Frequently Asked Questions
This page provides answers to common questions about Sherpa functionality; feel free to submit a new one via the Helpdesk.
Sherpa
Command Comparison
- What is the difference between the 'load', 'read', and 'unpack' Sherpa commands?
- What do the Sherpa 'get' commands do?
- How do Sherpa 'load' commands handle ASCII files?
- How can I convert my Sherpa 3.4 scripts to Sherpa 4.3?
Plotting
- How can I modify a single plot in a display containing multiple plots?
- How can I plot a model-fitted spectrum in photon flux units (photons s-1 cm-2 keV-1)?
- How can I plot an unfolded source spectrum in flux units, independent of a model spectrum?
- How can I set the axis scaling of plots to linear or logarithmic?
- How can I change the size of axis labels in a plot?
- How can I plot the ungrouped fitted source model on my grouped data?
- How can I plot my data in units of Counts versus Energy(keV)?
Fitting
- How can I define my own fit statistic in Sherpa?
- How can I specify which measurement errors to use in fitting a PHA data set?
Parameter Estimation
Computer Environment
PHA Data
- How does Sherpa apply the BACKSCAL value recorded in the header of a spectrum file?
- How does Sherpa calculate errors on PHA data values given as a rate rather than counts?
- How does Sherpa handle Level=3 PHA spectra downloaded from the Chandra Source Catalog?
- How can I simulate a PHA data set in Sherpa, with/without added Poisson noise?
Image Data
Model evaluation
- How do I change an X-Spec xset variable?
- How do I change the AtomDB version used by X-Spec Apec models?
- What is the function of a Sherpa model's "cache" attribute?