McIDAS-X Learning Guide
Version 2020

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Getting Started - Starting and Exiting McIDAS

To start or stop a McIDAS session, follow the steps below:

1. Start McIDAS by entering the following in lowercase from the Unix prompt.

   Type:    mcidas or mcidas -config

   If this is the first time that you've run McIDAS, the mcidas command will display the McIDAS Configuration GUI.

2. Change the Configuration GUI so that your options match those listed below:
   • 6 image frames - each 480 lines by 640 elements

     Click:   the Image Window tab
     Click:   10 @ 480 x 640
     Click:   Modify
     Change the number of frames to 6

   • 2 MB memory allocated for creating additional image frames

     Click: the Miscellaneous tab
     Change the amount of memory allocated to 2 MB

   On the Introduction tab, click the Show this window each time McIDAS is started button to uncheck the box. The next time you start McIDAS, the McIDAS Configuration GUI will not show up. In the future, you can also display this GUI by typing mcidas -config. You can also change the display by editing the flags in the $HOME/.mcidasrc file by using a unix editor. For more information on the start-up flags, read the documentation within the .mcidasrc configuration file.

3. Save your changes and exit the configuration GUI.

   Click:   Save Settings

   A text warning will pop up telling you that a new version of .mcidasrc will be created with the current settings.

   Click:   OK
   Click:   Exit

4. Start McIDAS again. This time you will notice that mcidas started automatically without the configuration GUI.

   Type:    mcidas

   When the McIDAS GUI starts, a text warning will pop up telling you that the GUI is going to analyze your Server List and that it would take a while. Click "OK". A LOGON screen will then appear. You can just click "Cancel". We will update the GUI tables in the Graphical User Interface lesson.

5. Exit and restart McIDAS one last time with the configuration GUI to turn off the option to start the main GUI each time McIDAS is started. We will get back to the GUI in the Graphical User Interface lesson. Additionally, recheck the Show this window each time McIDAS is started box. The configuration GUI is a useful tool that will assist you in starting each McIDAS session as you go through the Learning Guide.

   Type:    EXIT
   Type:    mcidas

   Under the Introduction tab, click the Show this window each time McIDAS is started box, and under the Miscellaneous tab, click the Start GUI upon McIDAS startup box to deselect this option. Save your new settings and start McIDAS.

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