ICP User Interface Kickoff Call

**User Interface Topics**

**Draft**

*(This document will be finalized as a report deliverable after
incorporating feedback from the call and field)*

**Task 5016-2**

**Interactive Calibration Program (ICP) Design and Development**

*submitted to*

![](media/image1.png){width="1.7951388888888888in"
height="1.7666666666666666in"}

National Weather Service/NOAA

Office of Hydrologic Development

1325 East West Highway, SSMC-2

Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

301-713-1658

by

![](media/image2.png){width="3.5069444444444446in"
height="0.4097222222222222in"}

2290 East Prospect Road, Suite 1

Fort Collins, Colorado 80525

970-484-7573

August 3, 2006

A report of Riverside Technology, inc. to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration

pursuant to NOAA Contract No. DG133W-03-CQ-0021, Task 5016-2

**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

Section

[1.0 introduction 1-3](#introduction)

[2.0 User Interface change Recommendations
2-4](#user-interface-change-recommendations)

[2.1 Main Window Reorganization 2-4](#main-window-reorganization)

[2.1.1 Existing Software 2-4](#existing-software)

[2.1.2 Recommended Solution 2-5](#recommended-solution)

[2.2 Basin/File Selector and Session Management
2-5](#basinfile-selector-and-session-management)

[2.2.1 Existing Software 2-6](#existing-software-1)

[2.2.2 Recommended Solution 2-10](#recommended-solution-1)

[2.3 Context sensitive Popup Menus 2-11](#context-sensitive-popup-menus)

[2.3.1 Existing Software 2-11](#existing-software-2)

[2.3.2 Recommended Solution 2-12](#recommended-solution-2)

[2.4 Automated Updates of Output Displays
2-13](#automated-updates-of-output-displays)

[2.4.1 Existing Software 2-13](#existing-software-3)

[2.4.2 Recommended Solution 2-13](#recommended-solution-3)

[2.5 Changes in Graph Appearance/Features
2-13](#changes-in-graph-appearancefeatures)

[2.5.1 Existing Software 2-13](#existing-software-4)

[2.5.2 Recommended Solution 2-14](#recommended-solution-4)

[2.6 Parameter Window changes 2-14](#parameter-window-changes)

[2.6.1 Existing Software 2-17](#existing-software-5)

[2.6.2 Recommended Solution 2-17](#recommended-solution-5)

Figures

[Figure 2‑1 ICP main window 2-4](#__RefHeading___Toc142391635)

[Figure 2‑2 Sample Main Window 2-5](#__RefHeading___Toc142391636)

[Figure 2‑3 ICP Main Window: Select Watershed
2-6](#__RefHeading___Toc142391637)

[Figure 2‑4 Select Watershed Dialog: Selecting the watershed
2-7](#__RefHeading___Toc142391638)

[Figure 2‑5 ICP: Running MCP 2-8](#__RefHeading___Toc142391639)

[Figure 2‑6 Input 'Deck' Selection 2-8](#__RefHeading___Toc142391640)

[Figure 2‑7 Return Value From MCP3 2-9](#__RefHeading___Toc142391641)

[Figure 2‑8 ICP Main Window: Displaying the Water Year Plot
2-9](#__RefHeading___Toc142391642)

[Figure 2‑9. Navigation panel 2-10](#__RefHeading___Toc142391643)

[Figure 2‑10 Selecting Water Year curves in the existing ICP
2-11](#__RefHeading___Toc142391644)

[Figure 2‑11 Context sensitive popup 2-12](#__RefHeading___Toc142391645)

[Figure 2‑12 Recommended context sensitive popup for selecting Water
Year display 2-13](#__RefHeading___Toc142391646)

[Figure 2‑13 Select Model Parameters to edit
2-14](#__RefHeading___Toc142391647)

[Figure 2‑14 Input 'Deck' Selection 2-15](#__RefHeading___Toc142391648)

[Figure 2‑15 File Override Warning Dialog
2-15](#__RefHeading___Toc142391649)

[Figure 2‑16 Edit Parmeters Dialog 2-16](#__RefHeading___Toc142391650)

Tables

[Table 1‑1 ICP UI Recommendations Summary
1-3](#__RefHeading___Toc141780850)

# introduction

The National Weather Service (NWS) is working to improve and expand its
hydrologic prediction services across the country pursuant to the
Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services (AHPS) program. In support of
these efforts, Riverside Technology, inc. (RTi) is designing and
developing a replacement for the current Interactive Calibration Program
(ICP). This effort is focusing on migrating the software from C/Motif to
Java, maintaining the same functionality but correcting usability
issues. No new functionality is planned under the current scope of the
project. The purpose of this document is to identify key User Interface
(UI) usability issues in the existing software and recommend
alternatives. The resulting software will utilize an object-oriented
design that facilitates maintenance, enhancements, and migration to the
Community Hydrologic Prediction System (CHPS). The following UI change
recommendations are not all-inclusive, but represent major UI elements.
If RTi and OHD can agree on the recommendations, then UI design and the
initial version of the software will reflect initial discussions.

The following table summarizes the recommendations.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc141780850 .anchor}Table 1‑1 ICP UI Recommendations
Summary

+---+--------------+-----------------------+---------------------------+
| \ | UI Element   | Usability Issue       | Recommendation            |
| # |              |                       |                           |
+---+--------------+-----------------------+---------------------------+
| 1 | Main Window  | Non-standard Look &   | Reorganize into a more    |
|   | re           | Feel                  | standard application,     |
|   | organization |                       | with standard menus, a    |
|   |              | Under-utilized window | tool bar with access to   |
|   |              | real estate           | common tools, and panels  |
|   |              |                       | containing functional     |
|   |              |                       | elements.                 |
+---+--------------+-----------------------+---------------------------+
| 2 | Basin/File   | Selection of          | Implement a more          |
|   | Selector and | watershed deck is     | intuitive interface to    |
|   | Session      | tedious               | select the MCP3 input     |
|   | Management   |                       | deck and reduce the       |
|   |              | Selected watershed    | number of user actions    |
|   |              | deck does not remain  | necessary to make a       |
|   |              | selected              | selection. Once selected, |
|   |              |                       | the input files are       |
|   |              |                       | active until a new file   |
|   |              |                       | is selected.              |
+---+--------------+-----------------------+---------------------------+
| 3 | All Major UI | Menu selections are   | Where possible and        |
|   | Elements     | not co-located with   | appropriate, use          |
|   |              | display area.         | context-sensitive popup   |
|   |              |                       | menus to provide the user |
|   |              |                       | with one-click access to  |
|   |              |                       | features.                 |
+---+--------------+-----------------------+---------------------------+
| 4 | Output       | User must remember to | Update output views       |
|   | Displays     | update the output     | automatically after a     |
|   |              | view.                 | run. In particular,       |
|   |              |                       | update plots              |
|   |              |                       | automatically so that     |
|   |              |                       | users are not required    |
|   |              |                       | to.                       |
+---+--------------+-----------------------+---------------------------+
| 5 | Changes in   | Current look and feel | Use look and feel of      |
|   | Graph        | may not be            | selected graphing         |
|   | Appearance   | supportable in new    | package, consistent with  |
|   |              | software.             | look and feel of common   |
|   |              |                       | graphing tools.           |
+---+--------------+-----------------------+---------------------------+
| 6 | Parameter    | User must repeatedly  | Allow parameter windows   |
|   | Window       | reopen Parameter      | to remain open,           |
|   | Changes      | windows               | minimizing user           |
|   |              |                       | interaction.              |
+---+--------------+-----------------------+---------------------------+

# User Interface change Recommendations

The following sections provide details about the ICP UI recommendations.
Screen graphics for the existing application are shown to illustrate the
issue, and graphics from a mock-up replacement ICP are provided to
illustrate the recommended solution.

## Main Window Reorganization

### Existing Software

The existing ICP main window and menus are as shown in the following
figure:

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="4.124305555555556in"
height="1.1145833333333333in"}

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391635 .anchor}Figure 2‑1 ICP main window

The ICP main window currently shows a NOAA graphic and provides access
to main application menus. Subsequent displays occur using windows that
can float relative to the main window. The main issues with the current
software are:

1.  The main window has a non-standard look and feel. Many menus are
    specific to ICP and do not conform to standard software guidelines.

2.  The main window real estate is underutilized. For example,
    information about the ICP session could be displayed in the main
    interface; however, it is not.

### Recommended Solution

It is recommended that the main window be reworked similar to the
following figure:

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="3.2381944444444444in"
height="2.1805555555555554in"}

New_ICP_MainWindow

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391636 .anchor}Figure 2‑2 Sample Main Window

In this approach, the following UI elements are utilized:

1.  Menus follow standard guidelines. In particular, the File, Edit,
    View, Tools, and Help menus provide standard features similar to
    other software. The Input, Run, and Output menus provide features
    specific to calibrating NWSRFS models using general terms that could
    also apply to other similar software.

2.  A toolbar is employed to allow users to quickly execute common tasks
    (e.g., saving a deck, and running MCP).

3.  A navigation panel (left) is provided to display the organization of
    input files and provide context-sensitive popup menus for related
    tasks (copy, rename, delete). This tree representation of the
    calibration files is consistent with a file navigator familiar to
    most users (See Section 2.2.2 for additional discussion).

4.  A work area is available as a primary view. It could contain a map,
    the MCP3 input file as text, MCP3 output statistics, or a table
    listing previous calibration runs with notes, etc. In this ICP Phase
    2 project, the scope does not allow for adding new functionality.
    However, defining the main interface now to allow this addition to
    occur in the future is recommended.

Overall, the main window becomes more of a focus for performing
calibration and managing files.

## Basin/File Selector and Session Management

A calibration session consists of:

1.  Start ICP

2.  Select watershed (MCP3 deck)

3.  Run MCP

4.  Examine results

5.  Edit model (operation) parameters (if results are unsatisfactory)

> Steps 3 through 5 are repeated until the results are satisfactory.
> Calibration requires repeating these steps many times.

### Existing Software

The main issues with the software are:

1.  Selection of the watershed deck is tedious, the number of actions
    required to initially select a deck is unnecessary.

2.  A selected watershed deck does not remain selected; the user must
    reselect the deck for each run.

In order to select an MCP3 input deck to use during calibration, the
existing software requires that the following steps occur:

1.  Select Control-\>Select Watershed

> ![](media/image6.jpeg){width="5.715972222222222in"
> height="1.8402777777777777in"}

ICP_Control_Select_Watershed

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391637 .anchor}Figure 2‑3 ICP Main Window:
Select Watershed

2.  Select Region (See figure 2-4)

3.  Select Basin (See figure 2-4)

4.  Select Watershed (See figure 2-4)

5.  Click on **Accept** (See figure 2-4) Note that selecting a deck has
    no effect.

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="6.211111111111111in" height="4.16875in"}

ICP_Select_Watershed

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391638 .anchor}Figure 2‑4 Select Watershed
Dialog: Selecting the watershed

Next run MPC as shown in the following steps:

1.  Select Control-\>Run MCP

> ![](media/image8.jpeg){width="5.635416666666667in"
> height="1.8798611111111112in"}
>
> ICP_Control_Run_MCP3

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391639 .anchor}Figure 2‑5 ICP: Running MCP

2.  Select deck (See figure 2-6)

3.  Click on **OK** (See figure 2-6). This initiates the MCP run.

> ![](media/image9.jpeg){width="2.2069444444444444in"
> height="3.779861111111111in"}
>
> Input_Deck_Selection

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391640 .anchor}Figure 2‑6 Input 'Deck'
Selection

4.  Click on **OK.** The return value from MCP3 is displayed and can be
    checked by the user.

> ![](media/image10.jpeg){width="4.166666666666667in"
> height="1.6409722222222223in"}

Return_Value_MCP3

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391641 .anchor}Figure 2‑7 Return Value From
MCP3

The following step must be performed to examine the graphical results.
Note that the deck must again be selected.

5.  Select Display-\>Water Year Plot-\>(deck)

> ![](media/image11.jpeg){width="4.405555555555556in"
> height="1.3756944444444446in"}
>
> ICP_Display_Water_Year_Plot

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391642 .anchor}Figure 2‑8 ICP Main Window:
Displaying the Water Year Plot

> This step must be performed each time MCP is run because the Water
> Year Plot does not automatically update (See section 2.4).

### Recommended Solution

It is recommended that a simple "File...Open" approach be taken to
select an MCP3 deck. The user can choose File...Open, the "Open" tool in
the toolbar, or double-click on a deck in the navigation panel to open
an existing file.

> ![](media/image12.jpeg){width="2.6569444444444446in"
> height="2.001388888888889in"}
>
> Proposed_Water_sheds

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391643 .anchor}Figure 2‑9. Navigation panel

Once a deck is selected, it will remain active throughout the session.
It will only be changed when a new file is opened. When a deck is
selected, its name will be displayed in the title bar of the main
window.

Saving the scenario under a different name will automatically change the
opened deck to the saved scenario.

Remembering the selected deck will significantly improve usability.

***Input from OHD/RFCs requested:***

1.  *Is a directory/file navigator tree an acceptable approach for
    selecting and managing decks?*

2.  *Is it important to enforce "Region", "Basin", "Watershed" language
    in the navigator, or is a more general selector desirable (User
    enforces directory structure)?*

> *Note that in any case the existing directory structure will be
> supported.*

## Context sensitive Popup Menus

### Existing Software

The existing ICP software does not utilize context-sensitive menus.
Consequently, the following issues exist:

1.  Menu selections are not co-located with the display area.
    Consequently, the user must shift eye focus to another area of the
    screen.

2.  Users must use the layered menus on the main window to perform
    simple tasks, often requiring multiple clicks. For example, the
    following figure shows the current selection of Water Year Plot
    display.

![](media/image13.jpeg){width="5.2340277777777775in"
height="3.645138888888889in"}

ICP_WY_menu

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391644 .anchor}Figure 2‑10 Selecting Water Year
curves in the existing ICP

3.  Some menu choices are enabled even when inappropriate. For example,
    the SNOW-17 item may be shown although there is no SNOW-17 model
    specified.

### Recommended Solution

It is recommended that context-sensitive menus be utilized as much as
possible to provide users with single-click access to common tasks. For
example, for selection of a MCP input deck, a right click over
Watershed1.curr selects the deck and pops up a menu displaying valid
choices, as seen in Figure 2-11.

> ![](media/image12.jpeg){width="2.6569444444444446in"
> height="2.001388888888889in"}
>
> Proposed_Water_sheds

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391645 .anchor}Figure 2‑11 Context sensitive
popup

This example follows the tree paradigm made popular by the Windows
Explorer. It allows the representation of watersheds in a hierarchical
manner familiar to most of us. It also shows the actions on an object
(Region, Basin, Watershed, Deck) together in one place. Use of popup
menus with the navigation tool could eliminate the need for many other
menus and streamline user interactions.

The following figure shows the recommended selection of Water Year Plot
display, using a popup menu.

![](media/image14.jpeg){width="5.08125in" height="2.7743055555555554in"}

Proposed_WY_Plot

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391646 .anchor}Figure 2‑12 Recommended context
sensitive popup for selecting Water Year display

As can be seen, in this example the user interaction simplifies from
navigating three levels of menus to a single menu.

The appropriate use of context sensitive menus can improve usability
considerably.

## Automated Updates of Output Displays

### Existing Software

Currently, after running MCP3, the user must select the output to view.
The issues are:

1.  Users must repetitively execute the same UI actions to perform a
    simple task.

### Recommended Solution

It is recommended that after a MCP run, the results displays that are
currently visible be automatically updated. Variations on this are to
provide a popup dialog each time that says "Do you want to refresh the
displays?" or allow the setting to be configured and default to the
most-preferred setting.

## Changes in Graph Appearance/Features

### Existing Software

The existing graphing features utilize custom software developed at OHD,
which may be difficult to reproduce exactly.

### Recommended Solution

It is recommended and scoped that a graphing package be selected and
used. This package may have features that result in a slightly different
appearance (e.g., axis labeling) and may offer additional functionality
at little or no development cost (e.g., ability to print graph). It is
recommended that existing general functionality (e.g., scrolling,
layout) be reproduced but that the look and feel be allowed to change
depending on the graphing package.

## Parameter Window Changes

The existing software requires the following user interaction to edit
model parameter values, run MCP3, and to see the graphical results.

1.  Select Edit-\>Selected Parameters-\> \<model\> from the menu bar on
    the Interactive Calibration Program window.

> ![](media/image15.jpeg){width="5.621527777777778in"
> height="2.4402777777777778in"}

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391647 .anchor}Figure 2‑13 Select Model
Parameters to edit

2.  Reselect the input deck (see Figure 2-14).

> ![](media/image9.jpeg){width="2.2069444444444444in"
> height="3.779861111111111in"}
>
> Input_Deck_Selection

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391648 .anchor}Figure 2‑14 Input 'Deck'
Selection

3.  Select Overwrite from the File Overwrite Warning Dialog (see Figure
    2-15).

> ![](media/image16.jpeg){width="4.497222222222222in"
> height="1.4791666666666667in"}
>
> ICP_File_Override_Warning_Dialog

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391649 .anchor}Figure 2‑15 File Override
Warning Dialog

4.  Edit selected parameters (see Figure 2-16).

5.  Select Okay (see Figure 2-16) to apply the modified parameters to
    the input deck (the window closes)

![](media/image17.jpeg){width="4.263888888888889in"
height="7.113888888888889in"}

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc142391650 .anchor}ICP_Edit_Parameters

Figure 2‑16 Edit Parameters Dialog

6.  Run MCP (as described in Section 2.2.1)

7.  Display Water-Year Plot (See Fig. 2.-8)

> To change a parameter again, repeat steps 1- 8

### Existing Software

There are multiple issues with the Parameters windows.

1.  Displaying the model parameters to change requires considerable user
    interaction.

2.  The Parameter window must be closed before parameter changes are
    made to the input deck, forcing the user to reselect the model to
    change each time that a parameter is to be edited

3.  The user must manually rerun MCP after making parameter changes.

### Recommended Solution

A mechanism will be provided to the Parameter window to save the changed
parameters to the current input deck without closing the window (e.g.
"Apply").

Provision will also be designed to allow the user to selectively run
MCP. (See also section 2.4).

Overall, an improved design can reduce the number of repetitive user
interactions and speed the calibration effort.