CODA

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PREX Main << HOW TOs << DAQ Doc Portal

Starting Parity DAQ CODA

Normally the Parity DAQ is already running on the apar account on adaq1 console. In that case you are using the ALL PREX config and just pressing StartRun and EndRun to do 1 hour runs.

Starting the GUI

Figure 1 - Main CODA window when first started.
Figure 2 - Icons at the top of the GUI, before loading a configuration.
Figure 3 - After loading the configuration, you can now press Configure.
Figure 4 - After configuring, you can now press Download, then Prestart.
Figure 5 - After a successful prestart, you can now press Go and then End.
Figure 6 - Run start window for changing info about a particular run.
Figure 7 - Run end window for entering notes about the run.
Figure 8 - CODA window after a successful run start.


  • Log in as apar@adaq1
  • In a terminal type startcoda
    • 4 xterms will appear (red, orange, green and yellow) as well as the main CODA window (see Figure 1)
    • CODA will automatically load the last configuration used. If you are ok with this then just go to Platform->Connect
  • To change the configuration, choose Configurations->Cool
    • Select the desired configuration from the dropdown list
    • Production running would be ALL_PREX
    • Once you have loaded a configuration, some of the icons (see descriptions below) will change from grey (see Figure 2) to green (Figures 3-5)
  • Press the configure icon (see Figure 3)
    • Warnings about waiting for a ROC can be ignored if it does not take too long to respond (~10s) and things are eventually successful
    • Error messages should be taken seriously
  • Press the Download icon (see Figure 4)


Starting a run

  • After starting the GUI and loading a configuration (see above)
  • Press the Prestart icon (see Figure 4)
    • As above, warnings about waiting for a ROC can be ignored (if it does not take too long to respond, ~10s) and things are eventually successful
    • Error messages should be taken seriously!
  • Press Go (see Figure 5)
    • a window will pop up where you can add notes (see Figure 6)
      • you can click the buttons to choose the data that goes to the runDB
      • you can also add a comment at the bottom if needed
      • Press "CLICK HERE TO ACCEPT AND START THE RUN"
    • the event counter should start incrementing (see Figure 8)
    • the event rates should be expected values
  • If you made a mistake, such as:
    • accidentally loading the wrong configuration
      • stop and restart the run
      • make a followup halog entry and refer to the run
      • take note of it in the run list in the shift summary
    • accidentally submitting the wrong notes in the notes window
      • you can let the run continue as long it is the correct configuration
      • make a followup halog entry and refer to the run
      • take note of it in the run list in the shift summary


Ending a run

  • Press End
    • A window should open so that you can add any needed comments (see Figure 7)
      • add any notes if necessary
      • Press "CLICK HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND EXIT"
    • if this was a normal end of the run, and it ends successfully
      • all the states should change to downloaded
      • the Prestart icon should be green
  • If the run ends because of a problem with CODA - see DAQ Troubleshooting

Description of the GUI

Numbered from the top left of the GUI window (see any of the Figures):

  1. Configure (tools) - this opens a drop-down menu to choose the configuration
  2. Download (floppy disk) - this loads the chosen configuration to the crates
  3. Prestart (triangle with point to right followed by ||) - this will prepare to start a run
  4. Go (triangle with point to right) - this starts a run
  5. End (square) - this ends a run
  6. Fast Start (double-triangle pointing right) tries to go through all the steps (can be used as long as things aren't changing)
  7. Reset (double-triangle pointing left) configured, but not downloaded (if you need to change configuration or GUI is wonky)
  8. Pause (two vertical bars) - pauses a run (rarely used - to quote Paul King "Nothing good can come of this.")

Starting Counting Mode DAQ CODA

"Counting mode" designate 2 independent DAQs for each of the two spectrometers (in contrast with parity DAQ which includes both). It shall be run after beam is set up for counting mode

  • For left HRS:
    • Run CODA (usual "startcoda" command) on adaq@adaq3;
    • default DAQ configuration should be LeftHRS;
  • For right HRS:
    • Run CODA (usual "startcoda" command) on adaq@adaq2;
    • default DAQ configuration should be Righthrs;

Starting Compton DAQ CODA

The information for this has been moved to [Compton DAQ HOWTO]. Consult there for how to start and stop runs.

Shift checklist

  • Latest run type (Test, Physics,..)
    • You can get this from the auto-logs of start and stop runs
    • It is also in the runstart and runend windows
  • Is the auto replay script running?
    • ask the analysis expert
  • Run added to shift summary?
    • keep up with the run list in your shift summary
  • Please attach the left/right HV and Scalers Screenshots to the shift report (do we need this)?
  • Time of beginning of latest run
    • This is at the top of the CODA Run Control Window
    • You also can get this from the auto-logs of start and stop runs
  • Latest run number
    • This is at the top of the CODA Run Control Window
    • You also can get this from the auto-logs of start and stop runs
  • Check the scalers (snapshot)

Next in checklist >> Beamtime accounting