;+
; Convert velocity (m/s) to channel number using
; the supplied data container.  The velocity's frame and definition can also be supplied.
;
; @param data {in}{required}{type=spectrum} The spectrum data
; container to use to get the necessary header information.
;
; @param vels {in}{required} The velocities (m/s) to convert, may be
; an array of values.
;
; @keyword frame {in}{optional}{type=string} The rest frame that the
; velocities are in.  Known rest frames are listed in
; <a href="frame_velocity.html">frame_velocity</a>.  Defaults to the frame
; given in data.velocity_definition.
;
; @keyword veldef {in}{optional}{type=string} The velocity definition
; in use from RADIO, OPTICAL, or TRUE.  Defaults to the value found in
; data.velocity_definition. 
;
; @returns channel number.
;
; @uses <a href="data_valid.html">data_valid</a>
; @uses <a href="decode_veldef.html">decode_veldef</a>
; @uses <a href="chantofreq.html">chantofreq</a>
; @uses <a href="freqtovel.html">freqtovel</a>
; @uses <a href="veltofreq.html">veltofreq</a>
; @uses <a href="freqtochan.html">freqtochan</a>
; 
; @version $Id$
;-
function veltochan, data, vels, frame=frame, veldef=veldef
    compile_opt idl2

    ; argument check on data
    if (data_valid(data, name=name) le 0) then begin
        message, "invalid or undefined data structure"
        ; message will cause things to fail here.
    endif

    if (name ne 'SPECTRUM_STRUCT') then begin
        message, "data must be a spectrum structure"
        ; message will cause things to fail here.
    endif

    hasVeldef = 0
    if (n_elements(frame) eq 0) then begin
        if (not decode_veldef(data.velocity_definition, v_def, v_frame)) then begin
            message, "Problems deciphering data.velocity_definition, velocities may be wrong", /info
        endif
        hasVeldef = 1
        frame = v_frame
    endif else begin
        if (size(frame,/type) ne 7) then begin
            message, "frame has the wrong type, using value from data.velocity_definition", /info
            if (not decode_veldef(data.velocity_definition, v_def, v_frame)) then begin
                message, "Problems deciphering data.velocity_definition, velocities may be wrong", /info
            endif
            hasVeldef = 1
            frame = v_frame
        endif
    endelse

    if (n_elements(veldef) eq 0) then begin
        if (not hasVeldef) then begin
            if (not decode_veldef(data.velocity_definition, v_def, v_frame)) then begin
                message, "Problems deciphering data.velocity_definition, velocities may be wrong", /info
            endif
        endif
        veldef = v_def
    endif else begin
        if (size(veldef,/type) ne 7) then begin
            message, "veldef has the wrong type, using value from data.velocity_definition", /info
            if (not hasVeldef) then begin
                if (not decode_veldef(data.velocity_definition, v_def, v_frame)) then begin
                    message, "Problems deciphering data.velocity_definition, velocities may be wrong", /info
                endif
            endif
            veldef = v_def
        endif 
    endelse

    result = double(vels)

    ; convert that to frequency
    result = veltofreq(result, data.line_rest_frequency, veldef=veldef)

    ; and convert that to channel number
    result = freqtochan(data, result, frame=frame)

    return, result
end