• How do I sort my weather element list so the temporary hazard grids are near the parent hazard grid?
  • The below code, developed by Dave Metze at PUB/Matt Belk at BOX, will help keep the temporary hazard grids with the parent hazard grid. This includes convective watches and TCV products. This code does not contain the proper spacing, but when you type it into your SitegfeConfig file, the editor will help put things in the proper place.
    
    # Import the VTEC table module
    import VTECTable

    # Dynamically locate the Hazards grid
    index = GridManagerSortOrder.index('Hazards')

    # Get all the keys in the VTEC table, and sort them
    keys = VTECTable.VTECTable.keys()
    keys.sort()

    # Look through the keys
    for key in keys:

    # If this hazard is a Tornado, Severe, Tropical or Hurricane Watch, or
    # a Tropical or Hurricane Warning
    if (key[:2] in ['TO', 'SV', 'TR', 'HU'] and key[3] == 'A') or \
    (key[:2] in ['TR', 'HU'] and key[3] == 'W'):

    # Cycle through all the possible event tracking numbers (ETNs)
    for count in range(1000):

    # Ensure this ETN is a 3 digit number
    etnNumber = '%03d' % (count)

    # Make a name for this temporary hazard grid
    tname = 'haz' + key[:2] + key[3] + etnNumber

    # Add this temporary hazard grid to the Grid Manager sort list
    GridManagerSortOrder.insert(index+1, tname)

    # Increase the index where to insert the next grid name
    index = index + 1

    else:
    # Make a name for this temporary hazard grid
    tname = 'haz' + key[:2] + key[3]

    # Add this temporary hazard grid to the Grid Manager sort list
    GridManagerSortOrder.insert(index+1, tname)

    # Increase the index where to insert the next grid name
    index = index + 1

• Can I remove the Overview Headline and Overview sections from the RFW (or other) template?

• Yes. The Overview and Overview Headline sections can be set to 0. This will prevent them from being created.
  
  
• How do I get the state to be part of a zone name in the zone listing of a product?
  • Since the default of GFE is NOT to include the state in the listing, you will need to edit the AreaDictionary as user SITE to append the state to the zone. This can be useful if you have zones with the same name in different states in your CWA (i.e. Abc, MT and Abc, ID). Otherwise you will only receive the county name once. Remember it will affect ALL products, not just hazard products.
    
    
• Why does the hazard grid turn green in areas I am not editing?
  • Whenever any of the hazard tools are used (MakeHazard, etc.), they operate on the entire length of the database, not just the timeframe you are working in. So the entire Hazard grid will be locked to other GFE users.
    
    
• Should I remove past hours from my hazard grid?
  • NO!! Removing past hours from the hazard grid is not only unneccesary, but can have unintended consequences. If a hazard is already in effect, do not edit the potential start time of the grid as that can lead to illegal VTEC.
    
    
• How can I change what appears in the MakeHazard tool ?
  • The IFPS FP can edit the MakeHazard procedure as user SITE from the GFE-->Define Procedures dialog. There is a section highlighted which defines what is eligible for configuration.
    
    For example, hazards which are not created by your office can be removed and the default hazard list can be changed from baseline winter weather.
    
    
• I received a handleOUP.pl error when I transmitted a hazard product. But it still showed up in the GHG Monitor. What does this mean?

• AWIPS thinks the product did not get transmitted when it actually did. Since the product editor did not receive confirmation that the product was indeed transmitted, it leaves the transmit and store buttons selectable. But when the VTECActive table receives the product from the SBN, GFE alerts the forecaster to close the product editor so the VTEC cannot possibly get corrupted.
  
  
• I received a CAN code instead of the expected EXP. Why?
  • This can only occur if the particular hazard has been removed from the grid. GHG will automatically generate an EXP if the hazard is within 30 minutes of ending. There is no need to edit the grid for an EXP.
    
    
• Why does shortening a hazard's valid time result in an EXT?
  • EXT, and EXB by the same account, denotes a change in the valid time of a hazard, not just lengthening it. So if a hazard start time is pushed back or end time moved up, this change in time results in an EXT. If new areas were also added, an EXB would result.
    
    
• What if I am unable to edit in the product editor window when trying to do a COR?
  • Just close the product editor and go through the steps again to call the product up in the product editor. The "freeze" happens on rare occasions when the window focus is sent to another area without the forecaster knowing it.
    
    
• Why did my formatter not give me the times I expected for my hazard?
  • The most likely cause was the entire hazard grid was not published. Try republishing, making sure to include the entire hazard grid, and rerun the formatter.
    
    
• Why aren't my WOUs plotting when I run the watchautomater.py script? The WCLs plot just fine.
  • You must run the GFE in PRACTICE mode as that is the VTEC active table to which the watches write. If you run in operational or test modes, the WOUs will not be able to be plotted in GFE. This is a safeguard of the script to prevent accidental transmission of a watch if someone loaded the script on AWIPS.
    
    
• What if I mess up when adding a headline to a non-VTEC product? Am I stuck sending out a bad product?
  • No. You can just rerun the formatter, answering YES to losing your edits, and redo the product with the proper edits to the headline.
    
    In the future, you can add the framing code |* *| to the beginning and end of the added headline and it will remain unlocked and, if left in, will prevent the product from being transmitted. It is an excellent safety net.
    
    In 17.6 the words which will lock a headline (when the headline is surrounded by ellipses) are:
    AFTERNOON, CANCELLED, EFFECT, EXPIRED, EVENING, MORNING, NIGHT, TODAY, TONIGHT, and the 7 days of the week.
    
    
• Why are WCLs failing to plot in GFE? I receive the yellow notification banner just fine.
  • You most likely have a TextUtility, besides "WCLA" or "WCLB" that has "WCL" in it's name. WCLA and WCLB are the decoded WCLs, which must contain certain variables, including expTime. So, if you have another TextUtility with WCL in the name, you'll get an error message.
    
    
• What will my CWF/NSH headlines look like in IFPS 17.6?
  • Several changes have occurred to the marine headline phrasing in IFPS 17.6.
    
    For the CONUS offices, the headlines will use explicit times when the start/end times are within 12 hours of issuance and "fuzzy" wording after 12 hours. The connector to any "fuzzy" time descriptor has been changed to THROUGH (from until). As before, any start time within 3 hours of product issuance is omitted.
    
    For examples of the new headlines, see section 3 of the NWS headline document.
    
    
  • For OCONUS offices no explicit times will be used. Instead start/end times within 12 hours of issuance will be broken down into 8 possible descriptors. Times after 12 hours will use the same 4/day descriptors used by the CONUS.
    

• How do I get text captured for the longer-duration MWS?
  • You can do this by adding the MWS to the VTEC_CAPTURE_TEXT_CATEGORIES in localVTECPartners.py. This is important to do as no text will otherwise appear in a CAN or EXP segment and none can be added due to text locking.
    
    
  1. As user ifps on dx2, edit /awips/GFESuite/primary/etc/SITE/localVTECPartners.py
  2. Add a line VTEC_CAPTURE_TEXT_CATEGORIES to the file. It should look like:
     VTEC_CAPTURE_TEXT_CATEGORIES = ['WSW', 'NPW', 'RFW', 'FFA', 'CFW', 'MWS']
     
  3. Save the file. Make sure the permissions are 644.
  4. In practice mode, create an MA.S grid, Save, then create, edit and "transmit" an MWS.
  5. Delete the MA.S grid, Save and create the MWS again. You should see your previously added text within framing code.
     
     
• How do I have my MWS headline to be unlocked for updates?
  • Carl Morgan (ILM) and Jay Smith (AFG) have come up with the code found in this MWS local formatter. The key code is
    
    pat = re.compile(r'^\.\.\..+?\.\.\.$', re.MULTILINE|re.DOTALL)
    for headLine in pat.findall(fcst):
    fcst = fcst.replace(headLine, '|* %s *|' % headLine)
    
    found just above the fcst = string.upper(fcst) line.
    
    Just remember, this is absolutely not for operational VTEC products!!
    
    

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