Using 12Planet

This tutorial is on setting up and using 12Planet (one to planet) as a forecast collaboration tool.

Table of Contents

1. Starting a chat session

1. Start Netscape on an AWIPS workstation.
   
2. Click File then Open Page. In the box that pops up type: http://165.92.25.122:8080
3. At the main screen, click on <<GO TO USER INTERFACE>> You will then be presented with a Login screen, requesting a username and password. After clicking in the username box, type your appropriate username and password.
4. You cannot login as a user more than once at a time (no relogins). You must logout of a session to be able to use that ID again.
5. The security certificate screens may come up each time you log in if you do not click on the button on each page that states "remember this decision" (each page has a different question next to the box).

With the logging feature, it will take longer for the chat applet to load so please be patient. It can take up to a minute.

The screen looks similar to the one below upon startup with the exception that there will be previous postings loading in. You will be in the nws_collaborate room when you enter. The Users tab shows you all of the users in that room. Any other available rooms, and the number of users in each, are shown when you click on the Rooms tab.

1.1. Naming conventions

Each WFO has 4 user IDs: where XXX is office ID

XXX_short
XXX_long
XXX_3
XXX_4

The _long and _short are for long and short term forecaster, however that is defined at your office, and _3 and _4 are for any other purposes such as marine or fire weather desks.

HPC has 4 user IDs:

hpc_MDLDIAG
hpc_MEDR
hpc_QPF1
hpc_QPF2

MDLDIAG is the model diagnostic desk, MEDR is the medium range desk, and QPF1 and 2 are the QPF forecasters.

SPC has 6 user IDs:

SPC_Outlook1
SPC_Fire
SPC_Outlook2
SPC_Outlook3
SPC_Meso
SPC_Watch

SPC_Outlook1 will be available for collaboration between 07-11Z with WFOs about the 13Z Day 1 Outlook, based on the 06Z Day 1 Outlook and any new information/guidance. SPC_Outlook1 has set up the following words to trigger the audible alarm:

SPC
spc
Tornado
Hail
Damaging
Severe
swomcd
swody1

SPC_Fire will be available to chat in the spc_fire room from 05-08Z to discuss the fire weather threat primarily for the SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook, though chat is also encouraged for the Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook when the threat looks particularly significant. SPC_Fire has set up the following words to trigger the audible alarm:

SPC
spc
lightning
dry
wind
relative humidity
critical area

The remainder of SPC IDs will not be used during the 2003 convective season.

RFCs each have 3 IDs (XXX_1, etc.), SPC has one for each desk, CWSUs each have one and regional HQ have 3 a piece (XRH_1, etc.).

2. Setting up your features

2.1. The ignore list

When a user first logs in, all other users are being ignored. This means that you will not see any traffic. To add IDs to your subscribe list:

1. Click on the + button on the startup screen
2. Click on the Block List button

That brings up the dialog you see below.

You will need to choose the offices that you wish to see and use the < to move them from ignore to subscribe. All users can be moved by selecting the << button.

Make sure to choose any of the office's log in possibilities. Also, all of the HPC IDs are at the bottom of the list as they are lower case. You will have to repeat this for each of your office's IDs. Your list is stored on the server and retrieved for your next session.

If you begin to make changes and then click Cancel, it will disable your block list. To enable it, simply bring up your block list again and click OK.

2.2. Audible Alerts

If you would like to hear a "ding" when specific words are entered by one of your surrounding offices, you simply enter that word into your word list. To bring up the word list:

1. Click on the + button on the startup screen
2. Click on the Word List button

Type your word into the Add a new word box and then click Add. You can remove any words by selecting the word in the word list and clicking Remove. Once you have made all of your edits, click OK.

Some things to keep in mind:

• The alert feature is case sensitive. So if you want to make sure you receive an alert when someone uses your office ID, you need to enter it in with all caps, all lower case and first letter capitalized.
• If you would like an alert with each message posted, enter _ in your list (that's an underscore). Since everyone's ID has an underscore in it, you will receive an alert with each message.
• If one of your words is contained within another word typed by a user, you will receive a ding (i.e. your word is snow and someone types snowfall).
• If you are only hearing a faint ding on your Linux boxes, open a term window and type kmix (on OB1) or xmixer (AWIPS 5.2.x). Scroll all of the bars to the top, and exit. You can test the volume level by typing play /tmp/beeper.au in an xterm. You can always try adjusting the volume again if the beep is now too loud.

2.3. Changing your text color

You can change the color of your text in the chat. This can help users distinguish between desks or offices. There is only a limited number of colors, so there will likely be more than one user per color. The default color is black. To change your text color:

1. Click on the button next to Default color
2. Choose the color you would like for your text to be
   • Some of the colors (such as yellow) do not show up very well

2.4. Floating your screen

You may wish to have your chat screen detached from the Netscape window. The benefits include the ability to resize the chat screen and move it to a desired location. To accomplish this:

1. Click the Float button
2. Your chat window will now be resizable and moveable.
3. On the Linux boxes you can have the system "memorize" your floated window size for future sessions. To do this, hold down the Alt key, middle click on the floating window's title bar and select History --> Remember Dimensions.

Now you can minimize the parent Netscape window and place your floating chat window wherever you want. All of the same functionality you had when the window was docked are still available. To dock the window back, click the Dock button.

3. Using the software

This software works like most other instant messaging chat programs like AOL instant messenger. This graphic points out many key features.

Click here for an example of a chat session from a previous event. While it is not from 12Planet, it gives you an idea.

3.1. Logging and time stamping

The logging feature has now been implemented which loads a history of the chat for the past 8 hours or so.

To help with keeping track of all of the messages, a time stamp has also been implemented. All time stamps are in Z time. Currently the messages you post will not have a time stamp. If you log out and back in, the messages in the history will all have time stamps whether they came from you or other IDs. Also there is a quirk where single digit times such as 15:04 are stamped as 15:4. This will hopefully be fixed soon.

3.2. Whispering

If you would like to just send a message to a particular user that the rest of the room does not see, you can whisper to them. To do this:

1. Click on the user name you would like to send the message to. The status bar tells you that you are whispering to that user.
2. Type your message in the regular text entry area and hit enter.

Make sure to click back on To all users when you are finished.

3.2.1 Creating a private floating chat

You can also have a private chat with a particular user by creating a temporary private chat.

1. Click on the user ID of the person you wish to private chat with
2. Click Private
3. A very small, nearly clear icon will appear in the center of the Netscape screen. Place your mouse over it.
4. At this point you can do one of two things
   • If you see an arrow, right click and select Maximize which will make the window full screen. You can then resize in the usual manner.
   • If you see an upper right corner with an arrow in it, like you see when trying to resize a window, left click, hold and drag the window to the desired size.

You can now have a full screen private chat without having to worry about switching back to To all users. When you are finished chatting, click the Close button.

3.3. Creating a private chat room

You can create a private chat room for more than two users to have a discussion. To do this:

1. Click on the Rooms tab
2. Click Create
3. Click in the box below Enter the name of the room to create and enter the name you want for your room
4. You can enter a password that will be required by any participants
5. Click OK

Then just let the users you would like the private chat with what the name of the new room is. The room will remain as long as someone is in it.

4. Tips for successful collaborative chat

There are several ways to use chat to aid in the forecast process.

• Keep at least one chat session open at all times to allow for continuous sharing of information
  • Even outside "traditional" coordination times new information can arise which can affect a forecast. With the NDFD, these changes to one office's forecast may necessitate changes to another office's forecast
• With one national chat room, no office or national center will have to check multiple chat rooms to get the information they need to produce a well-collaborated forecast
  • Can block any users you do not wish to see traffic from
• National chat room can be used for synoptic scale discussion among larger group while private chat or temporary chat rooms can be used between specific offices to fine tune a border
• Stick to the salient meteorological facts
  • This keeps the chat from becoming too long and difficult to pick out the important information

Below is an example of a chat session from around 12/31/02

5. Troubleshooting

Problems have been noted with running 12Planet on HP workstations. Many of these can be solved by having the proper Netscape browser settings. Go to Edit->Preferences->Advanced and make sure that the following are enabled:

Java
Javascript

Cookies:
Enable all cookies

Also go to Edit->Preferences->Advanced->Proxies and make sure that the box next to "Direct connection to the internet" is checked. If you enter manual proxies, all kinds of Java errors will cause the browser to lockup and/or crash. Also, your blocklist would have to be reset every time you logged in.

For other technical difficulties, call the NCF (24/7). They have access to the chat server. For other problems or questions, go to the Collaboration Tool (12Planet) forum at http://www.nwstc.noaa.gov/cgi/dcforum/dcboard.cgi outside of the AWIPS system. You can post questions there and someone will answer them.

Last updated May 19, 2003 by Shannon White