STScI_Python Version 2.6 Release Notes 

  11 February 2008 

This release includes new versions of everything, in that anything that used to use numarray now uses numpy. Furthermore, there are changes to PyRAF, PyFITS, pytools, Multidrizzle and related tasks. 

Last release to support Numarray
 
This release is the last release that supports numarray, even as a deprecated package. Numarray is no longer used within STScI_Python. Support for numarray will be eliminated entirely for the next release. Support for numarray now is limited to critical problems or major platform support issues. The threshold for 'critical' or 'major' is continually becoming harder to meet; you are advised to migrate to numpy as soon as possible. Information on making the switch to numpy from numarray may be found at this link.
 

Platform Support 
Normally, platform support issues do not apply to Python tasks, as most Python code will run on all platforms on which Python has been installed. This distribution was tested to correctly support installation on Linux, Mac OS X, and Solaris, while also being provided for installation under Windows. The single exception is that the text-based epar functionality now available in PyRAF (in addition to the already existing GUI-based epar) is not available under Solaris, and likely will never be.
 

Python Environment 
Python 2.3 or later is required. We recommend using the latest version of Python if there is a choice (2.5.x)
 
 
MultiDrizzle 3.1
 
The following changes were made:
 
    * Automatic generation of IVM files for use with NICMOS data has been added. 
    * Error states now generate exceptions with error messages more directly related to the cause of the problem. 
    * Now updates WFPC2 DQ image (c1h files as converted to FITS format) with cosmic-ray mask identifications made by MultiDrizzle. If no c1h files are present on input, the cosmic-ray identifications do not get reported to the user.

    * Simplified the creation of a NICMOS dark image for use in IVM generation. Multidrizzle assumes a constant dark rate for the detectors. 

The following bugs were fixed:

  * Fixed a bug in how the output name gets determined for a single input image. 
  * Fixed a bug in the handling of flat field images in the NICMOS IVM generation routines. Multidrizzle now uses NICMOS flats that are properly gain corrected. 

  * The algorithm for creating the IVM files automatically was corrected. 
  * Removed all remaining references to use of older cubic distortion coefficients for WFPC2 data, replacing them with references to IDCTAB reference file. 
  * Fixed a problem with the error messages generated when the boxcar convolution in the minmed algorithm fails.

PyDrizzle 6.1

The following changes were made to improve support for WFPC2 data:

     * DQ information for WFPC2 data now correctly recognized for all input formats 
     * PyDrizzle creates an empty DQ array for use by PyDrizzle if none are found. 

The following bugs were fixed:

     * Processing an image which does not have any distortion coefficients now works as expected; specifically, no changes get imposed on the image. 
     * Corrected a problem in the definition of the default DQ array