From: G.Chiozzi
							Date: 17 Nov 1997


             VLT-SW-NOV97 - RELEASE NOTES FOR tcssim
             =======================================
   
This release note contains known problems/limitations and some
comments to TCS Simulation package not included in the user manual or
that need to be put in better evidence.

The TCS public interface that is part of this release of the TCS simulation
package contains all commands and data curently foreseen.
 
All the modules distributed with the TCS Simulation Package have been
significantly improved in terms of features and extensively tested.
For more details on the changes for single modules, check the
ChangeLog file in the root directory of every module.

   New features/important bugs fixed:

   - New commands (mainly for the auto guiding, active optics,
     chopping and enclosure subsystems):
     OFFSROT OBJROT
     STARTAG STOPAG BOX2GS FINDGS PRGS
     STARTAO STOPAO FGETAO OFFSFM2
     SETBAFF STRTCHP STOPCHP
     DMSMODE WSMODE
     FFIN FFOUT
   - New named data items:
     FOCULEN and FOCUSCALE for Nasmith, Cassegrain and Coude' foci
     INSTALLED
     ADA_POSANG
   - The implementation of the tifGetByName() function is changed, 
     as well as its interface.
     Data items are not any more identified via enumeration literals,
     but via string. As a consequence the "item name" parameter of the
     tifGetByName() function is not any more an enum but a char*.
     This should have no impact on applications, since defines are always 
     used  and have been properly remapped to the corresponding strings.
     This has been done to allow storing configuration tables on in the
     online database.
     In this way it is possible to add new data items just at database
     configuration time, or even online, without having to rebuild the
     executables of the tif control process.
   - New TCS Fits Header Keywords:
     TEL.ID
     TEL.FOCU.LEN
     TEL.FOCU.SCALE
     ADA.ABSROT.START/STOP
     ADA.POSANG
   - SETUP command
     The "check only flag" provides basic syntax checking
   - Instrument data configuration extended.
     New fields have been added to the Mode Switching table for
     instrument configuration.
     The related commands GETINSD and SETINSD have been modified
     accordingly.
     Also the behaviour of these commands has been modified to allow
     changing most of the parameters "on the fly", i.e. without having
     to put TCS in stand-by state.
   - TCS dictionary tcsESO-VLT-DIC.TCS:
     Extended TCS Dictionary to include all new keywords, and in
     particular FITS keywords for start and stop of exposure (SPR 970397).
     Changed names for chopping related keywords
     Increased precision from .3 to .6 for ADDVELALPHA, ADDVELDELTA,
     PMA, PMD (SPR 970439) 
     Removed obsolete SUP keywords.
   - Default preset setup file prsDefaultSetup.targ:
     changed default for keyword TEL.AG.GUIDESTAR from "SETUPFILE"
     to "CATALOGUE"
   - Removed installation of setupHdDisplay in INS_ROOT area. 
     It is obsolete and not used any more.
   - Fixed bugs in TCSSIM installation and configuraiton procedures
   - PRSNAME now writes proper coordinates 

   Limitations:

   - tcssimSimControl panel
     - when starting and asking for a PING in simulation 1, the check
       shows that only the tif module is OK. This is correct, since
       the other modules are not running and are not even in
       simulation mode. This is described in the user manual.

   - tcssimTcsControl panel
     - When in simulation 1, commands cannot be sent, since TCS
       control modules are not running and are not even in
       simulation mode. This is described in the user manual.
     - When in simulation 1 and 2, database values are not updated when
       commands are sent. This is correct, since only in simulation 3
       all proces are running and database is updated. This is
       described in the user manual.

   - The test steps tcssimTestStdCommands_3 and tcssimTestControl_3
     are not fully deterministic and sometimes they fail

   - There are some problems with the handling of aliases for commands
     names. 
     Please, NEVER USE ALIASES for command names to TIF

   Please, keep in mind that the list of commands, data items and events
is still subject to changes (and in particular extensions) in the next
releases of the modules.

                              ___oOo___