howto-vaxeln.txt					ETK 02-JUN-96

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This file summarizes the steps needed to build and test a private copy
of the MACRO DAQ. The MACRO DAQ is based on VAXELN and the latest
version is usually found in VXMACB::[MACROELN.VE*]. As of this writing,
the latest version is VE3_5. The actual binaries are called SUPER1.SYS,
SUPER2.SYS and SUPER3.SYS for uVaX 1-3 respectively.  This note will
tell you how to compile your own version of SUPER*.SYS and load it for
execution.

(1) Source code: you are probably interested in this because you want to
make some revision to the source code. For the WFD implementation, we
have modified the following files:

        CADRIVER.PAS        added CAMAC list commands: 
                            WFD_RDMEM, WFD_RDTIM, WFD_READOUT
                            WFD_PATREG, WFD_THRESH, WRITEHEX

        CAMACPROCEDURE.PAS  added interface routines for above
                            CAMAC list commands; also some
                            parsing commands like decode_i1i2i3

        CAMAC_IN.PAS        some declarations: wfd_spr, wfd_chan_addr

        USER_PROCEDURE.PAS  added wfd_patreg to control readout
                            of WFD channels. 

It was my intention that most readout modifications be contained in the
USER_PROCEDURE.PAS code. If you want to change which channels are being
readout for a given equipment or trigger, this is where you work.  To
start, you should copy all of the code in [MACROELN.VEx_x] to your
working directory; historically, this has been
[BOSTONPUB.KEARNS.PAS.VEx_x].

(2) Next, try to rebuild SUPER.SYS before you make modifications. There
should be some compile routine. In 1995 (VE3_3), it was
CAMAC_IN_COMP_NEW.COM. In 1996 (VE3_5) it is SUPER_COMP_LINK.COM.  FYI,
the compile command is EPAS and the "link" command is EBUILD/NOEDIT.
Advanced users may want to EBUILD without the /NOEDIT in which case they
have access through the keypad to turn on/off debugging, select object
files etc. The default options are controlled by SUPER.DAT.

(3) To test on a uVaX, you need to take that uVaX out of acquisition.
The details of how to do this are well known to the technicians on site.
It involves setup to the acquisition control software in the main
control room and flipping a switch on the synchronization unit.

(4) Since you want to use your test software, you need to control how
your uVaX boots (assumed uVaX-1 from now on). Upon reboot, a uVaX will
try either VXMACA or VXMACB (at random it seems) for the boot system.
You must change this lookup; you can use the .COM files CLEAR_LOAD and
RESTORE_LOAD. They are one line files containing:

MC NCP CLEAR NODE MVMAC1 LOAD FILE

and:

MC NCP SET NODE MVMAC1 LOAD FILE _
SYS$SYSDEVICE:[MACRO.SUPER.CURRENT]SUPERVME_MV1.SYS

After executing CLEAR_LOAD on VXMACB ***AND*** VXMACA, there is no
chance that you will boot with the old system.

(5) To load your private system, from MACROELN account:

EDEBUG/LOAD=SUPER1 MVMAC1

where SUPER1.DAT is the .SYS file you compiled and linked in step (2).

(6) To test, you simply have to use your head to determine how to setup
a run so that it is easy to check your modifications. You may want a
compact simple CAMAC list, or you may want to slightly modify the full
lists kept in [MACRO.SUPER.CURRENT]. Historically, most of the testing
has been done with the modified mini-ACQ that is in
[BOSTONPUB.KEARNS.COM]; it is run by @COM_TEST.