Sherpa Threads: Getting Started

Overview

Last Update: 1 Dec 2006 - updated for CIAO 3.4: Sherpa version

Synopsis:

How to obtain the data used in each of the Sherpa threads.

Proceed to the HTML or hardcopy (PDF: A4 | letter) version of the thread.

Getting Started

All the data used in the Sherpa threads are available in sherpa.tar.gz (95 MB tarred & gzipped; 106 MB unpacked). Download and unpack this file before continuing.

Move to the directory that contains the thread data:

unix% cd /localpath/sherpa
unix% ls -1
2dpsf/
basic/
expmap/
fakeit/
grating/
grating_hrcsletg/
guide/
many_threads/
pha_intro/
pileup/
plot/
README.sherpa
simspec/
simultaneous/
sourceandbg/
spatial/
spectra/

The README.sherpa file contains the following information:

unix% cat README.sherpa

The data in the "many_threads" directory
is used for the following threads:

confidence/
confidence_manual/
get_fit_results/
setplot/
setplot_manual/
slangplot/

Locate and move into the subdirectory for your specific thread and start a Sherpa session; e.g. for the Introduction to Fitting PHA Spectra thread:

unix% cd pha_intro
unix% sherpa

-----------------------------------------------------
Welcome to Sherpa: CXC's Modeling and Fitting Program
-----------------------------------------------------
Version: CIAO 3.4

Type AHELP SHERPA for overview.
Type EXIT, QUIT, or BYE to leave the program.

Notes:
    Temporary files for visualization will be written to the directory: 
    /tmp
    To change this so that these files are not deleted when you exit Sherpa,
    edit $ASCDS_WORK_PATH in your 'ciao' setup script.

    Abundances set to Anders & Grevesse

sherpa> pwd
/localpath/sherpa/pha_intro

The contents of this directory may be examined with the Unix command ls:

sherpa> ls
3c273.arf       3c273.rmf       pha_basic.txt
3c273.pi        3c273_bg.pi

To view the contents of an ASCII file from within Sherpa, the Unix command more may be used:

sherpa> $more pha_basic.txt 
# script name: pha_basic.shp

DATA 3c273.pi
.
.

sherpa> !more pha_basic.txt 
# script name: pha_basic.shp

DATA 3c273.pi
.
.

Note that Unix commands issued in Sherpa must be preceded by the $ or ! symbols, except for cd, ls, and pwd.

History

14 Jan 2005	reviewed for CIAO 3.2: no changes
07 Jul 2005	updated tarfile information
21 Dec 2005	reviewed for CIAO 3.3: no changes
09 Feb 2006	updated tarfile information
01 Dec 2006	updated for CIAO 3.4: Sherpa version