NED Introduces a New X-Based Interface

The NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) invites you to test and comment on its new user interface. This interface represents a new design with two modes, one that addresses X-window servers, and one that addresses character-only terminals emulating the VT-100 standard. The new design offers the potential for greater growth through the addition of new functions and by more efficient data presentation to the user, especially through graphic capabilities, well illustrated by the new SKYPLOT function.

Though different in design, the new interface carries forward the terminology and concepts of the old NED interface, making the transition easy for experienced users. The VT-100 mode is maintained to keep NED accessible to the broadest possible audience, in particular users with slow network links; the VT-100 mode should always be faster than the X-windows mode. Both modes use the same underlying software, so there should be no difference to the user, except that the graphic functions are not available to the VT-100 user.

Apart from the new interface, NED has continued to grow, in particular with the addition of over a hundred thousand detailed photometric measurements taken from catalogs and the current literature, and some fifty thousand bibliographic reference pointers since last Spring.

You may access the NED service from any xterm window on a workstation. A connection is obtained with the command: telnet ned.ipac.caltech.edu. Once connected to the NED platform and prompted for a login:, please respond with NED; no password is needed.

The system is self-documenting, especially through the HELP utilities. First-time users may want to read the TUTORIAL under HELP in the Main Menu screen. The COMMENTS option in NED may be used to leave messages or suggestions. In case of problems that require special attention, please contact George Helou, Barry Madore or Marion Schmitz at (818) 397-9594.