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>From: Harry Edmon <address@hidden> >Organization: University of Washington >Keywords: 200411050645.iA56jlvV007527 McIDAS setup Hi Harry, >Confusion still reigns (must be because I am 52). I hear you... I'm 54. >Can you explain to >me what the following directories in ~mcidas are "supposed" to be used for: > >data The ~mcidas/data directory is the location for McIDAS ancillary data files. Ancillary data files are things like: map outline files, image enhancemnts, graphics tables, fonts, etc. I do not recommend that users put actual McIDAS data there (e.g., AREA files, MDXX files, GRID files, etc.). However, I do deliver McIDAS with several AREA files of topography imagery, and I put those files in ~mcidas/data. The overriding concept here is that the content of ~mcidas/data is almost entirely controlled by the Unidata McIDAS distribution. >savedata The ~mcidas/savedata directory is a directory I created to save the McIDAS enhancements, stretch tables, etc., etc., that a user might have _incorrectly_ modified in ~mcidas/data. I created the directory to give the users one last chance to save their work if the went against my instructions and modified a McIDAS ancillary data file that will get overwritten upon installation of a new distribution. >workdata The ~mcidas/workdata directory is used as the working directory of the user 'mcidas' for Unidata McIDAS. For all users other than 'mcidas', their working directory is set to ~/mcidas/data. I use the ~mcidas/workdata directory as a location to write files that 'mcidas' will need access to, but will be hidden from other users. >Is this in the documentation somewhere? Yes. It is in the Unidata McIDAS web pages: http://my.unidata.ucar.edu/content/software/mcidas/2004/users_guide/BuildingandInstallingMcIDAS-X2004.html Cheers, Tom -- NOTE: All email exchanges with Unidata User Support are recorded in the Unidata inquiry tracking system and then made publicly available through the web. If you do not want to have your interactions made available in this way, you must let us know in each email you send to us.