IPython support for PyRAF works by replacing the PyRAF command line
interpreter with the IPython shell.  This is accomplished using
IPython's profile mechanism and input prefilter hook.  Initiating a
PyRAF session using IPython can be accomplished two ways:

1. Run PyRAF with the --ipython switch

% pyraf --ipython

This has the advantage that it installs the ipythonrc-pyraf profile in
your $HOME/.ipython if needed before running ipython.  IPython needs
to be installed first or it will not install IPython's own rc files in
~/.ipython.

2. Running IPython using the pyraf profile:

After IPython, PyRAF, and $HOME/.ipython/ipythonrc-pyraf are
installed, you can just run ipython using the pyraf profile.

% ipython -p pyraf
PyRAF 1.3dev (2006Mar24) Copyright (c) 2002 AURA
Python 2.4.2 (#2, Oct 19 2005, 17:07:05)
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

IPython 0.7.2.svn -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
?       -> Introduction to IPython's features.
%magic  -> Information about IPython's 'magic' % functions.
help    -> Python's own help system.
object? -> Details about 'object'. ?object also works, ?? prints more.

IPython profile: pyraf

In [1]:

Compared to the standard PyRAF command line shell, running PyRAF under
IPython has these differences:

a. PyRAF's "." directives are rendered obsolete and are not supported.
There are IPython equivalents.

b. As a result of all the "magic" in IPython and PyRAF, there is the
potential for overlap and conflict between the two.  By default,
IPython's magic commands are executed ahead of PyRAF commands, so if
you type "history" you get the IPython command logging system, not the
PyRAF system.  This is a little counter-intuitive since PyRAF support
is added as an input pre-filter and you might expect it to get
precedence by default.  IPython magic gets precedence but this
behavior can be fine tuned using two IPython "magic" commands:

In[2]: set_pyraf_magic <magic_function> on

In[3]: set_pyraf_magic <magic_function> off

This can be further disambiguated by saying "%<command>" which means
use the IPython version of <command>.  There is currently no
equivalent prefix for declaring "use PyRAF".

c. There is an option to choose between default IPython exception
handling and PyRAF exception handling.  PyRAF exception handling has
the benefit that it hides the traceback from PyRAF itself; this keeps
a user within the realm of their own application rather than debugging
IPython or PyRAF.

In[4]: use_pyraf_traceback on

If you prefer the ipython exception handling system,  you can that instead
with the following command:

In[5]: use_pyraf_traceback off


d. PyRAF's support for IPython includes CL emulation which is on by default.
This can be turned on/off with the following commands:

In[6]: use_pyraf_cl_emulation on

In[7]: use_pyraf_cl_emulation off

e. PyRAF's support for IPython includes PyRAF-enhanced readline completion
which filters input before IPython.  It can be turned on and off using:

In[8]: use_pyraf_readline_completer on

In[9]: use_pyraf_readline_completer off