Hierarchical (Tree) Editor

Along the left side of the user interface is a window which provides a view of the proposal similar to a tree format file browser used in graphical interfaces such as Solaris Desktop File Manager, Windows Explorer, and Mac Finder. Within this area you can view, create, delete, and copy elements of proposals (e.g., observations). Items listed in the Hierachical Editor that are incompletely or improperly specified are marked with a red x. You can expand the hierarchy by clicking on the key symbol just to the left of the element name (which will now point vertically). You specify the proposal element to be edited (in the Form or Spreadsheet Editors) by clicking on the element name (which then becomes highlighted). Some tools, such as the Spreadsheet Editors, allow more than one proposal element to be selected for editing. This selection is accomplished by holding down the Control key and clicking on desired items. Contiguous items can be selected by clicking on the first item and then by holding down the Shift key and clicking on last item; see the movie on GUI editting tips for more on using the Tree Editor.

Mini-Spreadsheet

Along the bottom of the interface is an editor which displays the details of the proposal element selected for editing in the Hierarchical Editor. It provides a convenient means for editing properties of proposal elements while the output of another tool is visible. For example, you can edit an exposure time in the Mini-Spreadsheet while the Orbit Planner output is visible. This tool may not be visible to you when you start the APT and can be made visible by dragging the bottom border of the tool display area upwards. The information in the Mini-Spreadsheet can generally be edited directly by clicking on the desired field, although in some cases a window will pop up to allow entry of information (e.g., if the field can contain a large amount of text, such as the abstract). The Mini-Spreadsheet marks improper items by red highlighting. Note that you can change the order of the columns by placing the cursor on the column title and dragging the entry, and the size of the columns by placing the cursor on the right-hand boundary and dragging. A single click on the column title will enable a sort mode for the column; subsequent clicks will sort in ascending and descending order.

Back Navigation

The back navigation button will take you one item backwards in the proposal tree (e.g. from the CoI page to the PI page).

New Entity - Navigation Bar

This button adds a template for a new entity in your proposal that can be edited. The exact set of entities you can create depends on what is being edited.

Forward Navigation

The forward navigation button will take you one item forwards in the proposal tree (e.g. from the PI page to the CoI page).

Roadmap Link

This button provides a link to the Roadmap web page. This page gives a step-by-step guide to writing, processing and submitting your proposal, along with links to the relevant documentation for each step.

Context-sensitive Help

This button activates the context sensitive help feature, and is only active from the Form Editor. When active, click on any field in the Form Editor and the appropriate section(s) in the Phase I or Phase II Instructions will be displayed. For manuals and more general information, click on Help menu.

Processing Wheel

When active, the spinning wheel shows that processing is on-going.

Stop Processing

This option will halt processing of the Orbit Planner (Phase II only).

What's New

This button provides a description of major new features or changes for the cycle.

Run All Tools

This option will process all visits, or selected visits, through the Orbit Planner and Visit Planner in a batch mode (Phase II only).

New Entity - Tool bar

This button adds a template for a new 'entity' in your proposal that can be edited. The exact set of entities you can create depends on what is being edited.

Phase I to Phase II conversion

This tool allows you to switch back and forth between the Phase I and Phase II proposal format. When you initially go from Phase I to Phase II, certain fields are automatically populated in the blank Phase II template (e.g. Title, abstract, investigators). You are also given the option of copying your Phase I coordinates, although the accuracy required in Phase II is substantially greater than that required in Phase I. Therefore, you many need to update your coordinates prior to submitting your Phase II.

New Proposal

This button will create a new proposal. Use this only if you are beginning a new proposal. You should not need to use this tool in Phase II, since you will start with your existing Phase I proposal.

File Menu

The File menu provides functions for file manipulation, such as opening and closing files, retrieving files from STScI, and import/export capabilities.

Edit Menu

The Edit menu provides functions for editting items in the Hierarchical (Tree) editor, such as cut, copy, and duplicate. Note that there is a movie about using these edit functions.

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Tools menu

The Tools menu allows you to select the tool you wish to use. This menu is an alternative to using the tool buttons.

Current Tool Menu

The Current Tool menu contains functions for several tools that should only be used in consultation with your Program Coordinator.

Help Menu

The Help menu provides access to documents relevant to proposal preparation (these include the Call for Proposals, HST Primer, Phase II Instructions, the Instrument Handbooks). There is also help available for Phase I/Director's Discretionary proposals, and for Phase II-specific topics (e.g. Running the Orbit Planner).

Form Editor

The main proposal editing tool, which presents a single proposal element in a form. Note that you can use context-sensitive help on fields in this Editor.

Spreadsheet Editor

An alternate editing tool, which presents data on multiple proposal elements in a tabular format.

Orbit Planner

This tool is used to plan each orbit's activities. The tool checks and displays the structure of each orbit in the visit (Phase II only; see movie).

Visit Planner

This tool is used to check the schedulability of each visit. The tool checks and displays constraints on a proposal, and calculates observing windows (see movie).

Bright Object Tool

This tool is used to check for any field objects that are too bright to be safely observed by the ACS/SBC, STIS/MAMAs, or COS detectors. It can also be used to check for field objects (for all detectors) that could impact the science quality of the data (e.g. objects that could saturate, bleed, etc.). Use of this tool is not mandatory, but is good sanity check. Note that there is a movie describing how to use the tool.

View in Aladin Tool

This tool displays exposure apertures against an image of the sky. It is useful for target and/or coordinate confirmation. Use of this tool is not mandatory, but is good sanity check. Note that there is a movie describing how to use the tool.

PDF Preview

This tool provides a view of the proposal in PDF format. In Phase I, the PDF is a combination of the information entered into APT and the attached scientific justification. In Phase II, the PDF is a combination of an exposure summary and the Orbit Planner graphical output.

Errors and Warnings Report

This tool presents a list of errors or warnings for the proposal (see movie).

Submit Tool

This tool sends proposal and associated files (in Phase I) to STScI after full processing.

Diagnostics Area

This area displays the number of current diagnotics. By clicking on this region, you will get the Diagnostics Browser, which provides a detailed description of all errors and warnings in the proposal.