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3. Usage

Just start Kweather from the command line or from KPanel (entry applications). The main window with an empty grid is displayed. Now You can open an existing file or create a new file.

3.1 General Usage

If a file is open, the detail window is visible. The main window shows one month of the data as an chart for temp, pressure and rain and icons for weather and wind. The detail window shows the data for one day (marked column in the main window).

3.2 Creating a new File

Before creating a new file, check the gridsettings. These settings are default for new new created file.
After the file is created, no changes to the data definition are possible !!

3.2.1 Fundamentals

The data file has a grouped structure. Each group contains the data from a weather station or a city. If more than one station is recorded, a group for each station can be defined.

3.2.2 Predefined

Select menu File | New | Predefined or press the keys Ctrl+N to,open the predefined dialog.
The predefined dialog creates a data file with one group. For temperature, pressure, rain, weather and wind are two fields avaible. Check the checkbox above the field to include this field in the resulting file. Set the name, the recording time, color and unit to the desired values. Finally enter the file name, station name and starting date. Press Create to generate the file.

3.2.3 Custom

Select menu File | New | Custom or press the keys Ctrl+U to,open the custom dialog.
The custom dialog allows more flexibility but is more difficult to use. If You want to create a file with more than one group, this dialog must be used.
The dialog has two pages: file and data structure. On the file page enter a filename for the new file and set the start date. On the data structure page define the data structure.

3.2.3.1 Defining the Data Structure

The data structure Page is divided into thee parts: the data tree on the left side, the settings on the right side and the buttons for the major actions at the bottom. Depending on the item type, the settings part displays different data. Note: Currently it is not possible to change settings (colors, units ...) after the file is saved. Create a new file and import the structure to make changes to the file definition. The data of the file is not copied. This is planned for a later version.

3.2.3.1.1 Description of the Entry Fields

and the belonging settings.

ItemDescriptionInput TypeGroupLinePrs.LevelWeatherWind
Itemname (Short) Name of the entryChar30XXXXXX
DescriptionLonger Description Char128XXXXXX
Latitude Location of the stationFloatX
Longitude Location of the stationFloatX
Type Data type for this measurementSelectXXXXX
Unity Unit of the measurementChar10XXXXX
Color Line color for the grid displayrgbXXX
Own scalingUse the scaling values from Own Scaling
and Zeroline instad of the global defined settings
Yes/NoXXX
Units/Grid Units between two horizontal grid linesFloatXXX
Zeroline Position of the zerolineFloatXXX
Count Number of readings per dayIntegerXXXXX
Average Calculate an average value from all readingsYes/NoXXX
Times Times of the readings. Depending on count up to
eight buttons are displayed.
TimeXXXXX



Finally press ok to save the file. The created file gets the extension .kwd.

3.3 Convert File from Version 0.2

Select menu File | Convert or press the keys Alt+V to,open the convert dialog.
The dialog asks for two file names. The Old File is the existing file from version 0.2, the New File is the file name for the new file to create. Enter a description in the Description Field to describe the data. Then press convert to convert the file.

3.4 The Grid and the Detail Window

The grid displays an overwiew for one month. The data for temperature, air pressure and rain are displayed as lines, the weather and and the winddir are displayed as small icons above the grid. The selected day is marked with a gray column. The data of this day is displayed in the detail window.

3.4.1 Configurating the Grid

Select menu Display | Grid or press Alt+G to open the grid settings dialog.
This dialog has five pages: The following settings are type indepent:

3.4.2 Configurating the Displayed Data

If Yu have many data items You may loose the clearness. It is possible to select the visibality for each item. This os done in the detail window.

3.4.2.1 Grid

In the grid is controllable wich data is displayed. The small button left of the item title sets this feature. If the button is pressed and marked with an X, the belonging line or icon in the grid is invisible. If the button is released, the line/icon is visible. Alternaivly all items of a group can be changed. Right click on the group line activates a popup menu. Here are the following changes possible:

3.4.2.2 Detail Window

In the detail window can a complete data group minimized, so that only the header line is visible. All following goups are shifted to fill the space. If the data file contains more than five data groups, the window gets scroll bars.

3.5 Working with the Data

Select menu File | Open or press Ctrl + o to open a file. If the file is opend, the grid shows the first month of the data and the dedail window is opend and shows the first day of the month.

3.5.1 Navigating

Use the back arrows to scroll in monthly steps through the data. There are also hotkeys avaible, see section hotkeys. A click ib the grid sets this day as then current day. The data from this day is displayed in the detail window.

3.5.2 Entering

Select menu Edit | Modify Month to edit the data for the current month. The in the grid marked day (gray column) is preselected for editing.
Select menu Edit | New Month to append a new month to the datafile. The first day is preselected.

The edit window appears. Depending on the item type there are different entry fields. Pressing enter after the data entry goes to the next item. At the last item of the day the next day is automatically selected.

3.5.2.1 Numeric Value

Temperature, air pressure, rain and wind speed are stored as numeric values. Enter a valid numeric value in the entry field, an invalid value in not accepted until a valid number is entered or the field is blanked (invalid data status). Valid characters are "0123456789.,+-e". The values are rounded to one digit after the point.

3.5.2.2 Weather

The veather condition is stored as a numeric value. Press the button left of the edit field to open a window, where the icon can be selected. The Create Icon group is used to create the weather icon from the possible components. The Select Icon group contains predefiened icons for simply selecting. If you have the number for the weathericon in Your mind, You can enter this number in the entry field and do not need to go over the icon dialog.

3.5.2.3 Wind

The wind containes two parts: the wind direction and the wind strength. The wind strength is entered as a numeric value see Numeric Value. A windrose is used to enter the wind direction. Click on the windrose to set the direction. Clicking on the center sets the no direction, rotating wind status. The windrose has also some hotheys for setting the direction, see hotkeys.

3.5.2.4 Invalid Data

For all data items exists a invalid data status wich is used in the case that are no data is avaible for this item.

3.6 Hotkeys

3.6.1 Grid

Menu Functions
KeyToolbarMenu Function
Ctrl+NFile | New | PredefinedCreate new File from templates
Ctrl+U File | New | CustomizeCreate new file
Alt+V File | ConvertConvert file from version 0.2
Ctrl+OFile | OpenOpen existing file
File | CloseClose current file
File | Toggle DatawindowShow or hides the detailwindow
Ctrl+Q File | ExitTerminates the program
Edit | New MonthAppend new month to the data file
Ctrl+MEdit | Modity MonthModity the current month
Alt+GDisplay | GridSetup for the grid display
F1Help | ContentsProgram help
Help | AboutProgram info
Help | About KDEKDE info

Navigating
KeyMenu Function
Pos1Goto first month
Ctrl+PgUpOne Year backward
PgUpOne month backward
PgDownOne month foreward
Ctrl+PgDownOnw year foreward
EndGoto last month
Arrow leftGoto previous day
Arrow rightGoto next day

3.6.2 Editing

General: Enter goes to the next data item.

Wind direction
KeyFunction
0Sets the invalid data status
1Sets direction SW
2Sets direction S
3Sets direction SE
4Sets direction W
5No direction, rotating winds
6Sets direction E
7Sets direction NW
8Sets direction N
9Sets direction NE
Arrow left,
Arrow Up,
PgUp
rotates left
Arrow right,
Arrow Down,
PgDown
rotates right


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