Anything you could possibly need to know about the computers is probably on the computer already.
                IDL has fantastic online help (in IDLDE or IDL).  Sometimes there is no substitute for good old-fashioned paper indexes, which there are in abundance, but although the online help is not as easily navigable, it provides the entire documentation right at your fingertips.  Also, when you're stumped, RSI (the software company that created and manufactures IDL) has a decent site which links to a bunch of other helpful sites as well.  For more IDL help, see the page we've put together.  There are various Unix manuals floating around (see below), which if you have little Unix experience you may want to read.  Here is an online Unix FAQ and some Unix plug-ins. We're not talking about an intuitive OS here, but once you learn the basics you'll find that, since most of your work is in IDL, you don't need to learn much more.  We have also put together a list of where to find the data files and IDL procedures you may need.

        You can run anything installed on another networked computer on your networked computer; and how to run things in general.
                We don't guarantee this.  You try running IDLDE off of psr1 on charmed, and I can't vouch for it.  But provided you have similar terminals and processors, it should be doable.  If it's giving you error messages, it may be trying to display your software on the other terminal, which you don't have permission to do.  In that case, you need to tell it to display to your terminal: at the Unix prompt, type setenv DISPLAY "psr4.physics.oberlin.edu:0.0" provided, of course, that you are on psr4.  If you're on another computer, substitute its name.  Sun terminals have a limited amount of colors available--really it's the same you'd get anywhere, but Unix allocates a certain number of colors to a running program and refuses to share.  If you're on a Windows NT machine, you can run IDL, Netscape, and Photoshop at once and they'll all look just as they should.  On Unix, you can only run one color-intensive (for lack of better terminology) program at once or the rest will be in a very fuzzy gray scale.  Not even black and white--just fuzzy.  If you have Netscape running, then you open IDLDE and realize it's horrible, you'll have to close both of them and then open IDLDE again.  So look before you leap or you'll find yourself frequently frustrated.  Other than that, if you don't know a thing about Unix, you can run software by typing its name at the prompt, such as idlde; it's that simple (yes, IDL and IDLDE are referred to in lowercase).  If you want it to run independently of your xterm* (i.e., you can still use the xterm while the software is active), type idlde (or whatever) &.  Actually, IDLDE does this by itself, but other software does not.
                    *This page is kinda slow to load

     Office supplies are (theoretically) organized in labeled drawers.            
                While this may not always hold true, you can usually find a stapler in the drawer labeled "Staplers", a pen in the drawer marked "Pens," and so on.  If you find something without an already present category, you can label a new drawer (ask permission first) with the labeler, which you will find in the drawer marked "Labeler" (yeah, big surprise, huh?).  Markers for the white board are exactly where they should be, on a shelf next to the white board, so don't go looking in drawers.  Anything you can't find, ask for; now stop being macho and go ask!

        Any needed books that aren't here will be in the computer lab down the hall* or in the physics library.
                Books about Unix and programming languages are on the shelves under the white board.  Books on astronomy (general and radio) are located on the shelves above the counter, as are most notebooks of data (yes, that's what all those binders contain: years and years of data.  You will become very familiar with these data before you are through).  IDL manuals will be somewhere on the desks, and if they aren't there they'll be in Dan Stinebring's office.  The physics library contains reference books (on reserve) in the far corner, and any mathematical table you ever need should be there.  You can find physics textbooks (like Halliday/Resnick/Walker) in the physics library, lots of non-textbook physics books (at least, they didn't think they were writing textbooks--as for readability, I can't guarantee anything), and every physics magazine you could ever want.  There's even volumes and volumes of a magazine devoted entirely to reviewing equipment.  If that's your cup of tea, well, go crazy.
                *The one that says Computer Lab and has Dan Styer's name on the nameplate.  It's always, always unlocked.

        The library is more flexible than the signs indicate.
                    Okay, I probably shouldn't tell you any of this, but people do eat and drink in the library and never get caught.  Try not to make a habit of it, and definitely do NOT spill anything on books, but if you're starving, break out that apple.  If you borrow the reserve or reference books for a few hours and take them with you somewhere else, chances are, no one will care.  This does not apply to books that are on reserve for a class--but you knew that.  If you need something obscure for your research, just remember to return it when you're done.  Oh, and this library has seen more naps than you can count, so don't be ashamed; just don't snore.  The last set of lights go off when you don't move around enough, because they're motion sensitive: just wave your arms around.

        Baby, it's your building. Use it judiciously.
                The lounge is for anyone who works here.  Hey, that's you!  So kick back--use the microwave on yesterday's leftovers, and browse the oh-so-exciting literature on display.  Don't go making loud noises in the hallways, but don't be afraid to knock on anyone's door if you need advice or help (that doesn't mean they're obligated to help you, but as long as you're polite, they really ought to reciprocate).  If you need to access other resources, like lab materials, ask Dan.  And just because you're a physics major and this building is for you, don't abuse the privileges.  They gave you a key so you could come in at 2 am and do research--not so you could come in at 2 am and do graffiti on the walls or have sex away from your roommate.  Don't abuse your privileges, or we'll all have them revoked.
 

    I want to go home!
 

Last updated June 1998