DFOS installation: 3. Creating ABs

[not maintained anymore]

8. install createAB

• install createAB and the other tools in that package
• createAB uses the DFS tool ABbuilder
• leave the rules files in the installation directory, they are just for illustrative purpose
• you cannot yet run the tool, you first have to create the AB configuration files (next step)

9. create the AB configuration files

The second major investment for the DFOS installation is the proper coding of the calibration cascade into configuration files, in order to create Association Blocks (ABs). These form the backbone of the DFOS system. They contain all processing and packing information for a set of files.

The association concept is explained in depth here. The AB structure is shown here. QC is using the OCA (organization, classification and association) framework.

• try to sketch your calibration cascade (including the SCIENCE data) in the format of the examples (GIRAFFE | UVES_ECH | UVES_MOS)
• translate RAW_TYPEs, processing sequence, recipe names etc. into the OCA configuration files (under $DFO_CONFIG_DIR/OCA).

It's a good idea to create the cascade incrementally, step by step. Start with the simplest case, usually the BIAS or DARK frames.

Having set up the OCA rules at least for BIAS or DARK frames, you are ready to launch

createAB -m CALIB -d <date>

and create your first ABs. Check them carefully. Also check the AB_list under $DFO_MON_DIR. If you have configured e.g. the BIAS products as cascade products, you should also find your first virtual calibrations in $DFO_CAL_DIR/VCAL.

10. expand the cascade into a fully operational cascade

• if the BIAS/DARK examples works fine, expand the cascade step by step
• don't forget to include unsupported modes if they have to be packed (since ABs support both processing and packing information)
• the last step in the cascade are the SCIENCE raw_types