Preferences in CIMA version 2.2

Write log-file also for off-line sessions --- Default: No

Although CIMA can happily produce log-files also when You are running CIMA in off-line mode, it is normally not very useful. This option allows You to select whether You want log-files or not when running in off-line mode. Any log-files produced in off-line mode will have the suffix '.cimaofflog' instead of '.cimalog' which is reserved for on-line sessions. There is thus no risk of mix up between Your real observing log and any off-line test runs.

Sound audio alarm when errors occur --- Default: Yes

Traditionally CIMA has only produced sound messages when an observation is finished or aborted. Error messages have only been displayed with red text in the log window. This option allows You to select whether You also want an audio signal (a cowbell) to alert You whenever an error occurs.

Automatically open observation status window --- Default: Yes

This option allows You to specify whether You want the CIMA observation status window to be opened automatically for You when Your CIMA session starts. If You are running remote observing over a slow connection, You may not want to launch this window. Anyway, You can always open it from the 'User Preferences' main menu button in CIMA.

Automatically open receiver selection window --- Default: Yes

This option allows You to specify whether You want the receiver selection window to be opened automatically for You when Your CIMA session starts. You can always open it from the 'Receiver IF/LO Control' main menu button in CIMA.

Automatically open IDL graphics window --- Default: Yes

This option allows You to specify whether You want the IDL graphics window to be opened automatically for You when Your CIMA session starts. You can always open it by selecting the 'Enable Exec IDL' button in the 'IDL Control' menu found in the 'Utilities' main menu.

Show the datataking status window --- Default: No

This option allows You to specify whether You want the datataking status window to be showed during Your CIMA observing session. Traditionally this window has always been opened in the top-right corner of the screen. It is a low-level engineering type window printing out a set of semi-cryptic information about the datataking state. It is usually not of any interest to the normal observer. This switch gives You the option to choose whether You want it or not.

Window color theme to use --- Default: Steel

The window color theme option allows You to choose between the new gray-ish color theme called 'Steel' or the older orange-ish one called 'Bisque'

Help-windows only stay open as long as middle mouse-button is pressed --- Default: No

Many CIMA windows support a help-mode where You can move the cursor over any button or label in the window and then press the middle mouse-button to get a pop-up window providing help on the selected feature. These pop-up windows can be configured to behave in two different ways. In one mode, the window pops up and stays open only as long as the middle mouse-button is pressed. The help window disappears automatically as soon as the button is released. In the other mode, the help window pops up and stays open until You close it with its 'Continue' button. You can only have one pop-up help window open at any time, so if You click on another feature before You have closed the pop-up window, the help text on the new feature will be displayed in the help window that is already open. Traditionally, CIMA has not had this kind of help feature, so it will be added with time to the old windows. Windows that support this feature usually follow the 'new' graphical style having a yellowish box with a title and a 'Help' button at the lower left.

This page is administered by Prakash Atreya ( patreya (a) naic . edu ) and was last updated on 18 December 2007.