Dispatcher Settings

On the main window of the Scheduler engine, right hand side, are a number of settings for the dispatcher. These settings allow you to control the behavior of the dispatcher. This adjusts the way that Scheduler chooses the "best" plan to start next.

Mode Buttons

The top three radio buttons set the mode of the dispatcher. When you have more eligible requests than can be handled in the night ('oversubscribed"), these modes will strongly affect how the dispatcher decides what to do next, and therefore which Plans will be run. For an undersubscribed night, all targets will generally be acquired. Your choices are:

• Prefer Meridian - Targets nearest to the meridian will be chosen first. This may result in western and eastern targets being skipped.
• Prefer West - Western-most targets will be chosen first. This may result in meridian and eastern targets being skipped.
• Custom - Efficiency function coefficients may be set manually via editing the preferences file. This allows complete flexibility in adjusting the behavior of the dispatcher. This is, however, an advanced usage, and you should be prepared for extensive simulation and analysis before achieving your goals. For more info, see the Advanced Features page.

You may note that there is no "Prefer East" selection. Targets in the east will become more and more westward as days pass. The scheduler is designed to get the targets that are most important, the western ones, since they are the first to become unobservable on succeeding days.

Option checkboxes

The 4 checkboxes below the mode selectors are enabled only when using one of the two standard modes. They control additional factors that the dispatcher takes into account when choosing the "best" plan to start. Unchecking the box removes the corresponding factor from the decision process (except Ignore Priority, which works the opposite way).

• Prefer Short Slews - Targets closest to the telescope's current position are given preference. This can improve efficiency by minimizing wasted time slewing. However it can cause "clustering" of targets in the sky.
• Avoid GEM Flip - Targets on the same side of the pier (German Equatorial Mounts) are given preference. This avoids wear and tear and wasted time thrashing about the meridian. Leave this off unless you have a GEM. You should turn it on if you have a GEM.
• Prefer Failed Plans - If a Plan fails (one of its Observations failed due to clouds, etc.), and it is later re-submitted, it will have a retry-count greater than one. Turning on this option will give preference to plans which have failed then have been resubmitted.
• Ignore Priority - This causes the dispatcher to ignore Plan priority. It is most useful in testing, where priorities can obscure behavior changes resulting from adjusting Custom efficiency weights. Don't check this box unless you want to render priorities inoperative.