ALASOUT-Output a spectrum in ALAS (Abs. Line Analysis System) format

Description:

ALASOUT writes a section of a spectrum to an output file suitable for use as an 'Observed Profile' by ALAS (Absorption Line Analysis Software).

Parameters:

SPECTRUM

The input spectrum. A section of this spectrum, as specified by XSTART and XEND, will be written to the output file (ALASFILE). Note that ALAS expects the spectrum to have been normalised by the continuum.

XSTART

The X value of the first channel which will be written to the output (ALASFILE).

XEND

The X value of the last channel which will be written to the output (ALASFILE). The total number of channels converted (XEND - XSTART + 1) may not exceed 1500; ALAS (version as per Starlink LUN/41.1) accepts a maximum of 300 channels in one file.

ALASFILE

The name of the output ALAS format file. The file type should not be given: the file type is set internally and is always .ALS. If the type is given it will be ignored.

Source comments:

 A L A S O U T

 ALASOUT takes data from a FIGARO spectrum and writes it to a file
 in ACSII format, suitable for input to ALAS (Absorption Line
 Analysis Software) as an 'Observed Profile File'.
 The user can select the X range to be transferred, i.e. to cover
 the desired line without too much extra spectrum.  This is
 important since ALAS has a limit of 300 channels for these input
 files (at least in version as per Starlink LUN/41.1).
 For each selected channel an output line is written to the
 file, giving the X value (F9.3) and the data value (F9.5).
 Note that ALAS expects these data values to have been
 normalised by the continuum.
 The file created will have file type .ALS.

 Command parameters

 SPECTRUM    The input FIGARO spectrum
 XSTART      First X value to transfer
 XEND        Last X value to transfer
 ALASFILE    File name of ALAS format output file (no file type
             or version should be appended).

                            J.G. Robertson   September 1985