gemini gmos gprepare error

[jellyman]

Hello,

I am trying to reduce some gemini gmos longslit data. When trying to gprepare the data, i get this error:

GPREPARE -- Thu Oct 11 12:33:10 BST 2012

Input list = @objects.lis
Output list =
Output prefix = obj
Raw path =
Add MDF = yes
Input MDF in case header keyword not found = 0.75arcsec.fits

Input N20100720S0243.fits Output objN20100720S0243.fits
GPREPARE: Using MDF defined in the header 0.75arcsec
GPREPARE: Taking MDF from directory gmos$data/
ERROR: Cannot open file (NULL)
"delete-, verify-, show-)"
line 102: gemtools$gemhedit.cl
called as: `gemhedit (image=objN20100720S0243.fits[1], field=EXTNAME, value=SCI, comment=)'
"gemhedit (outimg[n_i]//"["//n_j//"]", "EXTNAME", l_sci_ext, "")"
line 511: gmos$gprepare.cl
called as: `gprepare (mode=h)'


I have checked in the gmos$data directory, the MDF is there, but this error still appears. I also try to feed it to the gprepare task with the parameter
(mdffile = "0.75arcsec.fits") MDF file to use if keyword not found

yet the same error appears.
I am using
Beta Version 1.11beta2, August 19, 201
Requires IRAF 2.12.2a to 2.14.1
Tested with IRAF 2.14.1

My iraf version is 2.14.1

Any help will be very appreciated!
Many thanks,
J

[jellyman]

Hi, I believe I have found a solution to the problem.
Some tasks are passing a "NULL" file around. This should be equivalent to "" in iraf, but for some reason iraf searches for an actual file called NULL, and since it can not find it, it crashes with an error. So I just replaced NULL with "" in the files gemhedit.cl and ggain.cl. These tasks are found in the gemtools package and gmos package within the parent gemini iraf external package.

After this little "hack" gprepare works alright.

[emma]

Hi jellyman,

There is a newer version of the Gemini IRAF package available (v1.11.1, see http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/data-and-results/processing-software for more details). The problem you describe should not occur if you use the latest version of the Gemini IRAF package.

Also, since you are using IRAF v2.14.1, you should ensure that you are using the appropriate version of fitsutil (see http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/data-and-results/processing-software/requirements for more details).

Many thanks,

Emma

[jellyman]

Thank you very much for your reply.
I will try this asap, and I will let you know how it goes!

Thank you again.
J.