VOTable Utility

VOTable utility converts data in VOTable format to other file-formats: FITS (processing), CSV (spreadsheet), plain text (processing), SVG (charts), XML (XUL).

Command

Description

VOTable file format is a kind of XML format. One is used as the primary data exchange format within Virtual Observatory. VOTable file is a text file with defined marks. The marks provides a tool for describe of a structure of data (tables, for example). VOTable format is designed for inter-process communication (in client — server model).

This routine is a converter between VOTable format provided by Virtual Observatory (XML with any defined structure) and another formats:

• The primary goal is conversion of VO catalogues to FITS tables
• Conversion to the plain text format can be very useful for any additional processing by using conventional tools (text editors, utilities like awk, etc.).
• Conversion to CSV format can be useful for users familiar with a spreadsheet-like utilities.
• VOTable as a XML can be easy converted to SVG (another XML based file format) for drawing. Specially, it is for drawing of star charts.

Input And Output

On input, a single file is expected.

On output, a single file of various type is created.

Parameters

-pt

select projection: gnomonic

-pa

Right Ascension of projection centre [deg]

-pd

Declination of projection centre [deg]

-pw

Canvas width [pix]

-ph

Canvas height [pix]

-ps

scale of projection [pix/deg]

-ml

magnitude limit

--col-mag

magnitude field key

--col-ra

Right Ascension field key

--col-dec

Declination field key

--type

type of output file: fits,csv,txt,svg,xml

See Common options for input/output filenames.

Examples

As a preparation step, download VOTable from Virtual Observatory (use cone search):

A text table:

FITS table:

$ munipack votable -o subaru.fits  pleiades.xml
$ xmunipack subaru.fits

CSV table:

$ munipack votable -o pleiades.csv pleiades.xml
$ gnumeric pleiades.csv

See Also

Virtual Observatory, Star Charts, Common options