**Historical Data Browser**

**Version ob7.2**

**User's Guide**

May 05, 2006

INTRODUCTION **[1]{.underline}**

GENERAL INFORMATION **[2]{.underline}**

STARTING THE HISTORICAL DATA BROWSER **[4]{.underline}**

SEARCHING FOR STATIONS **[5]{.underline}**

3.1 Saving Search Criteria **[6]{.underline}**

3.2 Loading Search Criteria **[7]{.underline}**

3.3 Clearing Search Criteria **[7]{.underline}**

3.4 Performing the Search **[7]{.underline}**

STATION MAP **[9]{.underline}**

4.1 Display Stations By Observation Time **[10]{.underline}**

4.2 Displaying A Station's Number **[10]{.underline}**

4.3 Displaying A Station's Elevation **[10]{.underline}**

4.4 Displaying The Years A Station Collected Data **[10]{.underline}**

4.5 Displaying A Station's Moves **[10]{.underline}**

4.6 Selecting A Station For The Selected Stations List
**[11]{.underline}**

4.7 Selecting A Group Of Stations For The Selected Stations List
**[11]{.underline}**

4.8 Displaying Station Information **[11]{.underline}**

4.9 Adding Station To Station Comparison **[11]{.underline}**

4.10 Load Previously Saved Selected Stations List **[12]{.underline}**

4.11
Zooming/Panning/Recentering.............................................................**[12]{.underline}**

STATION INFORMATION SCREEN **[14]{.underline}**

5.1 Displaying Data Completeness **[15]{.underline}**

5.2 Displaying Data Values **[15]{.underline}**

5.3 Changing Data Types Being Displayed **[15]{.underline}**

5.4 Changing Time Range Of Data Being Displayed **[16]{.underline}**

5.5 Changing Scale of Plot Axes **[16]{.underline}**

5.6 Adding Station To Selected Stations List **[16]{.underline}**

5.7 Adding Station To Station Comparison Screen **[16]{.underline}**

5.8 Writing Time Series **[16]{.underline}**

5.9 Create Input for the MAT Program **[17]{.underline}**

COMPARING STATIONS **[18]{.underline}**

6.1 Displaying Data Completeness **[19]{.underline}**

6.2 Displaying Data Values **[19]{.underline}**

6.3 Changing Data Types Being Displayed **[19]{.underline}**

6.4 Changing Time Range Of Data Being Displayed **[19]{.underline}**

6.5 Changing Scale That Data Is Displayed Against **[19]{.underline}**

6.6 Adding Station To Selected Stations List **[19]{.underline}**

6.7 Displaying Station Information **[19]{.underline}**

6.8 Write Time Series **[19]{.underline}**

SELECTED STATION LIST **[20]{.underline}**

7.1 Removing Station(s) From List **[20]{.underline}**

7.2 Displaying Station Information **[21]{.underline}**

7.3 Adding Station(s) To Station Comparison Screen **[21]{.underline}**

7.4 Write Time Series **[21]{.underline}**

7.5 Writing Groups of Time Series **[21]{.underline}**

7.6 Create Input for the MAT Program **[21]{.underline}**

7.7 Create Input for the PXPP Program **[22]{.underline}**

7.8 Saving Selected Station List **[22]{.underline}**

7.9 Writing Selected Station List For External Use **[22]{.underline}**

WRITING TIME SERIES **[23]{.underline}**

8.1 Writing Time Series **[24]{.underline}**

8.2 Next Station **[24]{.underline}**

WRITING GROUPS OF TIME SERIES **[25]{.underline}**

9.1 Writing Time Series **[26]{.underline}**

CREATE INPUT FOR MAT PROGRAM **[27]{.underline}**

10.1 Create Input for MAT Program **[28]{.underline}**

CREATE INPUT FOR PXPP PROGRAM **[29]{.underline}**

11.1 Create Input for the PXPP Program **[30]{.underline}**

USER PREFERENCES **[31]{.underline}**

12.1 Keep Station Data After Exiting **[31]{.underline}**

12.2 Location for Writing Time Series **[31]{.underline}**

12.3 Location for Temporary Storage **[32]{.underline}**

12.4 Setting Scales **[32]{.underline}**

12.5 Saving Preferences **[32]{.underline}**

SYSTEM SETUP **[33]{.underline}**

13.1 runhdb Script **[33]{.underline}**

13.2 Apps_default File **[33]{.underline}**

REPORTING PROBLEMS **[35]{.underline}**

**INTRODUCTION**

This document is a guide for users on how to use the Historical Data
Browser (HDB). It gives information on how to enter information, select
items, display information, locate stations of interest, write time
series and get on-line help.

The Historical Data Browser allows a user to extract time series of
historical data for use in subsequent applications. The user can locate
a station or a group of stations, display information about any station,
compare station information and data, re-use queries from session to
session and save the station selections.

Section 2 of this document discusses starting the Historical Data
Browser. Users search for stations with particular characteristics using
the Station Search screen discussed in Section 3. The stations found are
plotted on the map display where the user can perform a variety of
operations (Section 4). Station information and data can be displayed
using the Station Information screen (Section 5) and station information
and data can be compared using the Compare Station screen (Section 6).
Stations are added to a Selected Station List (Section 7) for later
extraction of time series (Section 8). Time Series can be written in
groups (Section 9) and input can be created for the MAT program (Section
10) and the PXPP program (Section 11). Section 12 discusses user
preferences.

**SECTION 1**

**GENERAL INFORMATION**

In Build OB 7.2, The HDB applications have been ported to the Linux
workstations. The Linux

version of HDB has some additional functionality not present in the Unix
version of HDB. That additional functionality concerns mostly the "look
and feel" of the main window which is the map display. The older version
of HDB will remain the same with its functions and will continue to be
launched from the HP machine.

When HDB is started, a pop up window keeps the user informed of the
progress of the initialization of the application. This dialog box is
removed once the main window is successfully displayed. The appearance
of the main window of the HDB application remains almost the same as
that of the Shared Windows Server screen. The most obvious difference is
that the tool area containing a button in the upper left side in the
scrolling area was removed. The menu bar across the top of the main
window now features two additional drops down menu items: **Tools** and
**Projections**.

These menus and their contents will be discussed bellow (see section).
Another difference in the main window is the missing zoom and recenter
buttons in the lower left hand corner **(yellow arrow)**. They have been
moved to the mouse control and to **Tools** drop down menu.

The Linux application is written using functions from the GeoMapServer
library which is a collection of C functions using X/Motif libraries to
render and manage a geographic-based image.

Characteristics of HDB application are discussed below:

> **GUI Environment:** Methods for managing the GUI environment such as
> selecting items from a list or menu, entering data into a text field,
> scrolling and closing dialogs and screens are consistent with Motif
> standards.
>
> **Disk Space:** The Historical Data Browser extracts data from
> historical data archives and stores it on disk in a location specified
> in the User Preferences (see Section 12). The actual data is generally
> located remotely on OHD servers and is retrieved via the Internet.
>
> In all cases when the data is viewed and when the time series are
> written, the information is stored on the user's local system.
> Additional disk space is not consumed during the search process. It is
> consumed when the data is viewed or when time series are written. This
> requires disk space! The user should be aware that attempts to
> retrieve data from large numbers of stations will consume considerable
> disk space. Retrieval over the Internet may also be slow on occasions.
>
> **User Preferences for First Time Users:** Section 12 discusses User
> Preferences which are specific to each individual person (user_id).
> There are default values for the User Preferences, however first time
> users should review these settings to ensure appropriate values.
>
> **Historical Data Browser resources**: The application relies on the
> proper configuration of a number of resources. These resources include
> tables which reside in "ob7_histdata" PostgresSql database, disk
> files, and user-controlled application tokens (also known as
> Apps_defaults).

**SECTION 2**

**STARTING THE HISTORICAL DATA BROWSER**

To start the Historical Data Browser, you must have access to the runhdb
script. Type "runhdb" on the command line. The map screen (Figure 2.1)
will appear.

The Station Map is the HDB Graphical User Interface. It's the first
window which appears when the application is opened, and it is the
primary controlling window for the HDB process. This simple window
consists of a main menu bar across the top and a large display area. The
user has extensive control over what is displayed in the display area.

Figure 2.1

![](media/image1.png){width="5.940972222222222in"
height="4.455555555555556in"}

**SECTION 3**

**SEARCHING FOR STATIONS**

The Station Search screen (Figure 3.1) allows the user to find stations
by specifying criteria such as location, data type, etc. After the
selection criteria have been entered, the search is begun by pressing
the Find button. Upon completion of the search, the stations which meet
the search criteria are displayed geographically as shown in Figure 4.1
in section 4.![](media/image2.png){width="5.534722222222222in"
height="3.83125in"}

**Figure 3.1**

The Station Search screen consists of a number of data selection areas.
Data entered in these areas contributes to the selection criteria. They
are combined in an "and" clause rather than in an "or" clause. For
example if latitude and longitude are entered, and all other criteria
are left blank, then information on all data for all stations within the
lat/lon rectangle are plotted. If station names are also entered, then
only those stations which satisfy [both]{.underline} the lat/lon
[and]{.underline} the name criteria are retrieved.

The search will find stations that satisfy the search criteria. However,
the stations found may have information besides the information
specified in the search criteria. For example, a search for daily
precipitation stations is likely to find stations that collect
temperature in addition to daily precipitation. This becomes obvious
when the user displays information about the station (Section 5). The
Station Information screen shows all information about the station, not
just the information requested in the search criteria.

**Enter Station Location in:** This selection area allows the user to
select stations within either a lat/lon rectangle or a particular state.
Note that you may not enter both the Lat/Lon rectangle and a state
abbreviation. The state is chosen by typing its two letter (U.S. Post
Office) abbreviation or by selection from a list of states displayed
using the list button.

**Enter Data for Data Collected:** You can require that only stations
that were active within a certain time period are displayed by entering
appropriate dates in numeric format. Note; an active station may have
data missing. For example, to select data for 1962, you would enter 1,
1962, 12, and 1962 in the respective boxes. The system will select
stations that were active in 1962; however those stations are not
guaranteed to have twelve months of complete record.

**Minimum Number of Years Data Recorded:** Often the user wants a
continuous period of record. To specify this as selection criteria,
enter the number of years of continuous record here.

**Data Types:** This selection allows you to specify one or more data
type as selection criteria. Multiple data types are combined in an OR
clause. In other words, stations are displayed if they meet
[any]{.underline} of the specified data type selections.

**Data Source:** Select NCDC Coop, the only source left.

**3.1 Saving Search Criteria**

The selected search criteria can be saved to a file for later use. To
save the search criteria entered, press the Save button. A file list
dialog will appear as shown in Figure 3.2. The search criteria will be
written to the specified file and a message will appear stating that the
search has been saved.

**Figure 3.2**![](media/image3.png){width="2.984722222222222in"
height="4.245833333333334in"}

**3.2 Loading Search Criteria**

To load a previously saved search, press the Load button and the file
list dialog will appear. The selected file will be read in and the
search criteria will be entered onto the search screen.

**3.3 Clearing Search Criteria**

To clear the search criteria, press the Clear button. The system will
ask if you are sure that you do want to clear the screen. If you press
the Yes button then the screen will be cleared of all selection
criteria. If you answer No then you will be returned to the Station
Search screen without changing the specified selection criteria.

**3.4 Performing the Search**

To perform the search, press the Find button. This will close the search
screen and a blue circle will be turning around to let you known that
the search is being processed. When all stations that meet the given
criteria are found, a message dialog will be displayed informing you how
many stations were located. The stations that have been found will be
plotted geographically with color indication the type of station.

If you perform another search, you are asked whether or not you wish to
keep the stations found in the prior search. If you do not want to keep
the stations from the previous search, then all of those stations will
be removed from the Selected Station List screen, Station Information
screen, Comparison screen, and the map display. If you want to keep the
stations found in the prior search, then the stations found in the
subsequent search will be added to those found in the prior search. i.e.
subsequent searches can add to or replace prior searches.

**SECTION 4**

**STATION MAP**

This section of the document describes in greater detail all of the
various utilities available through the menu bar displayed across the
top of the HDB main window.

The user can set which overlays are shown during the execution of the
application by selecting the various overlay options under the "Map
Displays" menu. In addition to this, tokens exist to determine the
appearance of the HDB application.

The purpose of this screen is to allow the user to select stations for
the production of time series of historical data. Stations are displayed
geographically and the user adds stations to a "Selected Station List"
which identifies stations for the production of the time series.
Stations that are on the Selected Station List appear as \* and stations
not on the Selected Station List appear as an open circle on the map.
The Map display screen displays a map showing the stations selected
using the Search Screen, and a menu bar. A variety of information about
the stations can be depicted as discussed below. An example of the Map
display screen is shown below in

Figure 4.1.

**Figure 4.1**

![](media/image4.png){width="5.940277777777778in"
height="4.289583333333334in"}

**4.1 Display Stations By Observation Time**

Different colors are used for displaying stations based on observation
time (default) or data source. The different observation times displayed
are: Daily and Hourly, Daily, Hourly and No Data. To color stations by
observation time, go to the Station Displays menu and select Stations by
Observation Time. The stations will then change color according to their
individual observation times. The Legends option under the Help menu
provides a key to the meaning of each color.

**4.2 Displaying A Station's Number**

Each station has a number based on its data source. You are able to
display the station's number next to the station on the map. To display
the station's number, go to the Station Displays menu and select
Station's Number option. The station's number will appear to the right
of the station. To turn off the station's number select the option again
and the station's number will be removed.

**4.3 Displaying A Station's Elevation**

You are able to display the station's elevation next to the station on
the map. To display the station's elevation, go to the Station Displays
menu and select Station's Elevation option. The station's elevation will
appear to the right and a bit above the station. To turn off the
station's elevation select the option again and the station's elevation
will be removed.

**4.4 Displaying The Years A Station Collected Data**

You are able to show the years that data was collected at the station.
To do so, go to the Station Displays menu and select Years Station
Collect Data option. The beginning year followed by the ending year will
appear to the right and a bit below the station. To turn off the display
of the years, select the option again and it will removed from the map.

**4.5 Displaying A Station's Moves**

You are able to display station's moves. To do so, go to the Station
Displays menu and select Station Moves option. All previous locations of
the selected stations will be added to the display. To turn off station
moves, select the option again and the station moves will be removed.

**4.6 Selecting A Station For The Selected Stations List**

To add a station to the selected station list from the Map screen, go to
the Actions menu and select Add Station to Selected Stations List
option. Move cursor over the station you want to add to the list and
press the mouse button. The station will be added to the list and the
list will appear with all the selected stations.

**4.7 Selecting A Group Of Stations For The Selected Stations List**

You can add a group of stations using a selection rectangle. To add a
group of stations all at once to the selected station list from the Map
screen, go to the Actions menu and select Add Group Of Station to
Selected Stations List option. Move the cursor to the upper left corner
of the group of stations you want and press the mouse button. While
holding down the mouse button, move the cursor to the lower right corner
of the group of stations you want, a rectangle will be drawn on the
screen in response to the mouse movement. To add the stations within the
rectangle, release the mouse button and all enclosed stations will be
added to the list. The list will appear with all the new stations added
to it.

**4.8 Displaying Station Information**

To display station information about a given station on the Map screen,
select the Station Information option under the Station Displays menu.
Select the station from the geographic display and the Station
Information screen will appear. If the station contains 3 or fewer data
types, all the data types will be displayed on the station information
screen. If the station has more than 3 types of data, then a selection
list screen will appear. Select the data types you want to view. No more
than 3 data types may be displayed at one time. See Section 5 for a more
detailed discussion of the Station Information screen.

**4.9 Adding Station To Station Comparison**

The user can compare the information for a particular data type from up
to three stations using the Compare Station screen. This screen is
discussed in more detail in Section 6. Stations for comparison are
selected from the map display and added to the Compare Station screen.
To add a station to the station comparison screen, select Add Station to
Station Comparison from the Action menu. Move the cursor over the
station you want to add and press the mouse button. The station
comparison screen will appear if there are no more than 3 stations on
the screen. If you try to add a fourth station, you will get an error
message. If this is the first station on the screen then a selection
list will appear, so that you can select which data type you want to
view.

**4.10 Load Previously Saved Selected Stations List**

The user can reload a previously saved Selected Station List. This
allows the user to continue working with a group of stations. To load
the previously saved list, select Load Saved Selected Stations from the
Station Displays menu. A File List Dialog (Figure 3.2) will appear.
Enter the file name Selected Stations List you wish to load and press
the OK button. If stations were already displayed on the map prior to
loading the list, then the system will ask you if you wish to keep the
currently displayed stations. If you answer no then the Selected Station
List for the current session will be cleared before loading the list
from disk. Otherwise the stations from the loaded list will be added to
the current stations. Once the stations are loaded they will appear on
the map and the updated Selected Station List screen will appear.

**4.11 Zooming/Panning/Recentering**

The user has the option to zoom in and out of the map; to pan north,
east, south, and west; and to recenter the display on any selectable
portion of the map. To use the map orientating tools, You can either
popup up a menu by a single click of the right mouse button or choose
the individual "Zoom", "Pan", and "Recenter" options on the "Tools"
menu. The popup menu contains the options shown in the table bellow:

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Table: Pop up Menu Options**

  **In** -- Zoom the map in

  **Out** -- Zoom the map out

  **Recenter -** Recenter the map on the point where the user clicks
  next.

  **Up** - Pan the map up.

  **Down** - Pan the map down.

  **Left**- Pan the map left

  **Right-** Pan the map right

  **Lat/Lon** - Turn on or off the latitude / longitude information that
  chases the cursor.
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition, there is a Tool bar which is a new option. It's a toggle
button that enables or disables the display of the application's
toolbar. This toolbar by default is "off". When it is enabled through
this menu option, it is displayed just below the main menu bar (Figure
4.2). This toolbar contains the following items from left to right: the
pan up button, the pan down button, the pan left button, the pan right
button, the recenter button, the zoom in button, the zoom out button,
the latitude box, and the longitude box. These buttons offer an
alternative means of accessing the map zoom, recenter, and pan
functions. An example of a map screen with the toolbar is shown in the
figure bellow:

**Figure 4.2**

**Figure 4.2**![](media/image5.png){width="5.940972222222222in"
height="4.455555555555556in"}

**SECTION 5**

**STATION INFORMATION SCREEN**

This screen displays information about the selected station. The
stations name, number, source, latitude, longitude, elevation and
station history are displayed. The data availability is plotted and data
values can be displayed in text format or plotted. If the station has no
data types then a message dialog will be displayed. An example of the
station information screen (**Figure 5.1)** is shown below.

**Figure 5.1**

![](media/image6.png){width="5.5368055555555555in"
height="5.639583333333333in"}

**5.1 Displaying Data Completeness**

To display the completeness of the data, select the Data Completeness
option under the View menu. The data completeness will be displayed
graphically for each of the data types. The vertical axis of the plot is
the number observations available for the particular month as a percent
of the number of observations which could have been available. For
example, in a 28 day month, if 336 observations are available for an
hourly observing station, the abscissa value would be 50%. To remove the
data completeness, select the Data Completeness option again and it will
be removed from the data type graph scroll window.

**5.2 Displaying Data Values**

To display data values for each data type, select the Data Values option
under the View menu. The data values will be plotted in the graph scroll
window and written to the text window. It may take some time to display
the information depending on the quantity of data being retrieved.

When retrieving information for display or the writing of a time series,
the Historical Data Browser first checks to see if the data has already
been extracted from the archive and stored locally in the directory
specified in the user preferences. If the data is not local then the
application goes out and gets the data and stores it. The contents of
the local storage directory are can be erased upon exit from the
Historical Data Browser based upon the User Preferences. Different users
can have different preferences but can share the same local directory
and so data that one user thought should be retained locally may be
erased by a second user. Be careful with your local disk space - you can
cause it to be filled up quickly by viewing long periods of record!

Also under the user preferences, you can set whether to keep the data
after you exit the application. You are also able to set where station
data is to be stored.

To turn off the display of data values, select the option again and the
graph and text will be removed.

**5.3 Changing Data Types Being Displayed**

You are able to change which data types you are viewing if the station
has more than 3 data types. If you want to see different data types or
change the number of data types you are viewing then select Data Types
option from the View menu. A dialog will appear with all the data types
available for the station. Select the data types you want to view but no
more than 3. Once you have selected the data types you want, press the
OK button and the new data types will be displayed. If you press the
Cancel button then your selections are ignored and you are returned back
the station information screen with the data types you previously had
selected.

**5.4 Changing Time Range Of Data Being Displayed**

You are able to examine a smaller set of the data based on a specified
time range. Select Data between Dates option from the View menu. The
Time range dialog will appear. Enter the months and the years that you
want to view. Press the Ok button to accept the new time frame. Select
Data type for which you want to display data for and click OK button.
This will update the graphs and text value being displayed to the new
time range. If you press the Cancel button then any changes will be
ignore and the dialog will be closed.

**5.5 Changing Scale of Plot Axes**

You are able to change the scales of the plot axes. Select the Data Type
Scales option from View menu. The data type scale dialog will appear.
Update any range you want to change. Press the OK button to accept the
changes. Once the changes have been accepted, they are applied. Press
the Cancel button if you do not want to accept the changes.

**5.6 Adding Station To Selected Stations List**

You are able to add the station currently being displayed to the
Selected Stations List by selecting Add to Selected Station List option
under the File menu. The station is added to the list and the list is
displayed.

**5.7 Adding Station To Station Comparison Screen**

You are able to add the station currently being displayed to the station
comparison screen by selecting Add Station to Comparison Screen under
the File menu. You can only add a station to the station comparison
screen if there are fewer than 3 stations already being displayed on the
screen. If you try to add the station and there are already 3 stations
being displayed, you will get an error message. If this is the first
station to be added to the station comparison screen, then a list of
data types will be display so that you can select which to display.

**5.8 Writing Time Series**

You are able to write time series for the currently displayed station.
To do this, select Write Time Series under the File menu. The writing
time series dialog will be displayed. The options for writing a time
series are discussed in more detail in Section 8.

**5.9 Create Input for the MAT Program**

You are able to create correctly formatted input for the MAT program,
(namely the time series file as well as the header card file) for the
currently displayed station. To do this, select Create MAT Input under
the File menu. The MAT Input dialog will be displayed. The options for
creating this input are discussed in more detail in Section 10.

**SECTION 6**

**COMPARING STATIONS**

The station comparison screen allows you to compare stations against
each another. You may compare up to 3 stations at any time. You are able
to add and remove stations from the screen, change the data type being
displayed, display data completeness and data values, reset the scale of
the plot axes and limit the time frame being examined. For each station,
the name, number, latitude, longitude, elevation, source, data
completeness and data values can be displayed. The Compare Stations
screen (Figure 6.1) is displayed by selecting the Add Station to Compare
Information option from the Action menu of the map display screen as
indicated in Section 4.1.

**Figure 6.1**

![](media/image7.png){width="5.542361111111111in"
height="5.615972222222222in"}

**6.1 Displaying Data Completeness**

Data completeness can be displayed as discussed in Section 5.1

**6.2 Displaying Data Values**

Data values can be displayed and plotted as discussed in Section 5.2

**6.3 Changing Data Types Being Displayed**

You are able to change which data types you are viewing as discussed in
Section 5.3

**6.4 Changing Time Range Of Data Being Displayed**

You are able to limit the time frame of the data being examined as
discussed in Section 5.4.

**6.5 Changing Scale That Data Is Displayed Against**

You are able to change the scale of the plot axes as discussed in
Section 5.5

**6.6 Adding Station To Selected Stations List**

You are able to add the stations currently being displayed to the
Selected Stations List as discussed in Section 5.6

**6.7 Displaying Station Information**

You are able to display station information about any one of the
stations on the screen. Select the Station Information option under the
File menu and a list of the currently displayed stations will appear.
Select the station for which you want the information press the OK
button. The station information will appear if the station has 3 or
fewer data types. Otherwise, a list of data types for that station will
appear you can select. You may not select any more than 3 data types.
Once you have selected the data types, press the OK button. The Cancel
button removes the selection dialog.

**6.8 Write Time Series**

You are able to write time series for any of the stations being
displayed as discussed in Section 5.8 and in more detail in Section 8.

**SECTION 7**

**SELECTED STATION LIST**

The selected station list allows you to keep a list of stations that you
are interested in. You are able to add stations to the list, remove
stations from the list, display station information about any station,
compare stations, save the Selected Station List and write time series.
As time series are written, during the current session, the system will
update the Selected Station List indicate which time series were written
for each station. The information about which time series where written
is also saved when saving the selected station list. An example of the
Station List screen is shown below in Figure
7.1.![](media/image8.png){width="5.058333333333334in"
height="2.7368055555555557in"}

**Figure 7.1**

**7.1 Removing Station(s) From List**

To remove one or more stations from the Station List, select the station
you want to remove. Then select the Remove Stations from the Edit menu.
The station that you selected will be removed from the list.

**7.2 Displaying Station Information**

You are able to display station information about any one of the
stations on the Station List screen. Do so by selecting station on the
list and then select the Station Information option under the File menu.
The station information will appear if the station has 3 or less data
types. Otherwise, a list of data types for that station will appear and
you need to select which data type you want to view. You may not select
any more than 3 data types. Once you have selected the data types, press
the OK button. Pressing the Cancel button will remove the dialog window.

**7.3 Adding Station(s) To Station Comparison Screen**

You are able to add one or more stations to the station comparison
screen. You may not have more than 3 stations being displayed on the
station comparison screen at any time. Select the stations you want and
then select the Add Station to Comparison Screen under the File menu.
The stations will appear on the station comparison screen. If a data
type has not been previously selected for the comparison screen, then a
list of all the data type available to the station will appear. Select
the data type you want to view and press the Ok button. If you press the
Cancel button then no data type will be displayed.

**7.4 Write Time Series**

You are able to write time series for any of the stations on the
Selected Stations List. To do this, select the station for which time
series are to be written and then select Write Time Series under the
File menu. The time series dialog will be displayed. The options
associated with writing Time Series are discussed in Section 8.

**7.5 Writing Groups of Time Series**

You are able to write a group of time series for stations on the
Selected Stations List. To do this, select the station(s) for which time
series are to be written and then select Write Group of Time Series
under the File menu. The time series dialog will be displayed. The
options associated with writing Time Series are discussed in Section 9.

**7.6 Create Input for the MAT Program**

You are able to create correctly formatted input for the MAT program,
(namely the time series file as well as the header card file) for any
stations on the Selected Station List. To do this, select the stations
for which the information is to be written and then select Create MAT
Input under the File menu. The MAT Input dialog will be displayed. The
options for creating this input are discussed in more detail in Section
10.

**7.7 Create Input for the PXPP Program**

You are able to create correctly formatted input for the PXPP program,
(namely the time series file as well as the header card file) for any
stations on the Selected Station List. To do this, select the stations
for which the information is to be written and then select Create PXPP
Input under the File menu. The PXPP Input dialog will be displayed. The
options for creating this input are discussed in more detail in Section
11.

**7.8 Saving Selected Station List**

You are able to save all the stations that appear on the selected
station list to a file. This allows you to save your work and continue
it at a later time. To do this, select Save Selected Stations under the
File menu. The File List Dialog (see Figure 3.2 in section 3) will
appear. Enter the file name and press the OK button. All the stations
and their information will be saved to the file. A notice will appear
when the stations have been saved.

**7.9 Writing Selected Station List For External Use**

You are able to write the Selected Station List to a file. The list is
written as an ASCII file as a convenience for use by other software, it
cannot be read back in by the Historical Data Browser. The station
number, name, latitude, longitude, elevation and source will be written
in the same format as displayed on the dialog. To do so, select the
Write Selected Station List For External Use option under the File menu.
A file list dialog will be displayed. Enter the name of the file in the
selection field. Press the OK button and the list will be written to the
file you specified. An information dialog will appear once the file has
been written.

**SECTION 8**

**WRITING TIME SERIES**

You can write time series for a station or a group of stations. Time
series are written in OH Data Card format. Time series are written one
station at a time from the Selected Station List. The station name and
number are displayed for you. The starting and end date is set to the
time range that the station collected data. You are able to change the
time range. The station's data types are also listed for your selection.
An example for the dialog is displayed below in Figure 8.1.

![](media/image9.png){width="3.688888888888889in"
height="6.184027777777778in"}

**Figure 8.1**

**8.1 Writing Time Series**

To write a time series you need to select which data types you want, set
time range, units and Calendar or Water Year. Once you have made your
selections, press the write button. When the time series has been
written, a message will be displayed. The time series are written into
the directory specified by the User Preferences (Section 12).

**8.2 Next Station**

The Next button allows you to go to the next station in the Selected
Station List. If there are no other stations, then this button is grayed
out. Once you have written time series for the current station or just
want to skip the current station and move on to the next station in the
list just press the Next button and the station name, number and time
frame will change according to the new station.

**SECTION 9**

**WRITING GROUPS OF TIME SERIES**

You can write a group of time series all at once. Time series are
written in OH Data Card format. The station's name and number are
displayed for you. You need to enter the starting and ending year, and
select what type of units, what type of year and data type(s) to write.
The data types listed are common to all the stations. An example of the
dialog is displayed below in Figure 9.1.

![](media/image10.png){width="2.7729166666666667in"
height="4.959722222222222in"}

**Figure 9.1**

**9.1 Writing Time Series**

To write a group of time series you need to select which data types you
want, set time range, units and Calendar or Water Year. Once you have
made your selections, press the write button. When the group of time
series has been written, a message will be displayed. The time series
are written into the directory specified by the user preferences
(Section 12).

**SECTION 10**

**CREATE INPUT FOR MAT PROGRAM**

You are able to create correctly formatted input for the MAT program,
(namely the time series file as well as the header card file). The time
series are written in OH Data Card format. The header card file for the
MAT program contains the F, G, H and Q cards.

The stations that you have selected that contain temperature data are
listed in the dialog. Enter the time range for the stations, units, data
type and filename for the card file. An example of the dialog is
displayed below in Figure 10.1.

**Figure 10.1**![](media/image11.png){width="3.3361111111111112in"
height="5.511111111111111in"}

**10.1 Create Input for MAT Program**

To create the header card file and the associated time series that are
required for the MAT program, enter the time range, select units and
data type and enter a file name for the card file. The file will be
written to the directory identified in the User Preferences (Section
12). Once you have entered the information, press the create button. The
card file will be created along with all the times series selected. A
message dialog will appear when everything has been written. If a time
series file already exists, a dialog will appear asking if you wish to
over-write the pre-existing file.

**SECTION 11**

**CREATE INPUT FOR PXPP PROGRAM**

You are able to create correctly formatted input for the PXPP program,
(namely the time series file as well as the header card file). The time
series are written in OH Data Card format.

The stations that you have selected are listed in the dialog. Enter the
time range for the stations, units, data type, base station id,
observation time and filename for the card file. An example of the
dialog is displayed below in Figure 11.1.

![](media/image12.png){width="6.497916666666667in"
height="5.072916666666667in"}

**Figure 11.1**

**11.1 Create Input for the PXPP Program**

To create the header card file and the associated time series that are
required for the PXPP program, enter the Station ID and the time range,
select units and data type and enter a file name for the card file. The
file will be written to the directory identified in the User Preferences
(Section 12). Once you have entered the information, press the create
button. The card file will be created along with all the times series
selected. A message dialog will appear when everything has been written.
If a time series file already exists, a dialog will appear asking if you
wish to over-write the pre-existing file.

**SECTION 12**

**USER PREFERENCES**

The User Preference screen allows you to modify and save individual
preferences for behaviors such as colors, plot scales, basin boundaries
and where to store lists and time series. You are able to change any
preferences at any time. Individual preferences are stored in the user's
home directory in the file; .hdb_resource. An example of the dialog is
shown below in Figure 12.1.

![](media/image13.png){width="6.497222222222222in"
height="3.1173611111111112in"}

**Figure 12.1**

**12.1 Keep Station Data After Exiting**

Station data that is transferred from a remote archive is stored in a
temporary location on local disks as specified in Section 12.4 below.
Prior to transferring, the system checks to see if the data already
exists in the temporary location. The user can choose whether or not to
delete this data upon exiting the system by selecting the appropriate
button on the User Preference screen.

Caution 1: If the location chosen is shared with other users, the system
will delete their temporarily stored data as well.

Caution 2: Choosing not to delete the data may lead to significant
consumption of disk space.

**12.2 Location for Writing Time Series**

The path name for the directory to which time series are written should
be entered here. The path name should end with a "/".

**12.3 Location for Temporary Storage**

The path name for the directory to which temporary data is written
should be entered here. The path name should end with a "/". See Section
12.1 for further discussion.

**12.4 Setting Scales**

Default scales exist for each data type. You are able to change these by
pressing the Scale button and a dialog with all the data types and the
scale ranges will appear. Make your changes and press the OK button to
accept changes. Press the Cancel button to ignore changes and close the
dialog. You still need to press the OK button on the parent User
Preference screen to save new scale settings.

**12.5 Saving Preferences**

Press the OK button to save preferences. The preferences are saved into
your .hdb_resource file. If you press the Cancel button, nothing is
saved.

**SECTION 13**

**SYSTEM SETUP**

User Preferences discusses parameters which can be tailored for each
user. There are two additional sets of parameters, one set which is user
specific and is maintained in the runhdb script and a second set which
is site specific and is maintained in the Apps_default file. These
parameters are discussed below:

**13.1 runhdb script**

The user executes this application by executing the command "runhdb".
This will set up the environment so that HDB can run correctly. Then it
will launch the HDB application.

**13.2 Apps_default File**

The Apps_defaults file contains parameters for the Historical Data
Browser and the Postgres database. The Apps defaults token is a
user-configurable value used throughout the HDB application. Tokens may
be easily changed by the user and directly affect the performance and
appearance of HDB. Changing a token does not require the recompilation
of the program. The user needs only to restart the application once the
token has been modified.

Tokens are defined in one or more of four different locations: a
national apps defaults file, a site apps defaults file, a user apps
defaults file, or in the environment of the shell that the application
is running under. If the token is defined in more than one of these
locations, then a set of rules of precedence decide which token value is
actually used. The value of a token defined in the shell environment
overrides the value of a token defined in a user's apps defaults file
which takes precedence over a token defined in the site's apps defaults
file which takes precedence over a token defined in the national apps
defaults file. Since many HDB tokens are, by default, defined in the
national apps defaults file, the user may override these values by
adding the modified token definition to the site apps defaults file, the
user apps defaults file or by setting it in the shell environment. The
user must never modify the national apps defaults file. This file is
overwritten with every software build, and local changes made to it will
be lost.

The paths and filenames of the national, site and user apps defaults
files are defined by the environmental variables APPS_DEFAULTS,
APPS_DEFAULTS_SITE, and APPS_DEFAULTS_USER, respectively. The
APPS_DEFAULTS and APPS_DEFAULTS_SITE variables are set in the
/awips/hydroapps/set_hydro_env file which are sourced by HDB start up
script. Start scripts which also source the /awips/fxa/readenv.sh,
define the APPS_DEFAULTS_USER variable as well. The value it is set to
depends on platform. For HDB, the national apps defaults file is defined
as /awips/hydroapps/ob72/.Apps_defaults while the site file is set as
/awips/hydroapps/.Apps_defaults_site. This means that when HDB looks up
a token's value, it will look in these files (unless, of course the
token is defined in the environment).

In order to change the .apps_defaults, .apps_defaults_site, or
.apps_defaults_user files used by

HDB, the user must modify the set_hydro_env file where the APPS_DEFAULTS
and APPS_DEFAULTS_SITE definitions are specified. If desired, the
APPS_DEFAULTS_USER variable must be defined after the line in
set_hydro_env where the file /awips/fxa/readenv.sh file is sourced.

> **hdb_dir:pathname -** where pathname is the directory that contains
> support files for the Historical Data Browser (help, scripts, etc)
>
> **hdb_db_name:ob7_histdata -** where ob7_histdata is the name of the
> Postgres Sql database that contains information about the historical
> data.
>
> **hdb\_ config \_dir:** **\$(hdb_dir))/app_defaults** - this is the
> directory that contains the file named hdb_overlay_configuration. This
> file controls all of the overlays displayable on HDB application.
>
> **hdb_help_dir:\$(hdb_dir)/help_files** - this is the location of the
> help files. This syntax will automatically use to the location
> specified by hdb_dir above. However it is provided in the Apps_default
> file to allow a different pathname to be specified. The help files
> contain detailed explanations and instructions about the various HDB
> windows.
>
> Basically, each help topic is stored in a separate file with a name
> that easily distinguishes it
>
> from all of the other help files.
>
> **hdb_script_directory :\$(hdb_dir)/scripts** - this is the location
> of the script files used by the Historical Data Browser. This syntax
> will automatically use to the location specified by hdb_dir above.
> However it is provided in the Apps_default file to allow a different
> pathname to be specified.
>
> **hdb_height_in_pixels**  : 900 - this is the HDB map height in pixels
>
> **hdb_width_in_pixels** : 1200 - this is the HDB width in pixels\
> \
> **hdb_center_lat** : 35- this is the HDB initial center latitude
>
> **hdb_center_lon** : -88.9 - this is the HDB initial center longitude

**hdb_map_width** : 2999.862 - width in nautical miles of the area
displayed

> in HDB.
>
> **hdb_disclosure_limit** : 60 - this is the disclosure limit for
> displaying finer detail
>
> in the city overlay

**hdb_map_projection** : FLAT- this is the initial map projection used
by hdb. Possible values: FLAT, POLAR

**SECTION 14**

**REPORTING PROBLEMS**

Report any problems or concerns to Loubna Bousaisdi at (301) 713-1669
x156 or email at loubna.bousaidi@noaa.gov.