Scheduling & FTP Upload

A customer wrote:

	Quote:
	What do I select to use as current temps, dp, etc. Also what option do I use to show Snowfall next 12 hours? Also when I do test upload it says "no map selected"

I would select RUC 01 hour forecast for surface temps, dew point, etc. This is because timing is roughly such that by the time the forecasts come out the 1 hour forecast valid time is closest to the current time. It performs pretty well.

For snowfall over the next 12 hours, I'm using my APRWX Snow Forecast from the NAM-WRF in the 12 hour forecast time.

To set up the map, do the following:

1) Click Pro Features

2) Scheduling and Uploading

3) Click on Save As... this is likely what you're missing. Pick a local folder and type in a file name for your file. I've been playing mainly with PNG files, they tend to be the best quality for the file size. Snow12.png is a example for a filename.

4) Set your dimensions of your image. The ones on my page are 250 x 150, but you'll likely want bigger images. You can set this to just about anything.

5) Set your update frequency. This can be anything from the list that you want, but 1 hour is a good choice for RUC maps, and perhaps all maps. 3 hour or more would be good for NAM-WRF, however I'm doing 1 hour for those as well just because you don't know if you're going to catch the update right when the new model data comes out, or if it's going to be created 3 hours later, if you pick the 3 hour option. Maps update on the hour divisible by the number of hours you chose. Time MOD chosen time = 0

5) Input your web site address... likely something.com. Do not include http://, ftp:// or a directory. This can also be an IP address

6) enter your FTP username and password

7) Enter your path on that site where you want the file dumped. Mine goes to /public_html/snow.png
Start with a slash, any directories, and end with the filename you want to save it as.

Cool

Click on Design Map. This will bring you to the forecast window. Here is where you start making the map you want. A floating black box shows up that tells you to click it when you're done. I'd start out by hitting the 'Erase and Make New Map' button in the menu to clear anything you might have on your screen. Then go ahead and select your model, forecast hour, and any map you want designed. Shading currently doesn't work, so keep that unchecked for now. Select your states, counties, Canada, Mexico visibility options, and select any maps to be drawn for this one image you're creating. Animations are not supported. Zoom to the proper level you're interested in. Then click the black box to confirm your map choice.

9) You're brought back to the upload window. Click on 'Test Upload' to have the program generate the map on it's own, and upload the file as specified. I suggest you now go and browse to the file on the Internet to verify that it's uploading properly and that the image is to your satisfaction.

10) Now is when you check your image to see it fits your needs. If it does not, go back into the Upload window and click 'Design Map' for this image and make any changes... change dimensions, etc. This loops back to step 8 again.

11) Note that line thicknesses and colors for any maps are designed by going into the Preferences. Select a Checklist, wait a few seconds for the Map Name combo box to populate (step 2 on this screen) and then scroll to the map you wish to modify. Then change the colors and line thickness and hit Save Options. Right now I'm finding that darker, bolder colors and a line thickness of 3 look pretty good for image creation.

12) To add a new map go back to your Upload window and click on Schedule a New Item and repeat the steps starting at number 3.

Also note that on the main mapping page, you can click the Layers button in the far upper right and change the background colors and transparencies of the background layers (states, ocean color, counties on or off, color, mexico and Canada, etc.) The colors of the lines, thicknesses, etc. can all be modified, and I think if you have cities turned on it'll save the cities on your images as well, but I haven't tested this out yet.

_________________
Andrew Revering
Convective Development, Inc.
http://www.cdevinc.com/