Prop is a utility for providing the environment for programs ported from Unix/Linux to work comfortably in a Windows environment. Prop provides easily tailorable environment variables which were provided by the non-PC login procedures, and also simplifies directing output to standard WINDOWS printers. Prop enables you to group together specific sets of commonly used programs in a single window ready for launching. Prop also offers quick access to view data and output files.

Although originally intended for treating data from ILL experiments the program is quite general and other suites can easily make use of mechanisms for managing environment variables.

Features:

• Quick access to comonly used programs
• Easily customizable for specific program sets
• Establishes a full set of environment variables, and enables editing/additions
• Provides simple means of examining and printing results
• Can be switched easily from one program set to another
• Initiates a graphical environment for PGPLOT programs

Version Details:

• Version 2.4
• Released June 2013
• Expect Version: 5.21

The script of prop.tcl has been modified to improve resilience of the program and a new installer mechanism has been introduced. The latter uses the Microsoft msiexec standard installer. The new version is installed in "Program Files" as other programs. It is removed using the standard add/remove software control in "START/Settings". This version is still compatible with existing stored job profiles.

To check for updates and download the most recent version of Prop please consult the following URL:

ftp://ftp.ill.fr/pub/cs/prop

Directory Structure:

The environment Prop creates is dependent on directories you specify; these comprise of:

Work Directory:
This is where the program will write out its results and where prop stores the current project file, projectname.pro

Raw data directory:
Since data are often permanently archived this directory corresponds either to the archive or a local copy (which could be subsequently deleted safely after use).

Program Directory:
This is where your full set of programs can be found, they should be stored in a single directory with no sub folders. It is also here where the files env.pro and excl.pro sit if you wish to use prop's advanced features.

NOTE: FILENAMES
Unix filenames do not usually include spaces. While Prop will master a wide range of pathnames, to avoid problems with ex-Unix programs it is recommended that you avoid using spaces in your directory names, and do not use excessively long filenames. Prop uses forward slash directory path separators internally, and usually converts backslashes automatically. Using the directory browser for the Work, Raw data, and Program directories ensures that Prop will use the correct form for these root path names.