QuickStart Instructions for the Auto QA Browser - Run 5

• Go to the STAR Computing QA home page (from the STAR Home Page select "Computing" in the left panel, then select "QA" or go directly to the QA home page) and open the Auto QA browser by clicking on the "Offline Automated QA Browser" button at the top of the page.
• If the browser fails to open contact the QA Experts ASAP. If you cannot get to the Auto QA browser then you are S.O.L.
• Enter your RCF login name.
• Generally you should follow the menu on page 2. Buttons 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 direct you to pages where Real Data Production jobs, Nightly Test Production jobs, and Fast Offline Production jobs can be selected.
• For Real Data Production (Button 1.1) you will typically want to filter out previously reviewed jobs and select all other run numbers for production within the past 24 hours. Queries can be made based on QA status, run number or date, and software production version. At a minimum please examine QA histograms for each trigger set for at least one file sequence per run number. Do more if you have time.
• For the Fast Offline Production QA (Button 3.1) select the most recent run numbers which have not yet been QA reviewed. Other queries are available as explained above. At a minimum please examine QA histograms for each trigger set for at least one file sequence per run number. Do more if you have time.
• Nightly Monte Carlo Test Production (Button 2.1) should be examined for the preceding night's test runs if you have time. Queries can be made based on geometry, event type, date, and/or QA status. For the Nightly Monte Carlo Tests you will typically want to select "any" geometry and event type done in the past 24 hours which have not been QA examined. Try to examine all Nightly Monte Carlo QA jobs since each is unique. Examination of the Nightly MC QA is a secondary priority.
• Once you select a job to examine the QA shift or full set of QA histograms may be selected. Generally the smaller, "QA shift" set of histograms will suffice however you may need to examine the full set of QA plots in order to better diagnos a suspected problem. The postscript files are generated on the fly and displayed on your terminal. Generally it is best to have the QA shift report web form open in a different window so that you can fill it out as you check each set of histograms, job-by-job. Please follow the instructions on the QA shift web forms and supply all requested information about yourself and the jobs you have examined.
• Sample QA shift histograms for Au+Au from simulations are in the Description of Offline QA Shift Histograms for Run 4). Reference QA histograms for Run 5 Cu+Cu will be available as soon as stable Fast Offline Production is available, probably by about mid December 2004. You should become familiar with the QA Shift plots and have some idea of what to expect before taking your shift.
• Be sure to select the "MARK" button on the page for each job examined and reported.
• After completing all the listed jobs add whatever comments you think are useful and appropriate to the QA Shift Report for the "Real Data Production" jobs. Be sure to include a useful summary for Fast Offline Data that will be helpful to the shift crew, i.e. report any changes from the previous day including new problems or resolution of old problems.
• MOST IMPORTANT!!! If you suspect any problem with the detector(s), calibrations, reconstruction or production you must contact the appropriate expert(s). This is the basic reason for having the Auto QA system and these dedicated shifts. The experts may be contacted via either the QA Experts or Other Experts web pages.
• Complete your QA Shift Report and submit it. The ASCII text version will be emailed to 'starqa-hn'.
• Links to QA documentation, contacts, the Rcas/LSF monitor, Online Run Log, and the QA shift report web form are available from Page 2.
• Finally, you are done for the day; go get some rest!