D..15 January, 2005 (AE Version 3.65)

• AE now requires CIAO 3.2. The format of ardlib.par has changed in CIAO 3.2.

• AE now requires the ``05jan25'' or later version of the TARA package.

• AE now requires a version of the IDL Astronomy User's Library that includes the change made to create_struct.pro on 08-Sep-2004.

• AE now creates a scratch parameter file directory for CIAO and HEASOFT tools, and forces the observer to explicitly specify the ardlib.par file for the observation (§7.9). This helps remind the observer that ardlib must be properly configured, and simplifies running multiple instances of AE.

• Added new source validity statistic PROB_NO_SOURCE to source.photometry table (§5.10).

• Added the AE ``driver'' programs ae_make_catalog and ae_standard_extraction to simplify the AE recipe. Revised the AE usage discussion in §3 and §7.1.

• Significantly revised the example recipe.

• Added the AE ``driver'' program ae_optimal_masking to improve source masking (§7.13).

• Added option MODEL_CHANGES_FILENAME to FIT_SPECTRA stage (§7.18) to allow fitting scripts to be customized on a source by source basis (e.g. to freeze a fit parameter to a different value for each source).

• Added option /SKIP_CORRELATION to CHECK_POSITIONS stage (§7.17).

• Optional keyword OBS_REGION_FILENAME moved from EXTRACT_EVENTS/EXTRACT_SPECTRA stages to CONSTRUCT_REGIONS Stage (§7.6).