ABU

Astro-graph Building Utility (ABU) is a tool for visualizing astronomical data.
ABU is developed in JAVA, and acts on data available in the VOTable format.  ABU is available as
a stand alone version, which is to be installed on the user's machine, or as a web-based version
fully integrated with the VizieR database.  

ABU uses Ptplot 5.2, a 2D data plotter and histogram tool implemented in Java. Ptplot has
been developed at Electrical Engineering & Computer Science  department at the 
University of California, Berkeley and is available and is available in the public domain
(http://ptolemy.eecs.berkeley.edu/).  ABU is developed as an applet, and a Java plugin is
required to view it in a browser.  

ABU can be invoked by selecting the Plot(VOPlot) option while using VizieR. 

ABU has been developed as a part of the Virtual Observatory - India initiative by 
Persistent Systems (PSPL) and the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
(IUCAA).  

The Web Based Version of ABU

VizieR, developed by C.. D.. S.. (CDS, link ) provides access to the most complete library of 
published astronomical catalogues and 
data tables available on line, organized in a
self-documented database. Query tools allow the user to select relevant data 
tables and to extract and format records matching given criteria.
Specific care has been taken for optimizing access to some very large 
catalogues such as Guide Star Catalogs, the USNO-A2, 2MASS.

ABU is fully integrated with VizieR, and it  allows the user to 
visualize data extracted from any of the catalogues from the database.  Presently it
can be used to display the distribution, as a histogram, of any data field,
or to plot two data fields against each other.  Simple transformations can be applied to
the extracted data. The visualized portion can be just a  dynamically selected
subset of extracted data.  Some simple statistical information about the selected data can be
obtained.   

The Standalone Version of ABU

This has the same functionality as the wbb-based version.  Tha packgae can be used to plot
VOTable data, available locally or ina  remote location.  The package cab  is available at
here alongwith Sample Plots here and a User Guide here.

Please send comments and questions to <voindia@vo.iucaa.ernet.in>.
Click here for Release Notes and disclaimer information.

Future Development

ABU is under continuous development, and versions to be released in the future will 
more sophisticated graphics, higher dimensional plots, advanced statisitcal functions.