HELP Information on Running SolarSoft under Windows This page assumes that you have already created a SolarSoft installation on your Windows PC using the form in the SolarSoft web pages - see the URL: http://www.lmsal.com/solarsoft/ssw_install_howto.html Depending on how successfully the installation software is working, you may need to follow some or all of the instructions in the section marked "Initial Setup". Although we have attempted to make things as similar as possible, there are several differences in between running SolarSoft under Unix and Windows. These relate mainly to when and where IDL is configured to a particular selection of SolarSoft instruments. Under Unix, most things are done before, or as you enter IDL - under Windows, everything is done within IDL. All the files that define the environment variables under Unix should work, however, when you enter SSW IDL under Windows you will only have the general part of the SolarSoft tree selected (unless you have a idl_startup routine that selects a particular set of instrument). You then need to select a set of instruments using setssw_windows. This approach has one great advantage over the way things are done under Unix. At any time you can add another instrument and all the necessary environment variables are created, all the required startup files executed, and all the necessary extensions to the path made. Usually under Unix you must exit IDL and re-enter with a new set of instruments - this is not needed under Windows. Initial Setup: The simplest way to invoke SolarSoft under Windows it to set the "Startup file" file in the IDL Preferences to "c:\ssw\gen\idl\ssw_system\idl_startup_windows.pro" (assuming SSW is rooted in c:\ssw). However, This approach is very limited and we recommend: 1) Examine the file sswidl.bat and modify it if necessary. The file should have been created by the web page that generated the installation kit and the first few items will have been set to correspond with your answers. It should be located in ?????. i) the environment variables $SSW and $SSWDB (that specify the location of the SolarSoft tree and SolarSoft DataBase) should have been set - you may wish to modify SSWDB. ii) the startup file used by IDL is defined by the environment variable IDL_STARTUP - this should have been set to: xxxx\gen\idl\ssw_system\IDL_STARTUP_WINDOWS.pro where xxxx is the root of the SolarSoft tree (the same as $SSW). ONLY MODIFY THIS DEFINITION if the value of xxxx is incorrect - this is a key component to starting SolarSoft under Windows - the routine itself SHOULD NOT BE MODIFIED. iii) A suggested value for SSW_PERSONAL_STARTUP is given as remark. Since location of the "home directory" is tenuous under Windows, and IDL_STARTUP is already used, this environment variable allows a specific startup file to be identified by the user. If you wish to use this facility, remove the "rem" and define the path and name of the startup file to be used. Note: any idl_startup.pro file in the directory you have set as your working directory will also be executed. iv) It is possible to define a default list of instruments for SolarSoft by specifying SSW_INSTR. Edit the line if you want to do this. v) If you want to relate to a particular directory to run IDL, put a "cd" statement in the .bat file. vi) The .bat file will start the latest version of IDL as defined in the Registry. If you wish to use another version of IDL, modify the "start idlde" statement to include the path to the version you wish to use. For example, you could use IDL 5.2 by changing this line to: start c:\rsi\idl52\idlde vii) Move this sswidl.bat file (or whatever you have called it) to a directory not in the SSW tree - this will ensure it is not overwritten if you re-install SolarSoft. The shortcut assumes that this is c:\idl_ssw. 2) Move the SSWIDL.pif file (this is a shortcut) onto the desktop. If necessary, modify the program "Cmd line" of the shortcut if the sswidl.bat file is not located under c:\idl_ssw. It is possible to have a variety of .bat files and associated shortcuts - each can be tailored for a different configuration of SolarSoft. If you are creating your own shortcut, the following properties are suggested: "hidden" under general; "Run minimized" and "Close on exit" under Program. The .bat file to be executed should be specified in the "Cmd line" under Program. 3) Enter the "Preferences..." option in IDL and ensure the "Startup File" field within Startup is blank - if anything is specified in this field, it will take precedence over the value of IDL_STARTUP. If you are using a "cd" command in your .bat file to define the current directory, you also need to enure that the "Working Directory" field within Startup is blank. Running SolarSoft: 1) Start SolarSoft using the SSWIDL shortcut - this will execute the sswidl.bat file and start IDL. The following files will be executed (if the exist): $SSW\gen\setup\setup.ssw_env $SSW\site\setup.ssw_paths $SSW\site\setup.ssw_env $SSW\site\setup\IDL_STARTUP any personal idl_startup file (if defined by env. var. SSW_PERSONAL_STARTUP, or located in the current dir.) 2) Select the required instruments using setssw_windows, e.g. setssw_windows,/hessi,/xray,/spex Mission and instrument level setup files (.xxx_paths and .xxx_env) and startup files will be executed; any site and personal startup files will be repeated. 3) Use SolarSoft as normal. Remember, you can verify the value of !path in your current SolarSoft environment using pr_path. Further information can be found on the Web under URL: http://www.lmsal.com/solarsoft R.D. Bentley, 16 May 2000