PDG Encoding Tutorial

Introduction

This tutorial should be followed using the tutorial instance of PdgWorkspace that runs with a throw-away copy of the PDG database. This allows entering mock data without any danger of it showing up in the production database.

This tutorial has several parts that should be followed in the order shown on this page, because some steps use the input from previous steps.

If you're uncertain about how to do certain operations, you should be able to find out the necessary details using the HowTo recipes on the encoding tool help page.

Part 1: Basics and navigation

1. Log in to the tutorial instance of PdgWorkspace at ???. Your login information (e-mail address or username (if set), and password) is the same as for the production version. You can tell that you're not using the production version by the database information displayed in red beneath the PdgWorkspace logo.
2. If you have multiple roles in PDG, you may have access to multiple tools in PdgWorkspace. If the Encoding Tool is not selected, click on "Encoding" in the top line.
3. Now that you are in the encoding tool, can you tell what papers you need to work on? What papers will you have to work on later, after someone else has done their part? What papers have you completed already? (Hint: use the task filter)
4. If you're an overseer, how can you see the tasks you're encoder is currently supposed to work on?
5. Choose any one of your papers (in either current or future tasks). How can you get to the actual paper?
6. Click on the task name in the first column to enter the detailed screens about this paper, where you can enter, update and eventually sign off the detailed information encoded for this paper.
7. Return to the overall task list
8. To see the latest information on any paper - even one that you're not responsible for, use "Show tasks for paper" in the task filter. Find another paper and click on the corresponding task. Note how you're not allowed to update that paper's information if you're not responsible for its encoding.

Part 2: Messaging

The encoding tool includes a messaging system that should be used whenever possible instead of e-mailing e.g. the editor or your overseer. Messages are coupled to the corresponding tasks. You will get a much faster response from the editor if you use the messaging system rather than e-mail.

1. Choose a task and enter a message to the overseer (if you're an encoder) or encoder (if you're an overseer) for this paper.
2. Enter another message with a request to the editor.
3. Return to the task list and note where the number of messages is shown. Can you directly display the messages from the task list?

Part 3: Assignment of papers (for teams)

For some particles, the same person is always the encoder and the another person is always the overseer. In this case, the system directly assigns each paper to the correct person. You will see this assignment in the task list. If you're in this case, you may skip to Part 4.

If you are working in a team of encoders and/or overseers where different people may take on a different role for each paper, do the following steps:

1. Note how in the task list most of your papers/task are shown as unassigned.
2. ...

Part 4: Encode a measurement

Part 5: Add a new datablock

Part 6: Add a new branching ratio including a decay mode that hasn't been encoded before

-- Main.beringer - 2016-10-05