2.2.4 Special Notes for the Parameter Line

• A blank or comma must separate each parameter as in the FORTRAN-style free format.

• When entering the parameter line, to skip over N parameters use N+1 commas, i.e. ,,,, will skip over three adjacent parameters using the defaults.

• A slash / marks the end of the parameter line.

• Since the program can use the name ``SKY" internally, do not specifically use it as an OBJNAME. Use "SKY1" instead.

• WEIGHTS should be in the range 0 to 9999. Note that if a bright non-program object is in the field, its coordinates should be measured and assigned zero weight to prohibit other slitlets from being "drilled" in that location . On the other hand, if there is a specific patch of sky for which you would like a slit "drilled", put in those coordinates with an appropriate weight and treat it as an "object".

• EFLAG allows for the extension or non-extension of an individual slitlet. EFLAG=1 will prohibit the extension of the slitlet, EFLAG=0 permits extension. Normally all object slitlets will be extended and EFLAG will be zero on all lines. Note that zero is the default and need NOT be physically entered. All numbers (and blanks) other than 1, are assigned EFLAG=0. Setup holes and CHECK STARS are NOT extended.

• An additional feature of the program allows more than one solution on a given field, i.e. NPLATE>1. For example, problems may arise in crowded fields when trying to drill a number of high weight objects on a single plate. For additional solutions on a given field, the program flags the "drilled" objects from earlier plates and sets their weight to a small non-zero value. Then a second pass through the targets is made to design the second mask. This permits all high weight objects to eventually be "drilled". The first mask will have a higher total drilled weight than the second mask. Several fields may be run together as long as a blank line separates the fields.