appears on the right-hand monitor (see Figure 10).

To select the text block, place the mouse cursor to the immediate left of the letter "R" in the word RUN on the first line. Click once with the left mouse button and while keeping the mouse button depressed, move the mouse cursor to the immediate right of the letter "E" in the word DIE on the last line, then release the mouse button. The block of text should be highlighted, with the last of the dark highlighted area ending on the line below the word DIE. 

To paste the text into the MONTY window (Figure 10), simply move your mouse cursor to the body of the window to the right of the prompt and single-click the MIDDLE mouse button. The text will be pasted into the window, and the script will continue.

(The window illustrated in Figure 9  will remain open while the file processing occurs; therefore it is best to move the window to the bottom of the monitor screen so as not to block the operations windows.)



FIGURE 10

Trying 146.88.201.18...
Connected to 146.88.201.18.
Escape character is '^]'.

MODCOMP Telnet Server -- SYS V/68

MONTY>


The length of time it takes to process the file(s) depends upon the number of files being processed. During this time lots of text will scroll through the window. Since this process can take many minutes, it is wise to move the MONTY window to the bottom of the monitor screen so it doesn't block other operations windows that would be open.

When all of the files have been processed without any errors occurring, the MONTY window will automatically close, and the information in Figure 11 will displayed in the banshee window in the left-hand monitor:

(If there are errors and/or the script crashes, skip to the directions here)



FIGURE 11

Parsing 516P401 from opchk.log     Opening file:  516P401.pre

 File Parsing Complete. Converting to postscript

  Preparing coversheet for: 516P401
request id is vla-hpd-447 (1 file)
  Printing the cover sheet for: 516P401
request id is vla-hpd-448 (1 file)
  Printing the observe file for: 516P401
 

       newfetch: End of Script

banshee<observe>%
 

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR MORE THAN ONE FILE?



Checking the Printed Observe File:

After the observe file has printed, there are several things that must be checked.
 

Subarray
Fluke
Check off times
Special instructions?
Checklist
Tipping scans?
 

Need to show cover sheet and short version of objects to show special scan modes.



Figure ##

Cover sheet 


Blah blah blah



Figure ##

File illustrating tipping scans


Blah blah blah
 



What to do in case of crashes:

CTRL+ C out of banshee window

Pick up scripts at appropriate time
 
 

How to edit file using Emacs:

In a Banshee window:
> emacs filename.OBS

Common commands:
ctrl+a     go to beginning of line
ctrl+e     go to end of line
esc+d     delete work
ctrl+p     display previous entry

Center mouse key will activate scroll bar.
A straight save will save the file to the proper directory.
 
 
 
 

How to edit .OBS file using OPSED:
 

After making any changes to an observe file, be sure to check the files. At Op3 terminal

$ JOB
$ FILECHK filename # (where filename is the name of the file and # is the subarray)
 
 

Common Observe Files problems:

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