OT Release Notes: Tábano

The Tábano (2008A) version of the Observing Tool was publicly released on 12 December 2007. The most significant changes from the previous public release (Vinchuca) are summarized below:

• Modified instrument components and iterators
• All acquisition overheads updated based on recent observing statistics
• MOS pre-imaging check box added to the GMOS components
• Michelle polarimetry efficiency updated
• The NIRI array size (ROI) can now be sequenced
• User interaction and user interface features
• Easier library fetching. A new Libraries toolbar button will automatically fetch the needed libraries for a program and display them in a new window. A new Fetch Libraries File menu option allows you to select the libraries to fetch. Old copies of the libraries in the local database are renamed for future reference.
• Improved ToO triggering. The OT now distinguishes between Rapid and Standard ToOs. Programs with Rapid ToO status may trigger either while programs with Standard ToO status may only trigger standard ToOs. Triggering a Standard ToO will automatically send all the appropriate emails to Gemini staff, eliminating the need to do it manually. Both kinds of ToO may also be triggered using the URL interface and the interface now supports timing window constraints.
• A sequence summary table has been added to the Sequence node.
• Improved copy/paste: the Paste function will now paste the contents of the copy buffer into all selected observations
• A few updates to the Phase II checking rules.
• Various small bug fixes and performance improvements.

• Elevation constraints can be set and fetch/stored properly again.
• Observations can be dragged or pasted on top of existing observations. The new observation will appear above the previously existing observation.
• Dragging and dropping observations from one program to another has been improved.
• A problem has been fixed with setting the GMOS observing wavelength within offset iterators.
• The calculation of GMOS overheads when the first step in a sequence is a calibration has been improved.
• Updates to NIFS Phase 2 checking rules.
• Updates to the NIRI filter list to support the commissioning of new filters.
• Updates to the Phoenix filter list.
• Updates to the NICI component to support instrument commissioning.

Last update March 11, 2008; Bryan Miller