awips2/cave/com.raytheon.viz.gfe/help/ifpIMAGE.html
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<title>ifpIMAGE User's Manual</title>
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<h1 class="Title">
The ifpIMAGE User's Guide</h1>
<div class="Title">January 4, 2012<br>
</div>
<div class="Title">
<h2><a name="TableOfContents"></a>Table Of Contents</h2>
<a href="#Overview">Overview</a>
<br>
<a href="#ConfiguringifpIMAGE">Configuring ifpIMAGE</a>
<br>
<a href="#RunningifpIMAGE">Running ifpIMAGE</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanItestmyconfiguration">Can I Test My Configuration?</a>
<br>
<a href="#SampleifpIMAGEConfigurationFile">Sample ifpIMAGE
Configuration
File</a>
<br>
<a href="#WxElementsGenerated">How Do I Control the Weather Elements
to be Generated?</a>
<br>
<a href="#Ionlywantasingleimageperweatherelement,">I Only Want a Single
Image Per Weather Element, How Do I Do This?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIProduceSmoothedImages">Can I produce smoothed images?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIProduceSmoothedClippedImages">Can I produce smooth,
clipped images?</a>
<br>
<a href="#imageorgraphic">How Do I Control Whether a Weather Element
is an Image or a Graphic?</a>
<br>
<a href="#overlay">Can I Overlay More Than One Weather Element?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIaddcontoursorwindbarbstomy">Can I Add Contours or Wind
Barbs to My Image?</a>
<br>
<a href="#HowdoIchangethecolortable">How Do I Change the Color Table?</a>
<br>
<a href="#ColorBarLabeling">Can I Control the Color Bar Labeling on
the Output PNG?</a>
<br>
<a href="#HowdoIchangethesizeoftheoutput">How Do I Change the Size
of the Output PNG?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIcontrolthesizeoftheborderaroundthegrid">Can I Control
the Size of the Border around the Grid?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIputsamplesonthe">Can I Put Samples on the Display?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanImaskcertainareasofthe">Can I Mask Certain Areas of the
Display?</a>
<br>
<a href="#HowdoIdefinethesetofmap">How Do I Define the Set of Map
Backgrounds?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIchangetheappearanceofthemap">Can I Change the Appearance
of the Map Backgrounds?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIchangetheappearanceofthegraphics">Can I Change the
Appearance
of the Graphics?</a>
<br>
<a href="#timerangeselection">Can I Specify the Time Range for Which
to Generate PNGs?</a>
<br>
<a href="#wxcolortable">Can I Change the Appearance of the "Wx" Weather
Element When Displayed as an Image?</a>
<br>
<a href="#ChangeWxSampleText">Can I change the Weather Sample Label
Text to something more descriptive?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIdisablethecolorbar">Can I Disable the Color Bar?</a>
<br>
<a href="#WxAdditional">Can I Always Have a Standard Set of Wx Labels
on the Color Bar?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIdisablethelegend">Can I Disable the Legend?</a>
<br>
<a href="#legendtimezone">Can I Change the Legend from Local Time to
Zulu Time?</a>
<br>
<a href="#legendtimezone">Can I Switch Between the simple Weather
Element
Name and a more descriptive Name, or turn the name off completely?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIFormattheLegend">Can I Format The Legend?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIUseSnapshotTimestampsintheLegend">Can I Use Snapshot
Timestamps in the Legend?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIChangetheBackgroundColor">Can I Change the Background
Color?</a>
<br>
<a href="#CanIControltheOutputFilename">Can I Control the output
filename?</a>
<br>
<a href="#Whatdoestheinfofilecontain">What does the "info" file
contain?</a>
<br>
<a href="#logos">Can I add the NWS and NOAA logos?</a></div>
<div class="Title">
<hr width="100%"></div>
<h2 class="Title">
<a name="Overview"></a>Overview</h2>
<div class="Title">The ifpIMAGE program is used to generate imagery of
grids from the GFESuite.&nbsp; The program is really the GFE running in
a special background mode in which the display is not written to the
screen,
but rather to a PNG image.&nbsp; Due to this architecture, virtually
anything
displayable on the GFE spatial editor, can be made into a PNG
image.&nbsp;
Some of the basic characteristics of the ifpIMAGE program are:</div>
<ul>
<li class="Title">Zero or one weather elements can be displayed as an
image;</li>
<li class="Title">Zero or more weather elements can be display as a
graphic (e.g., wind
barbs,
wind arrow, contours);</li>
<li class="Title">There is one PNG image generated for each time step
in the data;</li>
<li class="Title">Graphics and images may be overlaid;</li>
<li class="Title">Legends can be toggled off or on,&nbsp; and shown
in local time format
or zulu time format;</li>
<li class="Title">PNG sizes may be specified;</li>
<li class="Title">Color tables and ranges may be specified;</li>
<li class="Title">Sample sets may be specified;</li>
<li class="Title">The grids may be clipped to a particular geographic
region;</li>
<li class="Title">The set of map backgrounds to be displayed may be
specified; and</li>
<li class="Title">An "Info" file containing descriptive information
about the grids
displayed
for each PNG image.</li>
<li class="Title">The NOAA and NWS logos can be placed on the PNG
imagery.</li>
</ul>
<div class="Title"><img src="images/ifpIMAGEtop.png" nosave=""
height="700" width="700"></div>
<div class="Title">
<br>
The configuration of the ifpIMAGE program is not done through command
line switches.&nbsp; Instead it uses a GFE configuration file which is
identical in format to the standard <a href="gfeConfiguration.html">gfe
configuration file</a>.&nbsp; There are several command line switches
that
can be used to specify the configuration file to be used,&nbsp; the <a
href="baseSiteUserConcept.html">user
name</a> (which defaults to SITE), and optionally the <a
href="#ChangingtheDateString">base
time</a>.
<br><br>
</div>
<div class="Title">When the ifpIMAGE program is executed, the program
reads
the specified configuration file, sets up the GFE in background mode,
loads
the specified data and generates images.&nbsp; By default, images are
generated
for all available grids for the given parameters. Each output PNG
is named with a unique timestamp to help sort out the many PNG
images.
In addition, an "info" file is generated for each PNG which contains
descriptive
information about the PNG.</div>
<div class="Title">
<hr width="100%"></div>
<h2 class="Title">
<a name="ConfiguringifpIMAGE"></a>Configuring ifpIMAGE</h2>
<div class="Title">ifpIMAGE is configured through a&nbsp; <a
href="gfeConfig.html">gfe
configuration file</a>. These custom configuration files should
be
SITE-based, not USER-based since the ifpIMAGE is a product generation
program
for site use.&nbsp; <font color="#ff0000">It is not recommended that
you
use the standard gfe configuration file name for ifpIMAGE configuration
files due to conflicts with the GFE.</font> More information about how
the BASE, SITE, and USER configuration capability can be found in the <a
href="baseSiteUserConcept.html">Base,
Site, and User Concept Guide</a>.
<p><b><font color="#ff0000">NOTE: ifpIMAGE by default uses
configuration
files that are defined for SITE. If you create a configuration file
at USER level, then run the
ifpIMAGE program, the ifpIMAGE probably will not generate any
images.
This is caused by storing the configuration file under USER and not
SITE,
and the ifpIMAGE program is looking for your configuration file in
SITE.
You can override this behavior using the -u switch to ifpIMAGE.</font></b>
</p>
<p>Creation of the ifpIMAGE configuration file is done through the GFE
main menu item: <a href="GFEMainMenu.html#DefineConfigandifpIMAGEFiles...">GFE-&gt;Define
Config and ifpIMAGE Files menu entry</a>. Be sure to create/modify
these
files at SITE level to ensure that the custom configuration
files end up in the SITE directory.
</p>
</div>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="RunningifpIMAGE"></a>Running ifpIMAGE</h2>
The command line options for ifpIMAGE are:
<br>
<table border="1" width="100%" nosave="">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Option</b></td>
<td><b>Optional</b></td>
<td><b>Meaning</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>-h hostname</td>
<td>NO (see note)</td>
<td>Name of the host on which the server is running</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>-p portnumber</td>
<td>NO (see note)</td>
<td>Port number for the server</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>-c configName</td>
<td>NO</td>
<td>Configuration filename</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>-u username</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>UserName, defaults to "SITE"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>-o outputDirName</td>
<td>NO (see note)</td>
<td>Name of output directory</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>-b baseTime</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>Base time, used in determining filenames.&nbsp; Basetime is
in the
yyyymmdd_hhmm format.&nbsp; See the <a
href="#CanIControltheOutputFilename">filename
naming section</a> of this document.&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>-s startTime</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>Specifies the starting time range from which to generate PNG
images.&nbsp;
Format is in the yyyymmdd_hhmm format.&nbsp; Only images that have a
time
equal to or after this specified time will be generated.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>-e endTime</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>Specifies the ending time range from which to generate PNG
images.&nbsp;
Format is in the yyyymmdd_hhmm format.&nbsp; Only images that have a
time
before this specified time will be generated.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>-t userDefinedTimeRange</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>Specifies a user defined time range to be used to define the
range
of times from which images should be generated.&nbsp; Example is: -t
"Day
3". This will generate images for any grids that overlap the definition
of "Day 3".&nbsp; Note that these definitions change at midnight local
time or 0000z.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><font color="#3366ff"><b>Note:</b> When running ifpIMAGE in a normally
configured
system, the -h and -p switches are not needed since they will be
brought
in from your configured installation.&nbsp; The -o switch defaults to
your
/awips2/cave/etc/gfe/products/IMAGE directory. If you want to connect to a different
server than the configured EDEX, then the -h and -p switches are
needed.
If the default destination isn't correct for your purpose, then you
will need to specify an -o switch.</font>&nbsp;<font color="#3366ff">&nbsp;
If environment variables ${CDSHOST} or
${CDSPORT} are defined, then the default server and port will be
determined from the environment variables, unless overridden with the
user specified -h and -p switches.</font>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanItestmyconfiguration"></a>Can I Test My Configuration?</h2>
Yes.&nbsp; You can test your configuration by running the GFE
with the specified user and configuration filename.&nbsp; Then you can
step frames or animate and the spatial editor will show you the
expected
results (e.g., colors and other appearance features).
<p><b><font color="#ff0000">NOTE: ifpIMAGE by default uses
configuration
files that are defined at SITE level. If you create a configuration file at USER level,
then run the
ifpIMAGE program, the ifpIMAGE probably will not generate any
images.
This is caused by storing the configuration file at USER level and not
SITE, and the ifpIMAGE program is looking for your configuration file in
SITE.
You can override this behavior using the -u switch to ifpIMAGE.</font></b>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="SampleifpIMAGEConfigurationFile"></a>Sample ifpIMAGE
Configuration
File</h2>
The following <u>complete</u> configuration file uses the standard
delivered
gfe configuration file and overrides certain features.&nbsp; This
configuration
file does the following:
<ul>
<li>creates PNGs of temperature and wind, with temperature as an
image and
wind as wind barbs</li>
<li>the PNG has a local time label on it</li>
<li>the temperature image color table ranges from 20 degrees to 90
degrees,
rather than the GFE default</li>
<li>has the States map background present</li>
<li>clips the data to the BOU WFO area, which is identified by a edit
area
called "BOU"</li>
</ul>
<a href="EXAMPLEimage.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="WxElementsGenerated"></a>How Do I Control the Weather
Elements
to be Generated?</h2>
The user can control which weather elements should be generated.&nbsp;
The weather elements that are generated on each PNG can be controlled
directly
through the gfe configuration file using the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGListofWeatherElementsforDisplay">Png_parms</a>
entry.&nbsp; The GFE configuration file has an entry to specify the<a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGListofWeatherElementsforDisplay">
set of png weather elements for display</a>.&nbsp; The entries are
coded
and the user is required to know the weather element name, its level,
the
database model name, its optional type, and the sequence number if
model
data is being presented.
<p>Here are the steps to take:
</p>
<blockquote>1. Decide which weather elements you want overlaid on your
PNG imagery. <br>
2. Create a GFE configuration file that will be used to generate PNG
imagery. Edit the gfe configuration file to define the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGListofWeatherElementsforDisplay">Png_parms
entry</a>.</blockquote>
Note that Topography is available for the png image by using the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGListofWeatherElementsforDisplay">Png_parms</a>
entry and specifying "Topo".
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimagePngParms.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="Ionlywantasingleimageperweatherelement,"></a>I Only Want a
Single
Image Per Weather Element, How Do I Do This?</h2>
Your
<a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGWeatherElementtobeDisplayedasanImage">Png_parms</a>
entry,&nbsp; should contain just one weather element.&nbsp; You will
also
want to modify the entry in the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGWeatherElementtobeDisplayedasanImage">GFE
configuration file</a> to indicate the name of that element so it will
display as an image.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGESimple.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"></p>
<p>The modifications to the GFE configuration file to make this an
image
are:
</p>
<p><tt><a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGWeatherElementtobeDisplayedasanImage">Png_image</a>
= 'T'</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGListofWeatherElementsforDisplay">Png_parms</a>
has been defined to contain: <tt>'T_SFC:_Official -1'</tt>.
</p>
<p>If you wanted to make a set of temperature images, dew point images,
and wind images, you will need three different GFE configuration files.
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageSingleImage.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration
file</a>
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%"><br>
<a name="CanIProduceSmoothedImages"></a><b><font size="+2">Can I
Produce
Smoothed Images?</font></b>
<p>A smooth image can be produced via a configuration file change for a
<font color="#ff0000">scalar
or vector weather element only</font>:
</p>
<p><a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGImageSmoothing">Png_smoothImage</a> =
1 (smoothing enabled0
<br>
<a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGImageSmoothing">Png_smoothImage</a>
= 0 (smoothing disabled)
</p>
<p>Note that if you are <a href="#CanImaskcertainareasofthe">filtering
the displayed data by site identifier or site plus weather element name</a>
(e.g., BOU_mask = "CWA, BOU_T_mask = "BOU", T_mask = "BOU", or mask = "BOU"),&nbsp; your smoothed
image
will also be smooth, clipped.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a
href="#CanIProduceClippedImages">Click
here for just smooth, clipping options.</a>
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<b><font size="+1">ipfIMAGE-noSmooth.png</font></b>
<br>
<img src="images/UnsmoothedImg.jpg" height="600" width="563"></p>
<p><b><font size="+1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
ifpIMAGE-Smooth.png</font></b>
<br>
<img src="images/SmoothImg.jpg" height="601" width="569"></p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageSmooth.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%"><a name="CanIProduceClippedImages"></a><br>
<a name="CanIProduceSmoothedClippedImages"></a><b><font size="+2">Can
I Produce Smoothed, Clipped Images?</font></b>
<p>To produce a smooth, clipped area, as opposed to just providing a <a
href="#CanImaskcertainareasofthe">display
filter or masking</a>, use:
</p>
<p><a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGSmoothClipping">Png_smoothClip</a> =
0
</p>
<p>The following rules apply if both Png_smoothImage and Png_smoothClip
are used.
<br>
&nbsp;
<table border="1" width="100%" nosave="">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<center><b>DataType</b></center>
</td>
<td>
<center><b>Png_smoothImage</b></center>
</td>
<td>
<center><b>Png_smoothClip</b></center>
</td>
<td>
<center><b>Result</b></center>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<center>SCALAR/VECTOR</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>0</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>0</center>
</td>
<td><a href="#CanImaskcertainareasofthe">No data smoothing, no
smooth clipping</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<center>SCALAR/VECTOR</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>0</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>1</center>
</td>
<td><a href="#NoSmoothingClipped">No data smoothing, clipped</a>
to the
pixel level of the <a href="gfeConfig_DB.html#FilteredDataMask">display
filter </a>(mask) indicated, uses the nearest "grid box" for the data</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<center>SCALAR/VECTOR</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>1</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>0</center>
</td>
<td><a href="#SmootedClipped">Data smoothing, clipped</a> to the
pixel
level of the <a href="#CanImaskcertainareasofthe">display filter (</a>mask)
indicated, uses bi-linear interpolation for the data values</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<center>SCALAR/VECTOR</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>1</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>1</center>
</td>
<td><a href="#SmootedClipped">Data smoothing, clipped</a> to the
pixel
level of the <a href="#CanImaskcertainareasofthe">display filter </a>(mask)
indicated, uses bi-linear interpolation for the data values</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<center>WEATHER/DISCRETE</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>0</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>0</center>
</td>
<td><a href="#CanImaskcertainareasofthe">No data smoothing, no
smooth clipping</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<center>WEATHER/DISCRETE</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>0</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>1</center>
</td>
<td><a href="#NoSmoothingClippedWx">No data smoothing, clipped </a>to
the
pixel level of the <a href="#CanImaskcertainareasofthe">display filter</a>
(mask) indicated, uses the nearest "grid box" for the data</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<center>WEATHER/DISCRETE</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>1</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>0</center>
</td>
<td><a href="#CanImaskcertainareasofthe">No data smoothing, no
smooth clipping</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<center>WEATHER/DISCRETE</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>1</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>1</center>
</td>
<td><a href="#NoSmoothingClippedWx">No data smoothing, clipped</a>
to the
pixel level of the <a href="#CanImaskcertainareasofthe">display filter</a>
(mask) indicated, uses the nearest "grid box" for the data</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<center>
<p><img src="images/Smooth0Clip1.png" height="227" width="270"><img
src="images/Smooth1Clip1.png" height="227" width="270"><img
src="images/Smooth0Clip1Wx.png" height="240" width="270"></p>
</center>
<table border="0" width="100%" nosave="">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<center><a name="NoSmoothingClipped"></a><b>No Smoothing,
Clipped&nbsp;<a name="SmootedClipped"></a>Smooth,
Clipped&nbsp;<a name="NoSmoothingClippedWx"></a>No Smoothing, Clipped,
Wx</b></center>
</td>
<td>
<center>&nbsp;</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>&nbsp;</center>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageSmoothClip.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration
file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="imageorgraphic"></a>How Do I Control Whether a Weather
Element
is an Image or a Graphic?</h2>
By default, a weather element is displayed as a graphic.&nbsp; Only one
weather element may be displayed as an image per configuration file.
You
can specify the name of this weather element through the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGWeatherElementtobeDisplayedasanImage">PNG
image name field</a> in the gfe configuration file.
<p>The following pictures illustrate the effect of denoting Sky to be
an
image or a graphic.
</p>
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGESkyImage.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGESkyGraphic.png" nosave=""
height="400" width="400"></p>
<p>The modifications to the GFE configuration file to make alternate
between
a graphic and image are a single line:
</p>
<p><tt><a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGWeatherElementtobeDisplayedasanImage">Png_image</a>
= 'Sky'</tt>
</p>
<p>If you want it a graphic, be sure not to include the line <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGWeatherElementtobeDisplayedasanImage">Png_image</a>.
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageSkyImage.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="overlay"></a>Can I Overlay More Than one Weather Element?</h2>
You may overlay as many weather elements as you desire.&nbsp; This is
accomplished
by creating a weather element group with multiple entries through the
use
of the Weather Element Browser from the GFE.&nbsp; Alternatively, you
can
use the <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGListofWeatherElementsforDisplay">Png_parms
field</a> to define the weather elements.&nbsp; Only one of the weather
elements may be displayed as an image, which is specified in the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGWeatherElementtobeDisplayedasanImage">PNG
image name field</a> in gfe configuration file.&nbsp; All of the other
weather elements will be displayed as a graphic.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGEOverlay.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"></p>
<p>The type of graphic can be controlled through the <a
href="gfeConfig_WE.html#WeatherElementVisualTypes">visual
type fields</a> in the gfe configuration file.
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageOverlay.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanIaddcontoursorwindbarbstomy"></a>Can I Add Contours or
Wind
Barbs to My Image?</h2>
If you want graphics on top of your image field for the same weather
element,
such as a temperature image with temperature contours overlaid, then
you
can control this through the <a
href="gfeConfig_WE.html#WeatherElementVisualTypes">visual
type fields</a> in the gfe configuration file.&nbsp; For scalar data,
you
only can display graphics as contours.&nbsp; For wind data, you can
display
the graphic as wind barbs or wind arrows.&nbsp; For weather data, your
only choice is bounded areas.&nbsp; You would make an entry in the
categories
of image and spatial editor for the <a
href="gfeConfig_WE.html#WeatherElementVisualTypes">visual
type</a>.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGESimple.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGEImgCntr.png" nosave=""
height="400" width="400"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
(or
adding) a line that specifies that T (temperature) for the spatial
editor
image should include contours:
</p>
<p><i>from:</i><tt> T_spatialImageType = [ "Image" ]</tt>
<br>
<i>to:</i><tt> T_spatialImageType = [ "Image", "Contour" ]</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageGraphicTypes.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration
file</a>
</p>
<h2>
<hr width="100%"><a name="HowdoIchangethecolortable"></a>How Do I
Change
the Color Table?</h2>
Color table mapping can be changed for scalar and vector weather
elements.
See the <a href="#wxcolortable">weather color table section</a> to
change
the color mapping for the Wx element.
<p>The user can specify:
</p>
<blockquote>1.&nbsp; The <a
href="gfeConfig_nonWECol.html#WeatherElementDefaultColorTables">color
table name</a> to be used for an individual weather element (e.g.,
Linear).
If not specified, then the color table is the default smooth rainbow
spectrum.&nbsp;
You can <a href="gfeConfig_nonWECol.html#DefaultColorTableSpectrum">change
the characteristics</a> of this default rainbow spectrum. <br>
2.&nbsp; The <a href="gfeConfig_nonWECol.html#InitialColorTableRange">color
table range mapping</a> (e.g., minimum and maximum values).&nbsp; By
default,
the mapping is performed from the minimum possible value to the maximum
possible value as defined in serverConfig.py. <br>
3.&nbsp; Whether the color table mapping should be linear or
logarithmic.&nbsp;
The <a href="gfeConfig_nonWECol.html#LogrithmeticColorTables">logarithmic
scaling factor</a> is specified in the gfe configuration file.</blockquote>
A new color spectrum may be created in the GFE using the <a
href="ColorDialogs.html#ColorTableEditorDialog">Color
Table Editor Dialog</a> , saved with a new filename and configured in
ifpIMAGE.
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageColorTable.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration
file</a>
</p>
<h3>Defining the Color Table Name</h3>
The following two images show the same data set, but with different
color
enhancement curves (e.g., color tables).
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGESimple.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGEct.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
(or
adding) a line that specifies T's (temperature) color table:
</p>
<p><i>from:</i><tt> T_defaultColorTable="colorTable1"</tt>
<br>
<i>to:</i><tt> T_defaultColorTable="tColorTable"</tt>
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<h3>Changing the Color Table Range Mapping</h3>
The user can also change the color table range mapping.&nbsp; The
following
two images show the same data set, with the same color enhancement
curve,
but mapped to different starting and ending values.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGESimple.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGEctR.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
(or
adding) two lines that specifies T's (temperature) color table value
mapping:
</p>
<p><i>to:</i><tt> T_maxColorTableValue = 50.0</tt>
<br>
<i>to:</i><tt> T_minColorTableValue = 0.0</tt>
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<h3>Applying a Logarithmic Scaling Factor</h3>
Most color table algorithms are linear.&nbsp; The user may change this
to a logrithmetically-scaled mapping if desired.&nbsp; The following
two
images show the same data set with the same enhancement curve, but one
has a linear and the other a logrithmetic scaling.&nbsp; Note that the
color bar scale is still linear, but the number of colors assigned are
squeezed into the lower ranges.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGESimple.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGEctLOG.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
(or
adding) a line that specifies T's (temperature) color table should be
mapped
logrithmetically:
</p>
<p><i>to:</i><tt> T_LogFactor = 0.01</tt>
<br>
&nbsp;
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<h3>Using a Fit To Data Color Table Algorithm</h3>
The user may specify that a color table be calculated using the <a
href="gfeConfig_nonWECol.html#InitialColorTableRange">"fit
to data" algorithm</a>.&nbsp; The program will examine all of the grids
associated with the weather element to calculate the minimum and
maximum
observed value. The color table spectrum is then mapped to these
values.
There are four different algorithms that can be used:
<ul>
<li>All Grids</li>
<li>All Grids over Area</li>
<li>Single Grid</li>
<li>Single Grid over Area</li>
</ul>
If "All Grids" or "All Grids over Area" is specified, then all data
grids
for the weather element are examined to determine the color table
mapping
range. If "Single Grid" or "Single Grid over Area" is specified, then
the
fit to data algorithm is applied to each image, thereby resulting in
different
color tables for each image.&nbsp; The one of the algorithms, "... over
Area", is specified, then the fit to data algorithms will only look at
data contained within the edit area defined by <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PngfitToDataArea">Png_fitToDataArea</a>.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGE_base1.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGE_fitToData.png" nosave=""
height="400" width="400"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
(or
adding) a line that specifies MaxT's (maximum temperature) color table
should be mapped with the "fit to data" algorithm:
</p>
<p><i>to:</i><tt> MaxT_fitToDataColorTable = "All Grids"</tt>
</p>
<p>To change the algorithm to look at all grids, but only use data
values
contained in your CWA (e.g., CYS), then the following two entries would
be needed.&nbsp; Note that the "... over Area" algorithm is generally
only
used when masking data.
</p>
<p><i>to:</i>
<br>
<tt>MaxT_fitToDataColorTable = "All Grids over Area"</tt>
<br>
<tt>Png_fitToDataArea = "CYS"</tt>
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="ColorBarLabeling"></a>Can I Control the Color Bar Labeling
on
the Output PNG?</h2>
By default, the labels on the color bar are automatically calculated
and
plotted.&nbsp; The user can override the automatic set with a defined
set
through the <a
href="gfeConfig_nonWECol.html#ColorBarLabelSpecification">gfe
configuration file's entry Color Bar Labels</a>.&nbsp; Tick marks and
labels
will be plotted only at those values specified.&nbsp; This option
applies
only to scalar and vector data.
<p>To change the Maximum Temperature's color bar labels to 32, 40, 50,
60, the following entry would be made in the gfe configuration file:
</p>
<p><i>add:</i>
<br>
<tt>MaxT_ColorBarLabels = [32.0, 40.0, 50.0, 60.0]</tt>
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="HowdoIchangethesizeoftheoutput"></a>How Do I Change the
Size of
the Output PNG?</h2>
The <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGImageSize">size of the output PNG</a>
is specified in the gfe configuration file.&nbsp; You only need to
specify
the horizontal or the vertical since the other dimension is
automatically
calculated.
<p>The following illustrates making the same data as a thumbnail
(100x100)
and large (600x600).
<br>
<img src="images/ifpIMAGEsmall.png" nosave="" height="100" width="100"><img
src="images/ifpIMAGElarge.png" nosave="" height="600" width="600"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
the
lines that specifies T's (temperature) color table should be mapped
logrithmetically:
</p>
<p><i>for the small image:</i><tt> Png_height = 100</tt>
<br>
<i>for the large image:</i><tt> Png_height = 600</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageSize.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanIcontrolthesizeoftheborderaroundthegrid"></a>Can I
control
the size of the border around the grid?</h2>
The size of the border around the grid may be specified in each of the
four directions as a percentage of the grid size.&nbsp; The entries are
specified in the <a href="gfeConfig_UI.html#OfficeDomainExpansion">Office
Domain expand section</a> of the configuration file.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGE_base1.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGE_domainExpand.png" nosave=""
height="400" width="466"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
(or
adding) several lines to adjust the size of the space around the grid:
</p>
<p><i>from:</i>
<br>
<tt>OfficeDomain_expandLeft = 10</tt>
<br>
<tt>OfficeDomain_expandRight = 10</tt>
<br>
<tt>OfficeDomain_expandTop = 10</tt>
<br>
<tt>OfficeDomain_expandBottom = 10</tt>
<br>
<i>to:</i>
<br>
<tt>OfficeDomain_expandLeft = 5</tt>
<br>
<tt>OfficeDomain_expandRight = 20</tt>
<br>
<tt>OfficeDomain_expandTop = 10</tt>
<br>
<tt>OfficeDomain_expandBottom = 30</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageBorder.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanIputsamplesonthe"></a>Can I Put Samples on the Display?</h2>
Samples may be put on the display.&nbsp; Note that if you have multiple
weather elements displayed, then you will see multiple samples at each
sample point.&nbsp; This can be changed through the <a
href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#LimitingSamplestoSpecificWeatherElements">Limiting
Samples to Specific Weather Elements</a> entry. The set of samples is
defined
in a sample set.&nbsp; The name of that sample set is defined as the <a
href="gfeConfig_StartUp.html#DefaultSampleSets">default
sample set</a> in the gfe configuration file.
<p>If the samples are too small or too large, changes can be made
through
the <a href="gfeConfig.html#GFEComponentFontSizes">sample font entry</a>
in the gfe configuration file. The illustration below shows samples for
Temperature and Wind.&nbsp; The white entry matches the image,
Wind;&nbsp;
the green entries match the Temperature.
</p>
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGEsamples.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"></p>
<p>The procedure for adding samples to the PNG image is to create a
sample
set in the GFE and save it.&nbsp; Then modify the PNG configuration
file
to identify that sample set:
</p>
<p><tt>DefaultSamples = ['pngSamples']</tt>
</p>
<p>The <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#SampleFormatsforVectorData">format
of
the samples for vector data</a> may also be changed to one of the
following
formats:
</p>
<ul>
<li>ddff</li>
<li>8pt compass direction</li>
<li>16pt compass direction</li>
<li>d/f</li>
</ul>
By default, samples are shadowed, i.e., double characters are written
in
the primary color and black to increase constrast on light-colored
images.&nbsp;
The sample shadowing may be turned off, if desired, through the gfe
configuration
file.&nbsp; Refer to the <a href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#SampleShadows">sample
shadow configuration</a>.
<p>The offset from the sample anchor point to the sample values may
also
be set.&nbsp; Refer to <a href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#SampleOffsets">Sample
Label Offsets</a> in the gfe configuration documentation.
</p>
<p>By default, the values displayed at each sample point comprise
values
from all of the visual weather elements. For example, if T, Td, and
Wind
are visible, then each sample will display the values from T, Td, and
Wind.&nbsp;
You can change this behavior through the <a
href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#LimitingSamplestoSpecificWeatherElements">Limiting
Samples to Specific Weather Elements</a> entry in the gfe configuration
file.
</p>
<p>You may also change the color associated with a sample. The default
is that the sample color will match the graphic color for that weather
element.&nbsp; Use the <a
href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#AlternativeSampleColor">parmName_Sample_color</a>
in the gfe configuration file to explictly set a color for the
sample.&nbsp;
For example, to change the sample color for Temperature (T) to green,
do
the following:
</p>
<p><i>add:</i>
<br>
<tt>T_Sample_color = "green"</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageSamples.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanImaskcertainareasofthe"></a>Can I Mask Certain Areas of
the
Display?</h2>
Masking or clipping is possible with ifpIMAGE.&nbsp; This is actually a
feature that can be used with the GFE as well.&nbsp; The
masking/clipping
is defined using an edit area (or reference set).&nbsp; The <a
href="gfeConfig_DB.html#FilteredDataMask">mask
field in the gfe configuration file</a> specifies the name of the edit
area to be used as a mask.&nbsp; Note that the output graphic will
automatically
be zoomed in to this area.
<p>The user can choose to mask all weather elements the same on the
image,
or choose to mask just certain ones.&nbsp; Refer the the <a
href="gfeConfig_DB.html#FilteredDataMask">mask
field definition in gfe configuration file</a> for details.
</p>
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGESimple.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGEclipped.png" nosave=""
height="400" width="549"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
(or
adding) a line that specifies the clipping mask for the site (BOU in
this
case). (There are alternative forms available as well.)&nbsp; The edit area is "BOU":
</p>
<p><tt>BOU_mask = "BOU"</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageMasking.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
</p>
<p>Note that when the user specifies a mask, that the ifpIMAGE display
will automatically be zoomed in to show just that area.&nbsp; This
feature
may be disabled through the use of the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGZoomDisable">Png_wholeDomain</a>
configuration item.
</p>
<p><a href="#CanIProduceSmoothedClippedImages">Smooth clipping</a> may
be applied when using a mask.
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="HowdoIdefinethesetofmap"></a>How Do I Define the Set of
Map Backgrounds?</h2>
Zero or more map backgrounds may be shown on the output PNG.&nbsp; The
<a href="gfeConfig_Map.html#DefaultMapBackgrounds">default
map background names</a> are specified in the gfe configuration file.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGESimple.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGEaltmap.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
the
lines that the default map backgrounds:
</p>
<p><i>from:</i><tt> MapBackgrounds_default = ['States', 'CWA']</tt>
<br>
<i>to:</i><tt> MapBackgrounds_default = ['States', 'Counties']</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageMaps.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanIchangetheappearanceofthemap"></a>Can I Change the
Appearance
of the Map Backgrounds?</h2>
The appearance of the map backgrounds may be changed in various ways
with
each map background being separately configurable:
<ul>
<li>All map backgrounds can be changed to the same color by changing
the
first
entry in the available map background color entry in the gfe
configuration
file;</li>
<li> <a href="gfeConfig_Map.html#MapBackgroundColors">Individual
colors</a>
may be specified per map background; and</li>
<li>The map background <a
href="gfeConfig_Map.html#MapBackgroundLineWidths">line
width</a> and <a href="gfeConfig_Map.html#MapBackgroundLinePatterns">line
pattern</a> may be specified per each map background.</li>
<li>The <a href="gfeConfig_Map.html#MapBackgroundLabels">labels</a>
for
each
map background may be selected from a list of available shapefile
attributes.&nbsp;
It is recommended that you start the GFE, load the appropriate map
background,
and explore the <a href="Button3Popups.html#Legend">MB3 over the Map
Legends
for the available shapefile attributes</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><br>
<img src="images/ifpIMAGESimple.png" nosave="" height="400" width="400"><img
src="images/ifpIMAGEmapcolor.png" nosave="" height="400" width="400"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying or
adding the following lines:
</p>
<p><tt>States_graphicColor = 'red'</tt>
<br>
<tt>States_lineWidth = 3</tt>
<br>
<tt>CWA_graphicColor = 'green'</tt>
<br>
<tt>CWA_linePattern = "DOTTED"</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageMapAttr.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanIchangetheappearanceofthegraphics"></a>Can I Change the
Appearance
of the Graphics?</h2>
You can control the following through the gfe configuration file:
<ul>
<li> <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#SpecificWeatherElementGraphicColor">color</a>,
<a
href="gfeConfig_WE.html#SpecificGraphicLineWidthsforaWeatherElement">line
width</a>, and line patterns for each graphic. If you don't specify a
specific
graphic color, then the available set of colors will be allocated from
the <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#GenericGraphicColors">generic color list</a>.</li>
<li> <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#WeatherElementVisualTypes">type of
graphic</a>
(e.g., contour, wind barb vs. wind arrow)</li>
<li>contour and bounded area label sizes, either <a
href="gfeConfig_WE.html#SpecificFontOffsetsforaWeatherElement">individually</a>
by weather element name, or <a
href="gfeConfig.html#GFEComponentFontSizes">overall</a></li>
<li> <a
href="gfeConfig_WE.html#SpecificFontOffsetsforaWeatherElement">length</a>
and <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#WindBarbandWindArrowDefaultSizes">wind
barb
and arrow default sizes</a> of the wind barbs and arrows</li>
<li> <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#WindArrowScaling">wind arrow
scaling,
linear
vs. logrithmetic</a></li>
<li> <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#SpecificDensitiesforaWeatherElement">density</a>
- packing of the wind barbs and arrows</li>
<li> <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#ContourValues">contour values</a>&nbsp;
and <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#ContourValues">contour
intervals</a> for scalar products</li>
<li> <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#SpecificDensitiesforaWeatherElement">density</a>
- packing of the contours</li>
<li> <a href="gfeConfig_WE.html#WindBarbandWindArrowDefaultSizes">wind
barb
and arrow default sizes</a></li>
</ul>
<p><br>
<img src="images/ifpIMAGEbaseG.png" nosave="" height="400" width="400"><img
src="images/ifpIMAGEadjG.png" nosave="" height="400" width="400"></p>
<p>The following changes were made to the configuration file:
</p>
<p><tt>Contour_font = 4</tt>
<br>
<tt>T_graphicColor = 'blue'</tt>
<br>
<tt>Wind_graphicColor = 'red'</tt>
<br>
<tt>Wind_fontOffset = 2</tt>
<br>
<tt>Wind_density = 20</tt>
<br>
<tt>T_density = -2</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageGraphicAtt.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration
file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="timerangeselection"></a>Can I Specify the Time Range for
Which
to Generate PNGs?</h2>
There are three ways to specify the time range for which to generate
PNGs.&nbsp;
The first method specifies the creation of the images on a fixed
interval,
with or without an offset (i.e., a different starting time), rather
than
the default. The second method limits the creation of PNGs to within a
specified time range.&nbsp; The third method uses a user-defined time
range
to determine the limit of creation.
<br>
&nbsp;
<h3>Generating PNGs on a Regular Interval</h3>
By default, ifpIMAGE automatically generates PNGs for every possible
time
step that results in a changed display of data.&nbsp; All of the
possible
permutations are considered when generating PNGs with differing valid
times.
The configuration items are <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PngInterval">Png_interval</a>
and <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PngInterval">Png_intervalOffset</a>.
<p>You can change this behavior and force ifpIMAGE to generate images
at
specific time intervals.&nbsp; These time intervals are specified in
units
of hours and will cover all grids from the beginning to the end of the
database that match the hour interval.&nbsp; Note that you may also
want
to specify <a href="#CanIUseSnapshotTimestampsintheLegend">Png_snapshotTime</a>
in order for the legends to indicate the interval time, rather than the
grid valid time.
</p>
<p>For example, specifying an interval of 6 hours will always generate
images for 00z, 06z, 12z, and 18z.&nbsp; The following changes would be
made to the configuration file for an interval of 6 hours:
</p>
<p><tt>Png_interval = 6</tt>
</p>
<p>To generate images that begin at a starting time other than 00z, you
can specify an interval offset using a configuration
option.&nbsp;&nbsp;
For example, specifying an interval offset of 1 and an interval of 6
(i.e.,
Png_interval = 6) will generate images at 01z,&nbsp; 07z, 13z and
19z.&nbsp;
The default for Png_intervalOffset is 0.
</p>
<p><tt>Png_intervalOffset = 1</tt>
</p>
<p><img src="images/IntOffset1Hr.png" height="385" width="400"><img
src="images/IntOffset7Hr.png" height="385" width="400"></p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEinterval.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
</p>
<p>Refer to the <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PngInterval">gfe
configuration
file documentation</a> for more details on the interval item.
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<h3>Specifying via the command line the start/end limits of generation</h3>
The -s and -e switches on the command line can be used to limit the
generation
of PNG images.&nbsp; The format of the entries are YYYYMMDD_HHMM.&nbsp;
If a grid of a PNG image falls within the <a href="#RunningifpIMAGE">starting
and ending time range specified,</a> then the image will be generated.
<br>
&nbsp;
<h3>Specifying via the command line a user-defined time range</h3>
The -t switch on the command line specifies a <a
href="#RunningifpIMAGE">user-defined
named time range.</a>&nbsp; If a grid of a PNG image falls within the
calculated
starting and ending time, then the image will be generated.
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="wxcolortable"></a>Can I Change the Appearance of the "Wx"
Weather
Element When Displayed as an Image?</h2>
The Wx weather element uses combinations of <a
href="gfeConfig_WECol.html#WeatherCoverageFillPatterns">fill
patterns</a> and <a
href="gfeConfig_WECol.html#DefiningColorEntriesforWeatherTypesandIntensities">colors</a>
to denote the weather. This can be controlled through the gfe
configuration
file.&nbsp; The <a href="gfeConfig_WECol.html#WeatherColorAlgorithm">weather
image algorithm</a> is described in the gfe configuration file.
<br>
&nbsp;
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGEwx1.png" nosave="" height="400" width="400"><img
src="images/ifpIMAGEwx2.png" nosave="" height="400" width="400"></p>
<p>The configuration file was modified to change the mapping from
patterns
to coverages, and from colors to weather types.&nbsp; The entries that
were changed are highlighted for clarity.
</p>
<p><i>from:</i>
<br>
<tt>WeatherCoverage_names = ["Iso", "WSct", "Sct", "Num", "Wide",
"Ocnl",
"SChc",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"Chc", "Lkly", "Def", "Patchy", "&lt;NoCov&gt;"]</tt>
<br>
<tt>WeatherCoverage_fillPatterns = ["OCNL", "WIDE_SCATTERED",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"SCATTERED", "LKLY", <b>"WIDE"</b>, "OCNL",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"WIDE_SCATTERED", "SCATTERED", "LKLY",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"WIDE", "SCATTERED", "WHOLE"]</tt>
<br>
<tt>WeatherType_names = ["&lt;NoWx&gt;", "T", "A", "R", "RW", "L",
"ZR",
"ZL",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"S", "SW", "IP", "F", "H", "BS", "K", "BD",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"SA", "LC", "FR", "AT", "TRW"]</tt>
<br>
<tt>WeatherType_colors = ["brown", "red3", "DeepPink", <b>"ForestGreen"</b>,</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"ForestGreen", "CadetBlue1", "darkorange1",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"goldenrod1", <b>"gray70"</b>, "Grey65", "plum1",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"khaki4", "Gray75", "snow", "grey30", "Brown",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"blue1", "coral1", "pale turquoise", "DeepPink",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"red3"]</tt>
</p>
<p><i>to:</i>
<br>
<tt>WeatherCoverage_names = ["Iso", "WSct", "Sct", "Num", "Wide",
"Ocnl",
"SChc",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"Chc", "Lkly", "Def", "Patchy", "&lt;NoCov&gt;"]</tt>
<br>
<tt>WeatherCoverage_fillPatterns = ["OCNL", "WIDE_SCATTERED",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"SCATTERED", "LKLY", <b>"WHOLE"</b>, "OCNL",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"WIDE_SCATTERED", "SCATTERED", "LKLY",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"WIDE", "SCATTERED", "WHOLE"]</tt>
<br>
<tt>WeatherType_names = ["&lt;NoWx&gt;", "T", "A", "R", "RW", "L",
"ZR",
"ZL",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"S", "SW", "IP", "F", "H", "BS", "K", "BD",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"SA", "LC", "FR", "AT", "TRW"]</tt>
<br>
<tt>WeatherType_colors = ["brown", "red3", "DeepPink", <b>"Green"</b>,</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"ForestGreen", "CadetBlue1", "darkorange1",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"goldenrod1", <b>"blue"</b>, "Grey65", "plum1",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"khaki4", "Gray75", "snow", "grey30", "Brown",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"blue1", "coral1", "pale turquoise", "DeepPink",</tt>
<br>
<tt>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"red3"]</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageWx.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h3><a name="ChangeWxSampleText"></a>Can I change the Weather Sample
Label
Text to something more descriptive?</h3>
The Weather Sample label text may be changed to something more
descriptive.&nbsp;
You use the <a href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#UsingWxDescriptiveNames">AltWxSampleLabels_prettyWx</a>
and <a href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#UsingWxDescriptiveNames">AltWxSampleLabels_label</a>
entries in the configuration file.&nbsp; This is a simple string
substitution.&nbsp;
For example if you wanted to change several labels as shown in the
following
table:
<br>
&nbsp;
<table border="1" width="100%" nosave="">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Pretty Wx String (plotted by default)</b></td>
<td><b>Desired Sample Label</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sct RW-</td>
<td>Rain Showers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sct SW-</td>
<td>Snow Showers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lkly S-</td>
<td>Snow</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wide S-</td>
<td>Snow</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&lt;NoWx&gt;</td>
<td>(blank)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>then your entries in the configuration file would contain:
</p>
<p><tt>AltWxSampleLabels_prettyWx = ['Sct RW-', 'Sct SW-', 'Lkly S-',
'Wide
S-', '&lt;NoWx&gt;']</tt>
<br>
<tt>AltWxSampleLabels_label = ['Rain Showers', 'Rain Showers', 'Snow',
'Snow', '']</tt>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanIdisablethecolorbar"></a>Can I Disable the Color Bar?</h2>
Yes.&nbsp; Use the <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PngomitColorBar">Png_omitColorBar</a>
entry in the configuration file:
<p><tt>Png_omitColorBar = 1</tt>
</p>
<p>You can control the <a href="gfeConfig.html#GFEComponentFontSizes">label
sizes</a> on the color bar.
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="WxAdditional"></a>Can I Always Have a Standard Set of Wx
Labels
on the Color Bar?</h2>
By default, the color bar for Wx consists of entries that are currently
in the data.&nbsp; For example, if Snow and Rain are the only values
present
in the grid, then the color bar will only have entries of snow and rain
on them.&nbsp; The user may specify a set of weather labels that will
always
appear in the color bar, regardless of the types of weather data in the
grid. The configuration item is <a
href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#WxAdditional">Wx_AdditionalColorBarLabels</a>.
<br>
&nbsp;
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanIdisablethelegend"></a>Can I Disable the Legend?</h2>
Yes. The <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGLegendDisplay">legend
visibility</a>
can be controlled through the gfe configuration file.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGESimple.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGEnolegend.png" nosave=""
height="400" width="400"><br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
(or
adding) a line that specifies T's (temperature) color table:
</p>
<p><i>from:</i><tt> Png_legend = 1</tt>
<br>
<i>to:&nbsp;&nbsp; </i><tt>Png_legend = 0</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageLegend.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="legendtimezone"></a>Can I Change the Legend From Local
Time to
Zulu Time?</h2>
Yes. The <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGLocalTimeLegend">legend time
zone
format</a> can be controlled through the gfe configuration file.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGESimple.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGElocaltz.png" nosave=""
height="400" width="400"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
(or
adding) a line that specifies T's (temperature) color table:
</p>
<p><i>from:</i><tt> Png_localTime = 0</tt>
<br>
<i>to:</i><tt> Png_localTime = 1</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageLegendTime.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration
file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2>Can I Switch Between the simple Weather Element Name and a more
descriptive
Name, or turn the name off completely?</h2>
Yes. There is an <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGLegendWeatherElementName">option
in the gfe configuration file</a> to specify whether the no name,
simple,
or more descriptive weather element name should be used in the legend.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGE_base2.png" nosave="" height="500"
width="500"><img src="images/ifpIMAGE_longName.png" nosave=""
height="500" width="500"></p>
<p>The changes made to the configuration file consisted of modifying
(or
adding) a line that enables this option:
</p>
<p><i>from:</i><tt> Png_descriptiveWeName = "SHORT"</tt>
<br>
<i>to:</i><tt> Png_descriptiveWeName = "LONG"</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageLegendTitle.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration
file</a>
</p>
<p>You can also set <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PngAlternateWeatherElementName">Png_descriptiveWeName</a>
to "ALT" which lets you define your own weather element string.&nbsp;
If
you use "ALT", then you use the Png_wxelem_AltName to define the string
you want to use, where wxelem is the name of the weather element.&nbsp;
For example, to change the "Maximum Temperature" string to "High
Temps",
you would enter the following two strings:
</p>
<p><tt>Png_descriptiveWeName = "ALT"</tt>
<br>
<tt>Png_MaxT_AltName = "High Temps"</tt>
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanIFormattheLegend"></a>Can I Format the Legend?</h2>
The legend may be formatted to include/exclude certain time and
duration
elements.&nbsp; Refer to the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGLegendFormats">gfe
configuration documentation</a> for details on how it can be changed. A
separate format string may be set for the duration, start time, and
ending
time for both the local time display and the Zulu time display.
<p>The order of the legend is always the weather element name,
duration,
start time, and ending time.&nbsp; Any of the duration, start time and
ending time may be omitted.
</p>
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGE_legendFormat1.png" nosave="" height="500"
width="500"><img src="images/ifpIMAGE_legendFormat2.png" nosave=""
height="500" width="500"></p>
<p><i>from:</i>
<br>
<tt>Png_legendFormat_LT_dur = ""</tt>
<br>
<tt>Png_legendFormat_LT_start = "%b %d %I:%M %p %Z to "</tt>
<br>
<tt>Png_legendFormat_LT_end = "%b %d %I:%M %p %Z"</tt>
</p>
<p><i>to:</i>
<br>
<tt>Png_legendFormat_LT_dur = "%H hours "</tt>
<br>
<tt>Png_legendFormat_LT_start = " "</tt>
<br>
<tt>Png_legendFormat_LT_end = "ending %a %b %d, %Y %I:%M %p"</tt>
</p>
<p>The units can be placed on the legend by including the special
phrase
"[UNITS]" in one of the legend format strings.&nbsp; For example, if
you
wanted the units to appear right before the duration in the above
example,
you would define the Png_legendFormat_LT_dur string to be:
</p>
<p><tt>Png_legendFormat_LT_dur = "([UNITS]) %H hours "</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageLegendFormat.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration
file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%"><a name="CanIUseSnapshotTimestampsintheLegend"></a><b><font
size="+2">Can
I Use Snapshot Timestamps in the Legend?</font></b>
<br>
&nbsp;
<p><img src="images/snapshot.png" height="360" width="400"><br>
&nbsp;
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<p>To indicate a snapshot time instead of the valid time of the grid,
use
the <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PngSnapshotTime">Png_snapshotTime</a>
option.
</p>
<p><i>add:</i>
<br>
<tt>Png_snapshotTime = 1</tt>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;The default format of the snapshot Zulu time is
"%b%d%H%MZ".&nbsp;
To change this format
</p>
<p><i>add:</i>
<br>
<tt>Png_legendFormat_Zulu_snapshot = "%b%d%H%MZ"</tt>
</p>
<p>The default format of the snapshot itme if the Png_snapshotTime = 1
and Png_localTime = 1 is "%d %b %I:%M %p% Z" .&nbsp; To change this
format
</p>
<p><i>add:</i>
<br>
<tt>Png_legendFormat_LT_snapshot = "%I:%M %p %Z" (for example)</tt>
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<p>Refer to the <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGLegendFormats">gfe
configuration
documentation</a> for details on how formats can be changed.
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEsnapshotTimeStamp.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration
file</a>
<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%">
<h3>Changing the Legend Language</h3>
You can also change the default language associated with the
legend.&nbsp;
Normally it is in English, but can be changed to French or
Spanish.&nbsp;
Refer to the <a href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PngLegendLanguage">Png_legendLanguage</a>
item in the gfe configuration file.&nbsp; For example, to have the
date/time
group formatted in Spanish, use the following in your configuration
file:
<p><i>add:</i>
<br>
<tt>Png_legendLanguage = "spanish"</tt>
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<h3>Changing the Legend Color</h3>
Be default, the color of the legend matches the color of the
graphic.&nbsp;
You can override this behavior using the <a
href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#AlternativeLegendColor">parmName_Legend_color</a>
entry in the configuration file.&nbsp; For example, to always have a
red
label for "T":
<p><i>add:</i>
<br>
<tt>T_Legend_color = "red"</tt>
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanIChangetheBackgroundColor"></a>Can I Change the
Background
Color?</h2>
The background color of the PNG images may be changed.&nbsp; This is
accomplished
through the background color for drawing panes in the gfe configuration
file.&nbsp; Note that additional entries will also need to be modified
in the configuration file in some cases depending upon the color
chosen.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The legends normally write the image label in "white" and the samples
are
painted in "white".&nbsp; The entries for <a
href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#SampleLatitude/LongitudeandPlusSignColor">sample
color</a> and <a href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#ImageLegendColor">image
legend
color</a> control these entries.&nbsp; The color of the labels for the
colors bar can be controlled through the <a
href="gfeConfig_Samp.html#ColorBarTextColors">Color
Bar Tick/Text Colors</a> entry.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGE_base3.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"><img src="images/ifpIMAGE_bkg.png" nosave="" height="400"
width="400"></p>
<p><i>from:</i>
<br>
<tt>bgColor = 'black'</tt>
<br>
<tt>ImageLegend_color = "white"</tt>
</p>
<p><i>to:</i>
<br>
<tt>bgColor = 'white'</tt>
<br>
<tt>ImageLegend_color = "blue"</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageBackColor.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration
file</a>
<br>
&nbsp;
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="CanIControltheOutputFilename"></a>Can I Control the
Output Filename?</h2>
The directory location for the output pngs is specified on the command
line using the <b>-o</b> switch. By default, the output filename of
the
imagery is in the form of <b>yyyymmdd_hhmm.png</b>.&nbsp; This can be
modified
in several ways as described below.
<br>
&nbsp;
<h3><a name="AddingaPrefixtotheFilename"></a>Adding a Prefix to the
Filename</h3>
The Png_filenamePrefix entry in the&nbsp; configuration file can be
used
to specify a prefix to the filename.&nbsp; Prefixes can be used to help
catagorize the set of imagery that is created.&nbsp; For example, if
you
run ifpIMAGE twice with different configuration files to generate a set
of Temperature images and Wind images, all of the images will end up in
the same output directory, and may have the same name.&nbsp; By using
the
Png_filenamePrefix entry, you can assign prefixes for each ifpIMAGE
configuration.
<p>To prefix all of the filenames with "T_Official_", use the following
entry in the&nbsp; configuration file:
</p>
<p><tt>Png_filenamePrefix = 'T_Official_'</tt>
</p>
<p>The result will be that all of the generated filenames will be in
the
form of <b>T_Official_yyyymmdd_hhmm.png</b>.
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimagePrefix.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
<br>
&nbsp;
</p>
<h3><a name="ChangingtheDateString"></a>Changing the Date String</h3>
The date/time string defaults to the absolute time as determined by the
grids contained within the image.&nbsp; The default format of the date
string is <b>yyyymmdd_hhmm</b>.&nbsp; An alternative approach involves
running the ifpIMAGE program with the <b>-b</b> command line switch
followed
by a base time specification.&nbsp; The base time specification is also
in the standard <b>yyyymmdd_hhmm</b> format.
<p>When the -b switch is given to ifpIMAGE, the date string is changed
to this format:
</p>
<p><tt><i>basetime</i>_F<i>proj</i></tt>
</p>
<p>where basetime is that specified on the command line with the -b
switch,
and proj is calculated as the number of hours offset from the basetime
for the valid time of the image.
</p>
<p>For example, if the basetime is specified as 20010313_1200, and the
valid time of the image is 20010313_2100, then the png filename
(assuming
no prefix) will be:
</p>
<p><tt>20010313_1200_F9.png</tt>
</p>
<p>The Png_baseTimeFormat entry also allows you to change the
formatting
of the date string.&nbsp; This works with or without the -b command
line
switch.&nbsp; The base time format is in the identical format to the
legend
formatting strings.&nbsp;&nbsp; Refer to the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PNGLegendFormats">gfe
configuration documentation</a> for the available options. For example,
if you wanted the output filenames to only contain the forecast
projection
time, then you would run the ifpIMAGE with the -b switch and specifying
the base time, and you would use the following syntax in the gfe
configuration
file:
</p>
<p><tt>Png_baseTimeFormat = ''</tt>
</p>
<p>If you wanted to include just the day of the week, then followed by
the projection time, then use the -b switch, specify the base time, and
use the following syntax in the gfe configuration file:
</p>
<p><tt>Png_baseTimeFormat = "%a_"</tt>
</p>
<p>which would produce filenames such as <b>Tue_18.png</b>.
</p>
<p>If you don't specify the -b switch, then the base time formatting is
for the valid time of the grid.&nbsp; A format such as:
</p>
<p><tt>Png_baseTimeFormat = "%a_%H"</tt>
</p>
<p>would result in filenames such as: <b>Mon_18.png</b>, <b>Mon_21.png</b>,
<b>Tue_00.png</b>,
<b>Tue_03.png</b>.
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="Whatdoestheinfofilecontain"></a>What does the "info" file
contain?</h2>
An "info" file is generated for each "png" image.&nbsp; The "info" file
contains descriptive information about the generated image.&nbsp; It
includes
the following information:
<ul>
<li>valid time of grid</li>
<li>number of grids displayed</li>
<li>for each grid:</li>
<ul>
<li>weather element identifier, in the format of
parmName:siteID_GRID_optType_model_modelTime</li>
<li>start time of the grid, in the format of yyyymmdd_hhmm</li>
<li>ending time of the grid, in the format of yyyymmdd_hhmm</li>
<li>color assigned to the grid, may be a RGB hexidecimal value or a
color
name.</li>
<li>display type of the grid, either IMAGE or GRAPHIC</li>
</ul>
</ul>
The color assigned to an IMAGE grid is not valid.
<p>If an IMAGE is displayed as both an IMAGE and GRAPHIC (such as
temperature
image with contours), the info file will have two entries for that grid
-- one IMAGE and one GRAPHIC.
</p>
<p>The form of the weather element identifier has the following
attributes:
<br>
&nbsp;
<table border="1" width="100%" nosave="">
<tbody>
<tr nosave="">
<td nosave="">Name</td>
<td>Description</td>
<td>Example</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Weather Element Name</td>
<td>name of the weather element</td>
<td>T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Site identifier</td>
<td>site identifier for the database</td>
<td>BOU</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Format</td>
<td>format of the weather element, always GRID</td>
<td>GRID</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Optional database type</td>
<td>Optional database type for the database</td>
<td>''</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Model</td>
<td>Model Name</td>
<td>Fcst</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ModelTime</td>
<td>Valid time of the model, in form of yyyymmdd_hhmm</td>
<td>20010301_1200</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</p>
<p>Each of the sections are separated by an underscore character,
except
for the weather element name, which is always followed by a colon (:).
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageInfoFile.txt">Example "info" file</a>
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<h2><a name="logos"></a>Can I add the NWS and NOAA logos?</h2>
The standard NWS and NOAA logos can be added to the bottom of your PNG
imagery by toggling the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PngLogoandLogoString">Png_logo
entry</a> in the configuration file.&nbsp; You can also define the text
string that will appear between the two logos through the <a
href="gfeConfig_Png.html#PngLogoandLogoString">Png_logoString
entry</a>.
<p><img src="images/ifpIMAGENoLogo.png" nosave="" height="340"
width="350"><img src="images/ifpIMAGELogo.png" nosave="" height="394"
width="350"></p>
<p>The above was accomplished by the following two statements in the
configuration
file:
</p>
<p><i>to:</i>
<br>
<tt>Png_logo = 1</tt>
<br>
<tt>Png_logoString = "NWS Timbuktoo"</tt>
</p>
<p><a href="EXAMPLEimageLogo.py">Example ifpIMAGE configuration file</a>
</p>
<p></p>
<hr width="100%">
<p><a href="GFESuite.html">Back to TOC</a>
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