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MAST Data Set Verification Help


Help Index:

Introduction
Input Parameters
Results

This utility is designed to allow users to verify the existence of MAST data sets AND to display the name to be used in astrophysical publications. For more information on data set references, see Referencing Data Sets in Astronomical Literature. Note GALEX data sets are not currently included in this search tool.



Input Parameters

This section describes the allowed parameters. It is intended that the user will enter EITHER a data set name (or a comma-separated list of names), OR a file of names to be uploaded. If both fields are entered, the data set name values will be used by default.

Note: parameters may be specified using either a GET or a POST request. Therefore instead of using the HTML search form, a request can be made such as:
http://archive.stsci.edu/dataset_verifier.php?dsn=swp16877,lwp12345 &action=Search&outputformat=CSV
Action=Search is a required parameter for the GET request, and file uploads require using the HTML form.

Data Set Name
Enter the name(s) of the data set to be plotted. Multiple file names can be entered if separated by commas. Example data set names include:
  • IUE: swp16877,LWP25899
  • EUVE: 3c273_178d_sum, au_mic__9207141227N
  • HUT: ngc2070_04901_n
  • STIS: O4LT010E0
  • GHRS: Z3CL0207T
  • FOS: Y0Q70101T
  • BEFS: BEFS1031
  • TUES: tues4201_7_1, tues2285_1
  • WUPPE: sk69-239_451611_2, psi-per_220510_2
Case should not matter, although entering names in a different format (e.g., leaving a space between swp and 16877), will cause an error.

Local File Name
Enter the name(s) of the local file to be uploaded. Separate multiple file names with a comma.

Column Delimiter
Select the delimiter used in the uploaded file. Commas, tabs, vertical bars, or semi-colons are allowed. (Note: the delimiter only applies to uploaded files.)

Output Format
Select HTML, CSV, or Excel Spreadsheet for the format of the results. With HTML (the default), a html table will be displayed on the same page as the form. For CSV a new page is drawn showing comma separated values, For excel spreadsheet format, you may be prompted to display using Excel.

Reset
Clicking reset will return the form to its default values.

Help
Clicking help will display this help file. If you still have trouble, please e-mail your question to archive@stsci.edu.

Results

After entering data set names and clicking search button, several entries will be displayed for each input data set. For HTML, the results are shown in a table following the search form. For CSV, a separate page is displayed showing just column headings and columns of results. For Excel spreadsheet format, results may be displayed directly in an Excel spreadsheet form. The definition of the various columns is shown below.

Data Set Name
This column shows the input file name as specified. If the output format is HTML and a preview page is available, the entry is a link to that page.

Mission(?)
If the input file name is recognized as coming from a specific project, then the mission name is listed here. It does not necessarily mean the file exists, only that the data set name resembles that used by a particular MAST mission. If no mission can be connected to the input data set, a "-" is shown.

Exists?
If the file is located in a mission database table, it is listed as "yes". If a particular mission was indicated, but the entry was not found in that particular database, "Not Found" is shown. Otherwise, the value is set to "Not Identified".

AASTeX Reference
For identified data sets, this column shows the data set name as it would be specified for an astronomical paper (as specified in the aasguide.tex document). The name includes the ADEC-approved prefix. For unidentified data sets, a "-" is shown.