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Table 1 - Terminology
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Term Definition
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Parameter A set of forecast grids with valid time periods for each grid (including the NULL
set) identified by its name and source.
Parameter Name The name of the parameter (e.g., Temperature).
Parameter Source Parameter's source defined as the database where it is contained. For example,
Fcst and RUC_14Dec95_0300 are sources.
Time Block State The type of the last edit - such as user-modified, initialized, interpolated.
Editor States The state of the time block, such as loaded, unloaded, visible, and active, as it
pertains to the spatial editor.
Time Block History A list of time block states, accompanied by the username and a timestamp.
Parameter Time Span A particular parameter's TimeRange. This PTS contains zero or more Time
(PTS) Blocks.
TimeBlock A forecast grid valid over a PTS.
Mutable User modifiable PTS.
Mutable Parameter A parameter that is generally editable, although not every time block and PTS
may be editable.
Modified A PTS whose TImeBlocks altered from the central database inventory.
Immutable A PTS that not modification capable because it is either locked by another user
or a read-only source.
User Edited The time block state of user-edited is attached to a time block if the block has
been edited using any of the three editors in the gfe, or from any other gfe.
gfe The graphical forecast editor, consisting of the three editors plus menu items, is
called the gfe.
Selection Time Range A time range selected, by one of several means, for purposes of identifying one
or more time blocks for one or more parameters.
Selected Parameter A parameter that has been identified on the time block editor for edit operations.
The intersection of selection time range and selected parameters indicate the
selected time blocks.
Editor A component of the gfe used for displaying and editing parameters.
Spatial Editor An editor of the gfe that depicts parameters on a planar view.
Temporal Editor An editor of the gfe that displays a time-series of parameters valid a a grid point
or averaged over an area.
Time Block Editor An editor of the gfe that displays the inventory of time blocks for parameters.
Configuration File A file that contains user-configurable items to tailor the gfe.
Group A set of parameters defined in a configuration file as a related set.
Quantum The minimum TimeBlock time period span.
Same-parameter A replace operation that copies data from one parameter to another, where each
replace parameter has the same name.
Cross-parameter A replace operation that copies data from one parameter to another, where each
replace parameter has a unique name but identical units.
Shadow Block A fixed time range for a mutable parameter into which a time block must fit
exactly.
Reference Set A set of selected gridpoints, that generally comprise an area.
Active Reference Set The current set of selected gridpoints, which define the area of influence for the
spatial editor gridpoint tools.
Spatial Editor Area Of The set of gridpoints that will be modified if the user performs an edit operation
Influence on the spatial editor. This is independent of the active reference set for freehand
tools and may include a part of the active reference set for gridpoint tools.
Temporal Editor Area The set of gridpoints that will be modified if the user performs an edit operation
of Influence on the temporal editor. The temporal editor area of influence is always the same
as the active reference set.
Data Selector An individual "button" used in an editor to toggle on/off a parameter's visibility,
select the parameter for editing, and control the graphic/image appearance.
Data Selector Area A group of Data Selectors.
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Quantum (expressed in units of seconds) is defined in the configuration file and defines the smallest segment of the time blocks.
Inventory information for all database parameters is always locally accessible, even if not shown by the editors.
Only one mutable database is available when the system starts, passed to the program via a command line argument. Since only one mutable database can be open at one time, you cannot have both a Fcst and a Test database open.
The system runs in a real-time clock-offset mode and is set by a number contained in a command line argument. The default number is zero, which means that the system runs in real-time. Changing this number will make the system run in an offset time.
Loading a parameter into the gfe makes it available in all three editors.
AFPS can display data from one or more databases simultaneously.
When a time block is created, its state is edited, initialized, or interpolated, indicating how the data was loaded. In a copy-to procedure, the target time block's state is set to edited.
An edited or duplicated time block's state is edited.
If a parameter is duplicated, then there will be more than one time block. Extending a time block (using the duplicate mode) does not really happen; instead, additional time blocks are created. The internal scheme for storage of time blocks with the same data may be different.
Locks are made on the minimum amount of time possible - usually a time block in length. Doing a duplicate operation does not lock the original time block nor change the original time block state.
A time block can have five editor states once it is "introduced" into the system (through the parameter menu): unloaded, loaded, visible, active/visible, and active/invisible. If a time block is unloaded, then it exists on the time block editor but there isn't a corresponding spatial editor data selector. If it is loaded, then there is a corresponding data selector in the spatial editor. If visible, then it appears in the spatial editor data display area. If active/visible, then it is visible and selected for editing. The active/invisible state occurs if a time block was made active in the spatial editor and then its visibility is toggled off.
The dialog announces the arrival of new model data. The user has two choices - update editors or dismiss. The update editors option replaces all parameters from a previous version of the model with the newly arrived version of the model and then dismisses the dialog. The dismiss option simply dismisses the dialog. The algorithm is described in Section 7.3.3, Update Parameters, on page 15.
Multiple instances of this dialog may exist simultaneously. The dialog is illustrated in Figure1.
Figure 1 - New Model Available Dialog
The user may change the size of each of the editors through the use of a "pane-stretcher" object. There is no minimum or maximum size for the editors except that the pane-stretcher must always be visible.
The main menu bar, controller area, and message area are fixed in size in the horizontal and vertical directions.
The horizontal widths of the spatial editor data selector, spatial editor legend, temporal editor data selector, and time block editor data selector are fixed in size.
The vertical extent of the time scale is fixed in size. The horizontal extent is the same size as the time block editor and temporal editor.
The main window can be resized. By default, it is approximately 1200 x 1010 pixels in size without the window decorations. Resizing the main window simply clips on the lower-right of the main window. No menu wrapping will occur and no resizing of other windows occur.
The initial horizontal size of the time scale, and the vertical size of the time block editor is identified in the configuration file. The size of the remainder of the components are automatically determined from this information.
During startup an additional window, showing initialization state, is temporarily displayed. It should graphically represent the following information:
Non-modal dialogs pertaining to the spatial editor, such as set value and define based on value, generally are displayed over the time block editor to not obscure the spatial editor.
All dialogs have a "HELP" button to provide assistance.(1)
The layout and estimated initial pixel sizes of each component are shown in Figure2.
Figure 2 - AFPS Main Window Layout
The user interface colors are configurable. The specific fonts used in the gfe are described in Table2.
Table 2 - Fonts --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Font Purpose --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -*-lucida*bright-medium-r-*--*-100-* Contour Labels, Bounded Area Labels -*-helvetica-medium-r-*--*-100-* Horzontial Axis for time scale -*-helvetica-medium-r-*--*-100-* Vertical Axis for temporal editor scales -*-lucida*bright-medium-r-*--*-140-* Sample display on spatial editor -*-lucida*bright-medium-r-*--*-100-* Sample display on temporal editor -*-lucidatypewriter-medium-r-*-*-*-100-* Data Selector fonts (must be nonproportional) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The name of the AFPS window: "AFPS Graphical Forecast Editor" is used as the window title.
Performance times are shown in Table3 on page6.
Table 3 - Performance Characteristics(a) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operation Maximum Time Allowed (90% case) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Repaint any portion of the system due to an expose event, data updates, or 0.4 seconds other commands. Bringing up any menu on the system. 1.0 seconds Bringing up any dialog on the system. 2.0 seconds Display updates caused by changing the set of parameters loaded in the editors. 2.0 seconds Animation - to update the spatial editor, temporal editor, and time block editor 0.4 seconds ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 4 - Command Line Options ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Option Description ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -p <portid> RPC portnumber for gatekeeper -h <hostname> Hostname on which gatekeeper is running. -m <mutable database> Name of mutable database (category, subcategory) -i <list of immutable categories> List of immutable database categories -c <config file name> Name of the configuration file. There may be multiple instances of the configuration file. -d <secondsInDRT> Specifies the number of seconds displaced from the real time. A neg ative number makes the system run in the past. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The pane-sizer is enabled by pressing and dragging mouse button one over the object.
The pane-sizer can be released anywhere within the data display area.
An outline will be drawn showing the stretched size of the three editor windows during the drag operation.
The system will recalculate the size of the three editors when the pane-sizer is released.
The spatial editor will show the same area (as a minimum) when it is made smaller. The spatial editor will show the same area (up to the maximum size of the office domain) when it is made bigger. The aspect ratio is preserved.
The temporal editor and time block editor are clipped (i.e., the time block size is fixed and more or less of the data is shown).
The pane-sizer will always be visible. Thus, the time step selector, the time block editor data selector and temporal data selectors are also always visible.
If the operation does not apply, the menu items will be dimmed, denoting the function is unavailable.
A single command saves all modified parameters.
All modified parameters may be reverted with a single command. A YES/NO dialog box is displayed, warning that this will erase the user's changes and that the undo command cannot be used.
If data has not been saved, a dialog with the options of Discard Edits, Save First, or Cancel is presented to the user. The title is Exit AFPS?.
If data has already been saved, a dialog with the options of Yes and Cancel is presented with the title of Exit AFPS? is presented.
Reversible operations are shown in Table5 on page9.
Table 5 - Operations With Undo Capability ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Comp Operation onent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Main Menu Undo Delete Copy To Copy From Copy All To Copy All From Time Shift Time Block Editor Duplicate Controller Area Spatial Editor Push/pull - increment/decrement, veer/back operations Smooth - smoothing operations, Set value - setting of the values Select Points - delete area Move/Copy - copy and move selected data Vector - adjusting the wind vector Paintbrush - painting grid points Spraycan - incrementing/decrementing Bulldoze - smoothing operations Pencil - adjust contour operation, define contour, generate grid Temporal Editor Adjust - adjust data, set direction Set Value - set value operation Layer - increment/decrement coverage, modify bases, modify tops, delete layer, add layer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Undo only reverses the last operation. Performing a duplicate followed by a save will not allow the user to select "undo" since the last operation was a save and save is irreversible.
After an undo operation, the menu item undo becomes redo. After a redo operation or any other operation that can be reversed, the label again becomes undo.
Undo is still enabled after operations such as changing the tool size. Undo only applies to the modification of data, and not reference set or attribute operations.
A separator exists between the UNDO and the DELETE items on the menu.
Any time blocks contained within the parameter selection time range will be deleted.
All existing data in the selected time range is automatically deleted prior to the copy to.
Parameters may only be copied between identical parameter names.
The copy from menu lists all immutable sources that are loaded, plus the most recent version of each immutable source that aren't loaded.
The copy to/copy from operation looks at each destination shadow block for the selection time range and examines the available source data.
If no source blocks overlap the shadow block time range, nothing is copied to the shadow block.
If one or more available source blocks overlap the shadow block time range, a weighting algorithm is imposed. The overlap ratio (overlap duration/total source block duration) is calculated for each source block. The resulting value is compared with a user-defined threshold value (found in the config file) to determine which source time block samples are included in the destination shadow block. This threshold applies to all parameters and is not specified on a per-parameter basis.
Each parameter's sample algorithm is defined in the configuration file as max, min, time averaged, accumulative, or most predominant.
The max algorithm looks at all included source blocks, determines the maximum value for each grid point and writes this value to the destination block. This algorithm applies to scalar, vector (magnitude), and discrete data only. The vector direction component is carried along from the maximum value magnitude gridpoint.
The min algorithm looks at all included source blocks, determines the minimum value for each grid point and writes this value to the destination block. This algorithm applies to scalar, vector (magnitude), and discrete data only. The vector direction component is carried along from the minimum value magnitude gridpoint.
The most predominant algorithm (overlap) looks at all included source blocks. This algorithms works on a gridpoint by gridpoint basis. This algorithm is only used for weather data (discrete dynamic). Similar intensities/precipitation types are replaced with just one (e.g., RW and R will result in either RW or R but not both).
The accumulative algorithm looks at each included source block and determines its rate (amount/quantum), the amount to be totaled (rate multiplied by the overlap time range). Accumulative algorithm applies only to scalar.
The time averaged algorithm calculates the overlap duration/destination duration and numerically averages those values. This algorithm applies only to scalar, vector, and discrete.
Copy from is enabled when at least one mutable and no immutable parameters are selected. The options (sources) for the copy is a list of all available immutable sources (even if they are not in the time block editor).
Copy to is enabled when only immutables parameters are selected, at least one parameter is selected, at least one of the selected immutable parameters exist in the mutable database (not the time block editor), and no two parameters of the same name are selected. This operation automatically loads the parameters that are mutable (and unmodified).
Note: if the user selects both immutable and mutable parameters, neither copy to or copy from operations are permitted.
All data in the source for the selected parameter is copied to the destination in the same manner as described in copy to/copy from. This means the user doesn't have to set the time range, and behaves as if the time range completely encompasses the data set.
The copy all from/copy all to algorithm automatically updates the selection time range. The selection time range is set to the extent of the times modified. The set of selected parameters is changed to those mutable parameters that were updated.
The menu label for group selection is "Select By Source".
Time shifting operates on the selected time range for just one selected parameter. If more than one parameter is selected, then time shifting is not permitted.
Time shifting is available only when no time ranges are locked by another user for the destination time range for the "copy" operation and the destination and source time range for the "move" operation. The selected time range is the source time range. The destination time range is defined as the selected time range shifted by the amount specified in the dialog.
The normal range of dialog is -48 hours to +48 hours, and is reduced to that possible based on other user's locks. The dialog has an OK and a CANCEL button. The dialog is a slider with a readout showing the number of hours to shift. The hours can only be selected by the length of the shadow blocks.
Effectively all source data is cleared or copied, each time block is time shifted by the allowable amount, and then placed into the calculated destination time range.
The time block editor data selector scroll bar position and the temporal editor data selector scroll bar position automatically adjusts to reflect the number of loaded parameters.
Parameters may be loaded or unloaded using a full-matrix approach. The matrix has rows of parameter names and columns of sources. The dialog shows the currently loaded parameters. The user can toggle any valid entry and then hit Okay to load/unload. Toggling row and column labels selects all valid entries in that row or column. Access the matrix through the Parm pull-down menu. The groups are ordered per configuration file entries, and the models are time-sorted with the mutable source first. The parameters are in alphabetical or group order depending upon a configurable item. The groups are only shown enabled when all source parameters defined are loaded (if available from a source). Only the latest version of the model runs are generally included, unless the show old models button is pressed. This dialog may display only a subset of the total number of parameters and sources. The parameters/sources not displayed can be viewed by moving the horizontal or vertical scrolls bars. Those parameters/sources that are not selected will show a grayed-out button as shown in Figure5 on page15 for Wind/15zRUC.
Figure 5 - Parm Selector Matrix Dialog
Parameter groups may be loaded/unloaded. The list of groups and their associated parameter names are defined in the configuration file. Loading a group ensures that all parameters defined by that group and available for the source will be loaded. Unloading a group ensures that all parameters defined by that group and available for the source will be unloaded. Note that loading or unloading groups may cause other groups to be loaded/unloaded as well.
If there are previous model runs in the editors, then those columns for those model runs are automatically included and cannot be turned off with "Show Previous Models".
All new parameters are toggled off in the spatial editor and toggled on in the temporal editor. Any existing parameters that were still selected in the parm matrix dialog will keep their current visibility editor state.
This dialog is modal.
Color assignments are made to each parameter as they are loaded. The preferred colors are considered, if not already in use (by previously loaded parameters). If a color is not used, then the forecast data (mutable database) gets priority over other models.
Special parameters have the following characteristics:
For example, if Temp/RUC_12Dec95_0300 and DewPoint/RUC_12Dec95_0600 are loaded and the latest model is RUC_12Dec95_0600, then the Temp/RUC_12Dec95_0300 will be replaced with Temp/RUC_12Dec95_0600. The Dew Point parameter will not be modified.
In the event that both the latest and an old version of a parameter exists, then the old version is simply removed.
The sort order for group is by group, then source, and then parameter. The parameter goes into the first group encountered.
The sort order for parameter is alphabetical and sorts by parameter, then source.
The sort order for source is alphabetical beginning with the mutable source, then parameter.
No changes are made to the spatial and temporal editors.
If no base time blocks exist at the end of the selected time range, the system finds the nearest time block(s) in each direction outside of the selected time range and uses these in the request. The maximum number of time blocks searched in each direction is configurable. This rule of searching is applied in each direction.
If base time blocks exist in the selected time range, no searching outside the range is necessary. This rule is applied in each direction.
Interpolate gaps option replaces all gaps within the selected time range with multiple interpolated time blocks of one shadow block length.
Interpolated based on user-modified option first clears all non-user modified blocks in the selected time range and performs an interpolate gaps.
When the break lock is requested, a dialog box appears (per lock) that lists the owner of the lock, the parameter name/source, and the lock time range. A confirmation prompt is displayed, including a warning stating this operation cannot be undone and may be harmful to your health. Additionally, if the lock extends beyond the area specified by the user, an additional warning message will be presented.
The line color and pattern is configurable.
The line color and pattern is configurable.
The dialog comes up initially over the time block editor.
The listing of available map backgrounds come from the map background server. The configuration file specifies the default map backgrounds to be displayed upon system startup.
The set of colors available for map backgrounds are placed in the configuration file. The system treats the map background colors and the meteorological data graphic colors independently of each other, thus allowing a map and meteorological data to be the same color.
The dialog should always show the state of each of the map backgrounds (whether visible or invisible).
Figure6 shows the layout of the spatial editor background dialog.
Figure 6 - Spatial Editor Background Dialog
The mouse info box is enabled by selecting the command on the display menu from the main menu bar. The box may be dismissed from the information dialog.
The appearance of the dialog is shown in Figure7.
Figure 7 - Mouse Information Box
The info strings for AFPS are defined in Table6. The abbreviations to denote the key presses and mouse buttons are shown in Table7.
Table 6 - AFPS Info String Abbreviations --------------------------------------------------------------- Key Mouse Button Mouse Operation Info String Syntax --------------------------------------------------------------- <none> one click 1c: drag 1d: SHIFT click S1c: drag S1d: <none> two click 2c: drag 2d: SHIFT click S2c: drag S2d: ---------------------------------------------------------------
Table 7 - AFPS Info Strings and Commands --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Object Button 1 Click Button 2 Click Button 1 Drag Button 2 Drag --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pane-sizer N/A N/A Resize Editors N/A Time Block Editor Toggle Visibility Select/Deselect Parm N/A N/A Data Selector Time Block Editor N/A N/A N/A Select Data Panes Time Block Editor Toggle Visibility Select time range Duplicate data Select time range Time Block (SHIFT) Copy data Time Scale Set spatial editor time Select time range N/A Select time range Legend Zoom toggle Pick up value N/A Pick up value Spatial Data Toggle Visibility Toggle Active N/A N/A Selector (SHIFT) Make Only Active Spatial Data Toggle Image/ N/A N/A N/A Selector Display Graphic display Type mode. Spatial Editor depends upon edit depends upon edit depends upon edit depends upon edit Data Area tool (Table18 on tool (Table18 on tool (Table18 on tool (Table18 on page69) page69) page69) page69) Edit Tool Icon Select edit tool N/A N/A N/A Temporal Editor N/A N/A Change Pane Size Change Pane Size Pane Borders Temporal Editor depends upon edit depends upon edit depends upon edit depends upon edit time block tool (Table20 on tool (Table20 on tool (Table20 on tool (Table20 on page99) page99) page99) page99) Temporal Editor Toggle Visibility Move to Top N/A N/A Data Selector Temporal Editor Zoom Out Zoom In Define Zoom Range N/A Scale ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The current value box is enabled by selecting the command on the display menu from the main menu bar. The box may be dismissed from the information dialog.
The appearance of the dialog is shown in Figure8.
The current value strings for AFPS are listed in Table8.
Table 8 - Current Value Strings --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- top line bottom line --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Time Block Editor Time Time range of the time block (both when Locked by information (wsid of locked Block passing over and when editing the time by other) block). Durations are included. Time Scale Selection time range (appears when edit Current spatial editor time. ing and when not editing). Legend Pick up value N/A Spatial Editor Data Area parameter names (abbreviated if neces current value of all active parameters at sary) of all active parameters. the location of the pointer. Temporal Editor Data Area parameter names (abbreviated if neces current value plus time range of each sary) of all parameters in the data area parameter in a data pane ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Figure 9 - Controller Area Layout
There are at least five scaling pixels per quantum editing choices, the selection is edited by moving the slider. The entries are defined in the configuration file.
The current scaling (not in units of pixels/quantum or time) is displayed on the scaling slider.
When the block size is changed, none of the editors are resized, even if the result is a truncated time block display.
The block size affects the scaling on the time block editor, time scale, and temporal editor.
The beginning displayed time for the time scale is fixed during block size changes. This causes the temporal editor to have a slightly different displayed time.
Figure10 illustrates the appearance of the time block scaling control.
The current time of day (or the system DRT time) is presented in the controller area.
The current time is updated only once per minute.
Figure11 illustrates the appearance of the current system time display.
Figure 11 - Current Time Display
The user interface object for this button is an abbreviated menu with two entries.
There is not a current spatial editor time defined when the system is in asynchronous mode.
The mode is automatically switched to time-synchronized mode when the editor time is set via the time scale.
When changing mode to sync from the button, the editor time is set to the previously saved editor time and the editor loads the previously saved set of parameters/data slices.
When changing mode to async from the button, the editor time is undefined and all currently displayed time blocks are toggled off for visibility (i.e., there will be no displayed data in the spatial editor) and the parameters are also toggled off. The set of visible parameters and current spatial editor time is saved during the transition from sync to async mode.
The async/sync mode is not related to the group identical data mode.
The time blocks displayed in the spatial editor in time-synchronized mode are those that intersect the current spatial editor time with the toggled on time block editor data selectors.
The user interface object for this button is an abbreviated menu with two entries.
Implicit splits are performed on the data during edits when the group identical data mode is off.
Switching modes affects the highlighting of time blocks on the time block editor.
The group identical mode is not related to the sync/async mode.
Note that changes to the reference set will change the appearance of the temporal editor due to a new location or area being set.
The reference set dialog will be displayed over the time block editor when it first is made visible.
When an operation is performed (e.g., Add, Intersect, Replace), the reference set is changed. If the temporal location dialog is visible when the operation button is pressed, then the temporal location dialog is dismissed implicitly. For details on the temporal location dialog, see Section 8.6, Temporal Editor Location, on page 29.
The dialog can be moved by the user. The user may close the dialog. It cannot be resized by the user.
The dialog is not automatically updated when other users change the inventory of reference sets. The dialog is automatically updated when this user changes the inventory of reference sets (e.g., saving reference sets and saving query reference sets).
The dialog layout is shown in Figure12 on page26.
Figure 12 - Reference Set Dialog
The actual query always appears on the text entry field.
The buttons in the named areas and queries are simply single-state buttons. When you click on them, the button name is added to the define based on value text entry field. If the user has not entered a logical operation before pressing on the button, then the operation is the one selected in the define based on value radio buttons. If the user has entered a logical operation (via the keyboard), then no operation is automatically inserted.
The define based on value radio buttons consist of an INTERSECT (&) and a COMBINE (|) buttons. They define the next implicit logical operation.
No state information is shown in the named areas or macros section of the dialog.
The query may be saved by pressing on the Save/Delete Query button. Another dialog will be brought up. Refer to Section 8.5.6, Saving the Reference Set Query, on page 28 for details on this dialog. You may also delete any existing query using this dialog.
The "Add" button takes the defined dialog reference set performs a logical OR with the current set of selected grid points. The "Intersect" button takes the defined dialog reference set and performs a logical AND with the current set of selected grid points. The "Replace" button takes the defined dialog reference set and makes it the current set of selected grid points.
The "Clear Query" operation simply clears the query line and does not affect the active reference set.
The named area and named queries sections are organized in rows and columns. Scroll bars are used if necessary.
Syntax checking occurs when the operation buttons are pressed. In the event of an error, an error window will be displayed which will show the entered string, the first encountered error position, and a description of the error.
If the define based on value query string cannot be executed because of one of the following reasons, then no operation will occur and a warning message will be displayed. These cases are: Named Area unknown, Named Query unknown, Parameter not loaded.
Special parameters, such as elevation data, may also be used in the query if they exist in the spatial editor. For example, to select all gridpoints from 6000 ft to 7000 ft, the query line would read: Elev > 6000 & Elev < 7000. The elevation does not need to be displayed to use this feature.
A relational token consists of a parameter (name and source), relational operator, and numerical value or discrete value. The source is optional and defaults to the mutable database.
The parameter name must be the same as the label in the spatial editor data selector or time block editor data selector.
The tokens are case-insensitive. Spaces are ignored.
The relational operators permitted are: = (equal to), != (not equal), > (greater than), >= (greater than or equal to), <= (less than or equal to), < (less than), ~ (contains), !~ (not contains). The contains and not contains operators are only valid for the weather element.
The logical operators permitted are: & (intersect), | (union), ! (not), and parenthesis.
The order of precedence is left to right, except tokens in parenthesis are calculated first.
Values for the weather parameter only include weather type. Intensity and coverage are ignored. If the equal to operator is used, then an exact match is necessary for the grid point to be selected. If the contains operator is used, then the data only needs to contain all of the elements specified in the dialog. This relationship is shown in Table9.
Table 9 - Weather Type Comparisons ------------------------------------------ Operator R S RS RF ------------------------------------------ = R yes no no no = RS no no yes no ~ R yes no yes yes ~RS no no yes no ------------------------------------------
The user enters the name under which the reference set should be saved in a text entry field.
The user can choose whether this operation applies to a system set or a user name set. The default each time this dialog is brought up is user.
If the user name mode is enabled, then the entered string is automatically prefixed with the username. This appears in the text entry field and CANNOT be edited out.
If the system name mode is enabled, then no username appears in the text entry field. If one currently exists, it is deleted automatically.
If the delete button is depressed, then pressing the OK button will first prompt the user if they really want to delete a set. This is a YES/NO dialog. If the user answers yes, then the reference set is deleted.
If an attempt is made to delete a reference set that doesn't exist, no prompts or warnings are shown to the user.
The active reference set is converted to a sequence of world coordinate domains and stored in the reference set server.
The dialog appears as in Figure13.
This operation is identical to that described in the Section 8.5.5, Save/Delete Reference Set, on page 27 except for the following:
The name on the button reflects the current area or point represented by the temporal editor. In the event that the user creates a "random" area, the name on the button will show "Other".
Changing the reference set through the use of edit tools (e.g., push-pull) will change the temporal editor mode to area. This will also cause the temporal editor location dialog to be dismissed implicitly.
The location dialog contains the set of areas and point locations. An additional button ("Dismiss") allows the user to remove the dialog.
The list of area and point locations is configurable by the user through the configuration file. The point locations map to a single gridpoint and can be specified as latitude/longitude in the configuration file along with their name. The area names map to reference set names of the same name. Unlike the reference set dialog which queries the database for the available set of reference names, the list of area names must be defined in the configuration file.
Clicking on any button in the location dialog will set the temporal editor immediately to that location or area.
The dialog can be moved by the user. The user may close the dialog. It cannot be resized by the user.
The dialog layout is shown in Figure14 on page30.
The modes are overlay and non-overlay. If overlay mode is off, then each parameter will be placed in its own pane. If the mode is overlay, then the temporal editor will attempt to overlay the new parameter with another parameter with identical units.
This state only affects parameters that are loaded into the temporal editor after the state change, i.e., it does not affect existing parameters in the temporal editor.
The overlay mode is represented as a button on the controller area.
In absolute mode, an edit made on the temporal editor will have the effect of using the set value tool over the area of influence. Every point in the reference area will be set to that indicated by the temporal editor after an edit.
In relative mode, an edit made on the temporal editor will have the effect of using the push-pull tool over the area of influence. Every point in the reference area will be incremented/decremented by the magnitude of the edit on the temporal editor.
Relative mode is treated as absolute mode for weather data.
The absolute/relative mode is represented as a button on the controller area.
Figure 15 - Spatial Editor Tool Size Slider
The mode is represented by an abbreviated menu consisting of two items: OnePass and Continuous.
Note that the set value dialog has the current pick up values displayed for each active parameter in the spatial editor. Any of these values may be changed as needed.
All of these sliders reflect the current value as long as they are visible, even if the current value is changed via other means (such as clicking on the legend to set a value).
In the event that the set of active parameters change, the set value dialog also changes. The ordering of sliders in the dialog from left to right is the same as the top to bottom ordering of the active data selectors for the spatial editor.
An example of the dialog showing all data types is shown in Figure16. The continuous scalar slider may be logarithmic or linear depending upon the configuration (per parameter) defined. It shares the same scaling as the legend.
Figure 16 - //Set Value Dialogs
The vector fields are represented by a slider for magnitude and a circle for direction. The circle contains a vector arrow which shows the direction the wind is blowing towards and a wind barb which shows the direction the wind is blowing from. The user can click or slide anywhere within the circle and the direction will be correctly set.
Note that the weather set value contains two parts: a legend and an "Other..." button. The legend contains a list of recently set and common weather types for convenience. An option (Other...) brings up the full dialog. The common weather types are defined in the configuration file.
The full weather dialog consists of two exclusive menus, a check button, and an abbreviated menu. The coverage/probability and intensities menus are dimmed when the no weather type is selected in the abbreviated menu. The abbreviated menu is used to select the weather type value. The description thus far has been for just one weather type. Multiple types of weather can exist. This is accomplished by dynamic multiple dialogs.
Each slider consists of a scale containing major and minor tick marks and labels plus a color bar representing the colors for a particular value.
Each slider has a label which indicates the parameter it represents. The current set value for each parameter is displayed between the slider and the parameter name.
Each slider contains an arrow pointing to the current pickup value for that parameter.
Each slider may be zoomed in by one step only.
Clicking button two on the slider will set the pick-up value for that parameter.
Dragging button two on the slider will show the "about-to-be-picked-up" value for that parameter with both the arrow and the numerical readout. When the button is released the pick up value is set. Implicit scrolling will occur if necessary on the slider if the slider is zoomed.
Clicking button one over the slider will zoom in the display, centered at the click location. Clicking button one again will zoom out the display to the original full view. There is only one zoom factor available which is configurable.
Example of the slider is shown in Figure17. The range of values on the slider start at 0 and increase to a configurable amount. If not defined in the configuration file, then the upper limit is 10% of the parameter's range.
Figure 17 - Set Delta Value Slider
An example of the indicator is shown in Figure18. There is an entry for each active parameter in the spatial editor.
Figure 18 - Tool Value Indicator
Only one edit tool may be in the selected state at a time.
An icon will be in the dimmed state if it is not available. It is not available under the following conditions:
If an edit tool's state switches from selected to dimmed due to circumstances outlined above, that edit tool is still "selected" but unavailable for the moment. The system will not automatically switch edit tools to one that is available. An edit tool that was "selected" but is now available will become selected when the above circumstances are no longer true.
A chosen edit tool will remain the edit tool despite changes in visibility, active parameter changes, or time stepping. In the special case when a new parameter is activated and the edit tool cannot support the new parameter, the edit tool is not changed, but is put into the "selected" but not available mode.
The edit tool palette resembles that shown in Figure19.
The tools will be in three groups: freehand, gridpoint, and miscellaneous. The freehand tools are the paint, spray, bulldozer, and pencil. The gridpoint tools are: set value, push/pull, smooth, move/copy, and vector. The miscellaneous tools are: select points, sample, zoom, and temporal location.
Figure 20 - Time Scale
The time scale consists of an area with a time scale, plus a horizontal scroll bar.
Associated with the time scale are controls on the controller area to control the scaling (pixels/quantum).
A time scroll bar permits horizontal scrolling.
Selected time range on the time scale is indicated with a hatching pattern. Hatching color and pattern are configurable.
The time axis is scrollable in units of one quantum.
A box (one quantum in length) appears on the time scale representing the current spatial editor time.
The time scale always shows GMT.
Regardless of scaling, dates will appear, even when only partial days appear on the time scale.
The day of the week will also appear near each date on the time scale.
A small triangle appears on the time scale which represents the current system time (updated once per hour). The color is configurable.
Time scale height is 50 pixels including the selection designator.
The text in the scale is white. The background color of the scale is black.
The minimum amount of horizontal scrolling is one quantum.
The displayed time range is the visible portion of the time range displayed on the time scale.
The system time range is recalculated when parameters are loaded/unloaded, updated (inventory changes), and when the current time changes (once per quantum).
The system time range is also recalculated when the time scale is resized horizontally (through the pane-sizer mechanism) or scrolled horizontally. The time range is extended so that the newly displayable time range is contained within the system time range.
The position of the scroll bar automatically changes when the system time range changes or the pane-sizer is used to manually resize horizontally.
If the system time range recalculation excludes a portion of the currently displayed time range, the time block editor time range is extended to include the entire current time range.
The horizontal scroll bar indicator is automatically repositioned.
A multiple quanta selection time range is defined by dragging button two on the time scale.
Clicking on a time block in time-synchronized mode will cause the spatial editor time to be changed.
Changes to the time block size will affect the appearance of the time scale.
.
During a duplicate operation, the cursor is changed to a copy cursor 
. During a a shift skip-over duplicate operation or between parameters, the cursor is changed to a different copy cursor 
.(2)
If the pointer is over a gap or an immutable time block, then the cursor shape doesn't change (remains the default cursor).
or 
to indicate the controller.
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The initial vertical scroll position for the time block editor data selectors is the topmost parameters.
As much time as possible will be displayed upon initial creation regardless of data inventory. The minimum spacing of time blocks is 6 pixels horizontally (one quantum). This is taken into account during the initial time block editor time range calculations (Section 9.2, System TimeRange, on page 36). If insufficient space is available, not all of the time block editor time range will be initially shown.
The initial spatial editor time will be the current system time.
No parameters are made active.
The sample edit tool is selected.
The initial pick up data value for each parameter is: Weather is set to no weather, discrete is set to the 1st element in the list, vector is set to North with zero magnitude, and scalar is set to zero (if available) or midpoint in the allowable range.
No location is set for the temporal editor (no reference set is selected on the spatial editor).
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