ConfigSystem produces many intermediate outputs on the way to making a full LAT configuration. Since the LAT configuration files sent up to the instrument are compiled binary files, they are not ideally suited for human browsing. Furthermore, since they have identical information content to the input LATC_XML files, only grouped by hardware component instead of by precinct, often we will find it easier to browse the parameter or vote files.
One of the jobs of MOOT is to keep track of the association between input vote and ancillary files and output parameter files Once vote and ancillary files are imported into MOOT they can not be changed. However, the vote files refer to the ancillary file by alias, and the alias can be changed. Therefore to specify a set of output parameter files for a precinct we need both the vote file and the set of ancillary files used to build those parameter files.