1 INTRODUCTION

The software described in this manual is intended to be used in the ESO VLT project by ESO and authorized external contractors only.

While every precaution has been taken in the development of the software and in the preparation of this documentation, ESO assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damage resulting from the use of the software or of the information contained herein.

1.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to provide software engineers, responsible for the development of Templates (see [7] for a definition) for VLT/VLTI Instrumentation, with the information necessary to use a Software package, developed by ESO, implementing functionality common to several instruments. Such a package is distributed as part of every VLT Software release, starting with NOV2000.

Furthermore, it contains a set of rules and instructions for the development of Templates.

1.2 SCOPE

This document is aimed at developers of Templates for VLT/VLTI Instrumentation.

It does not describe the usage of Templates in the context of the VLT/VLTI Data Flow (see [16]) nor repeats the rules already defined in [7] and [16].

It defines the names and characteristics of standard templates, to be used by all instruments, whenever applicable. It does not enter into the details of individual instruments, nor specifies which templates have to be implemented and used, in addition to the standard ones, for each specific instrument.

1.3 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

The following documents, of the exact issue shown, form a part of this document to the extent specified herein. In the event of conflict between the documents referenced herein and the contents of this document, the contents of this document shall be considered as a superseding requirement.

[1] GEN-SPE-ESO-19940-794, 2.0 21/05/2002 --- DICB - Data Interface Control Document

[2] VLT-SPE-ESO-10000-0011, 2.0 30/09/1992 --- VLT Software Requirements Specification

[3] VLT-PRO-ESO-10000-0228, 1.0 10/03/1993 --- VLT Software Programming Standards

[4] VLT-PLA-ESO-10000-0441, 1.0 01/05/1995 --- VLT Science Operation Plan

[5] VLT-MAN-ESO-17210-0667, 1.3 29/06/2005 --- Guidelines for VLT applications.

[6] VLT-SPE-ESO-17212-0001, 5 30/09/2005 --- INS Software Specification

[7] VLT-SPE-ESO-17240-0385, 4 09/12/2005 --- INS Common Software Specification

[8] VLT-ICD-ESO-17240-19400, 2.6 17/11/1997 ---- ICD between VCS and Archive

[9] VLT-ICD-ESO-17240-19200, 1.3 07/06/2000 --- ICD between VCS and OH

1.4 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

The following documents are referenced in this document.

[10] VLT-MAN-ESO-17200-0888, 1.0 17/08/1995 ---- VLT Common Software Overview

[11] VLT-MAN-ESO-17200-0642, 4 29/04/2004 --- VLT Common Software Installation Manual

[12] VLT-SPE-ESO-17120-1355, 2 21/07/2003 --- Final Lay-out of VLT Control LANs

[13] VLT-SPE-ESO-15410-1957, 4 24/05/2004 --- Final Lay-out of VLTI Control LANs

[14] VLT-MAN-ESO-17240-0853, 5 07/09/2005 --- INS Common sw - oslx User Manual

[15] VLT-MAN-ESO-17220-0737, 3 28/03/2002 --- HOS - Sequencer User Manual

[16] VLT-MAN-ESO-17220-1332, 5 27/10/2005 --- BOB User Manual

[17] VLT-MAN-ESO-17240-1913, 5 31/12/2005 --- pkgin User Manual

[18] VLT-MAN-ESO-17240-2265, 5 08/12/2005 --- BOSS User Manual

[19] VLT-MAN-ESO-17240-0934, 6 31/12/2005 --- Base ICS User Manual

1.5 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

The following abbreviations and acronyms are used in this document:

BOB Broker for Observation Blocks

CCS Central Control Software

CMM Configuration Management Module

CPU Central Processing Unit

DCS Detector Control Software

DFS Data Flow System

ESO European Southern Observatory

FITS Flexible Image Transport Format

GUI Graphical User Interface

HW Hardware

ICS Instrument Control Software

INS Instrumentation Software Package

I/O Input/Output

IP Instrument Package

ISF Instrument Summary File

IWS Instrument Workstation

LAN Local Area Network

LCU Local Control Unit

MS Maintenance Software

N/A Not Applicable

OB Observation Block

OBD Observation Block Description

OHS Observation Handling Subsystem

OO Object Oriented

OS Observation Software

OSS Observer Support Software

P2PP Phase II Proposal Preparation

RSF Reference Setup File

SW Software

TBC To Be Clarified

TBD To Be Defined

TCS Telescope Control Software

TRS Time Reference System

TSF Template Signature File

UIF (Portable) User Interface (Toolkit)

VCS VLT Control Software

VLT Very Large Telescope

WS Workstation

1.6 GLOSSARY

Observation Block

Phase II Proposal Preparation

Template

Template call

Template Signature File

See [16]

1.7 STYLISTIC CONVENTIONS

The following styles are used:

bold
in the text, for commands, filenames, pre/suffixes as they have to be typed.

italic
in the text, for parts that have to be substituted with the real content before typing.

teletype
for examples.

<name>
in the examples, for parts that have to be substituted with the real content before typing.

bold and italic are also used to highlight words.

1.8 NAMING CONVENTIONS

This implementation follows the naming conventions as outlined in [3].

1.9 PROBLEM REPORTING/CHANGE REQUEST

The form described in [11] shall be used.

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