20031023: A question about GEMPAK

Ellen,

If you can handle CGM files, then that is an available vector
representation (aside from postscript too). Here is an
email link where I provided a program to strip out the header of
a GEMPAK NC driver CGM file and create separate CGM files
for each plot in the NMeta file. CGM is a common vector file standard.
The RALCGM (Rutherford Appleton Laboratories) package is used by many
to convert between formats as well.

See:
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/cgi-bin/msgout?/glimpse/gempak/5331

We have several people here that have worked on converting GRIB
to NetCDF to shape files. I will CC Jeff Weber in case you
want to explore that route....though sounds like you have
done some of that already on your own.

I will be teaching the GEMPAK training workshop through Wednesday afternoon,
so if you still have questions, I'll get to them as I am able., 

Steve Chiswell





>From: "Ellen Lay" <address@hidden>
>Organization: UCAR/Unidata
>Keywords: 200310231848.h9NImUOb007217

>
>Hello,
>
>This is Ellen Lay, a software developer working for the university of
>Arizona.  I am working with the technical people who produce the seasonal
>forecasts at the CPC.  They currently use GEMPAK to produce these forecasts
>as GIFs which they post on their website.  I need these forecasts in "shape
>file" format.  Does GEMPAK have a library function that will output an image
>to shape file format?  Does GEMPAK have a library program/function that will
>output to some other format (preferably vector based), that would be easily
>and accurately converted to shape file format (preferably in an automated
>way)?  I've already tried converting from grid format to shape file format
>using ESRI's ARC view, and then using a contouring program, however I feel
>like I've lost a lot of accuracy in my conversion.  I figured you guys would
>know the best way to do this since you make the software.
>
>Thanx so much for your help,
>          -Ellen
>
>
>
>
>Ellen Lay
>Systems Programmer
>The University of Arizona
>Dept of Hydrology and Water Resources
>Office: (520) 626-8746
>Email:  address@hidden
>HWR S-Team Representative
>
>"Be the change you want to see in the world."  -Gandhi
>
>