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Generic Graphic Colors

The list of generic colors defines set of graphic colors that will be assigned to the graphics, unless overridden by specific graphical colors.  If the user loads too many weather elements such that this list is exhausted, the GFE will recycle the list and use the colors again.  An additional set of colors is automatically added.

Generic_colors = ['Green', 'Coral', 'Cyan', 'Wheat', 'Yellow', 'Violet', 'DarkKhaki', 'OrangeRed', 'DodgerBlue2', 'SpringGreen', 'IndianRed', 'CadetBlue1', 'NavajoWhite', 'LightGoldenrod1', 'Plum1', 'LemonChiffon3', 'LightSalmon', 'SlateGray3', 'DarkSeaGreen2', 'LemonChiffon', 'LightCyan2', 'Seashell', 'MediumPurple', 'Thistle1', 'RosyBrown3']
 

Specific Weather Element Graphic Color

The user may set up specific colors for a parameter.  These colors are only suggestions.  The GFE will make every attempt to use these colors for the weather element.  In the case that the color is already in use, the GFE will assign a color from the Generic_colors list.  The format of the specific color entries is the weatherElementName_graphicColor.  For those weather elements that are not surface-based, the format is weatherElementName_level_graphicColor.

T_graphicColor = 'green'
Wx_graphicColor = 'White'
 

Specific Graphic Line Widths for a Weather Element

The default line width of any weather element can be specified in the configuration file.  Valid numbers are zero and up. You can always change the line width interactively during a GFE session.  If not specified, then the line width is assumed to be zero. The format of the entry is weatherElementName_lineWidth = width.    For those weather elements that are not surface-based, the format is weatherElementName_level_lineWidth.  The larger the number , the wider the line.   Do not include a decimal point.  The line width affects the following visualizations:

Bounded Area outlines (weather)

Contour Lines (scalar)

Wind Barb and Wind Arrow Lines (vector)

T_lineWidth = 1
 

Specific Graphic Line Patterns for a Weather Element

The default line pattern can be varied for each weather element.  If not specified, then the line pattern is assumed to be solid.  There are currently four line patterns supported in the GFE. The possible strings are "SOLID", "DASHED", "DOTTED", "DASHED_DOTTED". The format of the entry is weatherElementName_linePattern = "PatternName".   For those weather elements that are not surface-based, the format is weatherElementName_level_linePattern.  The line pattern affects the following visualizations:

Bounded Area outlines (weather)

Contour Lines (scalar)

Wind Barb and Wind Arrow Lines (vector)

T_linePattern = "SOLID"
 

Specific Font Offsets for a Weather Element

The font used for a specific weather element display is based on three things:

The definition of TextFont*, which defines the standard fonts used in the GFE.

The optional definition of display type fonts, which defines which of the standard fonts should be used for this particular type of display (e.g., Contour_font).

The optional font offset, which adds or subtracts an offset size from the calculations derived in the first two steps.

The font offsets affect the following visualizations:

Bounded Area labels (weather)

Contour labels (scalar)

Wind Arrows and Wind Barbs (vector)

The font offsets are used differently for wind arrows and wind barbs.  Obviously these visualizations do not have text associated with them.  Specifying a positive number for font offsets will result in a larger (e.g., longer) wind barb or arrow.  Specifying a negative number for the font offset will result in a smaller wind barb or arrow.

The font offset (called magnification on the GFE menus) allows the default font size to be increased or decreased on a per-parameter basis.  Note that for wind arrows/barbs, the fontOffset controls the size of the wind arrows/barbs.  Numbers can range from -2 through +2. Format is parmName_fontOffset.   For those weather elements that are not surface-based, the format is weatherElementName_level_fontOffset. Do not include a decimal point after these entries.

T_fontOffset = 0
 

Specific Densities for a Weather Element

The density control of the weather element works differently, depending upon the data type.  For scalar contoured data, the density control modifies the set of contours to show more or less of them.  For vector wind barbs or arrows, the density control controls the packing algorithm to show more or less of them.  Density does not affect the display of weather-type data. The default is zero. Typical values can range from -2 through +2.  You can use values outside of this range if desired.  Format is parmName_density.    For those weather elements that are not surface-based, the format is weatherElementName_level_density. Do not include a decimal point after these entries.

T_density = 0
 

Temporal Editor Pane Size

The user has the ability of controlling the initial size of temporal editor panes based on the weather element first loaded into a pane.  If not specified, the default is 150 pixels in height.  The format of this entry is the weatherElementName_temporalDataPaneSize.   For those weather elements that are not surface-based, the format is weatherElementName_level_temporalDataPaneSize.

Wx_temporalDataPaneSize = 200
 

Contour Values and Intervals

There are two ways to define contour values, either by specifying a complete set of values, or by specifying a single interval.  If both methods are defined, then the contour values will be used, thus overriding the defined contour interval. If neither is defined, then the GFE uses an algorithm with linear contour intervals.  The values will be with a 1, 2, or 5 unit, such as 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, etc. The algorithm continues to add more values until there are around 30 of them.  This works well on some weather elements and very poorly on others.  The format is parmName_optionname, but for non-surface based elements, the format is parmName_level_optionname.

Explicit Contour Values

If the user wishes to specify explicit contour values for a weather element, the format is weatherElementName_contourValues with a list of contour values. QPF is normally defined in the configuration file since small values are very important and the typical contour interval does not show enough resolution at low values.

Contour value specification is ignored for vector and weather-type weather elements.

QPF_contourValues = [0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50,
  0.60, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8,
  3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8, 4.0, 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5.0]

Topography_contourValues = [5.0, 10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0, 50.0,
  60.0, 70.0, 80.0, 90.0, 100.0, 125.0, 150.0, 175.0, 200.0, 250.0,
  300.0, 350.0, 400.0, 450.0, 500.0, 600.0, 700.0, 800.0, 900.0,
  1000.0, 1250.0, 1500.0, 1750.0, 2000.0, 2500.0, 3000.0, 3500.0,
  4000.0, 4500.0, 5000.0, 5500.0, 6000.0, 6500.0, 7000.0, 7500.0,
  8000.0, 8500.0, 9000.0, 9500.0, 10000.0, 11000.0, 12000.0, 13000.0,
  14000.0, 15000.0, 16000.0, 17000.0, 18000.0, 19000.0, 20000.0]

Contour Interval

The user may also specify a contour interval for a weather element.  The format is weatherElementName_contourInterval with a single number. If not defined, then contour values are automatically computed.

Sky_contourInterval = 10.0
PoP_contourInterval = 10.0
MinT_contourInterval = 5.0
MaxT_contourInterval = 5.0
T_contourInterval = 5.0
Td_contourInterval = 5.0
 

Delta Values

Delta values are weather element specific.  If not defined, it defaults to the minimum precision (e.g., 1 degree for temperature, 0.01" for QPF). The delta value is used for the Adjust Up and Adjust Down smart tools. These may be reset through the GFE GUI.  Delta values are ignored for the weather type of weather element. Format is parmName_deltaValue = value.   For those weather elements that are not surface-based, the format is weatherElementName_level_deltaValue.  Be sure to include a decimal point.

FzLevel_deltaValue = 100.0
SnowLevel_deltaValue = 100.0

Fuzz Values

Fuzz values are weather element specific.  If not defined, it defaults to 1/100 of the parameter's range. A fuzz value is used when the user selects the "select homogenous area" on the spatial editor.  It is used to determine all grid points that are contiguous that are "close to" the selected point and then uses that set as the new edit area.  These may be reset through the GFE GUI.  Fuzz values are ignored for the weather type of weather element.

For example, if the fuzz is 2.0 degrees for Temperature and you click on 40 degrees, then all points between 38 and 42 will be selected as long as they are contiguous to the click point. Format is parmName_fuzzValue = value.   For those weather elements that are not surface-based, the format is weatherElementName_level_fuzzValue.

T_fuzzValue = 10.0
 

Weather Element Visual Types

Visual types define the spatial and temporal visualization types for the different data types (scalar, vector, and weather).  The following table illustrates the possible values for each editor and data type. The user may choose any of the choices.

Editor Type	Data Type	Available Visual Types (Image Mode)	Available Visual Types (Graphic Mode)
Spatial	Scalar	Image, Contour	Contour
Spatial	Vector	Image, WindBarb, WindArrow	WindBarb, WindArrow
Spatial	Weather	Image, BoundedArea	BoundedArea
Spatial	Discrete	Image, BoundedArea	BoundedArea
Temporal	Scalar	TEColorBar, TEColorRangeBar, TimeBar, RangeBar	TimeBar, RangeBar
Temporal	Vector	TEColorBar, TEColorRangeBar, TimeBar, WindBarb, WindArrow, RangeBar	TimeBar, WindBarb, WindArrow, RangeBar
Temporal	Weather	TEColorBar	<none>
Temporal	Discrete	TEColorBar	<none>

The format of the entry is shown in the following table, where "we" is the weather element name:

Editor Type	Visual Mode	Entry Format
Spatial	Image	we_spatialImageType
Spatial	Graphic	we_spatialGraphicType
Temporal	Image	we_temporalImageType
Temporal	Graphic	we_temporalGraphicType

If not defined in this configuration file, the GFE software defaults to the following visualizations:

Editor Type	Data Type	Image Mode Defaults	Graphic Mode Defaults
Spatial	Scalar	Image	Contour
Spatial	Vector	Image, WindBarb	WindBarb
Spatial	Weather	Image	BoundedArea
Spatial	Discrete	Image	BoundedArea
Temporal	Scalar	TEColorBar	TimeBar
Temporal	Vector	TEColorBar, WindBarb	TimeBar, WindBarb
Temporal	Weather	TEColorBar	<none>
Temporal	Discrete	TEColorBar	<none>

For example, the weather parameter may be viewed as a bounded area and an image. For the image type, you may choose both image and bounded area. For the graphic type, you may choose only bounded area. By default if not specified, the graphic types for the spatial editor are contour, wind barb, and bounded area for scalar, vector, and weather data. The image types for the spatial editor are image, image and wind barb, and image for the scalar, vector, and weather data. For the temporal editor, the graphic types are time bar, wind barb, and time bar and the image types are color bar, color bar and wind barb, and color bar. Format is: parmName_editorImageType = [ types ] or parmName_editorGraphicType = [ types ] where 'editor' is replaced with spatial or temporal.

Wind_spatialGraphicType = ["WindArrow"].
Wx_spatialImageType = [ "Image", "BoundedArea" ]

 

Bounded Area Label/Boundary Visibility

The user may turn on/off the boundary and the text labels for the boundary area visual.  The default value is both are on.  Allowable values are yes and no, or 1 and 0.

BoundedArea_Labels = yes
BoundedArea_Boundary = yes

 

Wind Barb and Wind Arrow Default Sizes

The default wind barb and wind arrow sizes may be specified in the GFE configuration file. If not specified, they default to 60 pixels in length. The user may specify the default overall, or may specify the size for each weather element.

WindArrowDefaultSize = 60
WindBarbDefaultSize = 60

The entry format for a particular weather element definition of arrow or barb size is parmName_windArrowDefaultSize and parmName_windBarbDefaultSize.  For non-surface based weather elements, the format is parmName_level_windBarbDefaultSize.

Wind_windArrowDefaultSize = 60
Wind_windBarbDefaultSize = 60

 

Wind/Swell Arrow Scaling

The length of the wind/swell arrows is proportional to the percentage of the magnitude to the maximum allowable magnitude. The user may specify whether this is a linear or a logarithmic formula for each vector weather element. The format of these entries is parmName_arrowScaling.  (For non-surface based elements, the format is parmName_level_arrowScaling.)  The value given must be greater than 0.  Values greater than 1 will result in an almost linear assignment of magnitudes to length.  Values approaching zero will result in an emphasis of the values near the weather element's minimum possible value.  If 0.00 is specified for the entry, or the entry is omitted, then linear scaling of magnitude to distance is used.

The following table illustrates the percent of the maximum length of the arrow that is used for the first 50% of the weather element's range.

Factor Value	Percent of the maximum distance used for a 50% of the maximum possible value.
1.0	58%
0.5	62%
0.1	75%
0.05	78%
0.01	85%

 
For example, if Wind ranges from 0 to 50 knots and the arrow maximum size is 100 pixels, then a wind of 25 knots will appear 85 pixels in length if the factor value is 0.01.
 

Wind_arrowScaling = 0.03
Swell_arrowScaling = 0.001
Swell2_arrowScaling = 0.001

 

Sample Formats for Vector Data

The sample format for vector data may be adjusted to one of four formats.  The format affects the samples on the spatial and temporal editors, the color bar pick-up value on the spatial editor, and the set value dialog for vector.

Format	Description	Example
ddff	Direction is indicated by a 2-digit number and ranges from 01-36.  00 is reserved for calm winds.  The magnitude is truncated to the nearest unit value and displayed.	0000 for calm, 3645 for wind from the North at 45.
d/f	Direction is indicated in degrees with up to three digits (0-359).  The magnitude is rounded to the precision value of the weather element.	0/0 for calm, 45/10.5 for NE wind at 10.5.
8pt	Direction is indicated by a compass direction (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NE).  Magnitude is rounded to the precision value of the weather element.	"calm" for calm, NE5 for NE wind at 5.
16pt	Direction is indicated by a compass direction (N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SE, WSW, W, NNW, NW, NNW).  Magnitude is rounded to the precision value of the weather element.	"calm" for calm, NNE15 for a NNE wind at 15.

The user may specify an overall format which applies to all vector weather elements, or may specify a specific format for an individual vector weather element.
 

The user may specify the default sample format for vector weather elements. If not specified, then the format is "ddff". The user may specify a format for all vector elements, or can specify the format for a particular weather element.  The four possible formats are "ddff", "8pt", "16pt", and "d/f". The configuration entry for the default sample format for all vector elements is WindFormat = "type".  The entry format to define the format for a specific entry is parmName_windFormat = "type".  For non-surface based elements, the format is parmName_level_windFormat.

WindFormat = "ddff"
Swell_windFormat = "8pt"

Default Values (for Create From Scratch)

The default values for SCALAR, VECTOR, WEATHER, and DISCRETE may be specified on a per-weather element basis. By default, the SCALAR has the weather element's minimum value, the VECTOR element has a magnitude and direction of 0, the WEATHER element has <NoWx>, and DISCRETE has the first defined discrete key. This default may be changed through the configuration file using a format of wename_defaultValue for SCALAR, WEATHER, and DISCRETE, and wename_magDefaultValue and wename_dirDefaultValue for VECTOR. For non-surface based elements, the format is changed with the wename being replaced with the weatherElementName_levelName.

The SCALAR and VECTOR values are floats; the WEATHER and DISCRETE values are strings, as shown in the following examples, which are listed in SCALAR, VECTOR, WEATHER, and DISCRETE order:

T_defaultValue = 32.0
Wx_defaultValue = "<NoCov>:<NoWx>:<NoInten>:<NoVis>:"
Wind_dirDefaultValue = 90.0

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