Using the Data Validaton GUI to Validate Runs

1. Starting up & exiting
2. Looking at displays & decision making
3. Description of DV plots & validation instructions for individual systems
4. Contact information
5. FAQ

Starting Up

• From phucsia, on the Data Validation Desktop, open the Data Validation Check window (blue), by typing:

                shift@phucsia:~>   dvcheckwin

• Then, on the new window, log in to rcf, by typing:

                shift@phucsia:~>   ssh phobreco@rsshgw.rhic.bnl.gov

           and then

               rsshgw00:~> ssh rcas4010

• If this is not the first run you are validating, exit the GUI: go to the "File" menu and select "Quit". This  will exit phat. Then start it up again following the instructions below.

• To start up the GUI, type:

                phobreco@rcas4010:~> phat start_dv.C

• Go to the "Select" menu, choose "Run and Sequence"

• In the new window entitled "Selection" enter the run number you want to validate (by default, if you don't choose a sequence, all are shown), and then hit the "Submit" button.

• In the main window you will now see the list of sequence files that correspond to this run number. By default, the good sequences (without DAQ crashes, etc.) are automatically selected from the database, so they appear as highlighted. Hit the "Validate" button. (ignore the Bad window errors in blue window).

• Wait for a few minutes while the validation is being processed. 

Looking at Displays & Decision Making

• Once all the validating plots are processed, you will see a big "Display" window, with tabs corresponding to groups of plots for several subsystems. The function of this window is to allow the shift crew to look at plots that are relevant for the validity of each run, and take action in validating or rejecting it, depending on what the plots show.
• Go through the tabs and click what appears to be the appropriate choice: "Validate", "Reject", or "No Decision". By clicking "Compare to References", a window showing what a valid plot looks like is provided, or guiding lines in the graphs, as well as text that explains what should be considered valid.
• On the "Summary" tab there will be a group of colored buttons with a summary of the validity information for each group of plots. After selecting the operator name, press the "Submit to Database" button, so that this information is recorded.

Description of DV Plots & Validation Instructions for Individual Systems

• Trigger

• Silicon Hits

• Silicon Dead Channels

• Silicon Noise

• Vertex

• FastBus

• TOF

• Straight Tracking

• Si Raw Errors

Contact Information

• To send comments, requests, bug reports, etc., about the DV Gui, use the "Complain" menu located on  the upper right corner of the main window. Don't forget to choose your name at the bottom of the mail window before clicking "Send", so that we can know who to reply to.

• To send comments, bug reports, etc., about system-specific content, use the corresponding entry of the "Complain" menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I contact an expert about problems with the run I am validating?

            Use the "Complain" menu in the upper right corner of the main DV window, and choose the appropriate expert form the menu.

• How can I make printouts of the plots from the GUI display?

            From the window you want to print, click on "Print to Canvas" and this will generate a postscript file with the name of the tab it corresponds to. This file is at $DV_OUT/printouts, and it is also automatically sent to the counting house color printer.

• What if there is something seriously wrong with the run I'm validating?

            Add a comment in the Run Logbook, including, if relevant, the sequence where the problem appears. To add the comment, follow the link from the Counting House Portal. If it seems urgent, contact the corresponding expert.