[vsnet-obs 1990] data entry programs for VSNET

[tkato@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp]

   We have prepared programs for entering variable star observations.
They can be obtained from the VSNET anonymous ftp (ftp.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp,
under directory /pub/vsnet/others/prog/DOS, files pp1vs.exe and utrep.exe)
or through the VSNET Web home page (http://vsnet.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/vsnet,
in the menu of "Tools and Programs").

Manuals for pp1vs and utrep
---------------------------

   The programs pp1vs and utrep are designed to make easy inputting and
reporting variable star observations.  The present executables work on
DOS environments, but we hope the source codes in C will be portable
to other environments after minimum rewriting.

                   ---  1. Before Execution  ---

   Before execution, first set two environmental variables: VSTZ and VSORG.

   The variable VSTZ defines the time zone (in hours) of your location,
which is used to convert your local time to the universal time (UT).
If you are using UT in recording observations, set VSTZ=0.

   The setting may be like:

   set VSTZ=9.0     (for Japanese Standard Time)

   The variable VSORG defines the organization name like AAVSO, BAA etc.,
which is reflected to the report.  This setting may be skipped.

   It would be convenient to make these settings in autoexec.bat.


                    ---  2. Extering Data  ---

   In this syetem, you can use your familiar editor in entering the data.
The data file may be like:

#O Kat
#D 960129

2440LEOR 60
2500LEOT <131
2500COMAL <135

   The line #O Kat defines the observer's code (sorry only traditional
3-letter code is supported).  The line #D defines the date of observation.
The following lines might be self-explanatory: 2340LEOR 60 means "R Leo was
observed at magnitude 6.0 at 23h 40m local time."  Note there should be _NO_
space characters between the time and the object name.  Take a space between
the object name and magnitude.

   The name of the object is composed of the 3-letter constelattion code
in UPPER cases and the variable name.  CETomicron for Mira, PERbeta for
Algol, CASnova1995, etc.

   The local time tends to pass 0h during observations.  In this system,
we recommend to use 24h, 25h ... etc. instead of counting a day.


                    ---  3. Making reports  ---

   Once you have entered the data (assuming 'test.dat' for its file name),
you have only to enter:

   pp1vs <test.dat | utrep >test.rep

   You will obtain a reporting form named test.rep, which, we hope, can be
posted to vsnet-obs without serious modification.  If errors arr reported,
revise the corresponding line and try again.

   If you have sort.exe (or other equivalent sorting program), you can
obtain a more regularly aligned report:

   pp1vs <test.dat | sort | utrep >test.rep

   The output files of pp1vs (pp1vs <test.dat >output) and utrep are
designed so that they can be easily converted to other reporting formats.

   We hope we can further provide encoding and decoding tools to make the
reports strictly in the GCVS naming order.


                   ---  4. Entering more easily  ---

   Actually, pp1vs allow several short-cuts: 1) A sequence of the same
constellation name can be replaced by one space.  2) A sequence of the
same hour can be replaced by one space.  By these rules, the example in
Chapter 2 may be written as follows:

#O Kat
#D 960129

2440LEOR 60
 00 T <131
2500COMAL <135

   For VERY expreienced observers, pp1vs provides a further short-cut:
When the times of observations are omitted, they will be complemented
by interpolation.

2400LEOR 60
 X <135
 T <131
2403 RZ <135

   will be interpreted as

2400LEOR 60
 01 X <135
 02 T <131
2403 RZ <135

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   Enjoy observing, and reporting!

   There programs can be freely copied and distributed.

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