The data options block allows you to specify the way in which you expect your image data to be saved to disc.



Running: Indicates the running target.  If the sequence is stopped, this will indicate "None"

Directory:  Specify the location where you would like your data saved.  The file pattern will be applied at this location.

File Name:  This is a pattern based approach to naming files.  The options (below) can be found by clicking the "Key" button and you can preview how your file names will look by clicking the magnifying glass icon.

User Profile:  The user profile to use with this sequence.  User profiles contain information about users and location and the sequence will, when saving images, ensure that this information is entered into the FITS header.  A user profile is not required.


Pattern Notes (see "File Name" above)


When creating a pattern there are three important things to remember:


  • You can use the "\" separator to create sub-directories under the specified Directory field (above).  In the screen shot above, the "Frame Type" (%ft) is used to create a sub-directory like "Light" underneath "Z:\Pictures\AP\sgest".
  • You can use any characters that are legal for naming files.  This means that if you specify a string of characters that are not a valid pattern match then they will be included in every file name in a static way.  For instance if you take the pattern specified in the screen shot and the string "_TSP" to the end you image file names would appear as something like "M51_600_1x1_L_Frame1_TSP.fit"
  • The target name (%tn) is defined in the target options dialog.


Key



Note:  Directories can be inserted as part of the  pattern (i.e. %ft\%bn\%bn_%su_%es_%fn)