-------------------------< About SELECT DATA >-----------------------------


SELECT DATA is used to select the ISTP key parameters from the Common Data 
Format(CDF) files.  The related text documents, such as skeleton tables and
SFDU tables, can be created and/or displayed interactively.  The print option
is available for generating hard copies.  Clicking the SELECT DATA button at 
the MAIN interface brings up a new interface for  selecting the data with the 
following options:


Option: "Select CDF File(s)" 
------  

Clicking this button brings up the new interfaces step by step for selecting 
the file paths and the cdf files.  The appearance of these interfaces depend on
the selections of "Number of Panel", "Number of CDF", and "Number of Key
Parameter per Panel" at the MAIN interface.
                                                
CASE 1 - For the selections of multiple CDF files: 
        
         The first interface brought up consists of buttons with the values 
         of "OK", "Cancel", and "CDF" for each panel.   
                 
 To use: 
   
 (1) Clicking a "CDF" button pops up another interface for specifying CDF path 
     and file filter. 


     (1.1) Specify the file path and filter

           The new interface "Select a File path and File Filter to 
           start with" contains two text fields.  They are defined by the
           default values initially and can be modified by typing in new 
           values.  The default file path value is the path of the user's 
           home/login directory.  The default file filter value is '*.cdf' or 
           '*.CDF'.  
                       
           Clicking "OK" goes to the next level (1.1.1) to select the
           CDF file or "Cancel" goes back to the previous selections.  
             
           Note: Regardless whether you specify the new values or use
                 the default values for the file path and filter, these
                 two fields can still be modified in the next level.


           (1.1.1) Select the CDF file
            
           This interface contains the following options:

             "Path": the full path where the desired file locates.  It is
                     defined at the previous step.  This field is not editable.

             "Filter": the character values which match the same values in the
                       name of the desired file.  It is defined at the previous 
                       step, but can be modified at this step also.

             "Subdirectories": Listing of the subdirectories.  The file path 
                               can be selected or changed by clicking on any 
                               item on this listing (double clicking on PC).  
                               The selected item will be highlighted and
                               appear in 'Path'.  

             "Files": Listing of the file names associated with the filter 
                      value in the specified (sub-)directory.  When a file is
                      chosen, its name with the full path will be displayed in 
                      'Selection'.

             "Selection": Completed file specification of the selected file (
                          i.e. file name + full path ).  This field is
                          editable.  A file can be chosen directly by typing 
                          in its full name in this field.  Pressing RETURN 
                          after the value is entered. 

             "OK": To complete the selection and go back to the previous 
                   interface.

             "Cancel": To cancel the selection and go back to the previous
                       interface.

             "Help": To display the help information.


           To use:
              
             Method 1:   "Search and Click"
             ------------------------------ 
             
               Click on "Subdirectories" to select a directory. And then click
               on "Files" to select a file.  Click "OK" to complete this
               procedure.
       
           or
                 
             Method 2:   "Direct Typing"
             ---------------------------
                      
               Typing in the full file name including the path in the dialog 
               box of 'Selection' and then pressing RETURN.  
                       

 (2) Repeat (1) for every panel.

 (3) Click "OK" after the selections are done for all the panels.
       

CASE 2 - For the selection of a single CDF file:

         Clicking the button "Select ISTP CDF File(s)" directly brings up the
         interface for specifying the file path and filter( Refer to (1.1)).  
         The interface "Select the CDF file" will be brought up after this step
         is completed( Refer to (1.1.1)).  


Option: "SELECT Key Parameter(s)"
------

This option is used to select the key parameters from the selected CDF files. 
Clicking this button  after the CDF files have been selected brings up an 
interface including key parameter listing for each panel.  These listings are 
generated by the tool from the selected CDF files.  Each item of the listing is
composed by the name of the key parameter and its data structure type.  If the 
key parameter is a scaler, a string '(scaler)' will be attached to the end of
its name.  If the key parameter is a vector, the tool will de-vectorize it into
the components and a string '(component:i)', where i is an ordered numerical 
number, will be attached to its name.  Each panel has an independent listing.

To use:  To select a key parameter for each panel to plot is to click on a
         desired item on each listing.  After the selections are done for
         all the panels, then click "OK" to complete the selections and go back
         to the previous interface.  Or click "Cancel" to cancel from the 
         selections and go back to the previous interface.


Option: "OK"
------

When this button is clicked, this interface will be closed and the system 
control will be back to the MAIN interface.

To Use: Click the button to complete the selections and go back to the MAIN
        interface. 


Option: "Cancel"
------
 
When this button is clicked, the system control will be back to the MAIN
interface and the selections will be canceled.

To use: Click the button to cancel the selections and go back to the MAIN
        interface.


Option: "Help"
------

This option is used to display the help information about this interface.

To use: Click the button to display the help file.


Option: "CDF file/Key Parameter Reference Tables" 
------

There are many useful references, such as SFDU file and skeleton table, are 
available or can be interactively created and displayed after the CDF files 
have been selected.  The hardcopies of these files can also be produced from 
the printer.

Every CDF file has an SFDU file produced from the CDHF or off-site production
by default.  The SFDU file provides very useful information about the CDF 
processing status.  It has the same CDF file name except the extension.  The  
extension of the SFDU file is '.SFDU'(or in lower case) on VMS and UNIX, and
'.SFD' on PC and CD-ROM. 

The skeleton table is a text file.   It contains the metadata which is built
into each CDF file.  After a skeleton table is created by the KPVT, it will
be placed in the user's login/home directory.  

The usage of this option is described below:


   'SFDU Table(s)': This button is used to search and interactively display the
                    desired SFDU files.

            To use: When this button is clicked, the tool will search the SFDU 
                    files of all the selected CDF's through the directories 
                    where the CDF's locate.  If found, the names of the SFDU 
                    files will be listed in the list widget.  Clicking on the
                    listing, the selected file will be highlighted and its
                    contents of the file will be displayed on the screen.
                    

   'Skeleton Table(s)': This button is used to generate the skeleton table and
                        display it on the screen.  The generated skeleton tables
                        can be found in user's home/login directory on UNIX and
                        VMS platforms and "C:\" on PC.  
  
                To use: When this button is clicked, the tool will generate the 
                        skeleton tables from the selected cdf files in user's 
                        home/login directory.  The names of these files will be 
                        listed on the list widget.  When clicking on the
                        listing, the selected file will be highlighted and its 
                        contents will be displayed on the screen.

                Note:   To display the skeleton table on PC interactively 
                        after they are created is tricky, because some of IDL's
                        routines don't work as expected.  (Version 3.5b was 
                        tested.)  The files might not be found in the specified
                        directory.  When this happens, using the option "Search"
                        to find the file is recommended.
                    
 
   'Search': This button is used to find and display an unfound file.  This 
             option is useful especially when the tool can't find the desired 
             SFDU files and skeleton tables.  Clicking this button brings up an
             interface for the file selection.  The functions and usage of this
             interface is described in (1.1.1)"Select the CDF File".

                       
   'Print': This button is used to print out the selected SFDU or skeleton 
            tables from the printer.  A listing of the names of the existing 
            SFDU and skeleton tables related to the selected CDF files is
            produced when this button is clicked.  Clicking on the listing
            highlights the selected file and brings up a new interface for
            setting up the print parameters described below.

            "Print Command (for printer)": Text entry of the print command on
                                           the chosen platform.  This option 
                                           is machine specific and the output 
                                           filename is NOT allowed here.  Any 
                                           valid keyword for the print command
                                           can be added to customize the print
                                           process.  However, trying to attach 
                                           the output file name will probably 
                                           cause a crash.

            "OK": To start the printing job and go back to the previous
                  interface.

            "Cancel": To cancel the 'print' selection and go back to the 
                      previous interface.
            
            To use: (1) Select the file to be printed.
                    (2) To modify the print command, highlighting the text 
                        widget and then type in a new command.  The value in 
                        this field will remain effective until a new value 
                        is entered.
                    (3) Click "OK" to start a printing job or "Cancel" to
                        cancel the selection.


   'Erase': Erase the screen display of any table which is currently 
            displayed.
   
    To use: Clicking this button, the listings of files and the contents 
            of the currently displayed file will be erased.

