NCPLOT.DAT

Basic Information

File-Type

ncplot.dat

File-Form

FORMATTED

Version

January 2016

Description-Date

January 2016

Significance of the File

contains general steering data for the program NCPLOT.

File-Contents (in Catchwords)

steering data

• Block Program_Parameters: general steering data

• Key "Language" : Language preference for labels and texts:

• DE = German,
• EN = English.

• Key "Max_Read_Storage" : max. read only memory (in bytes) for analysis
• Key "Min_Water_Depth" : minimum water coverage in [m].

Hint: The excluding of data from the presentation in case of low water coverage is only possible, if the variable to be displayed points in a certain way to a variable associated with the total water depth.
The CF-NetCDF output of UnTRIM programs fulfills this requirement.
The page NCPLOT: Min_Water_Depth illustrates the effect of this control parameter.

• (optional) Key "Infobox_NTN_Name" : name of the normalization transformation for the Metadata Infobox.

• Block Normalization_Transformation: normalization transformation (NTN)
  Definition of an image section and description of the link between the world and image coordinates. The coordinates of the drawing area, the so-called NDC space, range from [0.0,0.0] to [1.0,1.0]. For an undistorted view of the area the representation scale in the X direction must match the scale in Y-direction (DWC / DNDC = const); optionally also key "Autoscale" can be used for this purpose. Distorted representations are also possible.
  In addition to the positioning of the map windows NTNs be used for legends and text windows. Legends can be arranged either horizontally or vertically.
  

• Key "Name" : unique name of this normalization transformation.
• Key "EPSG" : EPSG code of the data coordinates in the file.
• Key "EPSG_Window" : EPSG code of the plot projection.
• Key "Left_Lower_Window_Coordinates" : World coordinates (according to EPSG) the lower left corner of the projection window.
• Key "Right_Upper_Window_Coordinates" : World coordinates (according to EPSG) the upper right corner of the projection window.
• Key "Left_Lower_NDC_Coordinates" : Picture coordinates (NDC within [0.0,1.0]) the lower left corner of the projection window.
• Key "Right_Upper_NDC_Coordinates" : Picture coordinates (NDC within [0.0,1.0]) the upper right corner of the projection window.
• (optional) Key "Autoscale" : automatic adjustment (.true.) of scales in x- and y-direction. Default is .false. (no adjustment).

• Block Poly_Marker_Representation: Poly-Marker Representation
  Description of one type of marker symbols.
  Control file can contain multiple blocks of this type.

• Block Fill_Area_Representation: Fill-Area Representation
  Description of one type of fill area symbolization.
  Control file can contain multiple blocks of this type.

• Block Poly_Line_Representation: Poly-Line Representation
  Description of one type of line symbolization.
  Control file can contain multiple blocks of this type.

• Block Text_Representation: Text Representation
  Description of one type of text symbolization.
  Control file can contain multiple blocks of this type.

• Block Vector_Representation: Vector Representation
  Description of one type of vector symbolization.
  Control file can contain multiple blocks of this type.
  Hint: More info at "NCPLOT: Types of vector symbols".

• Block Textbox: Free Text
  Description of one free text field.
  Control file can contain multiple blocks of this type.

• Block Dataset: Data set
  Description of a data set to be displayed.
  Control file can contain multiple blocks of this type.

• Key "Name" : unique name of this data set.
• Key "File" : name of the CF-NetCDF file (*.nc) with the data to be displayed.
• Key "Variable" : Description of the data whose values are to be displayed.

• Parameter 1 = name of the variable (in file of type *.nc)
• (optional) Parameter 2 = role of the variable as part of a vector

• X-component = Variable is the X component of a vector
• Y-component = Variable is the Y component of a vector
• normal_component = Variable is the normal component of a vector

Hint: The command "ncdump -h <filename>.nc" shows the header of the CF-NetCDF file. The names of the offered variables and their dimensions can be found in the metadata.

• Key "Start" : start address for the data to be displayed.
• Key "Step" : number of steps for the data to be displayed.
• Key "Stride" : increment for the data to be displayed.

Hints:
For each dimension of the variable a start, step and stride value must be specified.
The page NCPLOT: Define DataSet gives instructions for addressing the desired data.

• Block Layer:
  Description of the content of a layer.
  Control file can contain multiple blocks of this type.

• Key "Name" : unique name of this layer.
• Key "Layer_Dataset_Name" : name of the dataset to be displayed. Or a valid connexion (OPERATOR string) made out of known data sets, e. g. [DSet2-DSet1]/[DSet1+DSet2], ABS[DSet1] or SQR[DSet1].
• Key "Layer_Normalization_Transformation_Name" : name of the normalization transformation for this layer.
• Key "Layer_Type" : type of data view of this layer.

Hint: Currently only "XY_data" = horizontal view implemented.

• Key "Layer_Primitive_Name" : graphic primitive to visualize the data in the layer.

• Parameter 1 = Symbolization of the layer

• GPM = as poly marker
• GPL = as poly line
• GFA = as fill area
• GTX = as text
• VEC = as vector

• (optional) Parameter 2 = Type of the vector
  ... optional parameter, only at VEC visualization permitted.
  ...allows, for example, the interpolation of the total vector from the normal component a vectorial quantity.

• total = total vector
• normal = normal vector

Hint: The primitive must fit to the underlying geometry of the data!
"node" data: GPM, GTX, VEC
"edge" data: GPM, GPL, GTX, VEC
"face" data: GPM, GPL, GFA, GTX, VEC

• Key "Layer_Primitive_Representation_Name" : name of the representation of the primitive.
• Key "Layer_Bounds_Name" : name of the interval definition for this layer (from the file bounds.cfg.dat).

Hint: The number of intervals in the interval definition and the number of colors of the associated color legend must match.

• Key "Layer_Palette_Name" : name of the color legend for this layer (corresponds to the attribute Name in the file palette.dat. More detailed information about palettes on file description page palettes.cfg.dat).
• Key "Layer_Invert_Palette" : invertation of the color ramp.
• Key "Layer_Legend_NTN_Name" : image area for the color legend of this layer.
• Key "Layer_Framing" : type of framing for this layer.

Hint: More info at "Options of the layer framing".

• Key "Layer_Description_NTN_Name" : image area for the data description (e.g. Indication of the time).
• (optional) Key "Layer_Display_Units" : Physical unit in which the data should be converted for the graphical presentation.

Hints:
The original unit of the data and the target unit must be known in the configuration file phydef.cfg.si.dat. In addition, the SI-base (dimension) of the units must be identical.

• (optional) Key "Layer_Display_Name" : Name of physical quantity, will be used instead of the original name given in the input data set. Without this line the name in PHYDEF is used, if the variable owns the attribute name_id.
• (optional) Key "Layer_Vector_Legend_NTN_Name" : image area for the vector legend in case of arrows with length_type proportional.
• (optional) Key "Layer_Vector_Thinout_Raster" : dimensions of the grid used to thin out the display of vector arrows.
• (optional) Key "Layer_NOBS_Filter" : filter for displayed data based on ancillary variable with type number of observations:
  • parameter 1: filter type:
    • EQ = display data only for a fixed number of observations;
    • LE = display data for a certain number of observations or less;
    • LE = display data for a certain number of observations or more.
  • parameter 2: filter value:
    • 0 = maximum number of observations;
    • N = specified number of observations;
    • -M = maximum number of observations minus M.

General Remarks

1. While reading this steering data file the dictionary file ncplot_dico.dat will be automatically accessed in directory $PROGHOME/dic/ to support input.
2. If no such file exists in the working directory, NCPLOT accesses the following configuration files from the directory $PROGHOME/cfg/:
   • colors.cfg.dat: File with definitions of colors.
   • palettes.cfg.dat: File with references to files with color palette definitions.
   • bounds.cfg.dat: File with interval definitions for legends.
     Hint: The bounds file should be better stored within a project in the working directory.
3. The following standard configuration files from the directory $PROGHOME/cfg/ are required:
   • gkssystem.rechnername.dat: GKS parameter file.
   • phydef.cfg.si.dat: Configuration file for units and their relation to the SI system.

Programs using this Type of File

NCPLOT

Example-File

$PROGHOME/examples/ncplot/ncplot.dat

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