PREVIOUS   START   NEXT

Multiple Object Search (Table Upload)

The Multiple Object search option uses a cone search to find positional matches of sources in the Kepler Target Selection Catalog with coordinates from an input source list. To select this option, click on the radio button next to Multi-Object Search.

There are two ways of specifying the radius for a Multi-Object search:

• Include it as a column in the table file, which allows for a different radius for each position (example).
• Enter it in the textboxes below the Upload Table textbox - this is most useful if the search radius is the same for all positions. (example).

You can see an example of a table without radii here, and a table with radii here.

File format

The table must be in IPAC Table Format, an ASCII space delimited format in which vertical lines (|) are used to define the boundaries of each column. See these two sample files, one in which the cone search radius is defined in this table, and one in which it is not.

Tables must be formatted as follows:

• Positions must be specified in RAJ2000 and DecJ2000 format.
• Position columns must be given the names ra and dec.
• Position entries must be in decimal degrees.
• The cone search radius column (optional) must be named "radius" and its type must be "float".
• Rows starting with a vertical line ( | ) are table header lines. The first row (the only one required) must contain the names of each column (e.g., ra, dec, flux).
• The columns in the header row are separated by a vertical line ( | ) to show the boundaries of each column.
• There is also a vertical line at the beginning and end of the header row.
• There must be at least one row of data in the row directly following the header rows, and the data should align within the column boundaries.
• The number of cells containing data must be equal to or less than the number of columns.
• Data are space-delimited, and data must fit within the boundaries of each column and not extend beyond the vertical header lines.
• Gator requires that tables are in IPAC Column-Delimited Format. Running new tables through the table validation service (external to Gator) is recommended. This service attempts to correct for common formatting problems. Please follow the Best Practices listed below to reduce formatting errors.
• Columns must not contain "non-printable" ASCII characters. Printable characters are things like "a" and "?". Non-printable characters are occasionally inserted by text editing programs for their own purposes, and include symbols like ESCAPE ( ^[ ), FORMFEED ( ^L ) and DELETE.
• Be very careful when using tabs. A tab ( ^I ) is a single character used in most editors to define a display action ("jump to the next tab stop"). In aligned data, such as those in an IPAC ASCII Column-Aligned format, tabs can make the data look aligned, when the characters don't line up and are therefore illegal. Any extra tabs will inflate the column count. It is best to remove all tabs.
• Use an ASCII text editing program, such as Notepad in Windows or TextEdit on Apple computers, which prevents extraneous characters from being inserted.
• Save the file name with the .tbl extension, if possible.

Spatial Constraints

Use these options to upload and check the table.

Uploading the Table

• Choose File - Click on the Choose File button to open a Browse window. Navigate to the correct directory and select the file name of the table that you would like to upload. Click the Choose File button. The filename will be displayed.
• Verify that it obeys the formatting rules - (Optional) Use this service (external to Gator) to verify that your table is in the proper format before uploading. This service is recommended for new tables.
• Cone Search Radius - If the radius is not included in the table, enter the radius of the search region. If the radius is in the table, leave the radius blank. (Entering a radius in this box will supercede a radius included in a file).
• Angular unit - If a radius is specified, select the required angular unit (arcsec, arcmin or deg). If the search radius exceeds the maximum allowed value, Gator will default to the maximum value and write a message to this effect to the query monitor.
• PA - Specify the position angle in degrees measured E of N from 0 to 360 deg. Leave blank for a circular search.
• Axial Ratio - Specify the axial ratio for the cone. This is the ratio of the semi-minor axis to the semi-major axis. This value is between 0 and 1. Leave blank for a circular search.

PREVIOUS   START   NEXT