20041229: questions on installing/using Windows XP version

>From: address@hidden
>Organization: GMU
>Keywords: 200412291601.iBTG1KlI009280 McIDAS Windows XP

Hi Roz,

>I downloaded the Windows XP version of McIdas,
>and I'm having diffuculty making it work.
>
>I see that you suggest having some type of
>UNIX application for this to work.
>Is that absolutely necessary to have?

Yes, in order for McIDAS to work under Windows XP, you must run
'Services for Unix' v3.5 or greater.

>What is that

Services for Unix is a package (developed by a company that Microsoft
purchased about 3 years ago) that provides a number of Unix services
needed/used by McIDAS applications under Windows.

>and where can I get it.

Windows Services for Unix 3.5 is available for free at
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads.

>What I'm trying to do is this.
>
>I have output files that are written in
>the Mcidas format.  I am trying to
>write a program that reads these files
>and outputs them into a text format (after
>doing some manipulation to the data.

Presumably, the files in McIDAS format are images in AREA format.
True?

If yes, you will need to look at the McIDAS AXFORM command.

>I don't really need the x-windows to come up,
>I just need to access some of the commands to
>read the data.

The Services for Unix are required to run the applications themselves.
The X Window component would be provided by an additional package
like Hummingbird eXceed, etc.

>Can I do this without installing the UNIX
>application?  If so, how do I get McIdas to
>work?

No, you need to install Services for Unix before any portion of
McIDAS-X for XP will work.

Is working in a Unix/Linux environment not a possibility?  It seems to
me that it might be more straightforward for you to run McIDAS on a
Linux platform.  One reason for this is that the Windows XP binary that
we make available is a straight SSEC version of McIDAS (i.e., it
contains no Unidata modifications or additions).  The McIDAS
distribution we make available for Unix/Linux contains numerous Unidata
enhancements to the standard SSEC distribution including additional
applications and bugfixes that have not been released in SSEC
versions.

>Thanks in advance.

No worries.

Cheers,

Tom
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