To run the aperture program, log onto the Linux computer at the X17B1 work area, enter APERTURE. If the program doesn't load, make sure the X17 CAMAC (located above the desk) is on. Also, before you use the program, turn on the aperture power switches, located in the right-hand NIM-bin above the computer. Be sure to turn them off after you are finished.
The first four motors are "real" motors; they control each half of the aperture directly. The second group of four are "virtual" motors; moving one of them will move two real motors. Each motor can be identified with the smallest unique letter: T, B, L, R, HW, HP, VW, and VP. The primary commands you need are MR (move relative) and MA (move absolute). For example, to increase the height ("Vertical Width") by 0.1 mm, enter
MR VW,0.1
To move the horizontal position to 0, enter
MA HP,0
If you need to reset the position of any of the motors, real or virtual, use the command:
SET (motor name)/POS=(value)
For example, SET HW/POS=0 will zero the horizontal width. You shouldn't need to do this; do so only under extreme duress and enter the changes in the brown beam line logbook!!!
If you are just beginning, you may want to "home" the apertures. The Home program (which is an IDL program; see the X17B1 Beamline Manual for details) will drive the apertures to predefined "home" positions, which results in a 2 mm high by 5 mm wide beam. You can then reduce it to about 1 mm x 1 mm if you wish.