Interactive Data Language (IDL)
Latest Installed Version : 5.2
From Research Systems, Inc. IDL Homepage:
[The IDL software package is used for] data analysis, visualization, and application development. Features include: advanced image processing, interactive 2D and 3D graphics, insightful volume visualization, a high-level programming language, integrated mathematics and statistics, flexible data I/O, a cross-platform GUI toolkit, and versatile program linking tools.
Invoking
IDL is part of the idl module. This module is not loaded by default, so it is necessary to use the module load command to load it prior to invoking IDL. To start IDL:
- Type module load idl to make the IDL software available.
- Type idl in a command line to start IDL.
- The command idlde will start the IDL 5.2 development enviroment.
- The command insight will start IDL Insight (an easy to use graphical interface for the common IDL analyasis functions).
Getting Started
- The command idldemo or the IDL command demo will start a demo of IDL.
- The IDL command IDLInfo will list common help functions.
Getting Help
- The command idlhelp will start the IDL help system.
- The IDL command ? will search the IDL help system.
- Hardcopy IDL manuals are on reserve at the Fitz Engineering Library and Nieuwland Science Library.
- Research Systems, Inc maintains a corporate web site. The web site features summary of IDL's functionality and a large image gallery.
- Fanning Consulting has an extensive IDL support site with example programs and tips. Of particular interest is the Links to other IDL resources page which contains links to other IDL sites, many of which contain extensive libraries of ready-to-run IDL programs.
Installation
IDL is available from Notre Dame AFS space in the idl module. This module must be loaded by the user with the module load command.