PDS_VERSION_ID     = PDS3
RECORD_TYPE        = STREAM
OBJECT             = TEXT
  PUBLICATION_DATE = 2004-08-04
  NOTE             = "Description of software provided with the
    MER EDR archive volumes"
END_OBJECT         = TEXT
END


MB2ASC is a tool to extract MER Moessbauer (MB) data from a binary EDR
file and output the results as ASCII.  It is written in IDL and
consists of two source files: MB_data_parse_input.pro and mb2asc.pro.
This tool was developed at Washington University for the MER Project
and will be included with the Moessbauer EDR archive volume.

Compiling the tool (instructions for PC/Windows)
Open the two source files in IDL.  Use the "compile all" option
under the "run" menu to compile the program.  Note compiling the
two source files separately may cause an error at runtime.

Running the tool (instructions for PC/Windows)
1.  In the command input window, type 'mb2asc' and hit enter.  A
window titled 'MB DATA PARSE' should appear.  This is where input
for the tool will be entered.

2.  Enter the following information into the 'MB DATA PARSE'
window.

a) Fill in the file name of a binary EDR Moessbauer file.  The
'Select Input File' button can be used to bring up a Windows file
dialog box to enter the file name.

b) Select the 'swap byte order' check box if the bytes should be
swapped during procession.

c)  Select the data type to extract from the input file by
choosing one of the radio buttons.

d) Fill in the file name for the ASCII output file.  The 'Select
Output File' button can be used to bring up a Windows file dialog
box to enter the file name.

e) Select the 'Execute' button when all fields are filled to run
the tool.  Choosing the 'Cancel' button will exit the tool
without generating any output file.

Format of Output Files
MB Spectra:  The file consists of a table with two header lines.
The first line in the file lists the data type and the input file
name.  The second line contains a column number from 1 to 65.
The remainder of the file is a table consisting of the channel
number in column 1 followed by 65 columns for the Moessbauer
measurements including spectra with zero values.

Energy:  The first line in the file lists the data type and the
input file name.  The remainder of the file is a table consisting
of the channel number in the first column followed by 5 columns
for the energy measurements.

Drive Signal:  The first line in the file lists the data type and
the input file name.  The remainder of the file is a table with
two columns consisting: channel number and drive signal.  Note
the mb2asc tool compares the two copies of the drive signal
stored in the binary file and writes a message on the IDL output
log window if they match.

Temperature:  The first line in the file lists the data type and
the input file name.  The remainder of the file is a table
consisting of the counter in the first column followed by 3
columns for the temperature measurements (board, sample, and
reference, respectively).  The number of temperature values
listed is determined by a "temp_entries" parameter read from the
parameter block.

Compressed MB Spectra:  This file contains spectra from EEPROM.
The file consists of a table with two header lines.  The first
line in the file lists the data type and the input file name.
The second line contains a column number from 1 to 10.  The
remainder of the file is a table consisting of the channel number
in column 1 followed by 10 columns for the EEPROM Moessbauer
measurements including spectra with zero values.

Backup MB Spectra:  This file contains the Moessbauer spectrum
stored in the fifth data block.  The first line in the file lists
the data type and the input file name.  The remainder of the file
is a table consisting of the channel number in column 1 followed
by 5 columns for the Moessbauer measurements including spectra
with zero values.

Instrument Parameters:  This file contains decoded instrument
parameters. The first line in the file lists the data type and
the input file name.  The remaining file records list parameter
names and values.  See the MB EDR SIS for more information about
the MB instrument parameters.  Note the mb2asc tool compares the
three copies of the instrument parameters stored in the first
block of the binary file and writes a message on the IDL output
log window if they match.

Logbook:  This file contains logbook entries listed as hex
values.  The first line in the file lists the data type and the
input file name.  The number of logbook records is determined by
a "logbook_entries" parameter read from the parameter block.  The
command code and parameter values have not been decoded.  See the
MB Interface Control Document for more information on the
logbook.

Hardware ID:  The first line in the file lists the data type and
the input file name.  The second line in the file lists the
hardware ID extracted from the fifth block in the binary file.