20041004: IDV - help with values displayed and color table information

>From: "venkatasivaram patiballa" <address@hidden>
>Organization: Western Michigan University
>Keywords: 200410050015.i950F0b6008811

Hi-

>Institution: western michigan university
>Package Version: 1.1
>Operating System: os.name:Windows XP; os.arch:x86; os.version:5.1; 
>Hardware Information: java.vendor:Sun Microsystems Inc.; java.version:1.4.2_01
> ; java.home:C:\\Program Files\\IDV_1.1\\jre; 
>Inquiry: i am working on my research with 20 years data from 1981-1999
>the data is netcdf data for u-wind component , v-wind component, 
>geo potential height.
>  the contour interval values , base contour, minmum, maximum 
>values are different from standard
>Example :
>for geopotential height, for current 2004 data 
>the maximum is 16000 but in 
>my data it shows from -89 to 31000 
>and every time i have to change it to 0 to 16000
>since it is height value
>contour interval should be 60, but it is not 60
>please advise

You can set the default values for any parameter using the
Parameter Defaults Editor accessed from the 
Edit->Resources->Parameter Defaults menu.  

For your netCDF file, you will need to know the name of the height
variable. You can get this by putting the mouse over the variable name
in the Fields panel of the Data Selector. The tooltip that pops up will
show the netCDF variable name (e.g., Z) and the long name. Use the
variable name for the parameter defaults.

If you would like to set your own defaults (as opposed to the system
defaults for height), follow these directions. When you open the
parameter defaults editor, you will see a set of tabs and the left-most
one should be selected. If there is a blank line already there, double
click in the parameter column and type in the name of your variable
(all lowercase) and hit return (this is important). If there is not a
blank row there, right click on an existing panel and select the New Row
option from the pop-up menu and enter the parameter name in the new row
as describe above. You can then set the defaults for each of the columns
by right clicking on the row and selecting the appropriate option for
the column you wish. For your request, use the Set Contours option and
set the contour interval to 60, set the base to 0, the minimum to 0, and
the maximum to 31000. Set the color table and the color table range if
you want as well. Then click the OK button. See the section Parameter
Defaults Editor under the Tools section of the User Guide for more
information.

If you want to use the system defaults for height and apply them to
your data, you can add your parameter name to the list of aliases
for the IDV's system geopotential height variable (Z).  Instead of 
using the Parameter Defaults Editor, use the Parameter Alias Editor
accessed from the Edit->Resources->Parameter Aliases menu.
When you open this dialog, you will see two or more tabs.
Click on the rightmost tab (the system aliases) and find the row
with Z under the Name column.  Right click on the row and select
the "Copy to User Table" option from the pop-up menu.  Then
click on the left-most tab (the user aliases) and see that the
entry has been copied to this table. Right click on the row and
select the Edit Entry option from the pop-up menu.  In the
Aliases box, enter the name of your height variable to list
on a new line. Click the OK button on the editing dialog, then click 
OK on the Alias Editor dialog.

Either of these methods should allow you to set the defaults
for your particular variables.

Don Murray
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