Guide to the use of PACER, the data retrieval and update system for the National Coal Resources Data System (NCRDS)

Abstract

The Prog r dm to Analyze Coal Enerqy Resources (PACER) was develooed to extend the capability of the Geological Retrieval and Synopsis Program (GRASP) ana to provide interactive access to the National Coal Resources Data System (i\i C R D S ) data base files, PACER Capaoilities PACER provides the capability to select and display all or a part of the delta stored in r j C R D S. PACER commands are available to request selection* retrieval* display* and statistical analysis of the data. The user may define new data items based on existing data or specify that the requested data be written to disk rather than displayed on the terminal. User assistance commands are also available if questions arise during the use of the PACER system. The typical use of PACER would include selecting a PACER data base* specifying the criteria for the selection of data/ and requesting the display of the selected data/ e.g. the commands COND* LOGI* SEAR/ LIST. Other uses are illustrated in the description of the rest of the PACER commands Organization of the PACER User Manual This manual provides a narrative of PACER as applied to the NCRDS system.Since PACER is an adaptation and extension of GRASP this manual has drawn heavily from the GRASP USER MANUAL submitted by Jones/ Bowen and Botbo I.The organization of tnis manual follows their excellent precedent. Use of the system for selection and display of data is covered first since this is this is the primary function of PACER. This is followed by a section on data oase structure and requirements and a section showing examples of using PACER as it exists on the U.S.G.S, Honey we II Multics system. Note:The /lultics system operates in lower case. Capital letters are used in this manual only for clarity. Note:Since the NCK'DS -PACER system is a dynamic one* users are notified of changes wnen they occur via an information segment printed when enter-PACER User Manual * i ng PAChR.A c k n o w I e d q e m e n t s PACER has been developed under the direction of the NCKDS-Branch of Coal Resources.The primary programmers have been A.C. ulson/ A.L. /led I in/ R.J. Smith/ D.Blake and S, C row ley.

A microcomputer program utilizing a stratigraphic coding system for data entry into the National Coal Resources Data System

“…If the output file is to be used only for data submission to NCRDS, the codes plus the associated data items can be updated using the NCRDS program, PACER (Krohn et al, 1982).…”

TRIANGL; a ternary diagram program on the PRIME computer

“…The authors have used data from the USCHEM and ICHEM chemical databases of NCRDS. For further documentation please refer to the National Coal Resources Data System (NCRDS) users manual and Krohn et al (1982) .…”