% @(#)write_desc.hlq	14.1.1.1 (ESO-IPG) 09/16/99 09:24:59 
%++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
%.COPYRIGHT  (c)  1990 European Southern Observatory
%.IDENT      write_desc.hlq
%.AUTHOR     KB, IPG/ESO
%.KEYWORDS   MIDAS, help files, WRITE/DESCRIPTOR
%.PURPOSE    On-line help file for the command: WRITE/DESCRIPTOR
%.VERSION    1.0  17-OCT-1983 : Creation, KB
%.VERSION    1.1  16-MAR-1993 : Update, KB
%----------------------------------------------------------------
\se
SECTION./DESC
\es\co
WRITE/DESCR					07-SEP-1998  KB
\oc\su
WRITE/DESCR frame descr data [flg]
	store values into a descriptor
\us\pu
Purpose: 
           Store values into a descriptor.
\up\sy
Syntax:  
           WRITE/DESCR frame descr data [flg]
\ys\pa
           frame = name of data file
\ap\pa
           descr = complete descriptor specification, name/type/felem/nval,
               e.g. NPIX/I/1/2
\\
               or only descriptor name, e.g. NPIX, if the descriptor exists
               already.
\\
               `nval' data values will be written into the descriptor `name'
               of given type, beginning at element `felem'.
\ap\pa
           data = data values, separated by a comma
\ap\pa
           flg = optional flag, if set to ALL, the descriptor will be filled
               completely with the value given as data, so you set all
               descriptor elements to that value
\ap\sa
See also:
           READ/DESCR, SHOW/DESCR, PRINT/DESCR, DELETE/DESCR, COPY/DD
\\
           WRITE/DHELP, COPY/AD, @a dscedit
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           chapter 3 of MIDAS Users guide, volume A
\as\no
Note:  
           In order to support ESO's hierarchical FITS keywords the length
           of descriptor names has been extended to a maximum length of 48 
           characters (previously 15 chars).
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           Valid descriptor types are I for integer, R for real, D for double
           precision, C for character descriptors and C*nnn for character 
           array descriptors.
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           Integer descriptors can also be filled with hex. data by preceding
           the data values with `0x'.
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           Descriptors are extended automatically (like a file is extended if
           needed when it is edited) by writing more elements or by starting at
           an element larger than the no. of elements defined in the
           descriptor creation.
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           To write the contents of an ASCII file into a descriptor use the
           command COPY/AD.
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           Beware, you can create holes like that...
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           To edit an existing descriptor use the application procedure
           `dscedit.prg', use "HELP/APPLIC dscedit" to get details.
\on\exs
Examples:
\ex
           WRITE/DESCR dinosaur RR/R/1/5 1.,2.,3.,4.,5.
             Set real descriptor elements RR(1), ..., RR(5) of frame
             `dinosaur.bdf' to 1.,2.,3.,4.,5. If the descriptor RR had been
             created before with 3 elements only, it would be extended
             automatically.
\xe\ex
           WRITE/DESCR fossil ck/c/1/20 "abcdefghij 123456789"
             Define character descriptor `ck' as a "flat" string, like
\\
             "CHARACTER CK*20" in FORTRAN or "char ck[20]" in C,
\\
             and fill it with the 20 char. string 'abcdefghij 123456789'.
             Note, that the string must be enclosed in double quotes ("),
             because it contains a blank (which is the delimiter in MIDAS).
\xe\ex
           WRITE/DESCR fossil cmore/c*5/1/10 abcde all
             Define character descriptor `cmore' as a character array,  like
\\
             "CHARACTER CMORE(10)*5" in FORTRAN or "char cmore[10][5]" in C,
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             and fill all its 10 elements (which are strings of 5 chars.) with
             the string 'abcde'.
\xe\ex
           WRITE/DESCR trex idsc/i/1/3 0xff,10,-0xaaa
             Set the elements of integer descriptor idsc of frame `trex.bdf'
             to 255, 10 and -2730.
\xe\ex
           WRITE/DESCR hippo.tbl ir/i/1/5 55 all
             Set the first 5 elements of integer descriptor IR of table file
             `hippo.tbl' to 55.
\xe\ex
           WRITE/DESCR rhino save_the_last_free_roaming_rhinos/d/1/2 1.,2.
             Create a double precision descriptor of 2 elements, named
             "save_the_last_free_roaming_rhinos" for image `rhino.bdf'.
\xe \sxe