NAME

       Astro::FITS::Header::NDF - Manipulate FITS headers from NDF files

SYNOPSIS

         use Astro::FITS::Header::NDF;

         $hdr = new Astro::FITS::Header::NDF( Cards => \@cards );
         $hdr = new Astro::FITS::Header::NDF( Items => \@items );
         $hdr = new Astro::FITS::Header::NDF( ndfID => $indf );
         $hdr = new Astro::FITS::Header::NDF( File => $file );

         $hdr->writehdr( $indf );
         $hdr->writehdr( File => $file );

DESCRIPTION

       This module makes use of the Starlink NDF module to read and write to an NDF FITS
       extension or to a ".HEADER" block in an HDS container file.  If the file is found to be an
       HDS container containing multiple NDFs at the top level, either the .HEADER NDF or the
       first NDF containing a FITS header is deemed to be the primary header, and all other
       headers a subsidiary headers indexed by the name of the NDF in the container.

       It stores information about a FITS header block in an object. Takes an hash as an
       argument, with either an array reference pointing to an array of FITS header cards, array
       of "Astro::FITS::Header::Item" objects, or a filename, or (alternatively) an NDF
       identifier.

       Currently, subheader support is readonly.

METHODS

       configure
           Reads a FITS header from an NDF.

             $hdr->configure( Cards => \@cards );
             $hdr->configure( ndfID => $indf );
             $hdr->configure( File => $filename );

           Accepts an NDF identifier or a filename. If both "ndfID" and "File" keys exist,
           "ndfID" key takes priority.

           If the file is actually an HDS container, an attempt will be made to read a ".HEADER"
           NDF inside that container (this is the standard layout of UKIRT (and some JCMT) data
           files). If an extension is specified explicitly (that is not ".sdf") that path is
           treated as an explicit path to an NDF. If an explicit path is specified no attempt is
           made to locate other NDFs in the HDS container.

           If the NDF can be opened successfully but there is no .MORE.FITS extension, an empty
           header is returned rather than throwing an error.

       writehdr
           Write a FITS header to an NDF.

             $hdr->writehdr( ndfID => $indf );
             $hdr->writehdr( File => $file );

           Accepts an NDF identifier or a filename.  If both "ndfID" and "File" keys exist,
           "ndfID" key takes priority.

           Throws an exception (croaks) on error.

NOTES

       This module requires the Starlink NDF module.

SEE ALSO

       NDF, Astro::FITS::Header, Astro::FITS::Header::Item Astro::FITS::Header::CFITSIO

AUTHORS

       Tim Jenness <t.jenness@jach.hawaii.edu>, Alasdair Allan <aa@astro.ex.ac.uk>, Brad Cavanagh
       <b.cavanagh@jach.hawaii.edu>

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (C) 2008-2009 Science & Technology Facilities Council.  Copyright (C) 2001-2005
       Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council.  All Rights Reserved.

       This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of
       the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
       version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

       This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
       without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
       See the GNU General Public License for more details.

       You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program;
       if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place,Suite 330, Boston, MA
       02111-1307, USA