NAME

ecdel -- Delete an entire class of FITS extensions from a FITS file.

USAGE

ecdel input, output, extclass, [Y/N]

DESCRIPTION

The ecdel task is a simple way to remove an entire FITS class (SCI,ERR,DQ,etc.) from a file with one interactive command.

WARNING:

This task can ONLY be used with a FITS image; (ie. no tables) they will cause this task to crash!

PARAMETERS

INPUT [string]

A string listing the FITS file from which you would like to remove an entire class type from ALL of the imsets in the file.

OUTPUT [string]

This is a required parameter which may be the same name as the input file, but should not be. In fact, if the same name is chosen the input file is overwritten.

EXTNAM [string]

The name of the class type you would like to remove. You must match one of the names that are listed as those present in it's entirety. This match is case sensitive.

VERIF [boolean]

This parameter requires a yes or no answer only; as to whether you want to remove the extensions that you asked.

WARNING !!

You are able to request the same output name as your input name and the task will comply with your request. The danger is that your input file WILL be OVERWRITTEN! You will lose forever the contents of that input file as it is replaced with the output. You may want to do this but you should just be aware of the circumstance and reminded that you can choose a different filename for your output.

EXAMPLES

1. The ecdel task is easy to use in a harmless way, to your input data. All that is required is an input FITS file and the knowledge of what you want to do with it.

ms> ecdel IN=nicmosdata.fits OUT=data.noSAMP.fits EXTNAM=SAMP

A command like this will run, asking only for a y/n and showing you how your output file is built, without the extension name SAMP.

2. The task can be run on the command line with all the required input for the parameters or it will prompt you for everything that it needs.

ms> ecdel

And answer the following prompts. A helpful listing of existing extensions is provided to make answering the EXTNAM prompt much easier.

BUGS

REFERENCES

This script was written by E. W. Wyckoff, SSG.

HELP

For assistance using this or any other tasks, please contact help@stsci.edu or call the help desk at 410-338-1082.

SEE ALSO extdel, msdel