Using APT to Write Big Phase II Programs

There are numerous challenges when creating a big Phase II program. This advice is sorted into the different stages of writing the program.

Computer strategies

• We highly recommend you use a computer with 1 GB of physical memory (RAM) or more for big programs.
• Be sure when you install APT that you select the option "My machine has 1 GB or more of memory". (Note that if you are using a site installation the lowest memory requirements was probably chosen. Install your own local version of APT.)
• Do not run other applications at the same time you are working on your big program. (If you have a browser like Netscape which has been running for a while you should at least quit and restart it because it will use a lot of memory over time.)

Strategies for creating a big program

1) Use APT to perfect a template visit (or subset of a visit). Use the Orbit Planner and Visit Planner to make sure the template is as close to what you need as possible.

then

2) Create your copies by one of two methods:

a) Use the Edit>Multiple Duplicate feature to create large numbers of similar exposures or visits.

or

b) Use the File>Export>Export Text Proposal feature to create the new text representation of your perfected 1 visit program. Then use a script or text editor to create duplicates and import the program back into APT.

Strategies for repetitive editing

Reguardless of how you created your big program in the first place, you may find that you need to make a small repetitive change to lots of exposures later on (like change the CR-split on all the exposures). This could be very tedious with the Form Editor. Alternatives to consider:

• Use APT's Spreadsheet Editor. Please be sure to save often and quit and restart APT regularly.
• Use the File>Export>Export Text Proposal feature to create the text representation of your program and use a text editor to search and replace.
• If you made the program with a script, modify the script that you used to create the big program in the first place.

Strategies for processing

If you find you are having trouble processing the program (running the Orbit Planner and Visit Planner with the "Run All Tools" button) here are some suggestions:

• Work on program in pieces. For instance if you have 5 targets that are each being observed many times, make 5 versions of the program. Or if you have 50 similar visits make five 10 visit program. Be sure to give the unique targets and visits different numbers (and unique file names to the different pieces). After you have perfected your small programs paste them together. Use the File>Export>Export Text Proposal feature and then use a text editor to build the complete proposal.
• If you are not working on scheduling issues, do not run the Visit planner. You can now process multiple visits directly in the Orbit Planner without having to use "Run All Tools" button.

If you run into memory problems

If you have been editing for a while and all of the sudden every click takes much longer you are probably having a memory problem. Click on Help>Show Memory Monitor. Click on the "GC" (garbage collect) button at the bottom of the window a couple of times. You should then save your program. For a fuller discussion please see the APT Memory Issues page.