Pre-install analysis utils package

[helenkirk]

Some CASA reduction scripts rely on a package of software called analysis utils which has to be downloaded separately from the CASA software itself. Users can do this themselves, but if there is time available, this could be a nice addition to already have ready in each of the casa containers.

Download instructions are given in the 'Getting Started' section of this page: https://casaguides.nrao.edu/index.php/Analysis_Utilities

Making the package visible to casa is described in Step 2 of the same section. Note that other CASA pages recommend adding one additional line to the casa startup file beyond the few described in Step 2:

import analysisUtils as aU

(i.e., two different lines for the import using different versions of capitalization for 'au/aU')-- the reduction scripts are not always consistent in the capitalization when using commands from this software package.

[drtobybrown]

@yeunga @severingaudet It looks at thought the steps are described in detail in Helen's link. I've copied them below.

Step 1: Download Analysis Utilities from here and extract the tar ball. From a Unix command line this can be done with

$ tar xvf analysis_scripts.tar

Seven files will be extracted -- a README file, and six python scripts. The README file contains the time and date that the tar ball was generated, which can be useful for reporting bugs. The history file available at the ftp site contains a list of major changes in each version.

This just downloads a tar ball of the analysis_scripts folder from ftp://ftp.cv.nrao.edu/pub/casaguides/ (it looks like the last update to the analysis_scripts.tar file happened in April 2020). We should download and unpack the analysis_scripts.tar file regularly (chron job?) to one place that is accessible to every user. We do not need to keep previous versions. Needing to go back a version will be rare and the users who do can figure that out pretty easily.

Step 2: Edit your existing casa initialization file (in CASA5: $HOME/.casa/init.py, or in CASA6: $HOME$/.casa/startup.py) or create a new file if it does not already exist, and add the following

import sys
sys.path.append("/PATH_TO_ANALYSIS_SCRIPTS/")
import analysisUtils as au

where /PATH_TO_ANALYSIS_SCRIPTS/ is the path to the directory you just extracted from the tar ball. An example can be downloaded and edited here: File:Init.py. When this is done, start casapy and you will have access to all the functions contained in the analysisUtils module.

It looks like they've changed the name of this file between casa<=5 and casa 6 but it should do the same thing. Our options are:

1. Create a $HOME/.casa/init.py and $HOME$/.casa/startup.py file that contains the 3 lines above for every new user
2. Point each user to the online docs and where analysis_scripts is held on ARCADE.

I favour the former since it demonstrates we are providing user accounts that are very well set up for using CASA

[drtobybrown]

This has been done right?

[yeunga]

No, this issue has not been addressed.