README for getfirst.pl


Richard McMahon(rgm@ast.cam.ac.uk)

getfirst.pl is a Perl script that acts as a client to the FIRST image
server. It needs the script webquery.pl.  

getfirst_example.csh is an example csh script that executes getfirst.pl
and returns both a gif and a fits image. The input parameters should
be self explanatory. Be careful if you change things. The various
quotations are quite important.


If you need to download many images, I suggest that you use an awk
script to read a list of positions and generate the command line
needed for getfirst.pl.


COMMON problems

(i) check where Perl is located on your system by typing
    where perl. you may need to edit the first line of
    getfirst.pl and webquery.pl to point to the correct location



     eg if you see the error sh: ./webquery.pl: No such file or directory
        means that webquery.pl cannot find perl. 
         


(ii) make sure the pl scripts are executable

     ch +x getfirst.pl
     ch +x webquety.pl


     eg getfirst.pl: Permission denied 
        means that getfirst.pl is not executable


(iii) socket problems

Webquery: Unable to create socket at ./webquery.pl line 110.

This one is more tricky and usually means your version of 
perl is incompatible with the script webquery.pl


Credits:

If you find this script useful, please acknowlege its use in any
publication that makes extensive use of the script. The script might
look trivial but I am not a Perl expert and a significant amount
of research time went into its development.


History

13-02-98 README written



 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Richard G. McMahon        |  Phone(direct)      44-(0)-1223-337519
 University of Cambridge   |       (secretary)          1223-337516
 Institute of Astronomy    |       (switchboard)        1223-337548
 Madingley Rd              |  FAX                       1223-337523           
 Cambridge, CB3 OHA, UK.   |  mobile(infrequently on)   0585-409019
                           |  email: rgm@ast.cam.ac.uk
 office: Hoyle 8           |  http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~rgm       
 -------------------------------------------------------------------