CatalogParser

CatalogParser is the intermediate abstract base that every spectroscopic catalog parser derives from. It extends FileParser with a single hook — CatalogParser::parse(), which returns a CatalogData value containing the ordered transition list (frequency, intensity, error, lower-state energy, quantum numbers) and the source-program metadata that downstream code uses to label the overlay. Splitting parse() onto an intermediate base lets the catalog-specific consumers — CatalogOverlay, the catalog-import dialog, and the catalog overlay-replay path — work against this interface alone, without coupling to either of the concrete formats.

The concrete catalog parsers shipped with Blackchirp are SPCATParser (Pickett SPFIT/SPCAT, .cat files) and XIAMParser (XIAM internal-rotation analysis, .xo and .out files). A new format with the same conceptual shape — a list of transitions with frequency, intensity, and quantum-number assignments — is added by deriving from this class, implementing the FileParser hooks plus parse(), and registering an instance with FileParserRegistry at application startup. Once registered, the new format becomes selectable in the catalog overlay-import dialog with no further wiring; that workflow is described in Overlays.

API Reference

class CatalogParser : public FileParser 

Abstract base for spectroscopic catalog parsers.

Adds a single hook on top of :cpp:class:FileParser — the parse() method that converts a recognized catalog file into a :cpp:class:CatalogData value. CatalogData contains the ordered list of transitions (frequency, intensity, error, lower energy, quantum numbers, …) plus source-program metadata. The concrete subclasses ship with Blackchirp are :cpp:class:SPCATParser and :cpp:class:XIAMParser; a new format that exposes the same transition shape (frequency + intensity + quantum numbers) should derive from this class so that CatalogOverlay can consume it without further code changes.