MERGE_RUNS algorithm

[Nick Draper]

This is straightforward for runs collected with the same setting, but becomes more complex when dealing with data collected over different frames (e.g., OSIRIS). The simplest solution is to rebin all the runs on a common wavelength scale, add them together and normalise them by the new “reconstructed” monitor. I think this could work, but it requires knowing very accurately where the monitor is relative to the detectors, and I could never do it using the engineering parameters. It would require a procedure to calibrate the monitor position exactly. It is a specific problem with OSIRIS, but we may need it on WISH on Day 1 if we have only detectors in backscattering. I suggest we implement the straightforward part (merging 2 runs with the same chopper setting) and have a separate project on the more complex version.

[Russell Taylor]

(In [1400]) Factored out & improved method for checking whether a workspace has square bins. In course of doing this found a number of speed & memory improvements. Re #225.

[Russell Taylor]

(In [1401]) Customary Windows correction. Re #225.

[Russell Taylor]

(In [1404]) Added a MergeRuns algorithm. Re #225.

[Russell Taylor]

(In [1405]) Windows compiler isn't as smart as gcc. Re #225.

[Russell Taylor]

Done, although it would be good to find a nicer way of entering the input workspaces than just a comma-separated string. This would be better for validation (now the validation has to be in exec) and for use with MantidPlot.

[Stuart Campbell]

This ticket has been transferred to github issue ​1073