B History

 B.1 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.6-5
 B.2 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.6-4
 B.3 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.6
 B.4 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.5-6
 B.5 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.5-5
 B.6 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.5
 B.7 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.4
 B.8 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.3
 B.9 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.2
 B.10 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.1
 B.11 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.00
 B.12 Changes introduced by DIPSO V2.00

This section records the changes introduced with each new version of DIPSO. NOTE, earlier changes may be over-ridden by later changes.

B.1 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.6-5

B.2 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.6-4

B.3 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.6

B.4 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.5-6

B.5 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.5-5

B.6 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.5

B.7 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.4

B.8 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.3

B.9 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.2

B.10 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.1

B.11 Changes introduced by DIPSO V3.00

The default file format for ‘unformatted’ DIPSO files (SP0) has changed from native unformatted format to STARLINK NDF format. This allows the transport of files between different machines without translation being necessary. It also means that files generated by DIPSO can be automatically input to all standard STARLINK packages.

This version of DIPSO is the first multi-platform release. It has been tested on VAX/VMS, DECstation, and Sun Sparcstation machines. Due to the different way system variables are provided by the two operating systems DIPSO has been enhanced to support both the VMS logical name syntax, and the UNIX environment variable syntax. Thus the following two filename specifications are equivalent and accepted by DIPSO on all platforms.

UNIX users should note that filenames are ALWAYS CaSe sensitive.

B.12 Changes introduced by DIPSO V2.00

(If you didn’t use DIPSO before 1987, pass over this section. If you are an old hand, then: the more experienced you are, the more important it is that you should read this section carefully!)

This release of DIPSO is a fairly extensive revision of earlier versions. In particular, the graphics have been converted to the GKS standard (mainly by JM), interstellar line analysis has been included (IS... commands), and various aspects of Fourier analysis are now possible. Because interstellar line profiles are now most easily computed from within DIPSO, the old BACHRD and BACHWR commands are no longer documented, and DIPSODIR:ATOMIC.DAT has been extensively revised ($DIPSODIR/ATOMIC.DAT on UNIX machines). ALASRD/ALASWR have been preserved, however, as the simplest way of getting data in and out of DIPSO. (ALASRD has actually been updated to allow more general inputs.)

In an attempt to (partially) rationalise the command names, and make it easier to locate groups of related commands in the reference section, some command names have been changed. In particular, the old ELF commands are now all prefixed by “ELF” (surprise!). (The minus side is that you’ll have to learn the new command names; but the plus side is that ELF now carries out an error analysis for you.) The two-spectrum arithmetic functions are now renamed ADIV, AADD etc. (from DIV, ADD etc. to avoid the trap of typing, say, ADD 3 in the expectation of adding 3 to the current arrays (the “A” prefix stands for “array”.) Some one-spectrum arithmetic functions have also had their names changed to a more uniform scheme; e.g. XSH has become XADD, CMULT has become YMULT, etc. The old command names will still work in some cases, but are not recommended. You are urged to read right through the new documentation for individual commands, as many other minor modifications have been made, and new functions added.

The most important changes: you will probably find out quite quickly that the default file extension for command files has changed to .CMD.

The following commands have changed default functionality, and you should therefore check them especially carefully: ALASRD, ALASWR, DREDPWRITE, TPORT, READ, WRITE, SAVE, RESTORE.