Special NAUG - 2007-Feb-02

• 7. Image tool and imagefits:

• 8. Catalog;filecatalog is now available, though we encourage the use of the unix shell as this is the simplest most direct route.

• 9. Clean:

• 10. Calibration files:

• 11. Casa parameter defaults:

I notice that the default parameters for casa parameters are listed in
the casa.py file in the appropriate directory, in this case

/usr/lib/casapy/20.0.993-003/lib/python2.5

I guess we are stuck with global defaults, rather than different defaults
for different tasks.  I would also recommend changes some of the defaults
such as:

fieldid = -1   instead of fieldid = 0
datacolumn = 'data'   instead of  datacolum = 'corrected'
field is in the list twice
multiplot = true    instead of   multiplot = false
alg = 'csclean'     instead of   alg = 'hogbom'  (ie APCLN)
opacity = false     instead of   opacity = true
gaincurve = false   instead of   gaincurve = true
plotsymbol = '.'    instead of   plotsymbol = ','
timebin = 0.0       instead of   timebin = '-1s'  (see above comments on
this)
timerange = ['01-JAN-1980/00:00:00.0','01-JAN-2010/00:00:00.0']
                   instead of   timerange = ''
  (It is difficult finding the various syntax for timerange.  If you
use the
   default above, it is obvious what format to use if you really want
to use
   timerange.)

verbose = true      instead of   verbose = false

• 12. plotcal

• 13. fluxscale

• 14. HELP information?

• DS: Enhancement request:

• User error reporting:

---------------------------------------
setjy ('vis=src.ms',field='1331+305')
 # typo created major error messages that are not helpful:
 # Exception Reported: Table
 #/home/sola/dss/mcmaster/spitzer.vla/vla.reduce/Aarray2.multiobs/
 #vis=src.ms/FIELD 
 #does not exist
 #Fri Jan 26 20:22:29 2007      WARN :
 #No table specified, please open first
 #Exception Reported: Table
 #/home/sola/dss/mcmaster/spitzer.vla/vla.reduce/Aarray2.multiobs/vis=src.ms
 #does not exist
 # etc...
   # just say that the vis file "vis=src.ms" doesn't exist and leave
     it at that.  

• Asthetics change request:

browsetable ' src.ms'
 # why does this come up as a small box in a large white screen?
 # why not bring it up so the table fills the available space?  

• bug:

-------------------------------
setjy(vis='src.ms',field='1331+305')
 # gives an error - details not reported here because I've already
   worked them with Joe:
##### Joe figured it out, selection between fieldid and field is not
      handed off correctly.  eventually get rid of fieldid but not
      until casa has wildcard parameters in the field names.  Minimum
      match has too many problems getting multiple sources.  

• bug:

-------------------------------
plotcal gets TPPlotter error when trying to plot a gain table:
gaincal(vis='src.ms',caltable='src.gcal',mode='none',
    msselect='FIELD_ID IN [0] && DATA_DESC_ID IN [0,1]',
    uvrange=[0,400],refant=20)
 # OK, 2 good solutions found

plotcal(tablein='src.gcal',yaxis='amp',multiplot=True)
 # a bunch of code traceback, I get a blank screen.
   # Fri Jan 26 22:10:23 2007    SEVERE :
   # Exception Reported: TPPlotter: From Python.
   - problem is repeatable. 

• Inconsistency:

-------------------------------
Note: plot cal is marching through the antennas in numerical
      sequential order, This suggests that it is showing antenna_id
      rather than antenna_name like plotxy.  This should be made to be
      consistent.

• Enhancement request:Behaves as for other plots.

-------------------------------
When I stop iterating in plotcal or plotxy, the image goes away.  I
would like it to stay up on the screen so I can see the last plot. 

• Problem with understanding:

-------------------------------
# why do I need a visibility file for fluxscale?  Isn't it still just
  operating on the cal tables????  This is disturbing.  

• bug:

-------------------------------
fluxscale causes segmentation fault:
fluxscale(vis='src.ms',caltable=' src.gcal',fluxtable='src.fcal',
    reference='1331+305', transfer=['1820-254','2007+404','1925+211','2015+371'])
 # Fri Jan 26 23:15:23 2007      WARN :
 # The following transfer fields have no solutions available:
 # Fri Jan 26 23:15:23 2007    NORMAL : Found reference field(s): 1331+305
 # Segmentation fault (core dumped)
   # src.fcal not created.
# Summary shows that all field names are correct...  solutions were
  obtained for field-ids 0,1,3,5,7 which are the sources I list
  above.  So this doesn't appear to be a wrong transfer field. 

# restart casa and try again:
fluxscale(vis='src.ms ',caltable='src.gcal',fluxtable='src.fcal',
    reference='1331+305',transfer=['1820-254','2007+404','1925+211','2015+371'])
 # Fri Jan 26 23:23:42 2007    SEVERE Calibrater::fluxscale:
 # Caught Exception:  Cannot find solutions for transfer field(s)
 # but this time it did not cause a seg fault.
 # maybe since the transfer fields were appended there is a problem?  

• Review last week's work
  • Dailys in CV:
  • Ed:
    • - clarification on antenna based flagging
    • - log mouse copying
    • - exportuvfits improvements
    • X refant confusion (need to confirm)
    • - fluxscale
  • David:
    • X bandpass documentation
    • X autoflag segfault
    • X autoflag parameter type issue (fixed in tomorrow's daily)
    • X gaincal defaults Changed defaults to include calwt True for opacity,gaincurve
    • - importvla bandname issue
  • Debra:
    • X msplot problemsSee above
    • - mplot data selection issues
    • X regression failure (used old script)
    • X plotxy problems (.matplotlib problem)
    • X setjy confused?fieldid/field selection hierarchy confusing. Consolidated to single parameter='field' which will take either an integer or list of integers or a string.
  • ipython/python versioning - use 'special' ipythonrc_casa
    • Writes to local directory .ipython_casa directory in local directory. Should this be the same place as the others, i.e., $HOME/...?
  • EF: seg faults - data corruption or other? We think this was a combination of effects from possible actual data corruption between conflicting versions (running the pipeline version), rpm built without proper flags, and an actual bug in fluxscale.

Alpha Release notes

Enhancements/Defects resolved

New functionality

• Key areas:
• Look at spreadsheet - verify 'resolved' issues
• Try out regression scripts at: https://safe.nrao.edu/wiki/bin/view/Software/LegacyCASA
• Write regression script?