McIDAS-V Support Forums

Hello:

I have data for positions of storms, which are stored in Excel (see attached), my question is:

McIDAS can read this data? Once read data, McIDAS can trace the trajectories of each of storms ?

Can anyone give me any idea how I can trace these paths on region of Mexico?

Hi Boris

glez_b wrote:Hello:
I have data for positions of storms, which are stored in Excel (see attached), my question is:
McIDAS can read this data?

No, McIDAS cannot read .xls files directly -- you will have to create a text file in a different format. You have two options:

1. treat the file as a "text observation data" (see below)

2. treat the data as a "drawing" -- the "drawing control" has the ability to import a file. The format of the ".xgrf" file is very straight-forward, and since you have to reformat your .xls file, you might consider this. (To see the format of the file, bring up the Drawing Control, draw a couple of lines "freehand" and then export the file. Bring up this file in a text editor and you can see the format.

Once read data, McIDAS can trace the trajectories of each of storms ?

Yes. If you use #1 above, then see the example of tracing out the paths of drifting buoys at: <http://marinedataliteracy.org/ops/gdp_buoys.htm>

If you use #2, then just import the .xgrf file you make...or you can treat it as a data source and just do a "file->open".

Can anyone give me any idea how I can trace these paths on region of Mexico?

If you only want the display in a certain latitude-longitude "box", you can probably employ the "clip at box"; if you want it only over the continent of Mexico, you will have to mask out those latitudes and longitudes that are outside the boundary.

Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I follow the ideas suggested, now converted the old format to a text file listed in trac.csv. Also follow the steps shown in the example of the page: http://marinedataliteracy.org/ops/gdp_buoys.htm

Then attached photos showing the steps used to plot the trajectories recording in trac.csv and that consisting of three storm events.

When deploying the figure, it has drawn only the points corresponding to the three events that actually correspond to each of the positions are reported in the trac.csv, my question is:

First, the figure does not show a line connecting each of the points for each event? I missed a step? How can i to draw that line connecting each of the points?


Second, in the figure, note that the dates and times do not correspond to those recorded in the file trac.csv, however, the positions corresponding to the coordinates recorded in the above file, it is possible corrected this and put the dates correctly?

Can I put a mark indicating the start and end position of the trajectory of each of the different events?. How can i put the date or time for each one of the points that form the different paths?

Boris,

Did you bring in the file using the Field Type of "Text Point and Trajectory Data"? When I look at the field selector screen shot, I do not see the option for track. When trajectory files are loaded in this way, I should see that option. For example:


In addition, how did you format the csv file? In the excel spreadsheet, the times are not in a format that would be recognized as a time in McIDAS-V. It might help to post that csv file to the forum.

Joleen

Indeed, I gave to my data format from Excel and then save them as a comma delimited file (. CSV). Anyone have an idea to reformat my data and convert them to a format trajectory file

I am sorry Boris, I missed a point from one of your earlier images (9.png) try this:

1.) Under the point data plot layer click on the "Times" tab.
2.) For the Range, select the image to the right of the word range (see below)




3.) For the End Time, select "From Animation Time"
4.) Click Okay



If you want to take advantage of a track, you may have to reformat the event number to create a unique ID for each data point in the event.

Joleen

Hi Boris,

I also noticed that the times are not being interpreted correctly. Please see the attached file for an example of a date which will be interpreted correctly. There are multiple options, but the format does need to comply with a common format standard.



In addition, I added a index number in that file. When I brought the file into McIDAS-V, I used a fake unit of degree so that I could force McIDAS-V to read the index as a track value.



1.) Select the drop down menu for "Track" and select "PointNo"



2.) Adjust the layer setting to select "Track Times" as the times to use and for the time mode, select "from animation" for the end time of the animation.

Hello Joleenf:


Thank you for taking the time to respond in the forum:

Following your suggestions and after i have reformatted the data, I have solved the problem of the date, including deploying the event achieved for each path. However, there is a small problem with the variable name: PointNo and his unit: degree, Because these values ??are not recognized at the time the data is loaded. I experimented with the file attached (paths.csv) and get the same result.

There will be another way to connect the dots?

Someone on the forum have any idea how to connect the dots with a line for each of the events?

Annex the following image with the coordinates and the number of storm event

Boris,

Please check how the file is being loaded. Is it being loaded with a Data Type of "Text Point and Trajectory Data Files?"


Joleen