iraf.net

Do the latex sources (and needed figures) for the important IRAF manuals still exist in a way that can re-produce the user's guides? In particular, I am referring to the beginner docs like "A User's Guide to Reducing Slit Spectra with IRAF", "A User's Guide to CCD Reductions with IRAF", and so on.I have paper copies of some of these manuals that I have keep over the years and marked needed corrections. For instance, my copy of "A User's Guide to Reducing Slit Spectra with IRAF" probably has more than a 100 things that could be fixed (errors in the examples, grammar, punctuation, etc.). Some of the changes are important such as corrections to file names input to tasks, or to the task parameters themselves. (e.g., on p. 28 the hedit stuff is particularly in need of repair). Because there are so many changes, it'd be easier to fix this in the latex source and send-in the source than to mail a list of fixes. I'm willing to do this when time allows. Even if only one or two docs greats revised, it'd be a good thing.I think producing "updated" versions, especially of the key beginner guides, would have several benefits. Corrections to examples would make the learning experience more comfortable for beginners. Grammar fixes would make it easier for non-native English speakers. And, more generally, just seeing updated dates on the docs would make everything "feel fresher", an abstract concept that is nonetheless important in community-based projects like IRAF.net hoped to be.As a start, I could update "A User's Guide to Reducing Slit Spectra with IRAF" by Massey, Valdes, and Barnes (15 April 1992). Actually, copyedit is a better word than update, as I would not generally be changing the meaning the text.Jason

Unfortunately, the source material for a lot of that documentation was lost or went with the authors long ago, and all we have are the PostScript files or paper copies in my office. In some cases the text might be, e.g. in the package documentation, however we don't have figures used in the final doc. In short, if it ain't on the web, the ftp archive, or in the iraf source tree, we don't have it.OTOH, think of all the freedom this gives you to start writing documentation from a completely fresh perspective..... 8-)Cheers,
-Mike