\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {1}Background}{4}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {1.1}Raison d' {\accent 94 e}tre}{4}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {1.2}Interpreting this document}{4}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {1.3}The function of {\mediumseries \psc Nigs}{}}{4}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {1.4}Historical perspective}{5}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {1.4.1}Concepts}{5}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {1.4.2}Hardware platform}{5}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {1.4.3}Recent work}{5}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {2}Purpose}{6}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2.1}Restrictions}{6}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {3}System structure}{7}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.1}Generalities}{7}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.2}Shell facilities}{7}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.3}Programmability/\penalty \exhyphenpenalty extensibility}{8}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.4}Modes}{8}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.5}Interfaces to other systems}{9}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.5.1}Data-acquisition/sorting system}{9}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.5.2}Apparatus control and monitoring}{9}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.5.3}Exception server}{9}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.6}Slice server}{9}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.7}Application programs and libraries}{9}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {4}Data base aspects}{11}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4.1}Data types}{11}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.1.1}Spectra}{11}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.1.1.1}General definition}{11}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.1.1.2}Stored and live spectra}{11}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.1.1.3}Associated entities}{12}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.1.1.4}Scalers}{13}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.1.2}Non-spectral data}{13}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.1.2.1}Graphs}{13}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.1.2.2}Maps}{13}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.1.3}Notes}{13}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.1.4}Window records}{13}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4.2}User's view and implementation implications}{14}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.2.1}Live spectra}{14}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4.3}Data base operations}{15}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.3.1}Atomic operations}{15}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.3.1.1}Copying}{15}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.3.1.2}Deletion}{15}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.3.1.3}Creation}{15}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.3.1.4}Interrogation}{16}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.3.2}Non-atomic operations}{16}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.3.2.1}General}{16}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.3.2.2}Spectra}{16}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.3.2.3}Graphs and maps}{17}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.3.2.4}Window records}{17}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4.4}Data integrity}{17}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4.5}External representation}{18}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.5.1}Scope}{18}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.5.2}Portability considerations}{18}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.5.3}Ease of translation}{18}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.5.4}External representation operations}{18}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.5.5}Window records}{19}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4.6}Compatibility with present system}{19}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {5}Displaying data}{20}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.1}Data Boxes}{20}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.2}Contents of data boxes}{20}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.3}Box management}{21}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.4}Box operations}{22}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.4.1}Tag channel}{22}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.4.2}Region changing}{22}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.4.3}Changing count range}{22}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.4.4}Transformation}{23}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.4.5}Changing box contents}{23}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.4.6}Others}{23}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.5}Display dependencies and refresh}{23}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {6}Data analysis and manipulation functions}{25}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6.1}One-dimensional spectra}{25}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {6.1.1}Creating new spectra}{25}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {6.1.2}Analysis}{26}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {6.1.2.1}Background and peak fitting}{26}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {6.1.2.2}Other}{27}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6.2}Two-dimensional spectra}{27}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6.3}Graphs}{28}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6.4}Maps}{28}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6.5}Windows}{28}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {7}User interface principles}{29}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {7.1}Meta-principles}{29}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {7.2}Use of display facilities}{30}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {7.2.1}Colour/shading}{30}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {7.2.2}Sound}{30}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {7.3}Commands/Icons}{30}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {7.4}Interaction in general}{30}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {7.4.1}Pre-emption}{30}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {7.4.2}Modes}{31}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {7.4.3}Hidden information (WYSIWYG)}{31}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {7.4.4}Proper determination}{31}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {7.4.5}Direct manipulation and scripting}{31}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {7.4.6}Least astonishment}{31}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {7.5}Misleading information}{31}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {7.6}Speed}{32}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {8}Presentation graphics and hardcopy}{33}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {8.1}Graphics editor}{33}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {8.2}Hardcopy}{33}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {9}Miscellaneous functions}{35}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {9.1}Dataset selection}{35}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {9.2}Journalling/logging}{35}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {9.3}Exception/warning reporting}{36}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {9.3.1}Internal}{36}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {9.3.2}External}{36}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {9.4}Bug reporting}{37}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {9.5}Instrumentation}{37}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {10}Documentation and help facilities}{38}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {10.1}Overview}{38}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {10.2}Online documentation}{38}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {10.2.1}Manual}{38}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {10.2.2}Context-sensitive help}{39}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {10.3}Offline documentation}{39}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {10.4}Tutorial system}{39}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {A}Constraints}{40}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {A.1}Hardware and software platform}{40}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {A.1.1}Hardware}{40}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {A.1.2}Software}{41}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {A.1.2.1}Operating system}{41}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {A.1.2.2}Languages}{41}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {A.1.2.3}Windowing system}{41}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {A.2}Distribution}{41}
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