.packages file for initializations when
you log in, but it also offers a more flexible way, using the command
package.
If a .packages file exist, it is read and interpreted by the
default .cshrc file. This, however, means that all initializations are made
in every shell the user starts, which may cost a considerable amount of time.
Another disadvantage is that this systems adds one more file to the jungle
of initialization files.
A more flexible method is to type the appropriate package
command in the window where you want to run the package, e.g.
package iraf will load all iraf initializations
in the current shell, after which you can just type cl
to start iraf.
Of course the user can also place a list of package commands
in his or her .cshrc or .settings files.
By the way, the number of packages that require a
login-time initialization has been greatly reduced; currently, only
gipsy, newstar and iraf need such
treatment.
When SfinxLite is installed, all existing .package entries that
are stil deemed useful are translated into package commands in
.cshrc. The .packages file is then renamed to .packages.old .