XMM-Newton Science Archive Interface FAQ: tips on usage

This page is a compilation of tips on how to accomplish specific tasks through the XMM-Newton Science Archive (XSA) user interface. For a more detailed introduction to the content and usage of the XSA the user is referred to the Guided Tour of the XMM-Newton Science Archive.

If you have any suggestions for items, which you deem interesting to be dealt with in this page, or if you need additional help, please do not hesitate to contact the XMM-Newton HelpDesk.

Q1. Is is possible to stop a query if I make a mistake?

Q2. Is it possible to submit batch queries, or queries using scripts?

Q3. Does the XSA contain information on future scheduled observations?

Q4. I have forgotten the password of my XSA account. What can I do?

Q5. The XSA user interface tells me that I have "exceeded my quota". What can I do to get the data I want?

Q6. Can I retrieve my own proprietary data through plain ftp?

Q7. How do I get help on the XSA?

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Q1. Is is possible to stop a query if I make a mistake?

A1. The Query Specification panel contains the button Cancel Query just to the right of the Execute Query button. Clicking this button will interrupt the ongoing query, and give back the full control of the XSA user interface.

Q2. Is it possible to submit batch queries or queries using scripts?

A2. Yes. One needs to use the Archive InterOperability System (AIO).

Q3. Does the XSA contain information on future scheduled observations?

A3. No. The XSA contains - by design - only information for those observations, for which at least Observation Data Files (ODFs) are available. Users interested in XMM-Newton mission planning are referred to the following URLs:

• Scheduled Observations browser
• Target Search Tool (Observation Lokator)
• Accepted observations for each Announcement of Opportunity
• Long Term Plan (generated at the beginning of each Announcement of Opportunity)

Q4. I have forgotten the password of my XSA account. What can I do?

A4. Just contact the XMM-Newton HelpDesk. We will reset the password of your XSA account to a dummy value, that we'll immediately communicate you. We recommend you to change the dummy password as soon as possible to a new value, following these steps:

1. login clicking on the button Login/Register in the start panel of the XSA user interface applet
2. click on Change your password
3. fill the widget with the dummy password and the new password of your choice
4. click OK

Q5. The XSA user interface tells me that I have "exceeded my quota". What can I do to get the data I want?

A5. A quota (i.e. a maximum volume of data that can be retrieved within a given time interval by an XSA account) is being imposed on data retrieval, only when the "shopping basket" retrieval functionality is used. Currently, the quota is set to 2 GBytes of data [approximately 5 full XMM-Newton observation datasets, including both Observation Data Files (ODF) and pipeline products (PPS)]. The quota is refreshed every three days. The goal of the quota is to prevent the ftp area from being overloaded, thus ensuring that all the XMM-Newton users can retrieve data in every moment.
No quota is imposed on the "direct download" modality, using the "Retrieve" button to the left of each Observation/Exposure/Source information. Hence, if you have exceeded your quota, you have the choice among the following three possibilities:

• use the "direct download" retrieval modality
• contact the XMM-Newton HelpDesk, to get a temporary extension of your account's quota, specifying the data retrieval need that would justify this extension. We will agree with you the best solution to accommodate your needs
• wait for your quota to be refreshed

Q6. Can I retrieve my own proprietary data through plain ftp?

A6. Yes, you can. Actually, the XSA user interface is mainly a data browser, allowing you to select the data, which will be later put on an ftp area for retrieval (data covered by proprietary rights are protected by an encripted password). The basic data retrieval steps from the XSA can be outlined as follows:

1. browse the content of XSA database through the querying conditions in the Query specification panel of the XSA user interface (you will land into it upon launching of the XSA applet)
2. look at the observation properties and quick-look products in the Latest Results panel
3. select the observations, whose data you want to retrieve, by clicking on the small square box to the left of each observation description
4. click the button Move Selected to Basket (or Move All to Basket)
5. go to the "shopping basket" by clicking the button Shopping Basket at the top
6. [at this point you are requested to log in as a registered XSA user if you have not done it yet. If you do not own an XSA account yet, create a new one, by following these steps:
   1. click on Login/Register
   2. click on Register As New User
   3. fill all the mandatory form fields
   4. click [OK]
7. select your Observation Products
8. click on the button Submit Request
9. click on the button Confirm in the new panel (Confirmation of Request), which automatically appears

You will receive an e-mail, specifying an ftp location, from which you can retrieve your data.

Q7. How do I get help on the XSA?

A7. There are two main sources of on-line help on the XSA

• the Guided Tour to the XSA, a short description of the XSA main features and functionalities
• the on-line help in the XSA user interface. Clicking with the mouse on a blue field, or on a field of an observation/exposure/catalogue source will pop-up a help window, whenever available

You may also consider contacting the XMM-Newton HelpDesk.