The VIDF editor is a GUI program to make the pain-staking creation of VIDF's a little easier. You can open version 2 and 3 VIDF's but you can only save to version 3 or XML. New VIDF's should be created in the token-tagged version 3 format for several reasons. First, some virtuals require version 3 VIDF's since version 2's do not allow for new fields such as nano_defined to be added. Second, with v3's there is no longer a need to convert the ASCII VIDF to binary. Third, this editor cannot save to version 2. No editor in the world can do everything, and this one is no exception. One shortcoming of the editor is it might not make the most efficient VIDF's possible. This is just the nature of automated builders. However, if it works, there is usually no problem.
First, load up the VIDF editor. You can do this one of two ways. From the SDDAS Control Panel, select "Editors" and then select "VIDF Editor". Alternatively, you can type "vidfedit" from the command line. If you are editing a pre-exisitng VIDF, select "Open" from the "File" menu. If you are starting from scratch, I recommend using the "Create New VIDF Wizard" from the "Wizards" menu and answering all the questions as best you can. After you get the VIDF complete, you are ready to try and use it.
If you have problems creating a VIDF, contact Dr. Rudy Frahm at RFrahm@swri.org.
Data validation - currently there isn't much!
Direct editing of the VIDF from the main window - unfortunately too slow, use vi
The main window shows what the VIDF file will look like when it is saved.
The File Menu has the standard stuff you have come to expect from a GUI. The "New" will delete everything and start over. The "Open" will load a new VIDF. "Save" will save a VIDF to disk, and "Save As" will save the VIDF to disk with a different filename. "Save" and "Save As" both save to the token-tagged version 3 format. If you wish to save to the version 2 format or XML, use the "Export" feature from the file menu. It is important to note that if you save to version 2 you may lose some information such as Euler Angle Information and Spacecraft Potential Information. "Delete" removes a file from disk, and "Quit" will exit the program.
The VIDF is broken up into section. This being the case, so are the VIDF editor dialog windows. The sections are as follows:
Each section is documented in the VIDF manual. Some sections were combined into the General VIDF Information section.
Currently, five wizards are available to automate certain repetitive tasks. One is the creation of the VIDF itself. Basically, all this does is go through each of the menus in the "Edit" section and lets you fill in the right answers. It can save you time in that you do not have to click through each of the menus to edit the sections. The downside is you have to go in order. The "Cancel" button will only cancel the current window; all the information entered on previous windows will still be saved.
The second wizard available allows you to add any kind of table you wish.
The third wizard will help you put an identity table in the VIDF.
The fourth wizard will help you quickly add in the geometric factors for each of the sensors. You can also use this wizard to add in any number which you need to multiply or divide the data. This can be an enormous time saver!
The final wizard will help you put an energy table in the VIDF.