IDL

Abstract

IDL, short for interactive data language, is a programming language that is a popular data analysis language among scientists.

Invocation

IDL runs on our Linux hosts. First invoke it once per terminal  by 

 

source /opt/share/harris/idl/bin/idl_setup.bash

and then start it by

 

idl 

We have only ten floating licences. Please cooperate and free the program whenever possible.

There also is an integrated development environment called by

 

idlde & 

There are demos

 

idldemo & 

and an on-line help

 

idlhelp & 

Typing an "?" at the command prompt gets help, too.

Batch Jobs

• ssh to the desired ARI machine
• going to the directory, where you have the "idl pro file" (let's say example.pro) that you want to run and

nohup idl -e ".r program.pro" > my_output.dat & 

• writing idl -e ".r program.pro" - makes running this program without entering into idl interface.

• nohup ... & - runs a command immune to hangups, with output to a non-tty.

• my_output.dat - is the name of the output file (instead of the default output name), so that you can follow the process.

Remote Access

* not yet tested, feedback welcome *

You can run an IDL installation using our license on your laptop or home computer. This is a brief description for advanced users.

You need:

• a Linux or MacOS computer
• an IDL installation release 8.5. Or a copy of idl:/opt/share/harris
• An special entry in the license file /opt/share/harris/license.dat

SERVER localhost 1700

ssh-tunnels to our ssh-gateway.

 

 ssh -X -L 1700:idl.ari.uni-heidelberg.de:1700  user@gateway.ari.uni-heidelberg.de