---
name: "mkiraf"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "iraf"
version: "2.18.1-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mkiraf"
---

# mkiraf(1)

Setup the IRAF environment for a user

## NAME

mkiraf - Setup the IRAF environment for a user

## SYNOPSIS

mkiraf \[**-d**\|**--default**\] \[**-i**\|**--init**\] \[**-n**\|**--noinit**\] \[**-c**\|**--copy**\] \[**-q**\|**--quiet**\]

## DESCRIPTION

Creates the parameter directory, image directory and cache directory for the use with IRAF CL, and optionally create a local copy of the IRAF CL startup file *login.cl*.

Within IRAF CL, these directory have the names *uparm$*, *imdir$*, and *cache$*.

Without the **-d**\|**--default** flag, the parameter directory *uparm* is created in the local directory, triggering a parameter storage locally. If no local parameter directory exists, a general user specific parameter storage in *${HOME}/.iraf/uparm* is used. The image directory *imdir* and the cache directory *cache* are always created in *${HOME}/.iraf/*.

## OPTIONS

- **-d, --default**

  Create the *upar* file in the user specific directory *${HOME}/.iraf* instead of the local directory.

- **-i, --init**

  Initialize an empty uparm directory, removing old parameter settings. If neither the **-i**\|**--init** nor the **-n**\|**--noinit** is given, the command asks whether the *upar* directory should be initialized.

- **-n, --noinit**

  Do not nitialize the uparm directory if it exists, keeping old parameter settings. If neither the **-i**\|**--init** nor the **-n**\|**--noinit** is given, the command asks whether the *upar* directory should be initialized.

- **-c, --copy**

  Create a copy of the *login.cl* file in the local directory, or (if the **-d**\|**--default** flag was given), in the directory *${HOME}/.iraf*. These copies are only needed if local changes shall be applied.

- **-q, --quiet**

  Suppress output messages

## BUGS

IRAF should use XDG conform user directories in *${HOME}/.cache*, *${HOME}/.local* and *${HOME}/.config*.

## SEE ALSO

[**ecl**(1)](/ecl/1.md),

## AUTHOR

Created by Ole Streicher for the IRAF community