User manual

Generate a “clickable” map

When save the Aladin view, the format “PNG+LINK” is offered. This format is dedicated

to the creation of " Web clickable maps”. The view is save with the classical PNG format.

A second file is generated simultaneously with a “.lnk” extension. It contains an ASCII

format that is very simple for clickable objects present in the view, their position in the

PNG image and a URL to access to the whole associated record. Both files are located on

a web server and will let you build easily a clickable map. For more details on the

method, the format and implementation examples, please go to: http://aladin.u-

strasbg.fr/java/FAQ.htx#Map

5.14User preferences

Menu: Edit => User preferences …

Aladin gathers in the preference window, most of the configuration parameters specific

to the user. You can hence define the following elements:

 The language for the graphical interface (english, french, italian,);

 The starting mode for Aladin, e.g. “astronomer” for professionals, “undergraduate” for

scholars or a simple dynamic visualisation window (“preview”) (see5.1.2).

 The default directory where Aladin will look for or save local files;

 The default display mode for pixels (inverted video, colour table, …);

 When loading an ASCII table, the character used to separate columns (TAB, ‘ ;’, …) ;

 Activation or not of dedicated filters (see 5.5 – filter usage);

 Translucence level for instrumental fields (see 5.2.6 - FoV) by default;

 The default image server (when querying with a simple astronomical object name);

 The default web site is the server directory (see 5.2.1 – the server selector), i.e. the

machine that will give at each start the list of available servers, the parameters to

give, … ;

 According to your computer configuration, your preferred browser for the web;

The preference window lets you also:

 Create your own translation language (see below);

 Reload during the session all the data server definitions, which will also reinitialise

the internal cash for Aladin metadata.

Some parameters are not tunable, but can be simply kept from one session to the other,

for example the size and location of the Aladin window, the Reticle type (large or

classical), the activation or not of info-bubbles on sources …

Tip: The configuration parameters are kept in simple ASCII file “Aladin.conf” that can

be edited in the “.aladin” directory on your home directory ($HOME en unix,

\Document and Settings\YourName in Windows). To reinitialize the parameters to the

original configuration, you only need to delete this file.