FindDetectorsPar.cpp

/*WIKI* 

Identifies geometrical parameters of detectors and groups of detectors after the workspaces were grouped using ASCII or XML map file. 
Located in DataHangdling\Instrument\Detectors group and intended to be used as Child Algorithm of saveNXSPE algorithm, though can be deployed independently. Dynamic casting from iAlgorithm and accessors functions return calculated parameters to saveNXSPE when FindDetectorsPar used as the Child Algorithm of saveNXSPE procedure; 


Internal Child Algorithm identifies the group topology, namely if a group of detectors is arranged into a rectangular shape or in a ring. The algorithm calculates the geometrical centre of the detectors group and 6 points, located within +-1/4 width of the first detector of the group. If the centre or any of these points belong to the group of the detectors itself, the group assumed to have a rectangular topology, and if not -- the cylindrical one (ring).

Single detector defined to have the rectangular shape.

After identifying the topology, the parameters are calculated using formulas for angles in Cartesian or Cylindrical coordinate systems accordingly

== [[SavePAR|par]] and [[SavePHX|phx]] files ==

These files are ascii files which are used to describe the combined detectors geometry defined by map files. There are no reasons for you to use it unless this Mantid algorithm is working unsatisfactory for you. In this case you can quickly modify and use par file until this algorithm is modified. It is your responsibility then to assure the correspondence between mapped detectors and parameters in the par file. 

The par files are simple ASCII files with the following columns:

        1st column      sample-detector distance (m)
        2nd  "          scattering angle (deg)
        3rd  "          azimuthal angle (deg)   (west bank = 0 deg, north bank = -90 deg etc.)   (Note the reversed sign convention cf .phx files)
        4th  "          width  (m)
        5th  "          height (m)


When processed by this algorithm, 4th and 5th column are transformed into angular values.

[[SavePHX|Phx]] files are Mslice phx files, which do not contain secondary flight path. This path is calculated by the algorithm from the data in the instrument description and the angular values are calculated as in nxspe file. There are no reason to use phx files to build nxspe files at the moment unless you already have one and need to repeat your previous results with Mantid.


*WIKI*/
#include "MantidDataHandling/FindDetectorsPar.h"
#include "MantidGeometry/Objects/BoundingBox.h"
#include "MantidKernel/Logger.h"
#include "MantidKernel/ArrayProperty.h"
#include "MantidKernel/Exception.h"
#include "MantidKernel/MultiThreaded.h"
#include "MantidAPI/FileProperty.h"
#include "MantidGeometry/Instrument/DetectorGroup.h"
#include "MantidAPI/WorkspaceValidators.h"
#include "MantidAPI/AnalysisDataService.h"
#include "MantidAPI/ITableWorkspace.h"
#include "MantidAPI/TableRow.h"

#include <Poco/File.h>
#include <limits>
#include <iostream>

namespace Mantid
{
namespace DataHandling
{
// Register the algorithm into the algorithm factory
DECLARE_ALGORITHM(FindDetectorsPar)

    //----------------------------------------------------------------
Kernel::Logger& FindDetectorsPar::g_log=Kernel::Logger::get("DataHandling");

/// Sets documentation strings for this algorithm
void FindDetectorsPar::initDocs()
{
  this->setWikiSummary("Calculates angular positions and sizes of detectors and groups of detectors after the workspace was grouped using ASCII or XML map file. "
                       "The results can be used to identify the positions of detectors in reciprocal space. Primary usage -- Child Algorithm of [[SaveNXSPE]], [[SavePAR]] or [[SavePHX]] algorithm.");
  this->setOptionalMessage("The algorithm returns the angular parameters and second flight path for a workspace detectors (data, usually availble in par or phx file)");
}


using namespace Kernel;
using namespace API;
// nothing here according to mantid
FindDetectorsPar::FindDetectorsPar():
m_SizesAreLinear(false)
{};
FindDetectorsPar::~FindDetectorsPar(){};

void FindDetectorsPar::init()
{
  auto wsValidator = boost::make_shared<CompositeValidator>() ;
  wsValidator->add<API::InstrumentValidator>();
  wsValidator->add<API::CommonBinsValidator>();
  // input workspace
  declareProperty(
     new WorkspaceProperty<>("InputWorkspace","", Direction::Input,wsValidator),
    "The name of the workspace that will be used as input for the algorithm" );
 //
  declareProperty("ReturnLinearRanges",false,"if set to true, the algorithm would return linear detector's ranges (dx,dy) rather then angular ranges (dAzimuthal,dPolar)");
 // optional par or phx file
  std::vector<std::string> fileExts(2);
    fileExts[0]=".par";
    fileExts[1]=".phx";
  
    declareProperty(new FileProperty("ParFile","not_used.par",FileProperty::OptionalLoad, fileExts),
    "An optional file that contains of the list of angular parameters for the detectors and detectors groups;\n"
    "If specified, will use data from file instead of the data, calculated from the instument description");

   //
  declareProperty("OutputParTable","","If not empty, a name of a table workspace which "
      " will contain the calculated par or phx values for the detectors");


}

void FindDetectorsPar::exec()
{

 // Get the input workspace
  const MatrixWorkspace_sptr inputWS = this->getProperty("InputWorkspace");
  if(inputWS.get()==NULL){
      throw(Kernel::Exception::NotFoundError("can not obtain InoputWorkspace for the algorithm to work",""));
  }
 // Number of spectra
  const int64_t nHist = (int64_t)inputWS->getNumberHistograms();

  // try to load par file if one is availible
  std::string fileName = this->getProperty("ParFile");
  if(!(fileName.empty()||fileName=="not_used.par")){
     if(!Poco::File(fileName).exists()){
         g_log.error()<<" FindDetectorsPar: attempting to load par file: "<<fileName<<" but it does not exist\n";
         throw(Kernel::Exception::FileError(" file not exist",fileName));
     }
     size_t nPars = loadParFile(fileName);
     if(nPars ==(size_t)nHist){
          this->populate_values_from_file(inputWS);
          this->setOutputTable();
          return;
     }else{
          g_log.warning()<<" number of parameters in the file: "<<fileName<<"  not equal to the number of histograms in the workspace"
                              << inputWS->getName()<<std::endl;
          g_log.warning()<<" calculating detector parameters algorithmically\n";
     }
  
  }
  m_SizesAreLinear = this->getProperty("ReturnLinearRanges");
  
   

  std::vector<DetParameters> Detectors(nHist);
  DetParameters AverageDetector;
  this->m_nDetectors = 0;

  Progress progress(this,0,1,100);
   const int progStep = (int)(ceil(double(nHist)/100.0));


   // define the centre of coordinates:
   Kernel::V3D Observer =inputWS->getInstrument()->getSample()->getPos();

   // Loop over the spectra
   PARALLEL_FOR_NO_WSP_CHECK()  
   for (int64_t i = 0; i < nHist; i++)
   {
     PARALLEL_START_INTERUPT_REGION
     Geometry::IDetector_const_sptr spDet;
     try
     {
        spDet= inputWS->getDetector(i);
     }
     catch(Kernel::Exception::NotFoundError &)
     {// Intel compilers on MAC hungs on continue here
       // should be no problem with this if get detector implemented properly and workspace keeps ownership for the detector (I expet so)
        spDet.reset();
     }
     // separate check as some compilers do not obey the standard evaluation order
     if (!spDet)continue;   
     // Check that we aren't writing a monitor...
     if (spDet->isMonitor())continue;   


    // valid detector has valid detID
     Detectors[i].detID = spDet->getID();

     // calculate all parameters for current composite detector
     calcDetPar(spDet,Observer,Detectors[i]);
 
     // make regular progress reports and check for canceling the algorithm

     if ( i % progStep == 0 ){
            progress.report();
     }
     PARALLEL_END_INTERUPT_REGION

   }
   PARALLEL_CHECK_INTERUPT_REGION

   this->extractAndLinearize(Detectors);
   // if necessary set up table workspace with detectors parameters. 
   this->setOutputTable();
   

}

/// fills in the ouptput table workspace with calculated values 
void FindDetectorsPar::setOutputTable()
{
  std::string output = getProperty("OutputParTable");
  if(output.empty())return;
    // Store the result in a table workspace
   try{
      declareProperty(new WorkspaceProperty<API::ITableWorkspace>("OutputParTableWS","",Direction::Output));
   }catch(std::exception &err){
         g_log.information()<<" findDetecotorsPar: unsuccessfully declaring property: OutputParTableWS\n";
         g_log.information()<<" findDetecotorsPar: the reason is: "<<err.what()<<std::endl;
   }

     // Set the name of the new workspace
    setPropertyValue("OutputParTableWS",output);

     Mantid::API::ITableWorkspace_sptr m_result = Mantid::API::WorkspaceFactory::Instance().createTable("TableWorkspace");
     m_result->addColumn("double","twoTheta");
     m_result->addColumn("double","azimuthal");
     m_result->addColumn("double","secondary_flightpath");
     if(m_SizesAreLinear){
        m_result->addColumn("double","det_width");
        m_result->addColumn("double","det_height");
     }else{
        m_result->addColumn("double","polar_width");
        m_result->addColumn("double","azimuthal_width");
     }
     m_result->addColumn("long64","detID");
 
     for(size_t i=0;i<m_nDetectors;i++){
         Mantid::API::TableRow row = m_result->appendRow();
         row << polar[i] << azimuthal[i] << secondaryFlightpath[i] << polarWidth[i] << azimuthalWidth[i] <<int64_t(detID[i]);
     }
     setProperty("OutputParTableWS",m_result);
     API::AnalysisDataService::Instance().addOrReplace(output,m_result);

}

// Constant for converting Radians to Degrees
const double rad2deg = 180.0 / M_PI;

/** method calculates an angle closest to the initial one taken on a ring
  * e.g. given inital angle 179 deg and another one -179 closest one to 179 is 181
  @param baseAngle -- the angle to be close to
  @param anAngle   -- the angle which ring image may be requested

  @returns         -- the angle closest to the initial on a ring.
*/
double AvrgDetector::nearAngle(const double &baseAngle,const double &anAngle)
{
  double dist = baseAngle-anAngle;
  if (dist>180.)
  {
    return (anAngle+360.);
  }
  else if(dist<-180.)
  {
    return (anAngle - 360.);
  }
  else
    return anAngle;
}

/** method to cacluate the detectors parameters and add them to the detectors averages
*@param spDet    -- shared pointer to the Mantid Detector
*@param Observer -- sample position or the centre of the polar system of coordinates to calculate detector's parameters. 
*/
void AvrgDetector::addDetInfo(const Geometry::IDetector_const_sptr &spDet,const Kernel::V3D &Observer)
{
  m_nComponents++;
  Kernel::V3D detPos    =  spDet->getPos();
  Kernel::V3D toDet     = (detPos - Observer);

  double dist2Det,Polar,Azimut,ringPolar,ringAzim;
  // identify the detector' position in the beam coordinate system:
  toDet.getSpherical(dist2Det,Polar,Azimut);
  if(m_nComponents <=1)
  {
    m_FlightPathSum =dist2Det;
    m_PolarSum      =Polar;
    m_AzimutSum     =Azimut;

    m_AzimBase      = Polar;
    m_PolarBase     = Azimut;
    ringPolar       = Polar;
    ringAzim        = Azimut;
  }
  else
  {
    ringPolar     = nearAngle(m_AzimBase,Polar) ;
    ringAzim      = nearAngle(m_PolarBase,Azimut);
    m_FlightPathSum +=dist2Det;
    m_PolarSum      +=ringPolar;
    m_AzimutSum     +=ringAzim;
  }


   // centre of the azimuthal ring (the ring  detectors form around the beam)
   Kernel::V3D ringCentre(0,0,toDet.Z());

    // Get the bounding box
   Geometry::BoundingBox bbox;
   std::vector<Kernel::V3D> coord(3);

   Kernel::V3D er(0,1,0),e_th,ez(0,0,1);  //ez along beamline, which is always oz; 
   if(dist2Det)er  = toDet/dist2Det; // direction to the detector
   Kernel::V3D e_tg = er.cross_prod(ez);  // tangential to the ring and anticloakwise;
   e_tg.normalize();
   // make orthogonal -- projections are calculated in this coordinate system
   ez = e_tg.cross_prod(er);

   coord[0]=er; // new X
   coord[1]=ez; // new y
   coord[2]=e_tg ; // new z
   bbox.setBoxAlignment(ringCentre,coord);

   spDet->getBoundingBox(bbox);

   // linear extensions of the bounding box orientied tangentially to the equal scattering angle circle
   double azimMin = bbox.zMin();
   double azimMax = bbox.zMax();
   double polarMin = bbox.yMin(); // bounding box has been rotated according to coord above, so z is along e_tg
   double polarMax = bbox.yMax();


   if (m_useSphericalSizes)
   {
      if (dist2Det==0) dist2Det = 1;
  
       // convert to angular units 
       double polarHalfSize  = rad2deg*atan2(0.5*(polarMax-polarMin), dist2Det);
       double azimHalfSize   = rad2deg*atan2(0.5*(azimMax-azimMin), dist2Det);

       polarMin = ringPolar -polarHalfSize;
       polarMax = ringPolar +polarHalfSize;
       azimMin  = ringAzim -azimHalfSize;
       azimMax  = ringAzim +azimHalfSize;

   }
   if (m_AzimMin>azimMin)m_AzimMin=azimMin;
   if (m_AzimMax<azimMax)m_AzimMax=azimMax;

   if (m_PolarMin>polarMin)m_PolarMin=polarMin;
   if (m_PolarMax<polarMax)m_PolarMax=polarMax;

}

/** Method processes accumulated averages and return them in preexistent avrgDet class
@returns avrgDet -- the detector with averaged parameters
 */
void AvrgDetector::returnAvrgDetPar(DetParameters &avrgDet)
{

  // return undefined detector parameters if no average detector is defined;
  if(m_nComponents==0)return;

  avrgDet.azimutAngle = m_AzimutSum/double(m_nComponents);
  avrgDet.polarAngle  = m_PolarSum/double(m_nComponents);
  avrgDet.secondaryFlightPath = m_FlightPathSum/double(m_nComponents);

  avrgDet.azimWidth =(m_AzimMax-m_AzimMin);
  avrgDet.polarWidth=(m_PolarMax-m_PolarMin);

}
/** Method calculates averaged polar coordinates of the detector's group   (which may consist of one detector)
*@param spDet    -- shared pointer to the Mantid Detector
*@param Observer -- sample position or the centre of the polar system of coordinates to calculate detector's parameters. 

*@param Detector  -- return Detector class containing averaged polar coordinates of the detector or detector's group in 
                     spherical coordinate system with centre at Observer
*/
void FindDetectorsPar::calcDetPar(const Geometry::IDetector_const_sptr &spDet,const Kernel::V3D &Observer,
                                   DetParameters  &Detector)
{

  // get number of basic detectors within the composit detector
   size_t nDetectors = spDet->nDets();
   // define summator
   AvrgDetector detSum;
   // do we want spherical or linear box sizes?
   detSum.setUseSpherical(!m_SizesAreLinear);

   if( nDetectors == 1)
   {
      detSum.addDetInfo(spDet,Observer);
   }
   else
   {
        // access contributing detectors;
        Geometry::DetectorGroup_const_sptr spDetGroup = boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<const Geometry::DetectorGroup>(spDet);
        if(!spDetGroup){
             g_log.error()<<"calc_cylDetPar: can not downcast IDetector_sptr to detector group for det->ID: "<<spDet->getID()<<std::endl;
             throw(std::bad_cast());
        }
        auto detectors = spDetGroup->getDetectors();
        auto it     = detectors.begin();
        auto it_end = detectors.end();
        for(;it!=it_end;it++)
        {
          detSum.addDetInfo(*it,Observer);
        }

   }
   // calculate averages and return the detector parameters
   detSum.returnAvrgDetPar(Detector);

}
/**Method to convert vector of Detector's classes into vectors of doubles with all correspondent information 
   also drops non-existent detectors and monitors */ 
void FindDetectorsPar::extractAndLinearize(const std::vector<DetParameters> &detPar)
{
  size_t nDetectors;

  // provisional number
  nDetectors = detPar.size();

  this->azimuthal.resize(nDetectors);
  this->polar.resize(nDetectors);
  this->azimuthalWidth.resize(nDetectors);
  this->polarWidth.resize(nDetectors);
  this->secondaryFlightpath.resize(nDetectors);
  this->detID.resize(nDetectors);

  nDetectors = 0;
  for(size_t i=0;i<detPar.size();i++)
  {
    if(detPar[i].detID<0)continue;

    azimuthal[nDetectors]       = detPar[i].azimutAngle;
    polar[nDetectors]           = detPar[i].polarAngle;
    azimuthalWidth[nDetectors]  = detPar[i].azimWidth;
    polarWidth[nDetectors]      = detPar[i].polarWidth;
    secondaryFlightpath[nDetectors]=detPar[i].secondaryFlightPath;
    detID[nDetectors]           = static_cast<size_t>(detPar[i].detID);
    nDetectors++;
  }
  // store caluclated value
  m_nDetectors = nDetectors;

  // resize to actual detector's number
  this->azimuthal.resize(nDetectors);
  this->polar.resize(nDetectors);
  this->azimuthalWidth.resize(nDetectors);
  this->polarWidth.resize(nDetectors);
  this->secondaryFlightpath.resize(nDetectors);
  this->detID.resize(nDetectors);

}
   
//
size_t FindDetectorsPar::loadParFile(const std::string &fileName){
    // load ASCII par or phx file
    std::ifstream dataStream;
    std::vector<double> result;
    this->current_ASCII_file = get_ASCII_header(fileName,dataStream);
    load_plain(dataStream,result,current_ASCII_file);

    m_nDetectors = current_ASCII_file.nData_records;

    dataStream.close();
    // transfer par data into internal algorithm parameters;
    azimuthal.resize(m_nDetectors);
    polar.resize(m_nDetectors);
    detID.resize(m_nDetectors);

    int Block_size,shift;
    
    if(current_ASCII_file.Type==PAR_type)    
    {
        m_SizesAreLinear = true;
        Block_size  = 5; // this value coinside with the value defined in load_plain
        shift       = 0;
        azimuthalWidth.resize(m_nDetectors);
        polarWidth.resize(m_nDetectors);
        secondaryFlightpath.resize(m_nDetectors,std::numeric_limits<double>::quiet_NaN());
   
        for(size_t i=0;i<m_nDetectors;i++){
           azimuthal[i]            = result[shift+2+i*Block_size];
           polar[i]                = result[shift+1+i*Block_size];
           azimuthalWidth[i]       =-result[shift+3+i*Block_size];
           polarWidth[i]           = result[shift+4+i*Block_size]; 
           secondaryFlightpath[i] = result[shift+0+i*Block_size];
           detID[i]               = i+1;
        }

    }else if(current_ASCII_file.Type==PHX_type)
    {
         m_SizesAreLinear = false;
         Block_size = 6; // this value coinside with the value defined in load_plain
         shift      = 1;
         azimuthalWidth.resize(m_nDetectors);
         polarWidth.resize(m_nDetectors);
         for(size_t i=0;i<m_nDetectors;i++)
         {
             azimuthal[i]       =result[shift+2+i*Block_size];
             polar[i]           =result[shift+1+i*Block_size];
             azimuthalWidth[i]  =result[shift+4+i*Block_size];
             polarWidth[i]      =result[shift+3+i*Block_size]; 
             detID[i]           =i+1;
         }
    }else{
        g_log.error()<<" unsupported type of ASCII parameter file: "<<fileName<<std::endl;
        throw(std::invalid_argument("unsupported ASCII file type"));
    }

    return m_nDetectors;
}
// 
void 
FindDetectorsPar::populate_values_from_file(const API::MatrixWorkspace_sptr & inputWS)
{
    size_t nHist = inputWS->getNumberHistograms();

    if(this->current_ASCII_file.Type == PAR_type)
    {
        // in this case data in azimuthal width and polar width are in fact real sizes in meters; have to transform it in into angular values
        for (size_t i = 0; i < nHist; i++){
             azimuthalWidth[i]=atan2(azimuthalWidth[i],secondaryFlightpath[i])*rad2deg;
             polarWidth[i]    =atan2(polarWidth[i],secondaryFlightpath[i])*rad2deg;
        }
        m_SizesAreLinear = false;
    }
    else
    {

       Geometry::IObjComponent_const_sptr sample =inputWS->getInstrument()->getSample();
       secondaryFlightpath.resize(nHist);
     // Loop over the spectra
     for (size_t i = 0; i < nHist; i++){
            Geometry::IDetector_const_sptr spDet;
            try{
                spDet= inputWS->getDetector(i);
            }catch(Kernel::Exception::NotFoundError &){
                continue;
            }
        // Check that we aren't writing a monitor...
        if (spDet->isMonitor())continue;
        /// this is the only value, which is not defined in phx file, so we calculate it   
           secondaryFlightpath[i]     =  spDet->getDistance(*sample);
     }

    }
}
//
int 
FindDetectorsPar::count_changes(const char *const Buf,size_t buf_size)
{
    bool is_symbol(false),is_space(true);
    int  space_to_symbol_change(0),symbol_to_space_change(0);
    size_t symbols_start(0);
    // supress leading spaces;
    for(size_t i=0;i<buf_size;i++){
       if(Buf[i]==0)break;
       if(Buf[i]==' '){
            continue;
       }else{
          symbols_start=i;
          break;
       }
    }
    // calculate number of changes from space to symbol assuming start from symbol;
    for(size_t i=symbols_start;i<buf_size;i++){
        if(Buf[i]==0)break;
        if(Buf[i]>='+'&&Buf[i]<='z'){  // this is a symbol
            if(is_space){
                is_space=false;
                space_to_symbol_change++;
            }
            is_symbol=true;
        }
        if(Buf[i]==' '){  // this is a space
            if(is_symbol){
                is_symbol=false;
                symbol_to_space_change++;
            }
            is_space =true;
        }
    }
    return space_to_symbol_change;
}

/**! The function reads line from inout stream and puts it into buffer. 
*   It behaves like std::ifstream getline but the getline reads additional symbol from a row in a Unix-formatted file under windows;
*/
size_t
FindDetectorsPar::get_my_line(std::ifstream &in, char *buf, size_t buf_size,const char DELIM)
{
    size_t i;
    for(i=0;i<buf_size;i++){
        in.get(buf[i]);
        if(buf[i]==DELIM){	
            buf[i]=0;
            return i;
        }
    }
    buf[buf_size-1]=0;
    g_log.information()<<" data obtained from ASCII data file trunkated to "<<buf_size<<" characters\n";
    return buf_size;
}
/**!
 *  The function loads ASCII file header and tries to identify the type of the header.
 *  Possible types are
 *  SPE, PAR or PHS
 *
 *  if none three above identified, returns "undefined" type
 *  it also returns the FileTypeDescriptor, which identifyes the position of the data in correcponding ASCII file 
 *  plus characteristics of the data extracted from correspondent data header. 
*/
FileTypeDescriptor 
FindDetectorsPar::get_ASCII_header(std::string const &fileName, std::ifstream &data_stream)
{
    std::vector<char> BUF(1024);
    FileTypeDescriptor file_descriptor;
    file_descriptor.Type = NumFileTypes; // set the autotype to invalid

    data_stream.open(fileName.c_str(),std::ios_base::in|std::ios_base::binary);
    if(!data_stream.is_open()){
        g_log.error()<<" can not open existing ASCII data file: "<<fileName<<std::endl;
        throw(Kernel::Exception::FileError(" Can not open existing input data file",fileName));
    }
    // let's identify the EOL symbol; As the file may have been prepared on different OS, from where you are reading it 
    // and no conversion have been performed; 
    char symbol;
    data_stream.get(symbol);
    while(symbol>0x1F){
        data_stream.get(symbol);
    }
    char EOL;
    if(symbol==0x0D){ // Win or old Mac file
            data_stream.get(symbol);
            if(symbol==0x0A){ // Windows file
                EOL=0x0A;
            }else{            // Mac
                EOL=0x0D;
                data_stream.putback(symbol);
            }
    }else if(symbol==0x0A){   // unix file. 
        EOL=0x0A;
    }else{
        g_log.error()<<" Error reading the first row of the input ASCII data file: "<<fileName<<" as it contains unprintable characters\n";
        throw(Kernel::Exception::FileError(" Error reading the first row of the input ASCII data file, as it contains unprintable characters",fileName));
    }

    file_descriptor.line_end=EOL;
    data_stream.seekg(0,std::ios::beg);


    get_my_line(data_stream,&BUF[0],BUF.size(),EOL);
    if(!data_stream.good()){  
        g_log.error()<<" Error reading the first row of the input data file "<<fileName<<", It may be bigger then 1024 symbols\n";
        throw(Kernel::Exception::FileError(" Error reading the first row of the input data file, It may be bigger then 1024 symbols",fileName));
    }

    //let's find if there is one or more groups of symbols inside of the buffer;
    int space_to_symbol_change=count_changes(&BUF[0],BUF.size());
    if(space_to_symbol_change>1){  // more then one group of symbols in the string, spe file
        int nData_records(0),nData_blocks(0);
        // cppcheck-suppress invalidscanf
        int nDatas = sscanf(&BUF[0]," %d %d ",&nData_records,&nData_blocks);
        file_descriptor.nData_records = (size_t)nData_records;
        file_descriptor.nData_blocks  = (size_t)nData_blocks;
        if(nDatas!=2){    			
            g_log.error()<<" File "<<fileName<<" iterpreted as SPE but does not have two numbers in the first row\n";
            throw(Kernel::Exception::FileError(" File iterpreted as SPE but does not have two numbers in the first row",fileName));
        }
        file_descriptor.Type=SPE_type;
        get_my_line(data_stream,&BUF[0],BUF.size(),EOL);
        if(BUF[0]!='#'){ 
            g_log.error()<<" File "<<fileName<<"iterpreted as SPE does not have symbol # in the second row\n";
            throw(Kernel::Exception::FileError(" File iterpreted as SPE does not have symbol # in the second row",fileName));
        }
        file_descriptor.data_start_position = data_stream.tellg(); // if it is SPE file then the data begin after the second line;
    }else{
        file_descriptor.data_start_position = data_stream.tellg(); // if it is PHX or PAR file then the data begin after the first line;
        file_descriptor.nData_records       = atoi(&BUF[0]);
        file_descriptor.nData_blocks        = 0;

        // let's ifendify now if is PHX or PAR file;
        data_stream.getline(&BUF[0],BUF.size(),EOL);

        int space_to_symbol_change=count_changes(&BUF[0],BUF.size());
        if(space_to_symbol_change==6||space_to_symbol_change==5){       // PAR file
                file_descriptor.Type         = PAR_type;
                file_descriptor.nData_blocks = space_to_symbol_change;
        }else if(space_to_symbol_change==7){ // PHX file
                file_descriptor.Type=PHX_type;
                file_descriptor.nData_blocks = space_to_symbol_change;
        }else{   // something unclear or damaged
            g_log.error()<<" can not identify format of the input data file "<<fileName<<std::endl;
            throw(Kernel::Exception::FileError(" can not identify format of the input data file",fileName));
        }

    }
    return file_descriptor;
}

/*!
 *  function to load PHX or PAR file
 *  the file should be already opened and the FILE_TYPE structure properly defined using
 *  get_ASCII_header function
*/
static std::vector<char> BUF(1024,0);
void 
FindDetectorsPar::load_plain(std::ifstream &stream,std::vector<double> &Data,FileTypeDescriptor const &FILE_TYPE)
{

    char par_format[]=" %g %g %g %g %g";
    char phx_format[]=" %g %g %g %g %g %g";
    float data_buf[7];
    char *format;
    int BlockSize;
    char EOL = FILE_TYPE.line_end;

    switch(FILE_TYPE.Type){
        case(PAR_type):{
            format = par_format;
            BlockSize=5;
            break;
                        }
        case(PHX_type):{
            format = phx_format;
            BlockSize=6;
            break;
                        }
        default:		{
            g_log.error()<< " trying to load data in FindDetectorsPar::load_plain but the data type is not recognized\n";
            throw(std::invalid_argument(" trying to load data but the data type is not recognized"));
                        }
    }
    Data.resize(BlockSize*FILE_TYPE.nData_records);

    stream.seekg(FILE_TYPE.data_start_position,std::ios_base::beg);
    if(!stream.good()){		
        g_log.error()<<" can not rewind the file to the initial position where the data begin\n";
        throw(std::invalid_argument(" can not rewind the file to the initial position where the data begin"));
    }

    int nRead_Data(0);
    for(unsigned int i=0;i<FILE_TYPE.nData_records;i++){
        stream.getline(&BUF[0],BUF.size(),EOL);
        if(!stream.good()){	
            g_log.error()<<" error reading input file\n";
            throw(std::invalid_argument(" error reading input file"));
        }

        switch(FILE_TYPE.Type){
            case(PAR_type):{
                nRead_Data= sscanf(&BUF[0],format,data_buf,data_buf+1,data_buf+2,data_buf+3,data_buf+4);
                break;
                            }
            case(PHX_type):{
                nRead_Data= sscanf(&BUF[0],format,data_buf,data_buf+1,data_buf+2,data_buf+3,data_buf+4,data_buf+5);
                break;
                            }
            default:{
                 g_log.error()<<" unsupported value of FILE_TYPE.Type: "<<FILE_TYPE.Type<<std::endl;
            throw(std::invalid_argument(" unsupported value of FILE_TYPE.Type"));

                    }
        }
        if(nRead_Data!=BlockSize){
            g_log.error()<<" Error reading data at file, row "<<i+1<<" column "<<nRead_Data<<" from total "<<FILE_TYPE.nData_records<<" rows, "<<BlockSize<<" columns\n";
            throw(std::invalid_argument("error while interpreting data "));

        }
        for(int j=0;j<nRead_Data;j++){
            Data[i*BlockSize+j]=(double)data_buf[j];
        }

    }
}

}// end DataHandling namespace
}// end MantidNamespace