PRFPLT
Sections
NAME
prfplt - Profiler data plotting program
SYNOPSIS
prfplt [parameters...] filename
PARAMETERS
| Command Line | Resource | Default | Description |
| -h | help | No | Lists basic help information. |
| -df=filename | default | .wxpdef | Sets the name of the resource file. |
| -na=name | name | prfplt | Specifies the name used in resource file parsing. |
| -ba | batch | No | Run program in batch mode |
| -me=level | message | out2 | Specifies level of messages to be displayed
|
| -fp=filepath | file_path | current directory | Specifies location of database files. |
| -dp=datapath | data_path | current directory | Specifies the location (path) of the input raw data files. This may be modified in the name convention file. |
| -cp=conpath | con_path | current directory | Specifies the location (path) of the input surface converted data files. This may be modified in the name convention file. |
| -rp=rawpath | raw_path | current directory | Specifies the location of the output raw files generated by the program. These files will not be generated unless the out_file resource is specified and the output is plotted data. |
| -gp=gridpath | grid_path | current directory | Specifies the location of the output grid files generated by the program. These files are not generated unless the out_file resource is specified and the output is a gridded field. |
| -ip=imagepath | image_path | current directory | Specifies the default location of the output GIF images generated by the program. |
| -nc=name_conv | name_conv | name_conv | The name convention file specifies how files are named in WXP. This sets which name convention file to use. |
| -if=in_file | in_file | prf_dat | Specifies the input file name tag. The default is prf_dat, but it can be modified to any value in the filename convention file. A full name convention can be specified as well. |
| -mf=mapfile[,...] | map_file | wxp.map or cont.dat, country.dat for domains outside North America |
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|la] | current | None | This specifies to use current data files. The current filename is based on the name convention. An optional hour can be specified for older data. If la is specified, the program will search back to find the most recent available file. |
| -ho=hour | hour | None | This resource specifies the exact hour that a data file is valid for. This locks in the start hour for a multi-file sequence. |
| -nh=num_hour | num_hour | 12 | This specifies the number of hours that will be used in the plot. If this is not specified, a 12 hour plot will appear. |
| -id=identifier | identifier | None User prompt |
Specifies the station to plot. If specified, a time cross section will be plotted. |
| -pd=domain | plot_domain | None Batch: first domain in wxp.reg file. |
This specifies the plotting domain. The projection, aspect ratio and the domain size are specified. |
| -re=region | region | Same as plot domain | This resource is synonymous with the plot_domain. |
| -le=level | level | None | This specifies the level to use in horizontal cross-sections. By default, a time cross-section is plotted. If this resource is specified, a horizontal cross-section will be generated. |
| -va=variable | variable | User prompt Batch: first variable listed in the prfplt.var file |
This specifies the variable to plot along with its formatting attributes. A list of valid variables is given below. |
| -sc=scale_factor | plot_scale | 1.0 | Specifies a scaling factor for all plotted text, symbols, vectors, etc. |
| -fm=format | plot_format | None | Specifies the output format of the plots. This is generally used to specify how many decimal places get displayed on the plot and in the output raw files. |
| -pp=param[,param...] | plot_param | None | Specifies additional plotting parameters. See the plot_param resource for more details. |
| -dr=drawable[,...] | draw | all | Specifies which part of the plot is to be drawn. |
| -la=label[,...] | 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. |
| -in=interval | con_interval | None for plots, User prompt for grids. Batch: 0 | Specifies the contour interval to use in contouring grids. This can also be used to color code plotted data and vectors. |
| -cb=base | con_base | Lowest contour value, maximum wind speed | Specifies the base value for color fill contours, and wind speed per grid distance. For more details, see the con_base resource. |
| -fl=font_list | 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. |
| -cot=color[:attr] | color_text | white black for inverse plots. |
Specifies the text color for labels above and below the plot. |
| -cod=color[:attr] | color_data | green | Specifies the color for plotted data. |
| -com=color[:attr] | color_map | red | Specifies the color for background maps. |
| -coln=color[:attr] | color_line | magenta:st=dsh | Specifies the color for lat/lon lines. |
| -cowd=color[:attr] | color_wind | white black for inverse plots. |
Specifies the color for wind barbs. |
| -cof=[val:]color[:attr],... | color_fill | A predefined color set based on the wxp.clr color table | Specifies the color fill contour color set. See the color_fill resource for more details. |
| -de=device[,...] | device | User prompt Batch: display |
Specifies the output device. |
| -ti=title | title | Program name | Specifies the window title. |
| -ic | icon | Off | Specifies whether to open window in iconified mode. |
| -bg=color | background | black white for inverse plots |
Specifies the background color of the window. |
| -ge=geometry | geometry | 640x480 | Specifies the window and paper geometry. |
| filename[#seq] | filename | None User Pompt Batch: current=la |
The name of the surface converted data file to be plotted. An optional sequence number can be added to designate the time for non-WXP files. |
DESCRIPTION
This program plots profiler data. There are two types of output for the program. The first is a time cross-section using a series of profiler data files. The second mode is a horizontal cross-section at a specified level. By default, a time cross-section will be plotted. If a level is specified with the level resource, a horizontal cross-section will be plotted. surface data on a background map. The input to the program is a profiler data file.
The programs starts off by prompting the user for input profiler file name. The user may specify the input file either via the command line of through the current resource. The input naming convention is specified by the prf_dat tag but this can be changed with the in_file resource. For time cross-sections, the num_hour resource is used to set the number of hours in the cross-section. The default is 12 hours.
For time cross-sections, the program will now prompt the user for a profiler station to use.
The program will now prompt the user for the particular output variable to plot. The program will show a menu of commonly used variables but many more are defined internally by the program and in the prfplt.var file. The internal variables are:
| Variable | Description and units |
| city | All stations in the data file |
| temp | Temperature (C) -- surface level only |
| dewp | Dewpoint (C) -- surface level only |
| dewd | Dewpoint depression (C) -- surface level only |
| wdir | Wind direction (deg) |
| wspd | Wind speed (knt) |
| wbrbc wbrb wind |
Wind speed and direction (knt) |
| uwnd | U wind component - EW relative (m/s) |
| vwnd | V wind component - NS relative (m/s) |
| vvel | Vertical velocity (m/s) |
| shear | Vertical wind shear (/s) -- layer can be adjusted with level resource |
| hel | 0 - 3000 mb AG storm relative helicity (m^2/s^2) -- layer can be adjusted with level resource |
These parameters can be accessed by name if they have not been redefined in the prfplt.var file. Otherwise, prepending a "+" to the variable name will guarantee these variables will appear.
The program will now open the graphics window and start processing the data. The user will be prompted for the output device. Then the profiler file is opened and data read in. First, the background map will plot. Any additional computations are performed and the data are plotted. If a simple plot is specified such as "temp", the data will be plotted to 0 decimal places on the map. Formatting of the number can be done with the plot_format resource. Composite plots can either be specified with the variable resource (.var file, resource file, command line or variable prompt). The variable resource allows the user to control much of the data formatting.
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.
EXAMPLES
prfplt -cu=la -id=PLTC2 -va=wbrb -de=d
This generates a 12 hour time cross-section of wind data plotted as wind barbs for the profiler site PLTC2.
prfplt -cu=la -le=3000m -va=wbrb -de=d
This will generate a horizontal cross-section of wind data at the 3000m level. All profiler stations are plotted.
FILES
- prfplt.var - variable menu and definitions
SEE ALSO
Last updated Oct 4, 1997