gridcont

Sections

NAME
SYNOPSIS
PARAMETERS
DESCRIPTION
EXAMPLES
FILES
SEE ALSO

SYNOPSIS

gridcont [parameters...] filename

PARAMETERS

Command Line	Resource	Default	Description
-h	help	No	Lists basic help information.
-df=filename	default	wxp.cfg	Sets the name of the resource file.
-na=name	name	gridcont	Specifies the name used in resource file parsing.
-me=level	message	out2	Specifies level of messages to be displayed file information - mess
-fp=path	file_path	the current directory	Specifies location of database files.
-dp=path	data_path	the current directory	Specifies the location of the input raw data files.
-cp=path	con_path	the current directory	Specifies location of decoded/converted data files
-gp=path	grid_path	the current directory	Specifies location of gridded output files from WXP.
-ip=path	image_path	the current directory	Specifies location of output image files (.gif/,png) from WXP.
-nc=name_conv	name_conv	name.cnv or name_conv file	This sets which name convention file to use.
-if=in_file	in_file	program specific	Specifies the input file name tag.
-mf=filename...	map_file	wxp.map	Specifies the name of the map database file. Multiple maps can be specified along with attributes to describe how to draw the map.
-cu=[hour]	current	none	This specifies to use current data files.
-ho=hour	hour	none	Specifies the exact hour that a data file is valid for.
-nh=hours[,skip]	num_hour	Value Generally 0	Specifies the number of hours worth of data to use in the program
-pd=domain	plot_domain	program dependent, mostly "us"	Sets the plotting domain
-pl=type	plot_type	Program dependent, normally user prompt	Sets the type of output plot
-sc=type	plot_scale	1.0	Specifies a scaling factor for all plotted text, symbols, vectors, etc.
-fm=format	format	None	Specifies the output format of data.
-pa=param[,param...]	parameter	none	Specifies addition parameters to program.
-dr=value[,value...]	draw	all	Specifies which part of the plot is to be drawn.
-la=type	label	Program defaults	Specifies the labels to be plotted around the plot. By default, labels are generated by the program and plotted above and below the plot. This resource overrides these labels.
-ci=value	con_interval	0	Specifies the contour interval to use in contouring grids. This can also be used to color code plotted data and vectors.
-cb=value	con_base	lowest contour value, max wind speed or 0 depending on application	Specifies the base value for color fill contours, and wind speed per grid distance.
-fl=font_file[,font_file...]	font_list	modern.fnt	Specifies a list of fonts to use in the plots.
-ct=color_table	color_table	wxp.clr	Specifies the color table to use in the plot. This maps color names to actual RGB color values.
-cod=color[:attribute...]	color_data	green (for most programs)	Specifies the color for plotted data.
-com=color[:attribute...]	color_map	red (for most programs)	Specifies the color for background maps.
-col=color[:attribute...]	color_label	white (black on inverse plots)	Specifies the text color for labels above and below the plot.
	color_lalo
-coco=color[:attribute...]	color_cont	white (black on inverse plots)	Specifies color for line contours
-cof=[value:]color[:attribute...],[value:]color[:attribute...],... -cof=filename	color_fill	magenta, lmagenta, blue, lblue, cyan, lcyan, green, lgreen, brown, yellow, red, lred, dgray, lgray, white	Specifies the colors in the color fill contours.
-cocl=color[:attribute...]	color_clabel	white (black on inverse plots)	Specifies color for line contour labels.
-cofl=color[:attribute...]	color_flabel	black	Specifies color for color fill contour labels
-de=device[,parameters]	device	d for display	Specifies the output device.
-ti=title	title	The name of the program or the value of the name resource	Specifies the window title.
-ic	icon	off	Specifies whether to open window in iconified mode.
-bg=color	background	black	Specifies the background color of the window.
-ge=widthxheight[+x+y]	geometry	640x512 (for windowed plots)	Specifies the window and paper geometry.
filename (positional)	filename	none	Specify input filename

This program contours existing grid files either created by WXP or preformatted GRIB files. WXP grid files can be created with the out_file resource being set on the contouring programs such as sfccalc and upcalc. For multigrid files, additional information can be tacked onto the filename to denote which grid to use. If not specified ont he command line, the filename will be prompted for. The filename syntax is:

filename[+time:level:var[:units]]
or
filename[#num[:units]]

where filename is the name of the grid file to use. If a relative path is used, the value of the grid_path is prepended to the filename. The filename can be "std" where standard input is used.

The extra information following the "+" or "#" defines which grid to use within a multigrid file. The value of num represents the sequence number of the grid in the file. Grids are numbered starting at 0 (zero). This number can be determined through a griblook listing.

The values of time, level, and var make it possible to specify the grid based on typical grid information. Possible values for each are:

time: init,06,12,18,24,30,36,42,48,60,72,d3,d4,d5,d6,d7,d8,d9,d10
level: sfc, sl (sea level), trop, mwnd, 1000, 850, 700, 500, 400, 300, 200, 100
var: temp, rhum, pres, vvel, uwnd, vwnd, prec, lift

The unit specification allows the user to change the units of the grid before performing the math.

The user may also specify the input file using the in_file resource to specify a name convention tag and the current resource. To generate a loop, the num_hour resource can be specified. This will tell the program to loop through this number of hours.

The domain defaults to the domain of the first grid unless changed through the plot_domain resource. The domain can be interactively changed using the mouse once the plot has been generated.

The program will now open the graphics window and start processing the data. The user will be prompted for the output device. Then the grid file is opened and data read in. The background map will plot first unless the output is a color fill contour in which the map plots last. Next, the maximum and minimum of the grid are displayed for the user to pick an appropriate contour interval. Then, the contour or vector plot will display.

There are several plot types. For contour plots, there is:

ln - line contours
dln - dashed line contours
ndln - negative dashed line contours. All contours less than 0 are dashed. The breakoff can be reset with the con_base resource.
cf - color fill contours. These are contours where the areas between the contour lines are filled with a progressive color scheme. By default, this is a 15 color scale in which the colors wrap around if there are more than 15 color level. The color scheme can be set by the color_fill resource.

For vectors:

vect -- vectors/arrows
strm -- streamlines
barb -- wind barbs

When the plot is complete, output can be saved to a GIF image file, spooled to the printer or the plot can be zoomed. When zooming the image, the plot will redraw to the new domain. It will also add more stations to the plot depending on the size of the domain. When the user is finished with the plot, the enter key can be hit which closes the window and returns the user to the variable prompt.