WeatherFax ...

[stelian]

Originally Posted by rgleason

In thinking about how to use this new feature, I realize we need to know the exact timing and date code for each url and be able to calculate the exact url within the plugin. This would mean the xml file format would have to support this type of information too, so it can be interpreted by the program. Is this what is happening?

I think we need some examples on how to use it.

I already gave an example of xml above...

If we take the Singapore url we were discussing at the origin of this change: http://www.weather.gov.sg/files/mari...731_203000.gif

It look like those charts are generated every hour (at half past the hour), and the URL cotnains the date and the hour. So we can propose several lines in the XML file:

yesterday 0h30 -> swell_72Hr_%Y%m%d_003000.gif, DateOffset=-1
yesterday 1h30 -> swell_72Hr_%Y%m%d_013000.gif, DateOffset=-1
...
yesterday 23:30 -> swell_72Hr_%Y%m%d_233000.gif, DateOffset=-1
today 0h30 -> swell_72Hr_%Y%m%d_003000.gif
today 1h30 -> swell_72Hr_%Y%m%d_013000.gif
...
today 23h30 -> swell_72Hr_%Y%m%d_233000.gif

Got the idea ?

[rgleason]

Stelian, sorry. I think I get it now and will look over it more carefully when I get to my internet + desktop and can really focus on it. This looks great. I had not figured out the pattern at all. I thought they choose an hour/time to cycle all charts and then applied date/time to various charts, but it is simpler than that, they just use local time (?) and apply date-time of creation to each chart I guess. Going to have to read what you wrote more carefully later. Thanks.

[stelian]

I have implemented the ability to call an external helper (script) from weatherfax in order to parse the HTML pages and find the correct URL for the weather faxes.

Find this here: https://github.com/stelian42/weather...83518796f6924d

This should be tested with Lyndon's script (which I didn't see...), and if it works well, I'll push everything to Sean.

The commit log is self explanatory:

Enable the use of an external helper in order to retrieve a fax URL.
     
Some fax URLs are dynamic, and cannot be described in WeatherFaxInternetRetrieval.xml. Finding the charts require (custom) parsing of the weather provider HTML pages and extracting the correct URL.

This commit delegates the parsing to an external script, which can be implemented in shell, perl, python, etc.

In order to use an external script, the <Map> XML tag must have a non NULL "Script" attribute, which is the name of the executable which will be called by weatherfax in order to find the URL of the fax.

This executable must be placed in the $prefix/share/opencpn/plugins/weatherfax_pi/data/ directory (or the corresponding folder on Windows/Mac). The executable will take three parameters on the command line:
   - the <Server> "Name" attribute
   - the <Region> "Name" attribute
   - the <Map> "Contents" attribute

The executable must return, on its standard output, on a single line, the URL to be used by weatherfax.

Example WeatherFaxInternetRetrieval.xml section:
   <Server Name="myserver">
     <Region Name="myregion">
       <Map Contents="mycontents" Area="1" Script="foobar.exe" />
       <Area Name="1" lat1="40N" lat2="70N" lon1="50W" lon2="50E" />
     </Region>
   </Server>

Example foobar.exe:
   #! /bin/sh

   echo http://www.weathercharts.net/noaa_uk...e_00z_last.gif
   exit 0

[rgleason]

Lydon [LJH]

Australia has an FTP site that appears to contain all of their products, but it does not appear to have an index. I will put together a catalog for you.

How is it going? Stelian has made changes to the plugin to accept python scripts and we would like to try it out!

Thanks..

[rgleason]

Weatherfax has been updated for Windows. See
Sean Depagnier's Plugins - Page 23 - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

[rgleason]

Weatherfax Update for Windows is now on github, see
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2482564

[benito334]

Originally Posted by boat_alexandra

I should have a raspberry 3 soon and will begin testing.

I have just migrated to this platform since my chromebook has died...

Hi Sean have you been able to get the SDR capture to work on Rasberry Pi? I still can't get it up and running.

[SFH]

Hi

I am trying to get Weatherfax aligned with my map but to no avail. Have read the manual but still no success. I am using Passageweather for Gibraltar and The Med

What am I doing wrong?

[Gilletarom]

Hello SFH

Originally Posted by SFH

Hi
I am trying to get Weatherfax aligned with my map but to no avail. Have read the manual but still no success. I am using Passageweather for Gibraltar and The Med
What am I doing wrong?

I just tried the same display, with version 1.7005. At first try, I had the same problem. I did a second try, and even several, and with successive time slots, and each time, everything worked fine.

But, why and how was everything arranged ?????

Gilletarom

[rgleason]

Evidently you do not have the updated version, I believe

See attached. Download here for Windows https://opencpn.org/OpenCPN/plugins/weatherfax.html

[Gilletarom]

hello RGleson

Evidently you do not have the updated version, I believe

See attached. Download here for Windows https://opencpn.org/OpenCPN/plugins/weatherfax.html

Hum ... I have it, so ????

[rgleason]

Sorry Gillatarom, that was addressed to SFH! ...or are you having trouble too with the most current version of weatherfax?

Please post your issue as a screenshot, it helps.

[rgleason]

In doing some further testing, I see that the Predictwind has changed the coordinates of some of its faxes.

See the attached. The weather faxes below the highlighted one in the list are offset slightly now. There may be others. This has occurred in both Gibraltar and Med.

This is fixed by using the Weatherfax Wizard. I have done this twice for the entire world and I an now just maintaining my area. Others are going to have to learn how to do this and send me the proper files to include for their area. Sorry.

I just don't have time for do the entire world, send me the proper XML files and I will include them in the next update.

PS: It is an easy fix using the Wizard. Then you just have to tell me which faxes are changed and the coordinateset.xml

[Gilletarom]

Hello RGleason,

I understood from reading you that the mistake can be corrected. And you say that the correction is easy to implement!

I still believe that before arriving to make corrections, if I get there, I will have to perform a lot of tests and this while performing the update of the French tutorial simultaneously.

Gilletarom

[rgleason]

Originally Posted by Gilletarom

Hello RGleason,

I understood from reading you that the mistake can be corrected. And you say that the correction is easy to implement!

I still believe that before arriving to make corrections, if I get there, I will have to perform a lot of tests and this while performing the update of the French tutorial simultaneously.

Gilletarom

It is not a mistake. The publisher of the files has changed the origin of the fax download so that the previous coordinates not longer are exactly aligned.

This happens on a reoccuring basis and we have no control. I have corrected 1000 of these over the last 2.5-3 years for the entire world. Others who have local needs will need to maintain their URL's and CoordinateSets and share them so that we can keep them current.

It means someone (NOT YOU) locally (FRANCE) will need to learn the system and share the results.

Sorry, but that is how it is.