List of Manuals Available for
MDSplus
This web page is intended to provide users of the MDSplus system with a single location for accessing the documentation available relating to the system. MDSplus is a complex set of applications for use in data acquisition and analysis. Portions have been contributed by users at several laboratories around the world. For a brief introduction to the parts that make up MDSplus, see "Getting Started with MDSplus" below.
NOTE: This and underlying pages are under construction and will
be periodically updated and expanded. Some links are presently dead
ends while some do not yet exist.
Last Updated: Feb 24, 2000
| Getting Started with MDSplus | An introductory text that gives an overall view of the MDSplus system explaining terms and giving some examples |
| Downloading MDSplus | Instruction on downloading and installing MDSplus |
| Traverser
Tutorial Reference Manual (pdf) |
The Traverser is a graphical interface that displays and gives access to the experiment's database structure as well as allowing the user to make changes to it. |
| Scope and Pad
Tutorial Reference Manual (pdf) jScope Tutorial Reference Manual |
The Scope is a graphical interface that allows the user to quickly and easily create traces of the experimental data - either raw or post processed. Pad is a simple way to keep track of the different definitions of traces that the user has created. It also allows for easily duplicating traces within or between scopes. |
| Actions and Events | Actions are tasks that are created by the MDSplus dispatch server for execution by the system. Events are notifications sent to all MDSplus processes. These notifications are used to trigger other actions. |
| MDSplus Data Access Routines
Tutorial Reference Manual (PDF) |
Describes the routines used to access the data stored in MDSplus model and pulse files. |
| Tree Data Interface (TDI)
Tutorial Reference Manual Examples |
The TDI is an expression language that is used to manipulate data within the Traverser, the Scope and anywhere data is accessed. It is used to access, process and store the data. It is sometimes referred to as an expression evaluator. |
| Logbook
Tutorial (Old Version)Reference Manual (PDF) |
Information on MDSplus' use of relational databases.
(Note: Requires Microsoft SQL Server and IDL which are not part of MDSplus.) |
| SQL Interfaces (PDF) | A brief introduction to the SQL interface from the Logbook and from IDL. (Note: Requires Microsoft SQL Server and Research Systems IDL which are not part of MDSplus.) |
| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) | Under Construction |
| MDSplus Glossary of Terms (Glossary-PDF) | A brief explanation of terms that apply to the MDSplus system |
Additional documentation available:
Overview of MDSplus (Two Day Presentation by Jeff Schachter
at General Atomics)
Day
1 (PDF) Day
2 (PDF)
Links to other sites with MDSplus documentation:
| Tree Command Language (TCL)
Tutorial Reference Manual |
The TCL is the command line version of the Traverser |
| Camac Command Language (CCL)
Tutorial Reference Manual (PDF) |
The CCL is a set of commands that are used to access and control camac devices while at the operating system command line interface |
| IDL Interface
Tutorial Reference Manual |
IDL is a commercial application for processing and displaying data. |
| MDSplus DCL Command Overview
Tutorial Reference Manual (PDF) |
An overview of the MDSplus utilities |
| MDSplus Data Types and Structures | Detailed information of the structure of MDSplus data types |
Additional Advanced Topics documentation available:
Tree Command Language (TCL) (from PPPL/P.Roney)
TCL Examples (from PPPL/P.Roney)