26 October 2004 To: Crystal Brogan , Carlos De Breuck , James Di Francesco , Philippe Salome , Debra Shepherd , Rein H. Warmels , Martin Zwaan CC: Joe McMullin Brian Glendenning Gianni Raffi Joe Schwarz From: Debra Shepherd ALMA Offline Subsystem Scientist Thank you very much for helping with the ALMA Offline tests. Everything is ready for the test to start. The DVDs with the datasets are being burned as I type and will be shipped out today via overnight delivery (2 days for Europe). Joe McMullin has set up a web site with test information: http://projectoffice.aips2.nrao.edu/almatst1.1/ALMA_TST1.1.html There are several key things at this site: - email contacts if you have questions (listed at the bottom of the page. * please note: I'll be traveling 28-31oct04 and 15-19nov04 so if you have questions, send them to aips2-requests@nrao.edu. Supporting your endeavors during this test is our highest priority. - Information about how to install AIPS++ Binary installations of AIPS++ software along with data and library files are available via ftp at ftp://ftp.cv.nrao.edu/casa/TST1.1 See the AIPS++ Installation README file for detailed information. - A data reduction cookbook. There are many script examples in this cookbook to help you figure out how calibrate and image different types of data. Please especially check out Chapter 9 - step by step guides for VLA spectral line data and the first day of the BIMA mosaic data (BIMA data can be rather different from VLA and PdBI processing). Note: if you use xpdf to view the cookbook, you can jump around via links in the pdf file and drive your web browser to the on-line help documentation that is referenced in the cookbook. - The file TST1.1.data.description.pdf should be the FIRST thing you read when you are ready to start processing data. It contains descriptions of each dataset (sources, field locations, lines observed), identifies bad data you will need to edit, give you hints on calibration and imaging strategies for each dataset so you don't have to try to second guess the scientific intent from the data itself. - Data set summaries. Please review the summaries for your dataset: * Data: Testers: ------------------------- --------------------------------- NGC 4826, CO galaxy, BIMA Carlos De Breuck James Di Francesco Philippe Salome NGC 1333, SiO outflow, VLA Martin Zwaan Rein H. Warmels Crystal Brogan VLA & PdBI data from TST1 Debra Shepherd (regression testing) (The SiO data are proprietary, PLEASE do NOT distribute). NOTE: There are 2 days of data for each project. The data is similar and once you generate a script from the first dataset, it should be relatively straightforward to edit that script for the 2nd day. To create a first script, it is best to start from an existing script and edit it (saves a lot of typing). You can do copy scripts from the cookbook.pdf file using the pdf Text Select Tool in acroread (located in the top toolbar). If you would prefer, I can send you example scripts from the cookbook in straight text format. Just let me or Joe McMullin know. - Testing comparison page. This is a page with images and spectra for both datasets. These images were generated by internal NRAO testers within the past month (both datasets have been processed many times by many people within AIPS++ and once in AIPS). Although your images will probably not match these exactly due to flagging and weighting differences, you can use these images to see if you are getting about the right thing in your reduction. - A Test 1.1 Report Questionnaire - when you finish testing, please answer the questions on this form - I will merge your answers into a final report and give this to the Offline group to help guide their development. - Soon I will put on the web a list of requirements that I would like you to grade based on your testing. This will be an excel spread sheet that you can fill in or a pdf file that you can write on and fax to me. I'll let you know when this is ready for you to download. - As test results come in, the scripts and final images will be put on this web site. The scripts will also be used for regression testing in the future. As I mentioned in my previous e-mail of 14sep04, we expect that this test will take roughly 40 hours or less of your time. The test begins on Tuesday, 26 October 2004 and will end on Wednesday, 24 November 2004. During this month, the AIPS++ software developers and I will be available to help you with questions or problems that you may come across. Please do not start the test at the last minute! Be aware that this is the first time that outside ALMA users will test some new areas of the code and, although extensive testing of the software has been done in-house, software bugs may still exist. The developers will do their best to help you through any difficulties, including fixing any bugs and distributing new software if necessary. But they can only provide this support if they are given adequate time. If you find you cannot complete the test by 24 November, please contact me as soon as possible (dshepher@nrao.edu). As mentioned above, if you are running out of time, skip the calibration and imaging of the second day of data. It is more important that you explore one dataset well than repeat similar steps on a second day. If you have any questions, issues, problems, please don't hesitate to contact me (dshepher@nrao.edu) or the AIPS++ team (aips2-requests@nrao.edu). Sincerely, Debra Shepherd National Radio Astronomy Observatory Subsystem Scientist for the ALMA Offline software e-mail: dshepher@nrao.edu work phone: 1-505-835-7398 FAX: 1-505-835-7027 home phone: 1-505-838-4014 ALMA test website: http://projectoffice.aips2.nrao.edu/almatst1.1/ALMA_TST1.1.html