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GUI Parameter Fields

The OT contains a large number of text and numerical input fields, many of which require units (e.g. angles, temperatures, fluxes, etc.). Units for the parameters fields can be selected from a drop-down list located to the right of the input field. When changing the units with the mouse combined with holding down the Alt key, the quantity will be converted to that unit. Changing the unit without pressing the Alt key will change the unit only. For example, if you have an angle of 1 arcmin, changing the unit to arcsec in the drop-down list without the Alt key will result in an angle of 1 arcsec. If instead the Alt key is pressed, an angle of 60 arcsec will result. The drop-down menu can be opened without the Alt key - this only needs to be depressed at the moment that the new unit is selected. Note that the appropriate key modifier is system dependent and on Linux systems it may be necessary to use Ctrl-Alt instead.

When a text field is selected (with the cursor or by tabbing into it), then by default the text in the field will now be selected. Typing anything will replace the value in the field. Changing this, so that new text is initially inserted into fields rather than replacing a field, can be done via the Preferences menu.

Another handy feature of the OT pertains to the entering of sexagesimal numbers i.e. source positions, in that it is not necessary to use colons as separators. For example, entering 12 and hitting return will cause 12:00:00 to be automatically entered and 124050.5 will be formatted as 12:40:50.5.

The way that the OT deals with ``illegal'' input varies throughout the tool. It will often be the case that when a bad value is entered e.g. a character where numerical input is expected, the input will be coloured red. For a currently limited number of fields, the OT will in fact flash the entire entry field red and then reinsert the value that had originally been entered. Finally, validation will capture the remaining instances of where a value doesn't make sense.


next up previous contents
Next: GUI Features Up: The OT Main Graphical Previous: The OT Main Graphical   Contents
The ALMA OT Team, 2018 Sep 25