The README file contains an overview of the run, aspects specific to it, and an instrument-dependent checklist. The README file interface is accessible from the P2PP main GUI via either the Readme button or the Readme menu at the top bar; see the P2PP User Manual for a detailed description. The README file has the following sections:

• A non-editable section giving basic information on the run as scheduled: the program ID and type (normal, large, guaranteed time, or director's discretionary time), instrument, PI name, priority class, and approved execution time.
• A list of sections accessible through tabs where specific aspects of the run can be described:
  • General Description: a short and concise summary of the observation, providing the night astronomer with any information needed to meet your science objective (e.g. SNR). Decision paths and/or OB modification requests that depend on the outcome of previously executed OBs are not allowed.
  • Waiver Requests: a short summary of any approved Phase 2 waiver requests, including when they were submitted and when they were approved.
  • Critical Observing Conditions Constraints: any information about required observing conditions other than those defined in the Constraints Set box that are critical for the achievement of the goals of the project.
  • Time-Critical Aspects: any information on timing of the observations other than those encoded in the parameters of the (time-link, concatenation) OB container.
  • Special Execution Requirements: any specific information regarding the execution of your observation such as on proper target identification or details on the execution procedure.
  • Special Calibration Information: if you have submitted OBs for calibration, please describe them here, why you have submitted them, and how they should be executed relative to your science OBs (e.g. same night, once per observing run, etc.), unless included in an OB concatenation. In particular, for some instruments, you must provide the magnitude and spectral type for all user supplied photometric or spectrophotometric calibration stars.
  • ToO Information: please indicate here if this is a Target of Opportunity run and give any special details.
  • ToO Activators List: please give here the names of the investigators who are authorized to trigger a Target of Opportunity observation.
  • Pre-Imaging Requirements: if this is a pre-imaging run, please indicate it here and describe any special requirements; for instance the need to obtain on- and off- observations in narrow-band filters contiguously.
• An entry for the e-mail address of the Principal Investigator of the programme. Please do not enter here any address other than that of the Principal Investigator, even in the case that the person preparing the Phase 2 package is not the PI.
• Estimated Total Execution Time: please include here the execution time as given by the execution time report of P2PP.
• Is this a Pre-imaging run? this is a tick box that must be checked if the run is pre-imaging for another run. This is important to ensure that pre-imaging runs receive the correct execution priority.
• In case pre-imaging was required to prepare these OBs, you must indicate the source of pre-imaging in the corresponding box. If the source is none of those listed there, you can indicate the actual source in the entry below it.

The last part of the README file is a check list including most of the relevant aspects related to Phase 2 preparation with the corresponding instrument. You must click either yes or N/A to ensure that you have taken all these aspects into account.

A tutorial showing how to attach Finding Charts, edit the README file, and submit OBs and containers  is available in text and video format. Another dedicated text tutorial provides step-by-step guidelines for the preparation of the Service Mode README file content.