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sics/doc/user/tascli.htm

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<TITLE>The TAS Client</TITLE>
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<H1>The TAS Client</H1>
<P>
The TAS client is the dedicated SICS client for the triple axis
spectrometers. It allows both to control the instrument and to view
its current status.
</P>
<h2>Step 1: Starting the TAS Client</h2>
<p>
On the LNS unix systems the TAS client can be started by typing:
<pre>
tas &
</pre>
at the unix command prompt. For PC's and proper Macintosh computers
(proper is MacOS > 10) the recommended way to start the TAS program is
to install Java Web Start and run it from the SICS Java Web Start
page. Further instructions and the applications can be found at:
http://lns00.psi.ch/sics/wstart .
</p>
<h2>Step 2: Connect to an Instrument</h2>
<p>
Due to the client server architecture, the client program alone is
only of very limited use. In order to become usefule, a connection to
a SICS server has to be established. The obvious way to do this is
through the menu selections in the Connect menu of the TAS
client. There are various entries for various triple axis
spectrometers and their simulation programs. With the Custom Connect
option the connection parameters, the computer running the SICS server
and the server port where the SICS server listens, can be entered
manually. This is only necessary when SICS had to be relocated due to a
hardware outage.
</p>
<h2>Step 3: Use The TAS Client</h2>
<p>
The TAS client consists of a menubar, a row of buttons beneath and a
central activity area. The central activity area can display three
different sub panels. These sub panels are selected through the
buttons underneath the menubar. The following sub panels are
available:
<ul>
<li>A Command Panel for entering commands.
<li>A Status panel displaying the current values of interesting
instrument parameters, most notably the positions of the 6 magic
triple axis motors.
<li>A Plot panel showing the data collected in the currently running
scan and some auxiliary information about the scan.
</ul>
At the very bottom of the screen is a yellow line displaying the
current status of a pending counting operation. Below that is a text
line displaying the current status of the instrument.
</p>
<h3>The Command Panel</h3>
<p>
The command panel consists mainly of a text area in which the
communication between the TAS client and the SICS server is logged. A
text entry field at the bottom serves to enter commands to the SICS
server. The little red button, labelled Interrupt, besides the text
entry field can be used to interrupt the currently running
measurement.
</p>
<p>
The Command Panel has a menu associated with it. Through this menu
logging to a file can be enabled. This log file is written locally on
the machine running the TAS client. Submenu entries are available for
opening and closing such log files. SICS has various levels of user
rights. When connecting to the SICS server you are logged in with
lowest possible privilege. In order to change your privilege, enter a
username and a password through the Command/User Rights dialog.
</p>
<h3>The Plot Panel</h3>
<p>
The Plot Panel displays the data collected in the current scan. This
display is automatically updated as soon as new data becomes available
through the progress of the scan. You may <em>zoom in</em> on details
in th plot by dragging a rectangle enclosing the interesting
region from top to bottom. You may <em>zoom out</em> by dragging a
rectangle from the bottom to the top.
</p>
<h2>Step 4: Closing the TAS Client</h2>
<p>
You can exit the TAS client through the File/Exit menu entry. You can
also disconnect from the current SICS server through the
Connect/Disconnect option and connect to another SICS server through
the menu choices provided.
</p>
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