Getting Started with GeoVu

Data Access and Visualization Software

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE\
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service\
National Geophysical Data Center\
Boulder, Colorado 80303 USA

#### NOTICE

The information in this publication is subject to change without notice.
NOAA reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes
in the content hereof without obligation of NOAA to notify any person of
such revisions or changes.

#### DISCLAIMER

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this
publication, NOAA assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions
that may appear herein. Nor does it assume any liability for damages
resulting from the use of the information contained in this publication.

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### Introduction

GeoVu is a data- and platform-independent browse and visualization
application developed at the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC).
GeoVu 6.0 operates in the Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, and Sun and SGI
Motif environments.

You need to install the GeoVu application software and you may want to
install the GeoVu Data Sampler, a data collection compiled for use with
GeoVu demonstrations and tutorials. If you have data collections
published by NGDC, you may also want to install the set of menu files
(**\*.men**) to update those you already have. Documentation files are
also available.

### Requirements

###### PC

Under Microsoft Windows, GeoVu operates on any IBM PC 386 or 486 or
compatible personal computer. The minimum configuration is DOS 5.0
running Microsoft Windows 3.xx or Windows 95. A Windows-supported mouse
device and video system of VGA or better resolution are required, and
optionally, a CD-ROM drive and standard CD-ROM file access software.

###### Macintosh

To run GeoVu on a Macintosh, you should have a 68020-based machine (Mac
II or later) with a color monitor, 4 MB of RAM, and System 6 or later.
Note that PowerMacs run GeoVu in emulation mode which results in poor
performance of some functions.

###### Unix

GeoVu is also available as a Motif 1.1 program running on Sun Sparc
workstations and as a Motif 1.2 program running on SGI workstations.

### Obtaining GeoVu

GeoVu application software, the Data Sampler, menu files, and
documentation files are accessible via FTP and on-line from the World
Wide Web (WWW), and are available on CD-ROMs published by NGDC, and on
diskettes (PC and Macintosh). If you are using your own data, you only
need to obtain the GeoVu application software. If you are using data
collections published by NGDC, you should also get the accompanying menu
files (**\*.men**). If you have no data but wish to check GeoVu\'s
capabilities, you should get the Data Sampler as well as the application
software. The documentation for GeoVu (available in several formats)
includes this \"Getting Started\" guide, a user\'s reference guide, and
a guide to tools for data publishers.

###### FTP

If you want to download GeoVu to your computer, it must be connected to
Internet and support the **ftp** command.

To download GeoVu:

1.  Enter **ftp ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov**. Log in using **anonymous** for the
    user ID; use your own e-mail address or name for the password.

2.  Change directories to **Access_Tools/GeoVu**.\
    Here you will find subdirectories (**PC**, **Mac**, **Unix_SGI**,
    **Unix_Sun**) containing a GeoVu installation file (self-extracting
    executable) for each platform.

3.  Download the appropriate GeoVu installation file
    (PC--**gvinstal.exe**, Macintosh--**geovu.sea.hqx**,
    Unix--**geovu.tar.Z**) and **readme** file in binary mode (PC, Unix)
    or ASCII mode (Macintosh).

To download the Sampler, menu files, and documentation files:

1.  The GeoVu Data Sampler, also in a self-extracting executable file
    (PC--**sampler.exe**, Macintosh--**gvdata.sea.hqx**,
    Unix--**sampler.tar.Z**), is available in
    **Access_Tools/GeoVu/Sampler**. Download the appropriate Sampler
    file in binary mode (PC, Unix) or ASCII mode (Macintosh).

2.  The menu files (**\*.men**) are located in
    **Access_Tools/GeoVu/Menu_Files**. Download them in binary mode.

3.  The documentation files in several formats are located in
    **Access_Tools/GeoVu/Doc_Files**.

###### World Wide Web

To access GeoVu installation and accessory files, use the following
URL:\
**ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/Solid_Earth/Access_Tools/GeoVu\
** (subdirectories as above)

###### CD-ROM

###### Newer NGDC CD-ROMs include the platform-specific GeoVu installation file in the appropriate subdirectory (pc, mac, unix_sgi, unix_sun) under \\software\\geovu. The Sampler executable is in the \\sampler subdirectory and GeoVu documentation files are in \\documnt. Menu files are in the \\gv_misc subdirectory under the appropriate platform directory (pc, unix_sgi, etc.) On older NGDC CD-ROMs, look for GeoVu files in \\software; subdirectories may vary.

###### Diskettes

Contact us at the following address to order GeoVu for PC or Macintosh
on diskettes (for which there may be a nominal charge):

**Solid Earth Geophysics Division\
National Geophysical Data Center\
325 Broadway E/GC1\
Boulder, CO 80303\
(303) 497-6472**

### Installing GeoVu

Your installation directory should be ***empty***. Either create a new
directory or clean out an existing directory.

###### PC

You will need 4 MB of disk space on your PC to install GeoVu.

To install GeoVu after it has been downloaded via FTP or WWW:

1.  After getting **gvinstal.exe**, select the Run option from the File
    menu in the Windows 3.xx Program Manager or use the Start menu on
    the Windows 95 desktop.

2.  Type **setup** preceded by the drive, e.g., **a:setup**, then follow
    the installation instructions on the screen.

> The installation process places GeoVu software and accessory files on
> your computer\'s hard drive in the directory or folder of your choice.
> The GeoVu Setup program installs or modifies an initialization file
> (**freeform.ini**) and the path of the installation directory for
> GeoVu is written into this file during setup.

To install GeoVu on a PC from an NGDC CD-ROM:

1.  Select the Run option from the File menu in Windows 3.xx Program
    Manager or use the Start menu on the Windows 95 desktop.

2.  Run the GeoVu Setup program **setup.exe**, which is located on newer
    NGDC CD-ROMs in the directory **\\software\\geovu\\pc** or on older
    CD-ROMs in the directory **\\software**. Type **setup** preceded by
    the path (e.g., **e:\\software\\geovu\\pc\\setup**), then follow the
    installation instructions on the screen.

To install GeoVu on a PC from diskettes:

1.  Start Windows.

2.  Insert the GeoVu Access Software diskette into the appropriate
    drive, e.g., a:

3.  Select the Run option from the File menu in Windows 3.xx Program
    Manager or use the Start menu on the Windows 95 desktop

4.  Type **setup** preceded by the drive, e.g., **a:setup**, then follow
    the installation instructions on the screen.

###### Macintosh

To install GeoVu after it has been downloaded via FTP or WWW:

1.  When you download **geovu.sea.hqx**, decoding and installation of
    the **geovu** folder onto your hard disk may take place
    automatically depending on the setup of your FTP or Web software. If
    only the **geovu.sea.hqx** file is installed, decode it with StuffIt
    Expander or BinHex. These are free software utilities available in
    many places on the Web including
    **http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive.html**.

2.  After decoding, double-click the **geovu.sea** icon to install the
    **geovu** folder wherever you want on your hard drive. If you use
    StuffIt, this may happen automatically, depending on your settings.

To install GeoVu on a Mac from an NGDC CD-ROM:

1.  Copy the file **geovu.sea.hqx** to your hard drive (truncated to
    **geovu_se.hqx** or **geovusea.hqx**) from the
    **\\software\\geovu\\mac** directory on the CD-ROM (**\\software**
    on older NGDC CD-ROMs) to your hard drive. The file name is
    truncated because the CD-ROM was made on a DOS-based PC.

2.  Decode the file with StuffIt Expander or BinHex.\
    These are free software utilities available in many places on the
    Web including:
    **http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive.html**.

3.  After decoding, double-click the **geovu.sea** icon to install the
    **geovu** folder wherever you want on your hard drive. If you use
    StuffIt, this may happen automatically, depending on your settings.

To install GeoVu on a Mac from diskettes:

> Double-click the **geovu.sea** icon to install the **geovu** folder
> wherever you want on your hard drive.

###### Unix

To install GeoVu after it has been downloaded via FTP or WWW:

1.  After getting **geovu.tar.Z**, place it in the directory where you
    wish to install GeoVu (typically your home directory).

2.  Enter the following commands:

> **uncompress geovu.tar.Z\
> tar xvf geovu.tar**
>
> These commands generate the **geovu/** directory and file **g2**,
> which is an X application defaults file.

3.  Place **g2** (not **g2.exe**!) in your home (\~) directory.

4.  Be sure the environment variable GEOVUDIR points to the **geovu**
    directory. For example, if you use the C Shell (and un-tar\'d
    **geovu.tar** in your home directory), put the following line in
    **.cshrc**:

> **setenv GEOVUDIR \~/geovu**

To install GeoVu on a Unix machine from an NGDC CD-ROM:

1.  Copy the file **geovu.tar.Z** (truncated to something like
    **geovu_ta.z**) from the **\\software\\geovu\\unix_sun** or
    **unix_sgi** directory on the CD-ROM (**\\software** on older NGDC
    CD-ROMs) and place it in the directory where you wish to install
    GeoVu (typically your home directory). The file name is truncated
    because the CD-ROM was made on a DOS-based PC.

2.  Enter the following commands:

> **cp geovu_ta.z geovu.tar.Z\
> uncompress geovu.tar.Z\
> tar xvf geovu.tar**
>
> These commands generate the **geovu/** directory and file **g2**,
> which is an X application defaults file.

3.  Place **g2** (not **g2.exe**!) in your home (\~) directory.

4.  Be sure the environment variable GEOVUDIR points to the **geovu**
    directory. For example, if you use the C Shell (and un-tar\'d
    **geovu.tar** in your home directory), put the following line in
    **.cshrc**:

> **setenv GEOVUDIR \~/geovu**

### Installing the GeoVu Data Sampler

###### PC

The Sampler data are in the zipped executable file **sampler.exe** and
occupy 9 MB of disk space when expanded.

To install the Sampler on a PC:

1.  Before getting **sampler.exe**, create the directory **\\gvdata** at
    the root level, e.g., **mkdir c:\\gvdata.** Then place
    **sampler.exe** in **\\gvdata**.

2.  Run **sampler.exe** with the **-d** option (**sampler.exe -d**) to
    extract the data files.\
    The **-d** option recreates the directory structure.

3.  Copy the accompanying menu file **sampler.men** to the GeoVu
    installation directory pointed to by the environment variable
    GEOVUDIR, e.g., **copy c:\\gvdata\\sampler.men c:\\geovu**.

###### Macintosh

The Sampler data are in the self-extracting archive **gvdata.sea.hqx**.

To install the Sampler on a Macintosh:

1.  When you download **gvdata.sea.hqx**, decoding and installation of
    the **gvdata** folder onto your hard disk may take place
    automatically depending on the setup of your FTP or Web software. If
    only the **gvdata.sea.hqx** file is installed, decode it with
    StuffIt Expander or BinHex. These are free software utilities
    available in many places on the Web including
    **http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive.html**.

2.  After decoding, double-click the **gvdata.sea** icon to install the
    **gvdata** folder on your hard drive. If you use StuffIt, this may
    happen automatically, depending on your settings. It is recommended
    that the **gvdata** folder be placed at the top level of your hard
    drive.

3.  Copy the accompanying menu file **sampler.men** to your **gvdata**
    folder.

###### Unix

The Sampler data are in the compressed file **sampler.tar.Z** and occupy
9 MB of disk space when expanded.

To install the Sampler on a Unix machine:

1.  When you get **sampler.tar.Z**, place it in the directory where you
    wish to install the Sampler data and enter the following commands:

> **uncompress sampler.tar.Z\
> tar xvf sampler.tar**
>
> These commands create the **gvdata** directory which contains the
> Sampler directories and data files.

2.  Copy the accompanying menu file **sampler.men** to the GeoVu
    installation directory pointed to by the environment variable
    GEOVUDIR (typically your home directory).

### Installing Menu Files

After you download menu files (**\*.men**) from FTP or WWW, place them
in the GeoVu installation directory, e.g., **c:\\geovu** (PC), the
**geovu** folder (Mac), **/geovu** (Unix). If installing GeoVu from
diskette (PC or Mac), copy any menu files you need to the GeoVu
installation directory or folder. Menu files that reside on CD-ROMs must
likewise be copied into the GeoVu installation directory or folder.

### Running GeoVu

The general sequence for accessing and viewing data is as follows:

1\. Select a data file.

2\. Optionally, browse information about the data (if displayed).

3\. Specify search criteria if data are not automatically displayed.

4\. Define desired output (screen display; save data to disk file).

5\. Optionally, name the output file and specify an image\'s Save
format.

þ See the *GeoVu User\'s Guide* for detailed information about GeoVu
menus, tools, and controls.

###### Starting GeoVu

**PC**

There are several ways to start GeoVu for the PC:

-   To start GeoVu as a Windows desktop application, double-click the
    GeoVu icon.

-   From the File menu in the Windows 3.xx Program Manager or the
    Windows 95 Start menu, select the Run option. Windows prompts you
    for the name of the application. Enter the full path to **g2**,
    e.g., **c:\\geovu\\g2**.

-   If your current working directory is the GeoVu directory, start
    GeoVu from the DOS command line by entering **win g2**.

**Macintosh**

-   To start GeoVu for Macintosh, double-click the GeoVu application
    icon in the **geovu** folder.

**Unix**

-   To start GeoVu for Motif as a desktop application, double-click the
    GeoVu icon.

###### Exiting GeoVu

-   To exit GeoVu, select Exit GeoVu from the File menu or use the close
    box on the GeoVu application window.

###### Viewing Data Files

To view a data file:

1.  Start GeoVu and select Set Data Source from the File menu.\
    The Data Source dialog is displayed. A data source is a collection
    of data files on a CD-ROM, hard disk, or diskette.

2.  Change (if necessary) the drive letter (or path) shown in the text
    box with the title "CD-drive or data\'s drive" to that of the drive
    (or directory) where the data source is located.\
    **Examples**\
    **e:** (PC)\
    **:Pathfinder** (Mac) Pathfinder is the name of the icon on the
    desktop\
    **/cdrom** (Unix)

3.  Choose the file in the data set that you want to view; you may have
    to navigate (with double-clicks) through several menu levels. An
    Introduction screen is usually displayed first with some information
    about the data collection.

    If the data publisher has activated the automatic display function,
    the data file is displayed when you choose it. If not, you need to
    define a search.

###### Defining Searches

If the data publisher has not activated the automatic display function,
you must define a \"search\" before data are retrieved, processed,
displayed, or written to disk file. After opening a data file, you use
Search menu options to define retrieval and display properties for that
file. It is recommended that you experiment with different settings. The
result of a search on an open data file can be a plot display, an image
display, or a disk file.

To define a search:

1.  After you open a data file, select Create from the Search menu to
    display the dialog or window in which you can set search criteria.
    For image data, the Image Search Parameters dialog is displayed; for
    point data, the Plots:Title window appears.

2.  Set the criteria as you wish (specify geographic limits, display
    attributes, and so on), or click OK (image) or GO (point) to accept
    the defaults. The data are displayed in a new window.

> **Note!** Once you have defined a search, you can save it in GeoVu by
> title for future use. For image data, use the Save Search Definition
> button in the Image Search Parameters dialog. For point data, click
> the Output/View Type control button, then click "Save the search
> definition only".

3.  You can now examine the data in more detail using the tools on the
    right side of the window (COLOR, ZOOMIN, PROFILE, etc.) or you can
    open additional data display windows.

###### Using Sampler Data

1.  To access the GeoVu Sampler data, click the File menu item Set Data
    Source.

2.  Select GeoVu Sampler Data from the list and change the drive letter
    designation to that of the drive or path where the directory
    **gvdata** is located.

3.  Navigate through the lists of titles until you find the name of the
    data file you want to view. Double-click the title to open the data
    file or click the title, then the OK button.

4.  If the data file isn\'t automatically displayed, you can select
    Create from the Search menu to display the dialog or window in which
    you set search criteria.

###### File Extensions

GeoVu uses the following standard file extensions when reading and
writing files. These extensions also are used on NGDC's CD-ROM products:

> **.dat** ASCII data files
>
> **.bin** binary data files
>
> **.fmt** format description files
>
> **.hdr** header files
>
> **.doc** documentation files (usually IDRISI separated header files)
>
> **.hed** text format grid documentation
>
> **.lst** histogram information file for numeric variables
>
> **.cst** histogram information file for character variables
>
> **.ind** index files (indexing menu files)

###### Viewing Tips

-   Data may have associated header files, format description files,
    image information files, and terms files that define field names and
    code values. You can use options in the Edit menu to review and
    change the information in these files.

-   GeoVu treats images with coordinates specified by latitude and
    longitude pairs as georeferenced images. The GeoReference menu
    contains several options that let you use georeferenced images with
    vector overlays.

-   Use Slide Show from the Utilities menu to sequentially display
    images in a data collection.

-   To create enlarged or reduced images from an image display, select
    Image Processes from the Utilities menu. The resulting images are no
    longer linked to the original data.

-   To view histogram information (variable summary) files that indicate
    variable distribution, select View File Histograms from the
    Utilities menu.

-   Double-click within an image to display image coordinates, data
    values, and data class names.

-   The Help menu displays information found in the *GeoVu User\'s
    Guide.*

-   The FACTS control button displays information about the currently
    displayed image, data classes, and so on.

**Questions?**

Phone: 303-497-6764

FAX: 303-497-6513

Internet: geovu@mail.ngdc.noaa.gov