XMM-Newton Science Analysis System


param (param-2.15) [xmmsas_20070308_1802-6.6.0]

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Accessing datasets

Special parameter types are available for tables, arrays, blocks and columns.

These allow a dataset component, such as a column and its associated table and dataset, to be specified by a single parameter of the form `set:table:column'.

The DAL functions accept these colon-separated strings, as arguments, and extract the appropriate field. Hence, the whole string can be passed to each of the DAL functions.

For example, in a Fortran-90 task:

   ! Read array
   arrayname = stringParameter("image")
   set1 = dataSet(arrayname, READ)
   arr  = array(set1,arrayname)

! Read column
   colname = stringParameter("column")
   set2 = dataSet(colname, READ)
   tab  = table(set2,colname)
   col  = column(tab,colname,Read)

Suitable parameter file entries would be:

   <!-- parameter file snippet begin -->
   <PARAM id="image" type="array"/>
   <PARAM id="column" type="column"/>
   <!-- snippet end -->