GEMPAK Manual |
Programs | Parameters
VGFILE
VGFILE is the name of the Vector Graphics File (VGF) to be displayed
or processed. It also specifies the name of the scale file,
attribute file and time filter. The scale file and attribute file are
used by GPMAP to alter objects in the VGF when displayed or stored in
the output device, e.g., XW, FAX, GIF, etc. These files allow the VGF
object attributes to be tailored to meet the display requirements of
FAX, GIF, and other supported product formats. The scale, attribute
file names and filter are specified using the "|" character as a
delimiter in the following format:
vgfile | scale file | attribute file | filter
Specifying the scale file allows a limited set of object attributes
in the VGF to be changed in the output device by multiplying their
values by numbers defined in the scale file. The following parameters
can be scaled:
Parameter Name Description
-------------- -----------
PIPSIZE Front Pip Size
FRONTSTRENGTH Frontal strength
SYMWIDTH Symbol width
SYMSIZE Symbol size
WINDWIDTH Wind barb/arrow width
WINDSIZE Wind barb/arrow size
WINDHDSIZ Wind barb head size
LINEWIDTH Line width
SPLWIDTH Special line width
SPLSIZE Special line pattern size
TEXTSIZE Text size
TEXTWIDTH Text width
SPTXTSIZE Special text size
SPTXTWIDTH Special text width
The parameter name must appear in the scale file followed by an
equal sign, "=", and a real value. See the table
$GEMTBL/pgen/scale.fax for examples.
Specifying the attribute file allows VGF object attributes to be
modified for output devices by setting their values. Attributes such
as color, size, thickness, etc. can be changed for particular object
sub-types, e.g., cold fronts. Also, sub-types can be eliminated from
the output device by setting their major color number to -1.
The value of the attribute for an object in the attribute file
overrides the value in the VGF with the following exceptions:
1. If the value for an attribute is set to 0, then it is not
changed except in the case of smoothing.
2. If the attribute file value for smoothing is -1, then
smoothing remains unchanged.
3. Rotation values in the attribute file are ignored.
The attribute file can also be used to change the object sub-type.
For example, all underlined text objects can be changed to non-underlined
text objects.
The attribute file uses a similar format as the table
$GEMTBL/pgen/setting.tbl. The file, $GEMTBL/pgen/uattribd.tbl
provides a sample template for the attribute file and additional
instructions.
Specifying the filter allows the vg elements with an embedded time
(i.e. GFA) to be selectively displayed. The filter value is a time
or times, with ";" used to delimit the the filter times. If the
time filter is not specified, all elements will be displayed.