How to write CSHELL macros



Macros are ASCII files which send commands to control the instrument and/or the telescope.  The commands to control the instruments are simply the instructions an observer would type on the command line in the instrument GUI (e.g., go, autosave on, etc.).  A list of those commands and their syntax can be found here.
The commands to control the telescope must be written in a format that the Telescope Control System (TCS3) can understand.  All of the commands to move the telescope must be prefaced by tcs.  A list of TCS3 commands and their syntax can be found here.

EXAMPLE MACROS

Here is a macro that can be used with CSHELL to acquire spectra of a source at two different positions along the slit.  Note that the observer wants to chop to sky between the source exposures.  The macro puts the instrument in the spectroscopic mode (InstMode S), and sets the slit size to 1", the number of cycles to 1, and the observing mode to 1 (for chopping to sky).  Autosave is turned on, and the current position is defined as the base.  After a 2 sec pause, an image is taken.  Then the telescope is moved 8" east and 0" north of the base and another image is taken, etc.
InstMode S
Slit 1.0
Cycles 1
Obsmode 1
AutoSave On
tcs 1   0.0  0.0 -1 C.SCN 
wait 2
echo Pair #1: Base Position
go
tcs 1   8.0 0.0 1 C.SCN 
wait 2
echo Pair #2: 8 arcsec E of Base
go
tcs 1 0.0  0.0  1 C.SCN
echo Done. 

Here is a macro that takes calibration lamp lines used to determine the dispersion and zero point for a 2.16609 μm line.  The Krypton lamp is used with the 1.0" slit for CVF wavelength settings of 1.87730, 1.5644, 1.3736, and 1.4441 μm.  An Itime of 10.000 seconds is used.
Object Krypton lamp
Comment CSHELL HI BR g 2.16609
FileName lamp_
Obsmode 0 
InstMode S
Slit 1.0
Lamp Kr
Shutter Open
CVFWLen 1.87730 
ITIME 10.000
AutoSave On
Go Obs
CVFWLen 1.5644
ITIME 10.000
Go Obs
CVFWLen 1.3736
ITIME 10.000
Go Obs
CVFWLen 1.4441
ITIME 10.000
Go Obs
Comment none 
Object none 
Lamp off 
FileName data
CVFWLen 2.16609


LAST UPDATE: February 4, 2010