Next: 3 Shortform commands Up: Asthelp Prev: 1 Introduction

2 Command summary

This is a list of commands available in ASTERIX. These are loosely grouped by their function. Shortform and macro commands are shown with suffixes '+' and '*' respectively.

  1. Instrument Interfaces
    1. ROSAT commands (PSPC and HRI specific)
      SHOWXRT
      Show observation information stored in header file
      XRTCONV
      Since ASTERIX 2.3-0 works directly on FITS RDF files
      this command has become obselete.
      XRTINDEX
      Extracts header information from ROSAT FITS files
      XRTHOT
      Extracts hotspot/deadspot information from HRI datafiles
      XRTCORR
      Corrects XRT datafiles for vignetting effects etc..
      XRTHK
      Produce list of times based on housekeeping parameters
      XRTSORT
      Sorts ROSAT PSPC and HRI raw data into ASTERIX datasets
      XRTRESP
      Creates an energy response structure within a spectral NDF
      XRTSUB
      Subtracts an XRT background from an XRT source file
      XRTORB
      Create orbital information file for use in BARYCORR
      XSPOKES
      Defines the ribs region on a PSPC image
      XRTBCKBOX*
      Sorts XRT data using a radius optimisation algorithm
      XRTBOX*
      Allows a image region to be selected and used for sorting
      XRTEXPMAP
      Constructs exposure maps by dithering background images
      XPSSCORR
      Converts PSS XRT source counts into a flux
      XRAD
      Calculates the PSF radius for a PSPC source
      XRAD90
      Calculates the 90% PSF radius for a PSPC source
    2. ROSAT commands (WFC Pointed Phase specific). Some of these are defined by typing wfcstart from the command line. Note that RWOD refers to a ROSAT WFC Observation Dataset.
      WFCAUTO*
      Provides automatic analysis of one or more RWODs (Rosat WFC Observation Datasets)
      WFCBACK
      Produce background subtracted image given raw image
      WFCBOP*
      Performs background threshold optimisation for a WFC observation
      WFCCOUNTS*
      Produces statistics on a source seen in a WFC image.
      WFCDBM
      Maintain a database of WFC observations
      WFCDISK*
      Copies the contents of an RWOD to disk.
      WFCEXP
      Exposure correct a WFC binned dataset
      WFCHK
      Create time series of housekeeping parameters
      WFCIMAGE*
      Creates filter specific WFC counts, flux and exposure images.
      WFCLIGHT*
      Creates a background subtracted, exposure corrected, light curve for a source in the current image (interactive use only)
      WFCPOSX
      Get the exposure at a point in the WFC FOV
      WFCSLOTS
      Selects a set of filter defined observation slots
      WFCSLMRG
      Merges 2 sets of time slots together
      WFCSORT
      Sorts events into ASTERIX binned or event datasets
      WFCSPC*
      Creates a background subtracted, exposure corrected, spectral dataset for a source in the current image (interactive use only)
      WFCSPEC
      Creates a WFC spectral file
      WFCSUB*
      Subtracts a background light curve from a source light curve. Both input light curves must be exposure corrected before use.
  2. Event Processing Commands - these all work on EVENT datasets.
    EVBIN
    Creates a binned dataset from an event dataset.
    EVCSUBSET
    Extracts a circular or annular region from an event dataset. Output is an event dataset.
    (EVLIST
    Displays the DATA_ARRAY component of all lists in an event dataset.)
    EVMERGE
    Merges two or more event datasets.
    EVPHASE
    Create a phase list given an ephemeris
    EVPOLAR
    Polar binning of event dataset
    EVSIM
    Creates a simulated event dataset
    EVSORT
    Reorder events on basis of a list's value.
    EVSUBSET
    Linearly extracts a subset from an event dataset.
  3. Binned Dataset Commands
    ASMOOTH
    Smooth a dataset with an adaptive filter
    AXCENTROID
    Centroid an dataset wrt to one axis
    AXCONV
    Expands spaced axes for use in KAPPA etc.
    AXFLIP
    Reverses directions of any or all of dataset's axes
    AXORDER
    Re-order axes of a dataset
    AXSHOW
    Display list of axis attributes for binned dataset
    BINGRP
    Create, modify or delete a binned dataset grouping array
    BINMERGE
    Merges up to ten datasets.
    BINSUBSET
    Subsets a binned dataset.
    CORRECT
    Applies exposure and dead time correction
    ENMAP
    Creates 2D image of mean energy of photons in 3d dataset
    INTERP
    Reconstitutes bad pixels by spline interpolation
    MEANDAT
    Finds mean or sum of up to 20 datasets
    POLYFIT
    Fits 1-d polynomial(s) to a dataset.
    PROJECT
    Project data along one axis.
    RADOPT
    Finds optimum SNR radius for a given source
    RATIO
    Gives the ratio of two bands on any axis in an n-d array.
    REBIN
    Rebins a binned dataset.
    SIGNIF
    Changes an input dataset to its weighted significance.
    SCATTERGRAM
    Produce scatter plot of one array versus another
    SMOOTH
    Smooths an n-d datafile with a user-selectable mask.
    SPLINEFIT
    Finds splines to 1D or 2D data
    SYSERR
    Adds a constant percentage to the variance of each point.
  4. Conversion Commands
    ASTCONV
    Converts between old and new ASTERIX binned datasets.
    AST2QDP
    Convert a 1D dataset to QDP format
    ASTQDP
    Invoke AST2QDP and then QDP on the file created
    AST2XSP
    Convert spectrum from ASTERIX to Xspec format
    (EVBIN
    Creates a binned dataset from an event dataset.)
    AST2TEXT
    Outputs one or more datasets to text file
    HDS2TEXT
    Convert HDS objects to text (opposite of TEXT2HDS)
    TEXT2AST
    Reads a text file into an ASTERIX binned dataset
    TEXT2HDS
    Convert text file to HDS
    FITS2HDS
    Convert FITS file to HDS
  5. Display Commands
    ASTDEFS
    List ASTERIX customable parameters
    AXSHOW
    Display list of axis attributes for binned dataset
    BINLIST
    Displays a 1D binned dataset.
    EVLIST
    Displays the DATA_ARRAY component of all lists in an event dataset.
    HEADER
    Displays header and processing information in a dataset
    HIST
    Displays history of a dataset.
    SSDUMP
    Displays contents of source search results file
  6. Math Commands
    ARITHMETIC
    Performs basic arithmetic (+,-,/,*) on two data objects.
    ADD+
    Invokes ARITHMETIC in + mode
    SUBTRACT+
    Invokes ARITHMETIC in - mode
    MULTIPLY+
    Invokes ARITHMETIC in * mode
    DIVIDE+
    Invokes ARITHMETIC in / mode
    OPERATE
    Performs operations e.g. LOG10 on a dataset.
  7. Time Series Analysis Commands
    1. Non-interactive analysis commands
      ACF
      Computes a 1d auto-correlation function
      BARYCORR
      Applies barycentric correction to binned and event datsets
      CROSSCORR
      Cross correlates two 1D series.
      CROSSPEC
      Computes the cross spectrum of two 1D datasets
      DIFDAT
      Differences adjacent bins to reduce low frequency noise
      DYNAMICAL
      Finds power spectrum of successive segments of a time series
      EVPHASE
      Add a phase list to an event dataset
      FOLDBIN
      Folds a time-series into phase bins at a given period
      PHASE
      Converts a time-series into a phase series.
      POWER
      Finds the power spectrum of a full unweighted 1D dataset
      SINFIT
      Finds a periodogram of irregularly spaced 1D data.
      TIMSIM
      Generates simulated time series
      VARTEST
      Test a source/background time series pair for variability
    2. Interactive time series editor
      TLOAD
      Load a time series into the system for plotting and tinkering
      TCLOSE
      Release the time series and close down the system.
      TPLOT
      Plot the time series
      TCHOP
      Chop up the display into separate plots of contiguous data.
      TWHOLE
      Use the whole time series including gaps.
      TSLICE
      Select a time slice to keep or discard.
      TZAP
      Remove individual points.
      TSELECT
      Select a subset of time segments for display.
      TSAVE
      Save the data in their current status.
      TONOFF
      Write out on-off times in MJD for currently selected good data.
  8. Image Processing Commands
    1. Interactive
      ILOAD
      Load image into image processing system
      ICLOSE
      Close down image processing system
      IDISPLAY
      Display current image
      IBOX
      Define rectangular section of image
      IWHOLE
      Select whole image
      IZOOM*
      Zoom in on section of image
      IUNZOOM*
      Redisplay whole image
      ISCALE
      Rescale image
      ICONTOUR
      Contour current image
      IGRID
      Puts grid over image in specified coords
      ICOLOUR
      Change colour table
      IPLOT
      Display current 1D plot
      ILIMITS
      Changes axis limits on 1D plot
      ISTYLE
      Set plotting style of 1D plot
      ITITLE
      Change title of current image or plot
      IZONES
      Changes zones on display surface
      ICLEAR
      Clear current plotting zone
      ISTATS
      Gives basic statistics on pre-selected region of image
      IBOXSTATS+
      Select region and give statistics
      IMARK
      Marks sources on image
      IREMOVE
      Remove sources from image
      IPEAKS
      Find and mark peaks above threshold
      INOISE
      Adds gaussian noise to image
      IZAP
      Removes individual pixels from image
      IPATCH
      Patches bad quality pixels in image
      IPOLYFILL
      Fill data area defined by user selected polygon
      IPOLYFILLQ+
      Fill quality area defined by user selected polygon
      IBLUR
      Blur image by Gaussian or Box filter
      IBROWSE
      Look at data values around selected point
      IPEEKV+
      Look at variances
      IPEEKQ+
      Look at quality
      IHIST
      Histogram pixels inside current box
      IRADIAL
      Produces radial plot
      IPSF
      Puts PSF profile on 1D plot
      IAZIMUTH
      Produces azimuthal distribution
      ISLICE
      Takes a 1-d slice from an image
      IPREVIOUS
      Go back to previous image
      ISAVE
      Save current image to file
      ISAVE1D
      Save current 1D data to file
      ICURRENT
      Get current positions etc
    2. Non-interactive
      IMOSAIC
      Merges several non-congruent images
      IPOLAR
      Produce a polar surface brightness profile of an image
      IXCONV
      2D convolution of a pair of images
      IDTODMS*
      Convert decimal degrees to dd:mm:ss
      IDMSTOD*
      Convert dd:mm:ss to decimal degrees
      IDTOHMS*
      Convert decimal degrees to hh:mm:ss
      IHMSTOD*
      Convert hh:mm:ss to decimal degrees
  9. Parameter Commands
    GLOBAL
    Displays the current values of all global parameters.
  10. Spectral analysis commands
    FREEZE
    Freezes parameter(s) in spectral model.
    (IGNORE+
    Allows spectral channels to be excluded from fitting.)
    (RESTORE+
    Reinstates spectral channels for fitting.)
    SBG
    Associate background file with a spectrum
    SBIN
    Rebin spectrum to even out counts in each bin.
    SDATA
    Define datasets to be fitted.
    SEDIT
    Interactively edit a spectral model description.
    SERROR
    Evaluates confidence region for spectral model parameters.
    SFIT
    Fits spectral model to one or more datasets.
    SFLUX
    Evaluates flux from defined model over energy band.
    SGRID
    Construct n-D grid of fit statistic/reoptimised parameters against grid parameters
    SMODEL
    Allows user definition of multi-component spectral model.
    SPLOT
    Plots data, fits and residuals.
    SSHOW
    Display current model parameters to any ascii device
    THAW
    Frees spectral model parameter (after FREEZEing).
  11. Statistical analysis commands
    BINSUM
    Integrates a dataset - use for cumulative distributions
    COMPARE
    Compares two datafiles or a file and a model.
    FREQUENCY
    Produces a histogram of values in a data array.
    KSTAT
    Calculates the Kendall K statistic for a 1-d dataset.
    STATISTIX
    Finds mean, standard deviation etc.. of a data array
  12. Quality processing commands
    IGNORE+
    Invokes QUALITY in IGNORE mode: sets temporary bad quality bit
    QUALITY
    General quality manipulation application.
    RESTORE+
    Invokes QUALITY in RESTORE mode: clears temporary bad quality bit. (Only available in ICL)
    SETQUAL+
    Invokes QUALITY in SET mode: sets quality to specified value.
    MAGIC
    Sets magic values
    MASK
    Sets quality mask value
  13. HDS editor commands
    HCOPY
    Recursively copies an HDS object
    HCREATE
    Creates an HDS object in a file
    HDELETE
    Deletes an HDS object
    HDIR
    Displays the components of an HDS file or structure
    HDISPLAY
    Displays the contents of an HDS primitive
    HFILL
    Fills a primitive object with one value
    HGET
    Get HDS object attributes to environment
    HMODIFY
    Change the value(s) in an existing object.
    HREAD
    Reads from an ASCII (or binary) file to an HDS object
    HRENAME
    Renames an HDS object
    HRESET
    Set values in HDS primitive to 'undefined'
    HRESHAPE
    Alters size of dimensions in an HDS primitive array
    HRETYPE
    Change type of a structured object
    HTAB
    Simultaneously displays several HDS primitive vectors
    HTRACE
    Displays full HDS tree structure
    HWRITE
    Writes an HDS primitive to an ASCII (or binary) file
  14. Source Searching Commands
    BSUB
    Background subtraction program
    COVERAGE
    Convert PSS sensitivity map to coverage function
    CREPSF
    Create dataset containing psf description
    EVSIM
    Create simulated event datasets
    IMSIM
    Create simulated image datasets
    PSS
    Search a binned dataset for sources
    SPCONVOL
    Convolve a spatial response with a source model
    SPRESP
    Attach a spatial response to a dataset
    SSCARIN
    Export source search results to binary SCAR catalogue
    SSDUMP
    Dumps source search results to an ascii file
    SSGET
    Extracts source search results data items to environment
    SSMERGE
    Merge two or more source results together
  15. GRAFIX display commands
    DOPEN
    Open a device for interactive plotting by any subsystem.
    DCLOSE
    Force closure of current device.
    DERASE
    Clear the display surface.
    DLIST
    List valid device names.
    DSHOW
    Show information about current device.
    GDRAW
    Draw 1D or 2D data, or plot data from a multiple dataset.
    GMULTI
    Creates and manipulates multiple datasets.
    GSET
    Sets plotting attributes for a dataset or an interactive sub-system.
    GLOAD
    Load and hold open a dataset for interactive plotting.
    GCLOSE
    Release a loaded dataset.
    G_POS
    Specify position of plotting window for primitive plotting.
    G_WINDOW
    Define world coordinate limits of plotting window.
    G_AXES
    Plot axes.
    G_MOVE
    Move to a given position without plotting.
    G_PLOT
    Plot from current position to specified position.
    G_LINE
    Draw a line through a given series of points.
    G_MARK
    Plot markers at specified points.
    G_LABEL
    Put labels on plot.
    G_TEXT
    Put text at arbitrary position.
    G_CURS
    Return cursor position in world coordinates.


Next: 3 Shortform commands Up: Asthelp Prev: 1 Introduction