What is the best resource for beginners to learn IDL programming?

[Werg22]

I'd like to get a book to get me up and running with IDL. I have little to no programming experience, so I'm looking for something that doesn't assume the reader has been exposed any sort of programming languages a priori. Any recommendation?

 

[chaco74]

IDL Programming

I've found "Practical IDL Programming" by Liam Gumley to be a pretty helpful book (I got mine off Amazon). The IDL online help is good, but does assume you have a cursory knowledge of where to start and what you're doing. The book above basically assumes you know nothing - it's really handy to get you to understand the basics.

The IDL news group is a helpful place to ask questions as well:

http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.idl-pvwave/topics

Finally, the forum on the IDL website can connect you directly with IDL's tech support:

http://www.ittvis.com/forum/ForumSearch.asp?urlCategory=2

I think they also offer cheap training for academic/university people, but I don't know the cost.

Hope this helps!

 

[Werg22]

Alright, thank you very much, I'll be looking into it.

Why the anonymity though?

 

[mtumela]

Can anyone help, I am using IDL since March this year I dnt hv backgroud of programming, but I am trying my best to learn IDL. How to make stacked plots. I tried using over plot, I gives a plot sharing x-axis and y axis, but I want a plot that shares x- axis but not y-axis. so can you suggests and provides a sample of code for that. I real need ur help!