iraf.net

I have a macBookPro running tiger 10.4.11. Can anyone hold my hand through the iraf installation progress? I have X11 installed and running but am confused/clueless as to where to put the files and how to install the program. Too many choices and I am not familiar enough with unix to discern the correct steps. Any assistance will be gratefully appreciated.

The installation guide (https://iraf.net/irafdocs/pciraf/) contains a detail description of the process, for an Intel Mac just substitute 'macintel' where you see 'redhat'. Short of rewording that document there isn't much hand-holding that can be done here, but post specific questions if you have problems.You might also look at the SciSoft distribution for an alternate method to get the software, but note there are some known problems with e.g. printing plots so post questions about that as well. See http://web.mac.com/npirzkal/Scisoft/Scisoft.html-Mike

Mike,
Thanks for the suggestions. I attempted to follow the guide but was not sue what to do in section 2.1.2. In the guide it appears that step 1 is:
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2.1.2. If installing IRAF for the first time...
2.1.2.1. Create the ’iraf’ User Account
If you are installing IRAF for the first time then the first step is to set up a new account
for the user ‘iraf’ (see below for special instructions regarding the iraf user account on Mac
OS X systems). This is necessary for IRAF system management, which should always be done
from the IRAF account. The IRAF account has custom login files which set up a standard
UNIX environment for IRAF system management. For that reason it’s critical that 1) the iraf
account be created to use a C-shell as it’s login shell
*********************
When I set up the iraf account in system preferences/accounts there is no way I can find to set the C-shell as the log in file. So I just created a user account called iraf and gave it admin privileges. Am I doing okay so far?
Dan

You can change the shell for a user from a terminal window using a command such as[code:1:4e8369f075]% sudo chsh -s /bin/csh iraf[/code:1:4e8369f075]The 'chsh' will "change shell". Strictly speaking an 'iraf' user isn't required, you can unpack the files as yourself. Just be sure to run the install script using the 'sudo' command so you can make links in the system directories.[/url]

I am making incremental progress. I have run the "sudo chsh -s /bin/csh iraf" command. The next step would be to unpack the files and run the install script. I have already done this putting the files in MacIntosh Hard Disk/iraf. Do I need to delete these files and rerun the script since I did not have the correct shell running when I first ran the script?

The distribution files can be unpacked using any shell. The C-shell for the iraf user is recommended because it will have a specific environment defined that may help with building packages and such, but iraf commands which are C-shell scripts can still be run by a user (e.g. you) who's default shell is still bash. Anyway, you don't need to delete the unpacked files, just proceed with the install.

I have the following files in the User "iraf" documents folderIRAF 2.14 Installer for MacOS X Intel
iraf_button_0.98.tar
iraf214_macintel.tar
The IRAF Button 0.98Just to confirm, by install you mean I should double click on the IRAF 2.14 Installer for MacOS X Intel file?

Actually, I thought you were using the tarballs we distribute and by "install" I meant "unpack the tarballs and run the install script". The Installer you have should automate much of this and I believe should work fine for 10.4 systems. Note that things like the "IRAF Button" are installed separately on you've done IRAF.-Mike

Ran the install script. Ran cl and mkiraf and I get a welcome to iraf message so appears it is up and running. The rest must wait for another day. Thanks to everyone for all the help.