Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:21:58 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jun-Hui Zhao 
To: Chunhua Qi 
Cc: Sheng-Yuan Liu , 
    Vivien Chen ,
    Eric R. Keto , 
    Chunhua Qi , 
    Qizhou Zhang ,
    pmailhot@cfa.harvard.edu, 
    msimonini@cfa.harvard.edu
Subject: IDL programmer meeting for SMA

Subject:         IDL programmer teleconf meeting for SMA
Time:            10-11am (EDT)
Place:           M 240, 160 Concord ave, MA
Conference line: 866-423-2310, passcode ******* (ask SMA for passcode) 

Attendents: 
Sheng-Yuan Liu (AISAA), 
Vivien Chen (Taipei Tsinghua Univ.), 
Eric Keto (CFA),
Chunhua Qi (CFA), 
K. (taco) Young (CFA),
Jun-Hui Zhao (CFA)

Ti and Pat helped set up the teleconf lines.
The meeting last over 1 hr.

  
Agenda:
1. Issues related to supporting SMA data reduction through the IDL path.

SMA management: continue supporting the IDL path in addition to 
SMA-Miriad path for SMA data reduction. 

JHZ: Many problems/complaints reported from SMA-IDL users in the past were related 
to compatibility between the IDL path and SMA-Miriad path. 
These problems were solved by directing users to SMA-Miriad path.

Recent bug reports from:

Two types of problems have been discussed:
1. SEGFAULT ERRORS, low level problems,  were usually generated from users using obsolete 
miriad version or mixed versions of Miriad and their own routines.
The developers of IDL to Miriad routines are advised to use the same Miriad libraries
as the Miriad package (e.g. SMA beta Miriad) that the users want to use
for the follow-up data reduction - imaging, modeling and analysis.
CQ has succeeded in linking libs from SMA beta Miriad to IDL.
CQ:  want to link to the latest version of Miriad_CVS distribution.
JHZ: SMA beta-Miriad is in the middle of merging to Miriad_CVS. There
     are some compatibility issues/bugs that are being found and need
     to work out. In the near future (2013 spring if not in 2012 fall),
     we will use Miriad_CVS for general distribution for SMA.

2. INCONSISTENCE IN VARIABLES were caused by IDL Miriad output using
     a set of variables that are inconsistent with that from SMA Miriad.
JHZ: antenna coordinates: SMA Miriad has converted those parameters
     from the geocentric system (SMA online system used) to 
     equatorial system (Miriad used) but the coordinate variables
     used in IDL are not meaningful. Also, LO frequency in IDL output
     has not been defined in the SMA online output data.
CQ:  didn't know the definition; passed the question to SYL.
KY:  SMA has three LO frequencies; none of them has been defined 
     and stored in the SMA output data file. SMA will define 
     them (at least one of them) in the new format for the SMA archival
     data.
     ....
     The discussion went on.  

2. Documentations:
   MIR Cookbook for users' data reduction in IDL/MIR (Charlie Qi).
   Programmer guide for IDL/MIR programming.

CQ:  continue to support IDL/MIR Cookbook for users' data reduction.
JHZ: suggested to include IDL/MIR users to the monthly SMA Miriad users meeting
     for SMA data reduction in both Miriad and IDL.

CQ:  there has been no Programmer guide for IDL/MIR programming. The IDL/MIR
     programmers follow MIR format and other documents in the SMA wiki page.         
         
     Lacking of IDL/MIR Programmer guide is related to the problems of 
     INCONSISTENCE IN VARIABLES. Discussion on IDL/MIR Programmer guide went on.

3. Version control (coordinating the software distribution between
   different users' sites).

JHZ: will directly inform SYL (ASIAA) and CQ (CfA) for updating in SMA
     data related codes in Miriad (SMA beta now and Miriad_CVS in future)
     in addition to posting the news online (SMA Miriad webpage). 
SYL: no problems for him to make update in IDL following Miriad updating
     but users kept their own old versions.
JHZ: we have the same problems in supporting outside users. Some users
     were not able to identify the versions that they were using. Based
     on the experience in the past decade, as long as we provide the
     latest version online with download/installation instructions,
     most of the users can successfully solve their problems. 

The discussion on the detailed IDL and Miriad version control/user
supporting went on. 

4. Others:


EK:  asked KY to write out MeasurementSet (CASA format) 
     and leave for NRAO to sort out the data reduction software 
     in details for SMA data.
     He left early for other meeting.

KY:  SMA interim correlator wouldn't be available until mid 2013.
JHZ: suggested to use the new header file for the SMA interim correlator
     data format in merging SMA beta with Miriad CVS.
CQ:  No problems for IDL.

KY:  suggested another meeting next Friday (9/28) at the same time (10-11am EDT).
  
The rest: all agreed.