This page explains how to download and run the NIRSPEC Echelle Format Simulator (EFS) as a planning tool at a remote workstation. The simulator is an IDL application that requires the following:

1. IDL v5.02 or higher.
2. The EFS is written for 24-bit enabled color displays, so use of such a display is recommended if possible. On 8-bit displays, the color reproduction is not expected to be good.
3. IDL Standard Astronomy User's Library: astrolib
4. IDL library specified in your IDL path: (e.g export IDL_PATH $IDL_LIB/astrolib)

Installation

1. Download nirspec2.0_simulate.tar.gz
2. The installation requires about 2.2 Mb of disk space. Unpack the files with the commands:

     tar -xvf nirspec2.0_simulate.tar.gz
   

   The following directory, and files + subdirectories within it are created:

     nirspec2.0_simulate/
     
   README.txt        plot_filter.pro
   bad.lst           read_data.pro
   cw_toggle.pro     read_lines.pro
   data/              setups/
   help/              simstartup.pro
   nirspec_sefs.pro  simstartup_ao.pro
   ns_params.pro     user_lines.pro
   ns_params_ao.pro
   
   

Running the Simulator

1. The simulator is run from the IDL command line prompt:

     IDL> @simstartup
   

2. To run the simulator in AO mode, type:

     IDL> @simstartup_ao
   

3. The setups subdirectory is intended for storing user scripts written by the EFS. Example setup files are provided.