Catacal

This document describes CATACAL, a box-car averager program for data acquisition and analysis on a PDP-12A computer. Designed for analytical instruments, it captures analog data, averages it, and displays the results on an oscilloscope, supporting hard copy output via an X-Y recorder.

CATACAL provides a wide array of commands for interpreting and manipulating data, including:

• Input/Output: Reading and writing data from LINCtape, paper tape, or keyboard, as well as plotting data.
• Processing: Calculating Lorentzian/Gaussian spectra, altering parameters, copying data between channels, inverting X and Y axes, scaling and multiplying data, smoothing with an 11-point digital filter, setting cursors for data selection, integrating, stripping baselines, differentiating, adding and subtracting data from different channels, and compressing data.
• Special Functions: Modifying core locations (ODT-like), calibrating the AVERAGER's timing, restarting the program, and exiting to the DIAL Editor.

The program requires a minimum configuration of a PDP-12A computer with 8K of core memory and a KW12A clock. A faster version, CATACALE, is available for systems with an Extended Arithmetic Element (EAE). The handbook details initial starting procedures, data input methods, and provides an example workflow. It also includes a command summary and instructions for assembling CATACAL from source.