A. Starting GFE in different modes, and what those
modes mean:


Operational Operates normally, using standard databases, and products transmit via normal AWIPS channels.
Practice Operates using a special practice database. Products appear to transmit, but it is simulated, and only occurs internally. Nothing is actually sent. GFE appears orange in color during Practice Mode.
Practice VTEC We will not use this mode, since VTEC is already enabled. If it were not enabled, this mode enables it.
Test In this mode, you are using the standard databases and products transmit normally via AWIPS. However, all product will have ...TEST... headers and VTEC codes will be in test mode as well. Used for static testing.


B. Draw one hazard in manually, save, generate and send

*    Create a grid from scratch under hazards.
*    Stretch the start and end time of the grid to make the start and end of the hazard.
*    Highlight an area using the edit area tool.
*    Use the pull down hazard menu to assign a Winter Storm Watch.
*    Save
*    Start Products, then Formatter Launcher
*    Run Hazards, WSW.
*    Explain Key concepts of the Product Editor -
        A. Locked Headers
        B. Text Capture within the products (Entire Overview, Second through End paragraphs
        of segments)
        C. Setting Product Purge time
        D. Sending, then locked send buttons
        E. Spell checker/Improved word wrap
        F. Calls to Action insertion

C. Separate/Merge/Make Hazards concepts

Add a Hazard
*    Use SeparateHazards to create a temporary hazard grid of the current watch.
*    Use MakeHazard to add a Wind Chill Watch temporary grid.
*    Use MergeHazards to merge together the temp grids back together.
*    Save/Run/Generate.

Manually Adjust Temporary Grids
*    Use SeparateHazards again.
*    Adjust the temp grids manually in area and time.
*    Remerge the grids

Upgrade a Hazard
*    Use SeparateHazards again.
*    Click on the temporary hazard grid.
*    Run the MakeHazard tool
*    Change the type, then Run/Dismiss
*    Delete grid to be upgraded.
*    Run MergeHazards, save, generate, send

Remove a Hazard
*    Use SeparateHazards again.
*    Delete the temporary hazard grid.
*    Run MergeHazards, save, generate, send

D. WBC Concepts

*     Trainer will run watchautomater.py script.
*     Upon receipt of WCL notification, demonstrate the ViewWCL procedure,
       what the keys in the legend mean.
*    Upon receipt of WOU notification, demonstrate the PlotSPCWatches procedure.
*    Save, Generate the WCN, and transmit.
*    Repeat above steps for second set of watches.
*    Demonstrate the following:
          A. Clearing counties
          B. Adding counties
          C. Extending the watch in time
          D. Canceling the watch
*     Explain that the SPS is still required as the official means of watch updates. Demonstrate            the SPS formatter.
*    Demonstrate clearing, extending, canceling of watches.

E. Other Key Concepts

*    Understand use of zone combiner. Creating segments, removing counties, etc.
*    Understand format of new FFA product, with bullets and framing codes, HVTEC
      lines and the reasoning code.
*    Explain Framing codes.
*    Use of the HazardRecovery procedure to recover the currently active hazards if the hazard grid is lost.