Dear CIAO users,
The CXC is planning a release of the CIAO software which includes
infrastructure changes and improvements to the Sherpa modeling and
fitting package and the CHIPS plotting and visualization package. We
would like to get input on how the CIAO community is using the current
user interfaces: command language or S-Lang commands; interactive use or
scripts.
We would be grateful if you could return this brief survey to us by
*****MONDAY JUNE 12***** THANK YOU!
The survey can be filled on-line at:
http://cxc.harvard.edu/cgi-gen/ciao/ciao_survey.html
Or you can reply to this message and fill the survey below (examples
are at the end).
---------------------------------------------------------------
Providing your name is optional.
First Name:
Last Name:
1. Do you use Sherpa for modeling and fitting your data?
Always Never Occasionally (what percentage?)
2. If "never" or "occasionally", what modeling and fitting package are
you using? (xspec, isis, idl, pintofale)
Other (which?)
3. What kind of data do you mostly work with?
x-ray Optical Other (which?)
spectral spatial data cubes timing
4. When you use Sherpa, do you mostly use it in interactive mode (see
example 1), do you use scripts (see example 2) or a combination of the two?
interactive mode scripts both
5. When you use it in interactive mode, are you using the command
language (see example 1) or the S-Lang functions (see example 3)?
Command language S-Lang functions
6. When you use Sherpa scripts, what percentage of the scripts are ?
- pure Sherpa command language scripts (e.g. generated by a "save all"
command at the end of a session) (see example 4)
- pure S-Lang scripts (see example 5)
- a mix of Sherpa, ChIPS, and/or S-Lang commands (see example 6)
7. Roughly how many Sherpa scripts do you have?
a few (<10) : many (<50) : a lot (>50) :
8. We are investigating the possibility of in future adding a new Python
language interface to Sherpa & ChIPS, if resources allow.
Are you familiar with the Python language? Yes: No:
If yes, would you use Sherpa more often if it was available in Python?
Yes: No:
9. Do you use scripts for the ChIPS plotting package?
Yes: No:
If so, are they command language scripts, S-Lang scripts, or a mixture?
Command language: S-Lang: Mixture:
10. How important it is for you to keep the command language interface
and S-Lang interface in Sherpa and ChIPS? (use a 1 to 10 scale)
Command language : (1=very, 5=somewhat, 10=not at all.)
S-Lang : (1=very, 5=somewhat, 10=not at all.)
11. How important for your analysis is backward compatibility of
interfaces and scripting when compared to increased functionality or a
more robust code? (use a 1 to 10 scale)
(1=very, 5=somewhat, 10=not at all.)
12. Which is your primary computer platform (select one)?
Solaris 10: MacOSX 10.4 MacOSX 10.3 Linux Fedora Core 3
Other:
13. Do you have any plans to switch (e.g. solaris to linux, linux to
mac, mac powerpc to intel) in the next couple of years?
from where: to where:
14. In your opinion how important it is to have a stand alone sherpa
that can be downloaded independently from the CIAO software? (e.g. to
make it easier to use with other analysis systems) (use a 1 to 10
scale) (1=very, 5=somewhat, 10=not at all.)
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Examples
EXAMPLE 1: using Sherpa in interactive mode with the command language
prompt% sherpa
-----------------------------------------------------
Welcome to Sherpa: CXC's Modeling and Fitting Program
-----------------------------------------------------
sherpa> DATA 3c273.pi
sherpa> SHOW
sherpa> NOTICE ENERGY 0.1:6.0
sherpa> SUBTRACT
sherpa> SOURCE = xsphabs[abs]*powlaw1d[p1]
sherpa> FIT
sherpa> SAVE ALL example.sherpascript
EXAMPLE 2: running Sherpa via scripts
prompt% sherpa myscript.sherpa
OR
prompt% sherpa
-----------------------------------------------------
Welcome to Sherpa: CXC's Modeling and Fitting Program
-----------------------------------------------------
sherpa> use myscript.sherpa
OR
prompt% slsh myscript.sl
EXAMPLE 3: using Sherpa in interactive mode with S-Lang functions
prompt% sherpa
-----------------------------------------------------
Welcome to Sherpa: CXC's Modeling and Fitting Program
-----------------------------------------------------
sherpa> load_dataset("3c273.pi")
sherpa> () = set_notice(,0.1,6.0)
sherpa> () = set_source_expr("xsphabs[abs]*powlaw1d[p1]")
sherpa> () = set_subtract
sherpa> good = run_fit
EXAMPLE 4: a pure Sherpa command language script
PARAMPROMPT OFF
DATA 3c273.pi
NOTICE ENERGY 0.1:6.0
SUBTRACT
SOURCE = xsphabs[abs]*powlaw1d[p1]
FIT
EXAMPLE 5: a pure S-Lang script
() = load_dataset("3c273.pi");
() = set_notice(,0.1,6.0);
() = set_subtract();
() = set_source_expr("xsphabs[abs]*powlaw1d[p1]");
() = set_par("abs.nh","value",0.07);
() = set_frozen("abs");
variable good = run_fit();
variable conf = run_cov();
EXAMPLE 6: a "mixed" script
PARAMPROMPT OFF
DATA 3c273.pi
NOTICE ENERGY 0.1:6.0
SUBTRACT
SOURCE = xsphabs[abs]*(xspowerlaw[p1]+xsgauss)
FIT
PROJECTION
proj=get_proj
eqwidth(xspowerlaw,xspowerlaw+xsgauss)
()=set_par("xsgauss.norm","value",proj[0].vhi)
ew=get_eqwidth(1,"xspowerlaw","xspowerlaw+xsgauss")
eew=ew*1000
sprintf("UL Fe line EW = %4.0f eV ",eew)
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