Starting IDL.

To start IDL, type ``idl''

{env-pc-jmarsham-new:jmarsham:164}% idl
IDL Version 5.5a (linux x86). (c) 2001, Research Systems, Inc.
Installation number: 16829.
Licensed for use by: The Environment Centre

IDL>

The file .cshrc needs to contain the line:

# path to IDL
app setup idl

Users of the Windows system can install the software from the network.

  \\env-apps-01\apps02\idl

IDL only sees programs in the directory that you started it from unless you add a line such as,

setenv IDL_PATH "<IDL_DEFAULT>:+$HOME/IDL/Procedures"

to your .cshrc This line will let IDL find all .pro files in subdirectories of lecjm/IDL/Procedures/ e.g. it will find lecjm/IDL/Procedures/Radisondes/read_sonde.pro, it wont find lecjm/IDL/test_procedure.pro

/apps/idl/bin/lmstat -a

let's you see who's using IDL - useful when we run short of licences!

To edit IDL code in colour in xemacs: copy my setup  lecjm/.xemacs/init.el and  lecjm/.xemacs/custom.el.

Type ``idlinfo'' -- this tells you:

1. IDL has a graphical programming tool called idlde.

2. IDL has some demonstrations - type ``demo''.

3. ``?'' gives The ONLINE MANUAL.

The last item is by far the most important.

In general if you want to do something:

1. assume it's written in IDL and look it up in the help.
2. ask around - it may be there under an unlikely name!
3. If there's an IDL routine that does almost what you want but not quite it may be written in IDL in

   /nfs/env-apps-01_apps01/rsi/idl_6.0/lib
   

4. It may well be on the web try:

   http://www.dfanning.com/
   http://idlastro.gsfc.nasa.gov/homepage.html
   http://www.iac.ethz.ch/staff/dominik/idltools/idl_atmosphys.html
   

   etc.
5. Someone in the department may have done it
6. There are IDL newsgroups.
7. DIY! (Usually quickest for simple things).