This is a list of miscellaneous commands that could prove helpful in certain circumstances. The commands aren't part of the standard documented TCS command vocabulary, but they have certain specialized uses that may get you out of a hole or quickly accomplish something for which there is no easy answer.
This list will be expanded as I or the telescope operators think of things, or experience a need.
Displays the three pointing coefficients Ih, Id, and Ch. Don't overlook the starting dot character.
Resets the three pointing coefficients to zero WITHOUT MOVING THE TELESCOPE. Use this if one or more of the coefficients becomes huge, for example because of pressing PB5 at the wrong time. Before this command, clearing the coefficients would cause the telescope to displace the former amount of the coefficients. Useage note: even though there are three coefficients, this command is singular; if made plural, it would conflict with another definition.)
Displays the type of currently active pointing data set: CASS or COUDE.
Sets up the function keys for use with an HDS terminal as a backup to Max.
Displays the startup messages including the software version and date and features of this revision. Takes no action, only displays stuff. NOTE: This displays a text block from the diskette that is currently in Drive 0 and may not reflect what is in memory, if the last boot wasn't done from this diskette. (Most of the time, booting probably occurred from the diskettes currently in the drive.)
The name of the TCS application vocabulary. Once in a while the software may get derailed from this vocabulary and not recognize the usual typed commands. Typing PROG restores the command vocabulary. You don't want to know why it's named PROG. Don't even ask.
The operator's terminal interface card or the software driver at the LSI-11 end may get reset or otherwise go off-line. This command does a re-initialization of the software and hardware. It can't control very well the interface and software at the other end.
Planck interfaces with the LSI-11 for on-line commands to the TCS from application software. The terminal interface card or the software driver at the LSI-11 end may get reset or otherwise go off-line. This command does a re-initialization of the software and hardware. It can't control very well the interface and software at the other end.
The autoguider interfaces with the LSI-11 for on-line commands to the TCS. The terminal interface card or the software driver at the LSI-11 end may get reset or otherwise go off-line. This command does a re-initialization of the software and hardware. It can't control very well the interface and software at the other end.
This is the equivalent of typing GO, if the absolute encoders are down. The telescope will probably be at either the zenith or the stow position; in both cases, you know what the coordinates are, so enter them with the command. You MUST enter a set of coordinates, exactly in this format, or the command will fail.
In case the function keys don't work directly, just type their names.
The "stack" is a repository of numbers to be used by commands expecting arguments, which eat the number(s) off the stack as they use them. Some commands (EPOCH for example) expect either a number on the stack or nothing on the stack (no numerical entry before the command name). If there is nothing on the stack, the command simply displays the current value of whatever item the command is involved with (year in the case of EPOCH). Sometimes, numerical junk may accumulate on the stack without your knowing it, resulting in unexpected behavior by the command. To inspect the stack, type DUS which stands for "DUmp Stack". If there is nothing on the stack, you just get -OK. Otherwise, the first number displayed is the address of the top of the stack; the following number(s) are the values on the stack. The stack is not altered by this command.
There are a number of ways to clear the stack. This command is one. Typing a series of periods separated by spaces is another. Any error clears the stack; type an unrecognized command, such as XXX.