JMMC Hotnews - Be informed of JMMC Announcements, Software news and releases.

SearchCal release notes: SearchCal version 4.4.1

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:02 +0000

Features:

Added a new 'Find' capability.

SearchCal release notes: SearchCal version 4.4

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:40:32 +0000

Features:

Added AKARI catalog querying to provide IR photometries and compute N flux when missing.
Enhanced columns order preference list readability.

Changes:

Enhanced VOTable output efficiency.
Enhanced cross-matching algorithm on the server side.
Removed L and M columns but added UD_N in bright detailed views.
Enhanced calibrator's table cell tool-tips for computed values.
Removed all CHARM2 catalog references.
Better handling of user default values parsing problem.
Updated acknowledgements to add reference to our new FAINT article (Bonneau et al, 2011).
Updated dependencies to add reference to our jMCS framework.
Updated polynomial coefficients (FAINT) to compute uniform diameters.

Bug fixes:

Fixed FAINT crossmatch radius from 10 (!) to 1 arcsecond.
Fixed query's magnitude default value.
Removed deprecated columns 'LD', 'e_LD', 'UD', 'e_UD', 'Meth' and 'lambda' from detailed views.
Fixed 'detailLed' typo.
Fixed columns order preference list selection tracking.
Fixed concurrency issues, memory leaks and major optimizations on server side.

JMMC News: 2 hours service outage

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:14:22 +0000

Today we have experienced one DNS outage from 13:00 to 15:00 (UTC) . Apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you still encounter some problem, please contact the user support!

Aspro2 release notes: Aspro2 version 0.8.1

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:34:18 +0000

Features:

Corrected AMBER noise parameters: visibility and phase bias set to 5% and 3 deg respectively
Updated PIONIER instrument configuration: corrected noise parameters and added spectral modes (LARGE-H, SMALL-H and BROAD-H)
Improved Java Web Start packaging (JNLP) to provide faster downloads
Added ESO P89 configuration
Added one preliminary OIFits viewer: only square visiblity (VIS2) vs radius plot is available with error bars when the noise modeling is able to compute them
Fixed CHARA delay line configuration: E1 cart moves in range [-1.4 to +44.0] like others (july 2011)
Updated CHARA VEGA (2T/3T/4T) configuration (beams and station reference per baseline)
Corrected zenithal restriction to 4 degrees applied to UT and AT telescopes according to "ESO Call for Proposals – P88 (UT)" (VLTI)
Updated CHARA configuration to have both MIRC_5T and MIRC_6T configurations
Updated CHARA configuration using the latest official configuration file (telescopes.chara)
Better File choosers: use the last used directory (per file type and saved in user preferences)
Filled "OBSERVATION.DESCRIPTION.NAME" in VLTI OBs to help P2PP users better navigate among targets
Changed OIFits file extension to '.fits'
Added 'Export targets to Observing blocks' in the File menu to export all targets at once (VLTI)
Allow zooming on the observability plot (targets and time range)
Changed color for orphan calibrators in the observability plot
Added 'Center plot arround night' preference to have the complete night centered on the observability plot
Added civil and nautical twilight zones and a new preference 'Twilight used as Night limit' to choose which twilight limits are used for night restrictions
Added a new preference 'Default min Elevation' set to 45 degrees by default

Changes:

Changed VOTable message handler (SAMP) to accept PIVOT messages using VOTable for targets
Added 'Send StarList to PIVOT' action (SAMP)
Enhanced performance to find best PoPs (CHARA)
Fixed logging configuration to avoid important performance loss during observability computations (best PoPs)
Major performance improvements to determine best PoPs (CHARA) in the observability computation
Added information about best / good PoPs in the warning messages displayed by the status indicator (CHARA)
Updated Export to Observing blocks (VEGA, VLTI) to use the user minimum elevation instead of 30 deg (required by ESO OB)
Minor ergonomic change: when the target editor is opened, the 'Targets' tab is displayed by default; when the UV coverage plot is selected, the 'Models' tab is displayed instead.
Minor changes related to CHARA VEGA Observing blocks (spectral type format, disk diameter set from SearchCal diameters)
Fixed export OB for CHARA VEGA to handle properly calibrators in the StarList format
Automatic Pops set with values defined in CHARA VEGA configuration dedicated to June 2011 run (read-only)
Added CHARA VEGA configuration dedicated to June 2011 runs and minor changes in CHARA configuration (sorted instrument list)
Added 'Scroll view' checkbox button to see all targets (or only some of them) on the observability plot
Enable mouse zooming on the observability plot
Always show the scrollbar (with margins) on the observability plot

Bug fixes:

Corrected effective wavelength in OIFits output (channel center)
Fixed alternative distribution package (JAR file): missing jMAL embedded libraries
Fixed out of range exception when mouse zooming on UV Coverage Panel arround borders
Fixed exception when exporting an Observing block and the spectral type is undefined for one target (SearchCal calibrator)
Changed PIONIER OB template to take 100 scans of DARK instead of 50
Fixed bug related to SearchCal integration: always use the bright scenario as the faint scenario is not available for all instrumental bands
Adapt the number of visible targets on the observability plot when the application window is resized

JMMC News: End of one web server service outage

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:43:12 +0000

One web server hosted at Observatoire de Grenoble was off during the last two weeks. You may get problem accessing some resources. It is now up. If you still encounter some problem to get anything related to JMMC content, just contact the user support!

Application News: CDS Outage

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:02:42 +0000

Dear all,

As posted today on the CDS RSS feed, they encounter some technical issues preventing them to provide SIMBAD and Vizier services as usual.

As SearchCal, and somewhat ASPRO, rely on those services, we are not able to fulfill queries for the time being.

Rest assured the (great) CDS team is doing all its best to get back up !

We apologize for the inconvenience.

SearchCal release notes: SearchCal version 4.3.2

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:16:22 +0000

Bug fixes:

Fixed memory leaks causing heap fill-up with big queries.
Fixed null pointer exception requesting full column display.

SearchCal release notes: SearchCal version 4.3.1

Tue, 31 May 2011 16:44:44 +0000

Changes:

Feedback report user's e-mail address is now remembered and shared accross all JMMC application.
User's query settings are now automatically provided (to developpers only) in feedback reports.
Renamed proxy script.
Enhanced spectral type decoding.
Enhanced all numerical precisions on scientific computations.

Bug fixes:

Fixed missing Interop menu.
Handled Simbad errors (no feedback report) and RA / DEC validation.
Fixed long delay required to get the main window on machines with frozen printing system.
Fixed exception handling and timeouts on query canceling.
Fixed concurrency issues with Swing EDT.

JMMC News: Application server is back

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:07:14 +0000

The application is back and running onto one new machine using virtualization. This operation will improve the computing performances and reliability.

Please feel free to submit one new ticket if you encounter any kind of problem.

Appologize for the inconvenience
--
The JMMC technical team

JMMC News: Welcome Myriam

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:38:43 +0000

We are happy to welcome Myriam Benisty, freshly appointed Joint Astronomer at the Grenoble Observatory. She will take in charge the JMMC user support as part of her position's duties.

JMMC News: Scheduled Power Outage on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 4:00AM to 3:00PM UTC

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:00:16 +0000

The university announced an upcoming controlled power outage that will interrupt access to the JMMC application server. The outage, should start on Wednesday, April 20, 4:00AM to 3:00PM UTC. Such outage will shut down the main building of the Observatory of Grenoble.

During this interruption, the web server (located in another building) will be online to keep users informed.

Note: Most of JMMC applications will be unusable excepted Aspro2. If you launch ASPRO2 before the 20th, then you should be able to run it (indeed, it is declared as a Standalone Java Web start application).

Please apologize for the inconvenience,
--
JMMC technical team

AmberDRS News: New Amberdrs release

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:44:28 +0000

Please read the release notes of the new public release of amberdrs V3.0.2.

SearchCal release notes: SearchCal version 4.3

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:47:28 +0000

Features:

Enhanced SAMP support to either export selected calibrators or all visible ones if none specifically selected.
Added found and filtered calibrator counts.
Added details on communication error messages.
Added support for SAMP calibrator export and query launch.

Changes:

Changed communication channel (now through HTTP standard port 80) to better support networks tightly filtered on output.
Removed deprecated "B-V<1" filter on bright K requests.
Increased default VM allocated memory to overcome some crashes on huge requests.

Bug fixes:

Significantly increased performance on UD diameters computation to circumvent a timeout during large queries.
Fixed a querying crash when science object magnitude is missing.
Fixed wrong available magnitude bands for faint scenario.
Fixed a rare table sorting bug causing a "-1" exception when encountering untrimed white spaces in column order preferences.
Properly quit application when clicking on the close button of the main window.

Aspro2 release notes: Aspro2 version 0.8

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:16:37 +0000

Changes:

Added Button 'Sort by R.A.' in the target editor to sort both science and calibrator targets by their right ascension
Added calibrator information (SearchCal) in the observation file and display important ones in the target editor (diameters)
Updated plots (Interferometer Map, Observability and UV Coverage) to display data for all selected instrument configurations
Major refactoring to compute observability and UV Coverage for all selected instrument configurations
Important changes in the user interface (main panel) to allow multi selection of instrument configurations and use the main target list to select the current target used in the UV Coverage Panel
Added VLTI configuration for Period 88

LITpro release notes: LITpro version 1.0.10

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:33:07 +0000

BUGFIX: If one empty value is given for the value of one parameter, no more exception is thrown but the parameter get not modified.
CHANGE: Use new error handling mecanisms
CHANGE: Use new feedback report (which saves your email adress in a preference file)

Aspro2 release notes: Aspro2 version 0.7

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:41:46 +0000

Changes:

Fixed VLTI configuration for the PIONIER instrument (period 86 and 87)
JSAMP library updated to release 1.2 that fix shutdown notification problems when the user closes any JMMC application.
Optimisation: the model image is not computed if it is useless
Actions Export to OIFits / PDF waits for computations to be done
Internal changes related to computations running in background (concurrency and consistency)
Updated Export to Observing Blocks to support calibrators: the selected science target is exported to a science OB and its calibrators to calibrator OBs.
Added Observing Blocks for PIONIER instrument
Added CHARA PAVO instrument: PAVO_2T and PAVO_3T (3T)
Updated default file names for exports (PDF, OB, OIFits) to be more meaningful
Updated Observability plot to display science targets with their calibrators
Updated target lists to display science targets with their calibrators
Advanced drag and drop support to associate calibrators to (science) targets in the target editor
Updated target editor to flag a target as a calibrator
Added a version attribute in the Observation file to handle model conversions
Updated the Observation data model: targets have an ID attribute (derived from target name) used to associate user informations: description, calibrator flag and calibrator list per target
Added action to open the SimBad web page for the current target in the Target editor
Fixed the selected target when opening the target editor and synchronize the selected target between 'Model' and 'Target' tabs
Added new Target editor to let the user edit target fields (magnitudes ...) and provide user information per target
SearchCal integration: use deletedFlag to filter calibrators to mimic SearchCal delete action and display HD identifier instead of HIP identifier to mimic SearchCal view
Added new preference for Time reference (LST or UTC)
Updated Observability plot: better position and automatic font size for hour annotations
Modified JMMC trademark (less important)
Updated night area color: lighter to have better grayscale prints
Totally rewritten CHARA configuration thanks to official configuration file (telescopes.chara)
Added VEGA_4T (preliminary support) and change ordering for instruments (2T, 3T, 4T)
Automatic PDF orientation (observability) according to the number of targets
Added an optional scrollbar and better handling for a lot of targets on the observability plot
Smaller font size for time annotations on the observability plot
Added the zenithal restriction (VLTI) in the observability computation (elevation limit of 89 degrees)
Added the zenithal restriction (CHARA) in the observability computation (elevation limit of 85 degrees)
Fixed concurrency bugs related to the SimBad star resolver: the search field is disabled while processing a request to avoid concurrent requests
Fixed bug related to sampling periodicity: use the instrument default sampling time when an invalid value is detected
SearchCal integration through SAMP VO protocol: send the selected target to let SearchCal find calibrators and process SearchCal response to extract calibrators
LITpro integration through SAMP VO protocol: send models and generated oifits for the selected target

Bug fixes:

Fixed major bug on target model editor when the user changes the selected target while editing a parameter value
Fixed bug when computing HA max (0 instead of a negative value)

LITpro release notes: LITpro version 1.0.9

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:00:34 +0000

BUGFIX: Use new oifits library that fixes bug loading data tables with only one wavelength and using TDIM keywords (1)
BUGFIX: Use new oifits library that fixes several bugs related to ASCII character encoding / decoding and ASCII_NULL support
BUGFIX: Fix residual sign while plotting residual. (M-D)/sigma was plotted instead of (D-M)/sigma.
BUGFIX: Avoid error for radial plots data in T3 residuals cases
BUGFIX: Fix 'Prefix string too short' bug while saving in temporary file
CHANGE: Display T3phi and VISphi data in degrees
CHANGE: Set 'weigthed residuals' instead of 'residuals' in some radial plot titles
FEATURE: Three webservice urls are defined by preferences according Alpha Beta or Production versions
FEATURE: Display version number in the application title bar for Alpha or Beta releases
FEATURE: Handle file extensions in loading/saving stages for oifits and xml setting files

LITpro release notes: LITpro version 1.0.8

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:58:17 +0000

BUGFIX: Fix UV coverage plots in the file panel for t3data

LITpro release notes: LITpro version 1.0.7

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:52:44 +0000

BUGFIX: Set radian unit label instead of degree for T3Phi or VisPhi plots of oifits files
BUGFIX: Do not overplot model on radial plots when T3 data are selected
BUGFIX: Set real sigma value for error bar and not half value
BUGFIX: Fix xsl processing that generated one RunTime Error with math extension
CHANGE: Use new Topcat release 3.6
CHANGE: Use new jmmc java library to manage oifits files
CHANGE: Throw one feedback report if the 'get yoga version' action fails (called from preference panel)
FEATURE: Support reception of new setting from aspro using VO samp technology

Aspro2 release notes: Aspro2 version 0.6

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:08:04 +0000

Changes:

Formatted DIT value in warning messages coming from noise modeling (FT or saturation)
Added warning messages on GUI to indicate unobservable target and invalid HA min/max settings
Added tooltips on target list and PoPs field
Fixed window size problem for the 1280 x 800 resolution
Added a confirm dialog for the 'New Observation' action
Use an hour angle axis when the observability displays the baseline limits
Normalize model flux weights to compute visibilities
Added CHARA instruments: CLASSIC (2T) and CLIMB (3T)
Better exception handling and user messages
Unexpected exceptions are now propagated to the feedback report
Added 'Aspro 2 / JMMC' label on plots
Fixed FT_SENSOR value (FINITO or NONE) in AMBER Observing blocks
Remove Astrogrid Pal library
Fixed memory leak related to Preference listeners
Offical release of Aspro 2

Bug fixes:

Limit the memory footprint when the sampling periodicity is very small (less than 1 minute). First 500 HA samples are computed and the following warning is displayed: 'Too many HA points (...), check your sampling periodicity. Only 500 samples computed'
Fixed bug when the UV Max value is set to 0. This slider has now a minimum value set to the smallest baseline length of the selected interferometer
Fixed bug concerning random dates: the LST axis is corrupted (Requires 'lower' < 'upper')
Fixed bug in HA min/max restrictions: invalid values can cause a NegativeArrayException
Added the following message when the user use the 'Export to OIFits' action and the oifits is null : 'There is currently no OIFits data (no target or your target is not observable)'
Corrected focus problem with the action 'Export to an Observing block' and added an user message if there is no target to export

SearchCal release notes: SearchCal version 4.2

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:51:24 +0000

Features:

Added support for embedded cell URLs when available (HD, HIP, 2MASS, SBC9, WDS).
Added support for column header tooltips and units.
Added orbit separations sep1 and sep2 from WDS in detailled views.
Added UD computed diameters.
Added WDS double star filtering on separation.
Added human-readable catalog name in progress bar, when available.

Changes:

Renamed VFlag column to BinFlag in bright N detailled view.
Updated Multiplicity filter to check BinFlag state instead of the Variability filter.
Updated WDS filtering to use sep1 and sep2 (reject when either sewparation below 2 arcseconds).
Harmonized catalogs legend colors and order.
Changed output format for values read from catalog to maximum precision.

Bug fixes:

Fixed Min. and Max. Magnitude textfields to automatically follow Science Object Magnitude changes.
Fixed Variability Flags dispatch in dedicated columns by changin MIDI extracted VFlag UCD from 'CODE_VARIAB' to 'CODE_VARIAB_MIDI'.
Hardened CDS Simbad science star resolution mecanisms while failing.

Aspro News: Pre release of the Aspro2

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:43:00 +0000

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the availability on the JMMC webpage of a pre-release version of Aspro2, our new observation preparation software.

Aspro2 provides the user with a highly dynamic graphical interface, does not depend on any network connection to work, and has sufficient new interesting features (such as creating Observing Blocks for VLTI and CHARA, or its ability to save/restore your work in progress), that we consider it would be useful to share it with you, even if it is still a work in progress.

A feature comparison between Aspro software versions is also available on the JMMC webpage to see main differences : for example, Aspro 2 does not have a visibility explorer yet.

As usual, we will be more than happy to get comments and/or bugs, especially through the new feedback mechanism present in Aspro2.

Best regards,

On the behalf of the JMMC Aspro Group,
Gilles Duvert & Laurent Bourgès

Aspro News: Aspro updated to Period 87 values

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:15:45 +0000

As the title says, Aspro (one should say 'old Aspro', since Aspro2 is now in prerelease) has been updated to cope with baselines, limiting magnitudes, etc... described in the ESO call for Proposal for Period 87. It retains however the previous setups back to period 84.
Gilles Duvert

AmberDRS News: amdlib V3 released

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:22:06 +0000

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of the JMMC AMBER data reduction working group, I am pleased to announce the release of the version 3.0 of the AMBER data processing package.

You can find it on the JMMC website at: http://www.jmmc.fr/amberdrs together with an installation guide, a user's manual and demo data/script.

This release contains major modifications of the C-library which implements the AMBER optimized data reduction by Chelli, Hernandez Utrera, and Duvert (2009, A&A 502, 705). The release notes are available at this address:
http://www-laog.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/twi ... _wrt_versi

The Yorick interface has evolved to be more user-friendly with a default data processing procedure. The User's Manual has been updated and contains most of the information needed by beginners.

If you have any question related to this AMBER Data Reduction Software release, please contact the JMMC User's Support

We wish you all the best,

F. Malbet, G. Duvert, F. Millour, J.-B. Le Bouquin, G. Mella

Application News: BadCal online

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:08:00 +0000

The JMMC bad interferometric calibrators catalogue is now
available online on our server: http://apps.jmmc.fr/badcal/

Your feedback is very welcome in order to improve this first version and to feed it.

LITpro News: Iper: a simple tool to fit OIFITs data with a uniform disk

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:35:18 +0000

During the last IAU conference in August 2009, the Optical and
Infrared Interferometry Commission (C54) raised a few questions
(get the whole story on http://olbin.jpl.nasa.gov/iau/2009/index.html).

One of them was :
"Is there a command line tool to throw at an OIFITS file to do a
simple uniform disk fit?"

Well, now, there is. Just "call Iper"

This simple tool allows you to rapidly see if your set of squared
visibilities is fitted or not by a uniform disk.

SearchCal News: Planned SearchCal Outage on March 15 2010

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:03:03 +0000

As posted here, Vizier will be unaccessible sometime between 8:00 and 12:00UT on Monday, March. 15 2010.
In consequence, SearchCal will be unavailable as well during this period, as it relies on CDS catalogs to retrieve calibrators data.
Sorry for any inconvenience.

Oival News: Web page update of the oifits repository

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:46:01 +0000

The oifits repository has one new layout. You can get more informations on every oifits files. Visit http://jmmc.fr/oidata/

SearchCal News: Planned SearchCal Outage on Feb. 8 2010

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:42:29 +0000

As posted here, CDS will be unaccessible sometime between 8:00 and 10:30UT on Monday, Feb. 8 2010.
In consequence, SearchCal will be unavailable as well during this period, as it relies on CDS catalogs to retrieve calibrators data.
Sorry for any inconvenience.

SearchCal News: Planned SearchCal Outage on Dec. 12 2009

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:42:52 +0000

As posted here, CDS will be unaccessible from 7:00 to 13:00 GMT on Saturday, Dec. 12 2009.
In consequence, SearchCal will be unavailable as well during this period, as it relies on CDS catalogs to retrieve calibrators data.
Sorry for any inconvenience.

JMMC News: Service outage from 0:00 AM to 9:00 AM 21 Nov 2009

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

One network problem probably located at the university level hidded the jmmc server.
We apologize for this second outage of the week.

JMMC News: Service outage from 3:00 AM to 9:00 AM on the 18th Nov 2009

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

One cooling system unit failed during the night. Then the thermal protection stopped all the computer which have been restarted in the morning.

Aspro News: Aspro released for Proposals of period 85

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:04:54 +0000

ASPRO has been updated to fulfill the new ESO Call for Proposals Period 85, in particular regarding the new set of baselines offered for this period.

Aspro News: Bug fix into the new Java GUI of Aspro

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:00:31 +0000

The Java GUI of Aspro has been updated to fix two bugs of the file transfert panel:
- Mac OS X users can now copy local file onto the jmmc server;
- Windows users can now copy remote files which contain colon caracters.
Only registered users can use this function.
Visit Aspro web page

Oival News: New OiFits file validator.

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:50:15 +0000

The OI-FITS format is commonly used to store data provided by optical interferometers. The OIVAL service is intended to check the validity of OI-FITS files relative to IAU standard.
The tool provides information about an input file, especially if this one isn't compliant with the norm, with different levels of granularity. It checks:

Mandatory HDU presence
Format and unit of HDU content
Cross referencing

Visit the application page.

AmberDRS News: Evelyne Altariba leaves the JMMC

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:59:25 +0000

After 3 years of fruitful collaboration on AMBER, WIZARD and OIVAL, Evelyne is moving on other subjects. We thank her again for all the good work, and hope she will enojoy her new position !

AmberDRS News: amdlib v3 released for beta-testers

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:44:47 +0000

On friday Oct 17, amdlib v3.0-Beta1 has been distributed to the beta-tester group. This is a major change in the amber DRS software. More onthe releases page.