VLAPLAN (Bridle 1994) is a menu-driven MS-DOS PC program that can help you plan continuum, spectral line, or bandwidth synthesis observing strategies for the VLA using the approaches and formulae described in this lecture. The calculations are organized into several self-documenting spreadsheet-like screens. These screens let you explore the consequences of different parameter choices quickly. They also offer advice on how to meet your imaging specifications, and warn of serious parameter conflicts. VLAPLAN also plots context-sensitive graphs of the bandwidth and time average smearing effects, of the primary beam correction, and of Gaussian source visibility functions. L Band users are also warned of any persistent interfering signals within their chosen bandpass. VLAPLAN can be run as a (frozen) stand-alone program, or as a (modifiable) spreadsheet template under Lotus 1-2-3 or under Borland Quattro Pro in any of its 1-2-3-compatible incarnations. It is available by anonymous-ftp from ftp.aoc.nrao.edu, in the pub/vlaplan directory--read the file vlaplan2.doc first for detailed instructions and for update information.
VLAPLAN recommends VLA configuration(s) for your observing,
including multiple configurations where appropriate. It chooses the
most compact configuration based on the observing frequency, the
largest angular size and declination of your source. For speed, this
recommendation is based on a table of the shortest projected baselines
for snapshots on the meridian in each of the four standard
configurations, at 
intervals in Declination.
VLAUVPL is an ancillary stand-alone program (or Lotus
1-2-3-compatible spreadsheet) that can be used to refine the
configuration recommendation. It computes the shortest projected VLA
baseline for full synthesis observations between specified
hour-angles at any Declination. It also generates u-v plots and
graphs of 
versus hour-angle over the full range of
hour-angles consistent with your prescribed elevation limits. These
plits will help you to plan short-baseline coverage in detail.
VLAUVPL is available by
anonymous-ftp from
ftp.aoc.nrao.edu, in the pub/vlaplan
directory.