new_contents: import path as appath
  import fitsio
  try:
      indexArrays= fitsio.read(appath.allStarPath(),3)
  except ValueError:
      _INDEX_ARRAYS_LOADED= False
  else:
      _INDEX_ARRAYS_LOADED= True
      _PARAM_SYMBOL= [index.strip().lower() for index in indexArrays['PARAM_SYMBOL'].flatten()]
      _ELEM_SYMBOL= [index.strip().lower() for index in indexArrays['ELEM_SYMBOL'].flatten()]
  
  def paramIndx(param):
      """
      NAME:
         paramIndx
      PURPOSE:
         return the index into the PARAM/FPARAM  arrays corresponding to a given stellar parameter 
      INPUT:
         param - the stellar parameter (one of TEFF,LOGG,LOG10VDOP,METALS,C,N,ALPHA)
      OUTPUT:
         index into PARAM/FPARAM array
      HISTORY:
         2014-08-19 - Written - Bovy (IAS)
      """
      if not _INDEX_ARRAYS_LOADED: raise ImportError("paramIndx function cannot be used, because the allStar file could not be properly loaded")
      if param.lower() == 'alpha': return _PARAM_SYMBOL.index('o mg si s ca ti')
      else: 
          try:
              return _PARAM_SYMBOL.index(param.lower())
          except ValueError:
              raise KeyError("Stellar parameter %s not recognized" % param)
  
  def elemIndx(elem):
      """
      NAME:
         elemIndx
      PURPOSE:
         return the index into the ELEM/FELEM arrays corresponding to a given element
      INPUT:
         elem - the element (string like 'C')
      OUTPUT:
         index into ELEM/FELEM array
      HISTORY:
         2014-08-19 - Written - Bovy (IAS)
      """
      if not _INDEX_ARRAYS_LOADED: raise ImportError("paramIndx function cannot be used, because the allStar file could not be properly loaded")
      try:
          return _ELEM_SYMBOL.index(elem.lower())
      except ValueError:
          raise KeyError("Element %s is not part of the APOGEE elements (can't do everything!) or something went wrong)" % elem)
  
subject: add index functions to find the right index into the param/fparam/elem/felem arrays