Two years ago KPNO and CTIO implemented a new, LaTeX-based template for submitting observing proposals over the Internet. From our perspective and, we hope, from that of our users, the process has gone well--more than 90% of observing proposals come in electronically. Two good reasons for electronic submission are to ease the process of submitting proposals, and to enable more automated processing of your proposals to reduce the workload and to shorten the time it takes for CTIO and KPNO staff to ingest, sort, and schedule your proposals based on TAC review.
The old, homebrew, proposal database software we have been using for years has required laborious data entry from printed proposals, and has been difficult to modify and upgrade as our needs have changed. We are now setting up a new process for handling proposals that is based on a commercial database. The database software we have chosen (Access) works in conjunction with the other office software in use by the support staff. In preparation for the new system, we have made a few changes in the LaTeX template (see accompanying article in the KPNO section by Phil Massey) so that information from proposals can be automatically entered more easily into the database.
We will begin testing parts of the new database software in parallel with the old starting with the September 1996, proposal cycle. If all goes well, we hope to switch to the new system during 1997. To help this process along, we ask all users of CTIO and KPNO facilities to obtain the new LaTeX template and .sty file. KPNO users can obtain the new template by anonymous ftp to ftp.noao.edu, cd kpno/kpnoforms; over the Web via the NOAO homepage (http://www.noao.edu), or by sending mail to kpnoprop-request@noao.edu. CTIO users can get the new template files from the CTIO Web pages via the NOAO home page; by ftp to ctios1.ctio.noao.edu, cd pub/ctioforms; or by sending e-mail to ctioprop- request@noao.edu.
Caty Pilachowski