9 OUTPUT DATA FILES

The various output files created during a reduction are described.

9.1 Output Spectra

The reduced spectra may be output as:

• a graphics plot file for printing.
• a file containing a single orders’ spectrum.
• a file containing one spectrum per order in a 2-D array.
• a file containing a single merged spectrum.
• an ASCII file listing data pairs of wavelength v intensity.

9.2 Reduction Database

The reduction database is a file used to contain various information produced during the reduction; it is a database of reference information for the reduction. For example, it might contain a list of order locations, trace polynomials, sky and object channels, wavelength polynomial fits, etc.

The file is created at the start of a reduction cycle with a supplied name, and grows in size until the reduction is complete. At this point it contains a fairly complete record of any intermediate results, thus allowing particular sections of a reduction to be tuned and repeated as required.

In general you will not need to access the file except via echomop. The package provides facilities for examining and plotting data from the file. You can, however, use hdstrace to look at any data in the file you wish. See SUN/102 for more details.