FAQ and Known Issues

On this page, we provide answers for frequently asked questions as well as a list of known bugs and possible workarounds. If you have any further questions or discover a new bug, please contact us via the ALMA Helpdesk.

 

Which browsers is the web-based OT supported on?

The web-based OT is supported on the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox and Safari.

 

How does the autosave function work?

Edits in the Project Name, Abstract, and Duplicate Observation fields are saved when the user stops typing for 500 ms. In all other fields, the input is saved once the user leaves the field. Any changes to the proposal thus overwrite the previous version.

 

Can I make a copy of my proposal?

Yes, you can make a copy of either your draft proposal, your submitted proposal or your submitted proposal with unsubmitted changes. The copy will then have draft status.

 

Who has access to my proposals?

Users who have been added as Co-I or Co-PI (for Large Programs) to a proposal have writing access, even if the proposal is still in a draft status. The PI keeps full responsibility for the validity of the information provided in the proposal and can solely submit the proposal. Concurrent editing is not supported and can lead to frequent reloading of the project if a newer version is detected in the staging area.

 

How do I make a Band 2 continuum setup with a non-default sky frequency?

Currently, the wider Band 2 setup is only implemented for the default sky frequency. If you want to take advantage of the broader IF range of Band 2 for continuum observations, please set up the observations with a spectral line setup, choosing the broad correlator modes for all spectral windows.

 

Can I save my project to disk?

No, the web-based OT does not allow you to save your project as a file on your computer.

 

Does the web-based OT have an Undo function?

No, the web-based OT does not have a project-level Undo function. In other words, any edits to the project are immediately overwriting the current version of the proposal. However, if the proposal was already submitted, there is always the option to revert the proposal to the last submitted version. If you would like to keep the current version, but try out some modifications, you have two options:

1. Make a copy of the whole proposal (by using “Open project as new proposal”) and work on the copy.
2. Make a copy of the Science Goal that you want to try modifying and work on the copy.

 

Do I need to be online to work on my proposal?

Yes. There is no option to work on your proposal while offline.

 

Can I load an .aot file generated by the desktop-based OT in a previous cycle into the web-based OT?

No. However, you can load proposals from previous cycles if they were submitted (i.e. if they are in the archive).

Known issues

Issue	Description	Resolved?	Deployed?
C13_001	Band 2 Single Continuum: The wider separation of continuum spectral windows possible for Band 2 is currently only implemented for the default sky frequency. If a user wants to take advantage of the broader IF range of Band 2 for a continuum setup, then the spectral line mode should be used, choosing the broad correlator modes for all spectral windows.
C13_002	Field setup - Rectangular Field: If a source is set up with Target Type “1 Rectangular Field”, the observations require the TP array and then the source list is replaced from a file, the validation error “When TP is scheduled, non-mosaic targets must only have a single pointing” is raised. In this case, reset the Target Type to “1 Rectangular Field” for each source in the Field Setup.
C13_003	Field Setup - Pointings: Switching between Rectangular and Individual pointings as well as coordinate systems can lead to large numbers of the pointings. If that is the case, please reset the pointings to the desired values.