HESSI Observation Time Interval Selection Widget



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Snapshots
    Snapshot of the Widget

 


The current Observation Time Interval is always shown near the top of the main GUI window. When working with HESSI data that is derived from the full telemetry stream, you can accumulate only data that is within the Observation Time Interval currently selected. This applies to lightcurve, image, and spectrum data. This does not apply to quicklook data such as the observing summary data or quicklook images, or synoptic data.

The Observation Time Interval Selection Widget is used to set the Observation Time Interval that is used throughout the GUI.   There are several ways to select the time interval - typing new times directly, selecting a flare, or plotting observing summary data, and zooming in on the plot.  Whatever method you use, when you exit this widget, the current Observation Time Interval for the entire HESSI GUI is changed to your selection.  The current value is always shown near the top of the main GUI window and near the top of the  lightcurve, spectrum and image widgets.  When you select a new interval, any of these widgets that are active will reflect the new interval, and the lightcurve, spectrum, or imaging time interval (which must always be contained within the OTI) will be change to reflect the new interval.  In addition, if there is a plot displayed, it will be closed and replaced with a blank screen to emphasize the fact that you have chosen to work with a new time interval.  (The plot can always be displayed again by using the Window_Control pulldown menu.)

This widget is activated when you click File /  'Select Observation Time Interval' in the Main GUI Window.

This widget interface is almost identical to the Observing Summary Data Widget. The difference is that the observing summary data widget is only a plotting interface, while this widget allows you to change the Observation Time Interval in the main GUI. There are several ways to do this:

  1. Set times explicitly by typing in start/end/duration widgets.  Note:
  2. Select a flare by typing the HESSI flare number directly, or clicking the Flare Selection button.  You can easily expand the interval before and after the flare using the 'expand' fields. (Note: the expand option applies to the start/end of the selected flare, not the time interval currently shown in the time widget.)

    The Flare Selection interface lets you browse the flare catalog and select a flare.  After the 'Flare Select and List' widget appears, enter ranges of flare parameters to list if you want, and then click 'Select and List' to display the specified flares.  Another widget will appear listing all of the flares matching the criteria you specified; click the flare you want, and click Accept.  A label in the 'Flare Select and List' widget will show you what flare you have chosen.  To accept it, click 'Accept and Close'.

    The start/end time of the flare expanded by the 'expand' times will then appear in the time widgets.
     
  3. Plot one of several types of observing summary data (Count Rates, Modulation Variance, Ephemeris, or Particle Rates) for the time interval currently shown in the time widget, zoom in, and define the observation time interval to be the zoomed in time interval. 

When you click 'Accept and Close', the new observation time interval is transferred to the main GUI. Clicking Cancel or closing the window by clicking the x in the top right corner leave the observation time interval unchanged.

If you made any plots while in this interface, the panels are saved with the name HESSI xxxx (hh:mm:ss), where xxxx is the type of data plotted (Count Rate, Ephemeris, etc.), and hh:mm:ss is the current time.  You can use the XY Plot Display Options button under the Plot_Control pull-down menu in the main GUI to alter the plot display.  You can replot them any time by selecting the panel name under the Window_Control pulldown menu.


Last updated 07 November, 2008 by Kim Tolbert, 301-286-3965