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Make requests: REQUEST (REQ)

This command allows the user to make a request to the archive manager. The request will be stored in a queue at the archive site. The archive manager must grant every request before execution, in order to protect proprietary rights to the observations, to avoid confusion of address information of archive users, or sometimes to control the number of operator actions, for example in the case of an exceptionally large request for data. In all instances the user will be informed of the completion of a request by electronic mail, if a mail address has been provided. The result of the processing ( e.g. a FITS tape) will be sent to the user; in the case of a small number of observations, not more than about 20, it may be possible to store the data in an anonymous FTP account (depending on available disk space), which could be accessed directly by the user.

The syntax of the command is:

REQUEST/qualifier[/qualifier]

The first qualifier is compulsory, because it defines the type of request:

• /OUTPUT_TYPE=FITS : dearchive observations listed in the (default or specified) input table onto a FITS tape, which will be mailed to the requestor.

• /OUTPUT_TYPE=DATABASE : dearchive observations and write requested data into a packet database a the archive site. These data can be accessed by a special set of programmes; do HELPARC ARCDB for details. This option may, at the moment, only be of use to local archive users.

• /ADDRESS_INFO : enter or modify address information (section ) in the file of archive users.

• /RESTORE : restore data files of secondary Observations Catalogue information from tape or optical disk. This option will become active only if some secundary information with the Observations Catalogue has been stored on tape or optical disk by the archive operators (to free disk space). The request will after some time ( e.g. a day) make that information accessible again. Note that the Observations Catalogue itself, and the indexes are always on-line.

• The /DELETE=(date-of-request,time-of-request) can be used to delete a request from the archive manager's request queue, as long as the request has not yet been executed. Similarly, /UNDELETE=(d-o-r,t-o-r) restores an delete request to the queue. /DELETE and /UNDELETE can not be used in combination with other qualifiers.

The /COMMENT qualifier allows the user to supply information which may be important for the archive manager or operator to know, e.g. a preference for a particular kind of tape (DAT or EXABYTE), or an explanation of a request including protected data, etc. Comments are entered very similarly to typing a VAX/VMS mail message (either in line-mode or using an editor, /EDIT or /TPU). CTRL/Z ends the comments in line-mode. Default is /COMMENT/NOEDIT/NOTPU. The prompt for comments is suppressed with /NOCOMMENT.

The status of a request can be queried by means of the SHOW REQUESTS command (see section ) until 30 days after processing by the archive manager (completion or rejection).