Learning to use the IDV using rich examples

and templates

Brian Mapes, University of Miamimapes@miami.edu

What is The IDV?

• The Integrated Data Viewer

• Free, supported software (Java, any platform)– product of decades of development

• Roots in meteorology– skew-T displays, our derived quantities, etc.

• Complicated, by necessity... since it does a lot

Orientation to The IDV:Take a breath. Read. Take time to think. Think like a maker.

It is like this

(with a few parts more like this...)

Not this

Getting used to an advanced workshop

• Get a mouse! • While trackpad gestures can be used, many features are

easiest on a 3-button mouse.» right-click has useful menus» scroll wheel to zoom in and out » right-button drag to rotate 3D display (drag its front)» ctrl- right-button drag to move (pan) display (drag whole cube)

• There are pitfalls! • Think before you click!• “Measure twice, cut once”• Save your work, if you add value

– There is no auto-save or back button

Menus within menus• Tools are often available in more than one place– Right-click often pulls up menus with more options

• Everything was created and named thoughtfully– decades of team development & committee decisions• Be patient, read, think • Every word in every menu is logical, and necessary

You could start from raw data...but that can be frustrating and slow.

The IDV tutorials and multi-day trainings from the software supplier (Unidata)

walk you through the process of finding, loading and displaying data on a blank

map. That’s like trying to build a birdhouse from raw lumber.

First, just learn to adjust and improve

Instead, our approach here is to give you complete, advanced projects

(called bundles).

Your task is to first explore these, then learn to adjust them, and then, with

time, you can learn enough to add another feature or two.

What is a Bundle?

– myfile.xidv is a bundle consisting of xml code only• just instructions -- including pointers to data servers• not very human readable: just open it in The IDV

– myfile.zidv is a bundle with data zipped into it• data will unzip into a temporary folder on your computer• this gives faster responses, and will work offline

Saving a bundle while you work

• FileSave a .xidv bundle of your IDV session’s state any time. – FileOpen that file to get right back to this point• same data, displays, views, etc. etc.

• If you add value to the initial bundle, save it!• There is no autosave, no Back button!

• A common error: there no stop button if you accidentally click to load the whole internet, blowingmemory limits!

Key computer resource: RAM

• MEMORY (RAM):– 2GB is a minimum for reasonable IDV performance

» 4GB or 8GB are much better

– IDV reserves about 75% of system RAM on launch• CLOSE OTHER LARGE APPLICATIONS for best results

– Exceeding memory limits can cause "STRANGE, UNPREDICTABLE" errors! • (just freezing up, most commonly)

Performance (speed)• Data reading and rendering can take time– Be patient. It will finish, if memory is sufficient.• sub-processes are not possible to monitor in detail

• Stretch, breathe, do something else.

• IDV’s Java language is multi-threaded.– "STOP" button is another process: doesn’t work• You must kill and restart IDV if you see "loading data

time 1/1000...2/1000...”• That’s when you wish you saved your work

– Think before you click!

Install the IDV• Any platform, just a few clicks to install• Search “unidata idv” will find their page

• Latest official release: – http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/downloads/idv/latest/index.jsp

• Latest-latest: – http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/downloads/idv/nightly/index.jsp– usually just bug fixes – occasionally experimental features!

Launch the IDV

• Find the launcher, double click

About error messages....• You will get error messages sometimes.– for example if data servers are down, or ??– They are hard to interpret

• Usually: Just click OK. Move on.– Don't bother with Support Form every time...

» only if you have isolated a repeatable error (bug)

• The error might not matter– Java is multi-threaded; the other things will go ahead

The IDV's windows• Two main windows: – Dashboard window

– Display window• (may be more than one)

Display window's parts

HIDDEN!

Toggle for

Memory Monitor

Recovering the Dashboard• If you close the dashboard, click here in the

display window to get it back

A very important corner:

Open Dashboard

Save bundle (state)

Restore normal top view after

too much rotation

and zooming

view from eastview from south

CAPTURE IMAGE OR MOVIE

Open a bundle

Terminology: Learn these words!

• Window• Pane or viewport• View• Projection• Display

• If these are not clearly distinguished, you will have trouble asking for help clearly.

This window has two view panes

This is a view

This view has several displays

As described in this area, called a legend

Same view and displays, different (polar) projection

Unidata: home of The IDVwww.unidata.ucar.edu/software/idv

• Part of Unidata's larger suite of free software– netCDF, THREDDS, RAMADDA, LDM, ...

Unidata(current and

former)

Three kinds of Help:• Reference manual:– http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/idv/docs/

userguide/toc.html• (this is also under the IDV's Help menu)

• From the IDV training workshop:– http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/idv/docs/

workshop/• Tutorial screencasts on YouTube:– https://www.youtube.com/user/unidatanews/

Installing plugins• A useful tool for customizing

your IDV is a plugin.

– Plug in some color tables– Plug in the RAMADDA Publisher

– Plug in MapesIDVcollection manually

A self-updating plugin:

The Mapes IDV collection• These two files causes The IDV to self-install a

plugin from a Web source whenever you launch The IDV while connected to the Internet

• You get the latest version, every launch.• I keep improving it – suggestions welcome!• mapes@miami.edu

What is The Mapes IDV Collection?• 1. A curated collection of "bundles"– In the toolbar of The IDV– In the Catalog view of IDV (with thumbnail images)– Also at http://bit.ly/MapesIDVcollection

• 2. Other resources: – Custom color tables– Display Settings suggestions for various fields

What is The Mapes IDV Collection?• 2. Other resources: – Custom color tables– Formulas Grids Mapes

What is The Mapes IDV Collection?• 3. Catalogs:

Unidata’s standard IDV default catalog is right here

Good luck and keep in touch!

Lackmann, Mapes, & Tyle