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Defining New Functions

The definition of any function may be displayed by typing the function name followed by a question mark; the list of all the currently defined functions may be examined by typing REVIEW FUNCTIONS and viewing SCREEN 9. All functions remain in the system until they are explicitly deleted by the observer.

Function definition, replacement and deletion is similar to that in the spectral line data reduction (SPA) program. Functions are defined by typing the function name followed by a space, an equal sign, another space, and the string of commands to be carried out by the function. Thus, the command:
PETE = REF START CAL START MAP
defines a function which will move the telescope to the reference position, start the CAL program, and when CAL is finished, start the MAP program. The function definition, including function name and equal sign, can be no longer than eighty characters. Function names may be any length ($<$80 characters), but as with other keywords, only the first four letters of the command are used by the computer for comparisons. These first four letters must not duplicate any of the standard tracking program keywords, and if an existing user defined function has these same first four letters, then it will be replaced by the new command string.

To delete a function, type its name, a space, an equal sign, and a carriage return. Thus, to delete the function PETE that was defined above, type:
PETE =
and PETE will be removed from the function list. A special command, CLFN. exists to delete all 20 user named functions so that new ones may be added.


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