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GUI Functions

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Johnny edited this page Mar 9, 2026 · 3 revisions

Table of Contents

Quick reference for main functions

(Definitions and instructions are also available by hovering over GUI elements.)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Function
Ctrl+S (or Cmd+S on Mac) Save spectrum parameters
Ctrl+L (or Cmd+L on Mac) Load spectrum parameters
F Toggle full spectrum view on/off
Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) Open full spectrum in a new window
Ctrl+Shift+F (or Cmd+Shift+F on Mac) Output full spectrum to PDF
L Toggle legend on/off
A Toggle atomic lines on/off
S Toggle saved lines on/off
M Toggle total model on/off
V Toggle the visibility of the currently selected molecule on/off
Shift+V Toggle the visibility of all loaded molecules on/off
↑ (Up Arrow) Select previous molecule in the list
↓ (Down Arrow) Select next molecule in the list
← (Left Arrow) Select previous spectrum in a loaded sample
→ (Right Arrow) Select next spectrum in a loaded sample

General functions

  • Selecting a line: By dragging a region in the top spectrum plot, the spectral region gets visualized in the bottom left plot with the addition of the individual transitions that dominate the emission; the strongest of these transitions is highlighted in orange and its properties are reported in the text box at the bottom left of the GUI. Other lines can be selected interactively in this plot and the population diagram by clicking on them; this feature allows users to explore and save (using the "Save Line" function) different lines within the same selected range.

  • Molecule Control Panel menu: Select which molecule is considered for the zoomed-in plot, the rotation diagram, the "Find Single Lines" function, and the "Save Line" function. You can also use the Up/Down arrow keys to cycle through molecules.

  • Thermal broadening: The thermal broadening is calculated and displayed for reference for each molecule at the temperature set by the user.

Manage Molecules Menu

  • HITRAN Query: Opens a window where you can select and download data for any molecules and isotopologues available from the current release on HITRAN.org; you need to run this first if you wish to use any molecule that is not part of the default list.

  • Default Molecules: Load the default list of molecules for the GUI; this list includes: H2O, OH, HCN, CO2, C2H2, CO.

  • Add Molecule: Loads a molecule into the list of available models to use in the GUI; the new molecule must already be downloaded from HITRAN and stored in a .par file in the folder "HITRANdata"; the user can add multiple models for the same molecule, as long as different labels are assigned (for instance to simultaneously plot different temperature components of a same molecule).

  • Export Models: Export model spectra that are currently in the GUI (whether active or not on the plot) in an output csv file in the folder iSLAT/MODELS. Allows selection of individual molecules, SUM of all models, or ALL molecules.

Spectrum Parameters Menu

  • Save Parameters (Ctrl+S): Save in an output file the current model parameters (temperature, radius, col. density, FWHM, broadening, RV shift) for each molecule currently loaded into the GUI, plus the distance and stellar RV set by users for any input spectrum; the output file will have the same name as the input observed spectrum plus "-molsave.csv" and will be stored in the folder iSLAT/SAVES.

  • Load Parameters (Ctrl+L): Loads previously saved model parameters from output file created with "Save Parameters" from the folder iSLAT/SAVES; it will use the input spectrum file name to identify the correct save file, so if you change the input spectrum name make sure you update the save filename too.

  • Output Full Spectrum (Ctrl+Shift+F): Saves the full spectral range as a single-page PDF file that can be directly included in a paper. This currently works only for JWST MIRI spectra.

  • Display Full Spectrum (Ctrl+F): Opens a new interactive window to view the full spectrum at the same time as the set of plots in the GUI. Useful for displaying on a second large screen. This currently works only for JWST MIRI spectra.

Spectral Functions Menu

  • Save Line: Save the currently selected line into an output csv file that will include all its line parameters; this function needs the definition of an output file in the box "Output Line Measurements" that will be saved in the LINESAVES folder.

  • Fit Line: Fit selected line with a Gaussian function using LMFIT; full fit results are reported on terminal, and a selection in the GUI text box.

  • Fit Saved Lines: This is the same as "Fit Line" but it fits in one shot all lines defined in the "Input Line List" and will save their measurements in the LINESAVES folder in the file defined in the "Output Line Measurements" box. The output will also include rotation diagram values for each line, which you can use to make a population diagram like the one in the GUI but with measured line fluxes.

  • Fit Saved Lines To Sample: Run the "Fit Saved Line" function over multiple spectra as selected by the user. The output will be the same as the "Fit Saved Line" function but for each spectrum. This function uses parallel processing for improved speed. When no input line list is specified, a selection dialog opens automatically.

  • Single Slab Fit: Fit single slab model for the molecule that is currently selected in the control panel menu; it needs a line flux measurement file as "Input Line List", which can be made by running the "Fit Saved Lines" function (see above).

  • Line De-Blender: Extract individual transitions from blended feature selected in the Line Inspection Plot; it uses LMFIT and Gaussian functions, where centroid and FWHM can be given a tolerance range in the GUI (the fit assumes line centroids from HITRAN for the selected molecule, and FWHM as fixed by the user in the FWHM box). The results are saved into /LINESAVES. This function is still under development and should be used with caution.

Toggle Buttons

  • Toggle Saved Lines: Marks in the plot all lines saved into the file selected in "Input Line List" (this list can be one of those provided with iSLAT, or one you make using the "Save Line" function). Works correctly in both regular and full spectrum view modes.

  • Toggle Atomic Lines: Marks and labels atomic lines from the list provided in the folder LINELISTS. Works correctly in both regular and full spectrum view modes.

  • Toggle Full Spectrum (F): Toggle the interactive full spectrum view on/off. When enabled, the main window displays an interactive view of the full spectrum, replacing the default zoomed-in plots. You can span-select on the full spectrum plot to switch back to the regular plots, which will be zoomed-in on that region.

  • Toggle Legend (L): Turn the legend on/off in the main plot.

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