IRAF and the CL

STSDAS Tables


Several of the analysis packages in STSDAS require an input file or create output files in STSDAS table format. This is a data format, distinct from IRAF or STSDAS image formats, designed for tabular (row and column oriented) data. Different columns may have different data types, but all the values in one column must have the same data type. A table may also contain header parameters identified by keywords. Tables may be binary or text (ASCII). While the binary format is more efficient, text tables may be used with host-level tools such as text editors. You may find STSDAS tables on your HST data tape since many datasets are shipped with the STSDAS-format tables used in the calibration process.

Tables can be viewed, created, printed, and manipulated using the tasks in the STSDAS ttools package (or in the external TABLES package). Tasks in ttools are listed below, based on their function.


To simply read the contents of a table, you can use tread to display the file and move through it using the arrow keys. Use tprint to display the file in a formatted manner.


For more details, see
"STSDAS Tables: the ttools Package" on page 68.


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