6.0 User's Guides for Individual LAS Modules

6.1 Introduction

This section provides a general overview of the format of the user's guides for the individual LAS applications modules.

All LAS user's guides are stored on-line. The guide for a particular module may be accessed during an interactive LAS session by typing help <modulename> at the LAS74> prompt in command mode or the ? prompt in menu mode; in tutor mode, the user can type help *. The only information that will not be presented is any graphics that an individual user's guide might have.

The user's guides may also be displayed using the Netscape document viewer by typing lasdoc at the LAS74> prompt within an interactive LAS session. From the Unix % or $ prompt, the guides may also be accessed by typing las lasdoc. The user may then select the guide for a particular module from either an alphabetical or functional listing of available modules. The functional listing duplicates the hierarchy of the menus displayed in LAS menu mode. Graphics are included within the user's guides in this method.

6.2 User's Guide Format

Individual LAS user's guides provide the following information:

Module name and function
A general description of the module's function including references to all subcommands.

Subcommands (if applicable)
Where subcommands are used, they are indicated by the word "Subcommand" followed by a dash (-) and the subcommand name. A description of the subcommand is also given. Listed below the subcommand is the sequence of parameters for that subcommand.

Parameters
Parameters are listed in bold font, with default values in "()" next to the parameter names. The parameters are listed in the same sequence as they appear on the tutor display screen.

Examples
At least one example and usually two or three are given for each module. An example should be available for each subcommand, if the module has subcommands. The example illustrates and explains the use of as many of the parameters as the user would typically use.

Description/Algorithm
A functional description of the algorithm used in the module is given. This includes any formulas and constants used. Also, references are supplied when appropriate.

Error Messages
A list of the all fatal and nonfatal error messages output by the application module and a brief description of subsequent user action is given. All error messages in the user's guides pertain just to the modules and not to TAE, the LAS support libraries, or the computer's operating system.

User's Notes
These indicate or explain any conditions that the user should be aware of when using the module. They may also provide a list of related modules.


Last change: 2005 Feb. 25, R. A. White / raw@essc.psu.edu