20010620: automatic generation of jpeg/gif images in GARP or McIDAS

>From: David Fitzgerald <address@hidden>
>Organization: UCAR/Unidata
>Keywords: 200106201818.f5KIIv109390

>Chiz,
>
>Now that we are getting FNEXRAD and NNEXRAD products, I'd like to create
>either jpeg or gif images and post them to our web site.  I know how to
>create a gif image in garp "by hand" as it were, but how do I automate the
>process in gempak?  Or is McIDAS a better choice for this, and if so how do
>I do it with that?
>
>Thanks!!
>
>
>Dave
>
>**************************************************************************
>David Fitzgerald                       Phone:  717-871-2394
>Distributed System Specialist  Fax:      717-871-4725
>Millersville University                          E-mail:
>address@hidden
>Millersville, PA 17551
>

David,

To automate gif generation using GEMPAK, use GDPLOT2 to display the data using
the "gf" or "gif" driver.

These products are grids. So all GFUNC operations can be used with the data.

Here is an example of the gdplot2 script creating the images at:
http://motherlode.ucar.edu/unidata/images/nids/gdradr.html

The reflectivity field is N0R, so that is the GDPFUN in the script below.
I set up the NEXR and NEXF templates in the $GEMTBL/config/datatype.tbl file
so that the location and file names are defined. Then, you only need to specify
GDFILE as nexr or nexf and GDATTIM=last to get the most recent grid.
The rest is pretty self explanatory if you have written any scripts to
plot model grids etc.

Let me know if you have questions.

Steve Chiswell
Unidata User Support

#!/bin/csh -f
#
# Create national radar gif
#
# The "nexr" template used for gdfile is defined in the 
# $GEMTBL/config/datatype.tbl file.
#
#
# Source the Gemenviron variables
source /home/gempak/NAWIPS/Gemenviron

# change to the working directory
cd /tmp

gdplot2 << EOF
   device   = gif|radar_mosaic.gif|900;700
   gdfile   = nexr
   \$mapfil = hipowo.cia
   proj     = lcc/25;-103;60
   garea    = 22.0;-122.0;47.0;-65.0
   map      = 1
   clear    = y
   gdattim  = LAST
   text     = 1/1/1
   TITLE    = 1/-1/~ Unidata 6km composite
   GDPFUN   = n0r
   GLEVEL   = 0
   GVCORD   = none
   TYPE     = F
   FINT     = 5;10;15;20;25;30;35;40;45;50;55;60;65;70;75
   FLINE    = 0;26-24;21-23;20;18;17;15-7
   CLRBAR   = 1|1/1/1
   !CLRBAR   = 1/V/LL/0.001;0.04/0.925;0.0125/1
   PANEL    = 0
   SKIP     = 0
   SCALE    = 0
   CONTUR   = 0
   HILO     =
   LATLON   = 0
   STNPLT   =
   SATFIL   =
   RADFIL   =
   LUTFIL   =
   STREAM   =
   POSN     = 0
   COLORS   = 1
   MARKER   = 0
   GRDLBL   = 0
   FILTER   = YES
   r
   
   e
EOF

gpend