Baron Services XDD-1000C Users Guide
FasTrac Millennium
User’s Guide
FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
FasTrac Millennium, FasTrac, NexTrac, VIPIR, City Streets, StormScan, Storm Spotter,
Neighborhood Weather Net and Street Spotter are registered trademarks of Baron
Services, Inc. FutureScan, PasTrac and Severe Weather Module are trademarks of Baron
Services, Inc.
The products, systems, and/or methods described or otherwise mentioned herein are
covered by one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 5,717,589; 5,940,776; 6,018,699;
6,125,328; 6,163,756; 6,188,960; 6,266,063; 6,272,433; 6,275,744; and 6,278,947.
2001 Geographic Data Technology, Inc. This document contains images with proprietary and
confidential property of Geographic Data Technology, Inc. Unauthorized use, including
copying for other than testing and standard backup procedures, of this product are expressly
prohibited.
Microsoft Windows products are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
The trademarks of other companies used in this manual are the respective property of
those companies. All efforts were taken to ensure the accuracy of this document.
However, this information is subject to change without notice.
Copyright 1994-2003.
Baron Services, Inc.
4930 Research Drive
Huntsville, Alabama 35805-5906
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FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
Table of Contents
Table of Contents___________________________________________________________iii
Preface_____________________________________________________________________ vii
1. Overview ________________________________________________________________ 1
1.1 Databases ___________________________________________________________ 1
1.2 File Structure ________________________________________________________ 1
1.3 Protecting Your Data _________________________________________________ 2
1.4 NetRad ____________________________________________________________ 3
1.5 Starting Your FasTrac Millennium ______________________________________ 4
1.6 System Commands Not Meant for Client Use______________________________ 7
1.7 Points to Remember __________________________________________________ 8
2. Setting Up Your System ______________________________________________________ 9
2.1 Setting Up Map Layers _______________________________________________ 10
2.2 Setting Up Display Levels (for clients without .psf mapping data)____________ 10
2.2.1 Editing Display Levels for Roads ____________________________________ 11
2.2.2 Editing Display Levels for Bodies of Water ____________________________ 12
2.2.3 Setting the Enable Range for City Streets ______________________________ 13
2.3 Adding Water-Fill Points (for clients without .psf mapping data) ____________ 13
2.4 Fixing Floods with Anti-Fill Points (for clients without .psf mapping data) ____ 16
2.5 Editing the Places Database ___________________________________________ 16
2.6 Adjusting the Color Palette____________________________________________ 20
2.7 Using the Baron Chart _______________________________________________ 21
2.8 Editing Colors for 256-Color Palettes ___________________________________ 22
2.8.1 Creating Gradients ________________________________________________ 23
2.8.2 Duplicating Palettes _______________________________________________ 23
2.9 Customizing Font Displays ____________________________________________ 24
2.10 Manipulating the Automatic Legend ____________________________________ 25
2.11 Using Overlays ______________________________________________________ 26
2.11.1 Creating new Overlays ____________________________________________ 26
2.11.2 Adding an Overlay to a View _______________________________________ 26
2.11.3 Removing Overlays _______________________________________________ 28
2.11.4 Setting Overlays for Data Products ___________________________________ 28
2.11.5 Setting the FutureScan Product Overlay _______________________________ 29
2.12 Setting Up Icons _____________________________________________________ 29
2.13 Points to Remember _________________________________________________ 31
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3. Adjusting Views__________________________________________________________ 33
3.1 Using the View Main Panel____________________________________________ 34
3.2 Setting Map Parameters ______________________________________________ 35
3.3 Editing Topographical Data ___________________________________________ 36
3.4 Saving and Organizing Views__________________________________________ 37
3.4.1 Saving Views ____________________________________________________ 37
3.4.2 Organizing Your Views____________________________________________ 38
3.5 Using the View Options _______________________________________________ 39
3.5.1 Adding Text to a View ____________________________________________ 39
3.5.2 Zooming In and Out From a View____________________________________ 39
3.5.3 Pointing to Features on a View ______________________________________ 39
3.5.4 Panning on a View________________________________________________ 39
3.5.5 Labeling Streets with Street Spotter __________________________________ 40
3.5.6 Controlling Display of Radar Data ___________________________________ 42
3.5.7 Utilizing TeleTrac ________________________________________________ 42
3.5.8 Displaying Lightning Strikes on a View _______________________________ 43
3.5.9 Displaying Storm Spotter Van data _________________________________ 44
3.5.10 Toggling High-Definition Data Processing _____________________________ 45
3.5.11 Displaying NEXRAD forecast data___________________________________ 45
3.5.12 Displaying Neighborhood Weather Net Sensor Data____________________ 46
3.5.13 Zooming to a Specific City _________________________________________ 48
3.5.14 Adding Fronts and Pressure Markers__________________________________ 48
3.5.15 Creating Temporary Pixel Query Points _______________________________ 49
3.5.16 Creating Fixed Pixel Query Points ___________________________________ 49
3.5.17 Displaying Precipitation Type Maps __________________________________ 50
3.5.18 Saving the Current View as a Bitmap _________________________________ 51
3.5.19 Printing the Current View __________________________________________ 51
3.5.20 Highlighting Your Spotter Network On-Air ____________________________ 52
3.5.21 Displaying National Weather Service Warnings _________________________ 53
3.5.22 Displaying Wind Speed and Direction ________________________________ 54
3.6 Points to Remember _________________________________________________ 56
4. Managing Storm Tracks_________________________________________________ 57
Setting Defaults for Storm Tracks ______________________________________ 58
4.1
4.2 Creating Storm Tracks _______________________________________________ 59
4.2.1 Creating Fan Projections ___________________________________________ 59
4.2.2 Creating Circle Projections _________________________________________ 60
4.2.3 Creating Squall Projections _________________________________________ 61
4.2.4 Deleting Storm Tracks_____________________________________________ 63
4.3 Editing Storm Tracks ________________________________________________ 63
4.4 Editing the Storm Marquee ___________________________________________ 65
4.4.1 Selecting Communities for Your Storm Track ETA Box __________________ 65
4.4.2 Moving the Storm Track Marquee____________________________________ 65
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4.5 Using PasTrac ______________________________________________________ 66
4.5.1 Auto-Tracking Real-Time Radar Data ________________________________ 66
4.5.2 Auto-Tracking NEXRAD Data ______________________________________ 66
4.6 Identifying Storms with StormScan_____________________________________ 67
4.6.1 Setting Up StormScan _____________________________________________ 68
4.6.2 Using Storm Marquees ____________________________________________ 69
4.6.3 Using the Storm Table _____________________________________________ 70
4.7 Creating Automatic Storm Sequences ___________________________________ 71
4.8 Points to Remember _________________________________________________ 72
5. Using SEQUENCER _____________________________________________________ 73
5.1 Starting SEQUENCER _______________________________________________ 74
5.1.1 Creating a New Sequence __________________________________________ 74
5.1.2 Inserting New Events______________________________________________ 75
5.1.3 Deleting Events from Sequences _____________________________________ 75
5.1.4 Deleting Sequences _______________________________________________ 75
5.1.5 Starting and Playing a Sequence _____________________________________ 75
5.1.6 Exiting SEQUENCER _____________________________________________ 76
5.2 Using SEQUENCER with Zooms and Pans ______________________________ 76
5.2.1 Creating Zooms and Pans __________________________________________ 77
5.2.2 Previewing Your Zoom Event _______________________________________ 77
5.3 Working with Time-Lapse Events ______________________________________ 78
5.3.1 Creating Real-Time Radar Time-Lapses _______________________________ 79
5.3.2 Creating NEXRAD Time-Lapses ____________________________________ 80
5.3.3 Previewing Your Time Lapse _______________________________________ 81
5.3.4 Editing Time-Lapse Frames ________________________________________ 81
5.4 Combining Time-Lapse and Zoom Events _______________________________ 81
5.5 Repainting to a Sequence _____________________________________________ 82
5.6 Adding a Radar Lapse to a Sequence ___________________________________ 82
5.7 Inserting NEXRAD Data in a Sequence _________________________________ 82
5.8 Points to Remember _________________________________________________ 83
6. Controlling Your Radar ___________________________________________________ 85
6.1 Controlling Your Non-Baron Radar ____________________________________ 86
6.2 Controlling Your Baron Radar ________________________________________ 86
6.3 Manipulating NEXRAD Data__________________________________________ 89
6.3.1 Using the NEXRAD Main Panel _____________________________________ 89
6.3.2 Adjusting Shear Marker Settings_____________________________________ 95
6.3.3 Using the Advanced Baron Chart ____________________________________ 96
6.3.4 Customizing Product and Time Marquees______________________________ 97
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6.4 Utilizing Multiple Real-Time Radars Via Network ________________________ 98
6.4.1 Using Network America ___________________________________________ 98
6.4.2 Changing the Width of the Radar Sweep Cursor_________________________ 98
6.5 Comparing Base Reflectivity and Composite Reflectivity ___________________ 99
6.6 Points to Remember ________________________________________________ 101
Glossary_____________________________________________________________________ 1
vi
Preface
This manual describes the operating procedures for Baron Services’ FasTrac Millennium
software, the industry standard for display and storm tracking. You can use these products to
present critical weather data that will provide customized weather displays.
Document Organization
The information in this manual is organized as follows:
Chapter 1 is a general overview of the system and provides the information needed to
start the program.
Chapter 2 describes the operations needed to set up your system.
Chapter 3 describes how to manipulate your views (screen displays).
Chapter 4 describes how to create and manage storm tracks.
Chapter 5 describes how to use SEQUENCER
Chapter 6 describes how to control both non-Baron radars and Baron radars.
Before using FasTrac Millennium, you should have a working knowledge of Microsoft
Windows.
Support Information
The Baron Services support team is available to answer questions about technical-support issues
and to assist you with operations and procedures. You can reach the support team by calling
(256) 881-8811. You will need the following information when you call:
Product name and version.
Station name, your name and your job title.
Number of a telephone close to your workstation. Do not give a fax number.
Brief description of your problem.
You can also access troubleshooting documentation from the Baron Services Tech Support
website. You will need your username and password to enter the site. The site URL is:
http://techpage.baronservices.com
To learn about our about Baron Services' products, the newest enhancements and additions to our
product lines, and the latest in news and weather events, go to our primary website at:
http://www.baronservices.com
vii
Preface
Type Faces
FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
Italic
Bold
Courier
Indicates a document title, the first occurrence of a new term, a
directory or file name, or a system response that explains what the
system is doing. For example: Open the example cities.bmp file in your
C:\fastrac\places directory.
Indicates an item in the graphical interface, such as the OK button or a
command button.
Indicates information you type. For example, Set the signal processor
parameters by typing SOPRM.
Symbols
The following document conventions are used throughout this manual:
Information that is not critical to system operation but describes useful
procedures or information that will optimize system operation.
Very important information about a command or a procedure.
Critical instructions that must be followed to prevent loss of data.
Keyboard Conventions
ALT Alternate key.
CTRL Control key.
DEL Delete key.
ENTER Return/enter key.
ESC Escape key.
SHIFT Shift key.
TAB Tab key
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FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
Terminology
Click To position the pointer on the screen, and then to press and quickly
release the left mouse button.
Double click To quickly press and release a mouse button twice without moving
the mouse. This action is used as a shortcut for common actions, such
as activating an icon, opening a file, or selecting a word or graphic
element.
Click and drag To click and hold a mouse button while moving the mouse. This
action is used to identify a range of objects, to move objects, or to
resize objects.
Enter To input information by typing or by using the mouse.
Identify To locate an element on the screen either by clicking it or by typing
the name.
Click and hold To press and hold down a mouse button to perform an action, such as
resizing a window.
Scroll To move through text or graphics.
Select To click a button, a text box, an item in a list, or some other item on a
menu or window.
Type To key in data. To complete this action, you may also need to click
OK, press ENTER, or press TAB.
Preface
What to Expect from This Document
This document describes how to start, set-up, and run FasTrac Millennium. All of the menus and
procedures you will use while working with the program are fully explained in this guide. After
reading this manual, you should be able to:
Start FasTrac Millennium.
Customize the weather displays to fit your needs.
Use storm tracks and sequences to quickly and effectively inform viewers about
pertinent weather information.
Understand the capabilities of every feature you have on your system.
ix
1. Overview
This manual describes the FasTrac Millennium product. FasTrac Millennium is the industry
standard for providing real-time, local weather information to your users, allowing you to analyze
real-time radar and to translate it into meaningful predictions of potentially harmful weather
phenomena for your community. It also provides NEXRAD data, combining exceptional
resolution, topography, and street-level mapping with Baron’s unique, intuitive user interface.
Most users use the program both for NEXRAD sites and their own, real-time radar. This chapter
introduces the main system components, including the databases, the file structure and the main
FasTrac Millennium display.
1.1 Databases
Two databases, known as Places and Maps, provide the mapping information underlying the
functions. When Baron Services introduced these databases to the meteorological world, they
were referred to as liquid databases because the user could smoothly change the map display and
effortlessly zoom into and out from points of interest rather than using the static one or two radar
displays that were then the norm.
When Baron Services installs your system, the databases are populated and ready for use.
However, as discussed in Chapter 2, you can specify which communities are displayed (referred
to as prioritizing places) and add important features, such as schools, malls, and parks, to the
Places database. Thus, you easily can customize your display to fit your needs.
1.2 File Structure
All the Baron files are in the C:\fastrac directory or one of its subdirectories. While there are
many files and subdirectories in the \fastrac directory, the following table lists the ones that you
must have to run your system properly.
File or Directory Name Description
Basepal.bmp file The color palette bitmap that defines the colors for
all data displays.
Fast95.exe file An executable file that activates the main program.
Lapses directory The directory that contains time-lapse files created
through SEQUENCER (see Chapter 5, Using
SEQUENCER).
Logs directory The directory that contains archived radar data (in
the \Radar subdirectory) and archived lightning
strike data (in the \Strikes subdirectory).
Maps directory The directory that contains the files for the map
databases, including roads, rivers, and state lines.
Nexrad directory The default directory for storing NEXRAD files.
1
Overview
File or Directory Name Description
Omninet.ini file The main configuration file.
Overlays directory The directory that contains bitmap files that can be
placed on the screen.
Places directory The directory that contains the data files for all the
communities in the Places database.
Views.ini file The View configuration file that contains parameters
for every saved view.
Zooms directory The directory that contains all files for zooms created
with SEQUENCER.
Do not adjust the .ini files or the Basepal.bmp file unless you receive directions from
a Baron Services representative. We preset all settings and software in your system
according to your specific needs. Tinkering with Windows or any program outside
your FasTrac Millennium is potentially dangerous. If you are not sure about what
you are doing, please call our Client Services Department at (256) 881-8811.
1.3 Protecting Your Data
FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
You may back up your system by whatever normal backup procedures your business uses to
protect important software. A CD R/W drive is provided with all new systems, letting you
perform backup operations.
When your system is delivered, we strongly recommend that you back up your \fastrac directory
to a CD. Alternatively, you can back up the system on your hard drive using the Backup
command:
1. Open FasTrac Millennium.
2. Select File > Backup to open the Backup menu.
3. The menu to the right will appear, asking you to designate a
directory in which to create the backup. You must have
C:\FasTrac as a parent directory.
4. Click Backup to automatically copy system files to the
designated directory. This will take several minutes.
5. When a message indicating that backup is complete appears
in the text box, click Cancel to exit the menu.
Our system offers unique customization opportunities. You may want to back up individual files
to protect your customized set-up.
If possible, shut down Windows before restarting your computer. Shutting down a computer
before exiting Windows may create hardware complications.
Experienced Windows operators will often have FasTrac Millennium operating simultaneously
with other programs. If FasTrac Millennium is operating and you return to the desktop before
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FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
exiting the program, you may not return to it by clicking on the icon. You must click on the
minimized icon on the task bar to return to the program. This safety feature is designed to prevent
multiple copies of FasTrac Millennium from running at the same time.
Overview
1.4 NetRad
The NetRad module lets you specify which radar sites provide NEXRAD data to your system.
You must enable it before starting FasTrac Millennium, as described in this section.
1. Double-click on your NetRad desktop icon or
double click on the netrad.exe filename to
open NetRad.
2. Select Connect > Disconnect, and then select
Setup > Main Setup to open the NetRad
Setup menu.
3. Use the Add Site and Remove Site
commands to select the sites you wish to
display.
The FutureScan products option on
the NetRad Setup menu is available
only if you own the FutureScan
module.
Be sure that the Data Compression box
is checked, as this reduces the load on
the NetRad server.
4. Set the Folder pathname to reflect the
directory that will contain the NEXRAD
product files, and click OK to return to the
NetRad main menu.
5. Select Connect > Connect to reconnect to the NEXRAD server.
If you have modified your NEXRAD sources, go to the folder to which
NetRad delivers files (the folder defined in the Folder field in the NetRad
Setup dialog box) and delete all of the files in the folder.
You may now view NEXRAD products in FasTrac using the NEXRAD panel, as described in
section 6.3.1.
3
Overview
FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
1.5 Starting Your FasTrac Millennium
FasTrac Millennium automatically starts up when you boot up the computer. To manually
start, double-click on the FasTrac desktop icon (shown on the right). Either method
displays the following main FasTrac screen:
To exit the program, select File > Exit or click the Close (X) button in the upper-right corner of
the screen. Subsequent paragraphs describe each screen component.
Program Name and Release Date
The title bar at the top-left of the FasTrac Millennium screen
display is information you will need when calling in for
technical support. The release date is very important in determining which version of software
you are using.
Main Menu Bar
This tool bar provides access to the main pull-down lists, referred to as Main Menus in this
manual, which allow you to access advanced functions of your system. Clicking on a menu title
at the top of the screen opens a pull-down list. To activate a particular function, hold down the
mouse button, place the cursor over your choice on the menu, and release the mouse button.
Hot Buttons
Hot buttons appear just under the Main
Menus. There are two rows of ten symbols
each. You can use these buttons for simple,
one-click execution of system functions. Left-clicking activates the main function of the button.
Some buttons have dual functions, activated by right-clicking the mouse button.
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FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
Temporary Text opens the Temporary Text dialog box, which lets you key in text that
displays when you click OK and click on the text location.
Lightning replays the lightning in the past hour. Right-click on this hot button to
disable Lightning. Note that the button changes to the button shown on the right.
This button blinks when the connection to the TCP/IP lightning server is down.
Sweep displays real-time radar data. Left-click on the Sweep hot button to display
intensity, and right-click on it to display velocity. If you are viewing NEXRAD data, leftclicking on the icon refreshes the display with the current NEXRAD product. (This icon
blinks when the RDAC connection is inoperable.)
Storm Spotter Van displays the current location of your Storm Spotter Van. The button
blinks when Van data is being received. See Section 3.5.8 for more information.
Radar Lapse lets you display time-lapse frames. If you have real-time radar, seven
minutes of radar data displays. If you have NEXRAD data, the number of frames
specified for the Lapse parameter on the NEXRAD Main panel displays.
Overview
Weather Wire Data lets you set up and edit Weather Wire warning features. This icon
blinks when the National Weather Service data feed is not operational. See section 3.5.20
for more information.
Telestrator lets you do free-form drawing on your weather display. Right-click on this
icon to open the Telestrator Pen Information menu, which lets you specify the width,
color, and type of drawing.
Zoom closes in on the area defined by your cursor. Right-clicking on this icon zooms out
to double the current range.
NEXRAD activates the NEXRAD Main Panel on the left side of the FasTrac display.
This icon blinks when the NEXRAD connection is not operational.
Show View displays the saved view corresponding to the number on the hot button.
Fronts/Hi/Low lets you draw weather fronts with the cursor, as well as create high and
low pressure markers. See section 3.5.13 for details.
Map Pointer activates the Map Pointer. When you select this hot button, Telestrator
drawings disappear. Left-clicking on a road causes its name to appear in the Cursor Status
Area. Right-click on this button to enter Pixel Query mode, which indicates the radar data
(this works for all data products) and level at your cursor position.
Map Pan enables Pan mode, letting you set a different center point for the current view.
Neighborhood Weather Net lets you edit and manipulate live weather data that can then
be displayed on map views. See Section 3.5.11 for more information.
5
Overview
FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
StormScan activates the Arrow Filter panel on the left side of the FasTrac display. See
Section 4.6, StormScan, for more details.
Street Spotter allows you to find and label the streets in your database. See Section 3.5.4
for details.
SpotterNet lets you display a network of eyewitnesses for weather activity. See Section
3.5.19 for details.
Main Status Area
The Main Status Area is the area in white, just to the right
of the hot buttons. This area displays the following:
• Latitude and longitude of the map pointer.
• Azimuth and range of the current pointer from its last selected position (reset this by
right-clicking on the view).
• Current system time in local time and in Greenwich Mean Time (ZULU). We equip our
systems with time keeping software to ensure that the system time remains accurate, but
you may use a different time keeping program if you wish.
• Azimuth and elevation of the live radar.
• Azimuth, range, and height of the your radar’s beam center at the cursor position.
Cursor Status Area
The gray bar located under the main status
area is the Cursor Status Area. This bar is
dual-purpose. First, it displays information about your last selected command. For instance, if
you place the cursor over the Lightning hot button, the words replay last hour’s lightning
appear. Secondly, this area displays various status messages relating to system activity.
Select Panel
The Select Panel options, described below, occupy the left column of your
screen.
Option
Description
VIEWS
STORMS
SEQUENCES
NEXRAD
6
Opens the View Main panel, which displays map radius, map center, and map
name. This is the default panel and displays upon system startup.
Opens the Storm Track panel, which lets you control storm track settings.
Opens the SEQUENCER panel.
Opens the NEXRAD Main panel, which lets you display NEXRAD products.
FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
More Settings
The More Settings area, which appears at the bottom of the left column
when the View panels are active, lets you display the following panels:
Overview
Option
MAP
DATA
TOPO
MISC
Description
Controls street, road, water, and county line displays for the current view.
Controls appearance of radar and lightning data on the current view. The Radar Control
option lets you control the real-time radar.
Controls the topography display, and specifies the textured background bitmap.
Controls radar cursor appearance, radar range height indicator (RHI) mode, and overlays.
1.6 System Commands Not Meant for Client Use
In the Setup and Misc Main Menus, there are several commands that are intended for use by
Baron Services personnel for the purpose of system maintenance and troubleshooting. You
should not use any of these commands without the assistance of a Baron Services
representative.
The commands are as follows:
• Setup > Map > Advanced > Map Window
• Setup > Miscellaneous
• Setup > Data > NexRad
• Status > Debug Window
• Status > Advanced > System Report
• Status > Advanced > Memory Check
• Status > Advanced > Toggle Debug
7
Overview
FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
1.7 Points to Remember
When you start your system, you automatically enter the FasTrac environment. If
you have exited FasTrac, you can double-click on the FasTrac icon on your desktop
to manually initialize FasTrac.
Perform back-up operations often, to protect your data and setup configurations.
All of the operations that you may use are covered in this manual. If you find
something that is not discussed, it is best not to tamper with it. Again, if you have
questions, feel free to call the Client Services Department at (256) 881-8811.
This chapter merely provides an overview of FasTrac Millennium’s capabilities. The other
chapters describe the five primary areas of program functionality.
Description
Chapter
Setting Up Your System Chapter 2
View Manipulation Chapter 3
Storm Tracking Chapter 4
Sequencing Chapter 5
Radar Control Chapter 6
8
2. Setting Up Your System
This chapter describes how to prepare your system for displaying crucial weather data in
meaningful formats for your users. While you can readily perform most of the Setup commands,
some operations are not so apparent.
Before you start setting up, you should back up the delivered \fastrac directory as explained in
section 1.3, Protecting Your Data.
This chapter addresses the functions described in the following list:
Setting Up Map Layers
Setting Up Display Levels
Editing the Places Database
Prioritizing the Places Database
Adjusting the Color Palette
Using the Baron Chart
Customizing Font Displays
Manipulating the Automatic Legend
Using Overlays
Setting Up Icons
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Setting Up Your System
FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
2.1 Setting Up Map Layers
The Map layer editor menu, which you can access
with the Setup > Map > Map Layers command,
allows you to edit the appearance and viewing range
of all the water and road types in your map database,
as well as county and state lines.
Clients without .psf mapping data should use
the Display Levels commands detailed in
Section 2.2 to adjust the appearance of roads
and water.
The pull-down list lets you select which map feature
type you wish to modify (for example, Lakes, Rivers,
County Lines, State Lines and Roads).
Two Color specifies that two colors define the
selected map feature and is available only for county lines, state lines, and various types of roads.
Inner Line defines the color of one-color features, and the inside color of two-color features.
Outer Line is enabled only if you select the Two Color option. This option defines the outside
color of two-color features.
Min Range defines the minimum range at which you can see the selected feature. You will not
see the feature when your view’s range is less than the specified Min Range.
Max Range defines the maximum range at which you can see the selected feature. You will not
see the feature when your view’s range is greater than the specified Max Range.
Preview displays the selected feature type and the one or two specified colors for that feature.
2.2 Setting Up Display Levels (for clients without .psf mapping data)
For clients without .psf map data, the Setup > Map > Advanced > Display Levels commands
control what roads and bodies of water are displayed within your map at a particular range. This
system utilizes both the 1:2,000,000 database and the City Streets database. See Section 2.2.3 for
information on how to set the range at which the display switches between the two databases.
The Display Levels commands only appear for clients that do not use
.psf data for mapping. Clients with .psf data should use the Setup >
Map > Map Layers command detailed in Section 2.1 to edit the
appearance of roads and water.
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FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
Setting Up Your System
2.2.1 Editing Display Levels for Roads (for clients without .psf mapping
data)
Select the Setup > Map > Advanced >
Display Levels > 1:2,000,000 Roads
command to open the 1:2,000,000 Road
Display Levels menu.
This menu has nine categories reflecting
different levels, or subsets, of roads. The
Cutoff Range area lets you activate the
databases at different ranges so that an
appropriate amount of detail appears,
regardless of range. For example, interstates
are appropriate at any range, so they receive a
high value, like 999. Residential roads, on the
other hand, are only appropriate when you
zoom in close, so they receive a low value,
like 10. This configuration results in
interstates appearing on any map with a range of less than 999 miles - in effect, on every map.
Residential roads only appear when your map range is less than 10 miles - a more appropriate
activation range. These ranges are adjustable to suit your needs.
Select the Setup > Map > Advanced >
Display Levels > City Streets Roads
command to open the City Street Display
Levels menu. Although City Streets Roads
is a separate menu with six levels, levels 1
through 4 (Interstates, Divided Highways,
Highways, and Roads) are roughly
comparable to the 1:2,000,000 database.
Streets and Minor Streets occupy levels 5
and 6 and use the City Streets database.
This prevents the database from placing
much detail at longer ranges.
too
11
Setting Up Your System
FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
The Display Style area lets you adjust the graphic look of the roads in your system. There are six
graphic styles:
Road Style Type Example
Smallest Single Line
Small Single Line
Medium Double Line
Major Double Line
Divided Triple Line
Two Color Triple Line
Triple-line styles are usually assigned to interstates, and divided highways and double-line styles
are usually assigned to state and county highways. Single-line styles work best when assigned to
the smallest roads. Use the Setup > Colors command to adjust the road colors.
2.2.2 Editing Display Levels for Bodies of Water (for clients without .psf
mapping data)
The Setup > Map > Advanced > Display Levels > 1:2,000,000 Water and Setup > Map >
Advanced > Display Levels > City Streets Water menus operate exactly the same way as their
respective Roads menus, except that you do not need to assign different looks. Water is usually
blue (unless you would like to select a different color). Again, you use this command to set
ranges for the different levels where you want the water database to appear. If you want to
display more water bodies at a certain range, see what the current level is and raise the cutoff
range value.
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Setting Up Your System
2.2.3 Setting the Enable Range for City Streets (for clients without
.psf mapping data)
Select the Setup > Map > Advanced > Display Levels > City
Streets Range command to open the City Street Maximum
Enable Range menu. This menu lets you set the range threshold
at which the system will move between the 1:2,000,000
database and the City Streets database. If you specify 20, for
example, the system will use the 1:2,000,000 database at ranges
greater than 20 miles. At ranges less than 20 miles, it will use
the City Streets database. Setting this value too high can result
in excessive clutter and slower processing times. The City Streets database is very large and is
usually too great for any computer to handle at ranges above 20 miles.
You can override the range by selecting the City Streets Use control and its
associated Lock control on the View Map Features panel.
2.3 Adding Water-Fill Points (for clients without .psf mapping data)
The main water database contains only the outlines of bodies of water. While water bodies
normally appear as solid, blue shapes, you may have to use the Setup > Map > Advanced >
Water Fill command to fill in a water shape.
1. Use the Setup > Colors command to verify that the water color is correct. Adjust as
required.
2. Use the Zoom Out option to display the body of water in question. Note in the following
example how the river body, bounded by the dark, bolded lines, is empty.
The Water Fill command only appears for clients that do not use .psf data
for mapping. Clients with .psf data should use the Setup > Map > Map
Layers command detailed in Section 2.1 to edit the appearance of water.
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FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
3. Select the Setup > Map > Advanced > Water Fill command to display the
Setup Water Fill panel on the left side of the screen.
Zoom Out automatically zooms out the map display to 50% of the current
range. You can continue to issue this command until you have the
appropriate view.
Add Line opens the Add Water Fill
Line dialog box. This dialog box
lets you fix the display of two
separate bodies of water. If there is
a gap between such features, the
water fill could extend beyond the
intended boundaries (referred to as
a flood). You can use Add Line to
connect the two bodies for a waterfill operation. You then could
select During Fill Only to display
the line only during a water-fill operation.
Refresh Map updates the map display.
Auto Refresh automatically updates the map display when you add a line or point.
eets. (This option is available only if you have the
City Street displays the city str
optional City Streets module.)
City Street Lock prevents the street levels that you specified with the Setup > Display
Levels > City Streets Roads command from changing when you zoom in and out o
f the
view. (This option is available only if you have the optional City Streets module.)
Water Level +/- lets you move to different levels on the map.
Water Level Lock prevents the water level that you specified with the Setup > Display
Levels
> 1:2,000,000 Water command from changing when you zoom in and out of the
view.
Map Cursor Normal places your map cursor in pointer mode.
sor Pan places your map cursor in pan mode, letting you move around the map
Map Cur
display.
your map cursor in zoom mode, letting you get closer views
Map Cursor Zoom places
of points of interest.
4. Right-click your mouse button on the body of water in question to add a water-fill point.
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Setting Up Your System
5. Verify that the water body is filled with the water color. The following example depicts the
water fill. Note that the water-fill point appears as a small white square on the map
For best results, click near the center of the water body, away from the boundary lines.
6. Zoom out to ensure that the entire body of water is filled in correctly, as shown in the
following example. Notice that multiple water-fill points have been added.
To edit an existing water fill point, click on it to open a dialog box that has places to enter the fill
point’s ID and to enable or disable it. There are also boxes that specify the display level, the
minimum a ude of the point. To change the
latitude and tion.
nd maximum ranges, and the latitude and longit
longitude, click on the map at the new loca
A water-fill point must be visible on the screen
before it will fill water bodies with color.
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FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
2.4 Fixing Floods with Anti-Fill Points (for clients without .psf mapping data)
Som with water-fill points, you may accidentally place a
etimes when filling a large body of water
point that makes the land area fill with the blue color. This is referred to as a flood. Since it can
be difficult to find the particular fill point that is causing the flood, the Baron program allows you
to u d to fix the problem.
se Anti-Fill comman
1. Select the Setup > Map > Advanced > Anti-Fill command to display the
Anti-Fill Control dialog box on the left side of the display.
2. oded area. Notice
Select Add, and click on the map somewhere in the flo
that a small, green-filled point appears.
3. To remove a point, select Remove and click on the point you want to
o
rem ve.
4. Click OK, and s
command to op
5. Select Refresh
2.5 Editin
ommunity names from the database.
c
he following steps describe how to customize your database:
T
1. Select the Setup > Map > Places Database command
to open the Select State menu.
elect the Setup > Map > Advanced > Water Fill
e
n the Setup Water Fill panel on the left side of the screen.
M
ap to see your adjustments.
g
the Places Database
As part of your system, we include every populated community in
state. When you a
small communities that could be affected the most. The Setup > Map >
Places Database command lets you determ
of every populated community in your area. In this manner, you determine
at what range various communities app
listed in the St
left. You can also use the Places Database
re tracking severe weather, you do not want to miss the
orm Track ETA Marq
uees, such as the one displayed on the
every
ine the priority level (in miles)
e
ar on the map and when they are
command to add or delete
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FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
2. Click on a state name, and click OK to open the
Place List for the selected state. Note that all the
populated communities in the selected state
alphabetically.
are listed
3. Click Add to create a new place, or click an
existing place name and click Edit to modify it.
The Add Place and Edit Place menus have
identical features, although a place you edit
already have informati
on filled in.
will
Setting Up Your System
You can also select an existing place by
clicking on the community name then
pressing the ENTER key, or double-clicking
on the community name.
4. Enter the desired parameters on the Add Place or
Edit Place menu. The following paragraphs
describe each par
Name – Defines the full place name.
Abbreviation – Defines an abbreviation that can be displayed instead of the full place
ameter:
name.
County – Specifies the county in which the place is located.
Population – Defines the known population, in thousands.
Altitude – Defines the altitude, in feet, if known.
Latitude and Longitude – Specifies the geographical coordinates. You can automatically
assign coordinates to the place by left clicking on the desired spot in your view.
Use abbreviation on map – Displays the abbreviated name, rather than the full place
name, on views.
Use abbreviation on Storm Track – Displays the abbreviated name on storm tracks.
This is a useful tool for managing the size of storm track boxes. For example,
abbreviating Mahan Center Cross Roads to Mahan. Cen. results in a much smaller box.
Allow automatic scale adjust – Automatically adjusts the storm marquee to fit the
displayed places.
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Show Range – Defines the range, in miles, at which the place will display. For example,
a place with a Show Range parameter of 1 will not display until your view range is one
mile or less.
Show on maps – Displays the place name on views when it is in range.
Show on Storm Tracks – Displays the place name on Storm Track ETA displays.
Original Data – Reserved for future use.
When adding places, do not start them with a number (e.g., 1
st
Street).
The system functions best with all letters in the name, rather than
numbers. Spell out the number if you want to use it.
While your Places database contains thousands of place names, you need not adjust them all. The
program defaults all of its communities to a Show Range of 1, which means that a community
will never appear on a map unless your map range is one mile or less. By default, all
communities appear in storm tracks, which is where community names are most powerful. The
only thing you need to do in the Setup Places operation is to raise the Show Range value for the
appropriate communities in your viewing area, as explained in the following subsection. This
allows communities to appear in your maps when you are creating saved views or when you are
moving around the map in a real-time situation.
Changing the Show Range Parameter
This function is one of the most powerful operations you will perform with your system. This
subsection describes how to easily and efficiently prioritize the places that are already present on
your system. The Places database includes every populated community in range of your radar,
for approximately a 300-mile radius from your location. Use your discretion when you prioritize
the database to meet the needs of your users.
1. Select the Map Pan hot button and click on the major city in your viewing area
to center the map on it.
2. Select Views to activate the View Main panel, key in 250 in the Radius text box, and click
the Update button to show a 250-mile view of the city.
3. Decide which cities you want to appear at this range.
4. Select Setup > Map > Places Database to open the Select State menu, select the state, and
click OK to open the Place List for the selected state.
5. Select a city, and click Edit to open the Edit Place menu.
6. Key in 250 in the Show Range text box, make any other relevant changes, select the Show
on Maps and Show on Storm Tracks options, and click OK.
7. Repeat steps 5 through 7 for each city that you wish to display at the 250-mile range.
8. Click Update on the View Main panel to refresh the map, and verify that the cities you want
appear. You may end up repeating this process several times.
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FasTrac Millennium User’s Guide – May 2003
9. Repeat steps 2 through 8 to set up map displays for 200-, 150-, 100-, 75-, 50-, 25-, 10-, 5-,
and 3-mile ranges.
10. Repeat steps 1 through 9 for each important city in your viewing area.
11. Verify that you have a good coverage of the cities you want to see by zooming in and out on
relevant areas of your viewing area.
Setting Up Your System
Customizing the Places Database
Many of our clients have gone beyond editing to customizing their Places Database. An example
of this customization process is identifying important intersections. At times, some locations
should be emphasized to stress the importance and location of weather phenomenon to your
users. The Baron database is completely client-customizable. You can take advantage of the
opportunity by creating identifiers for local features like schools, malls, churches, parks, and
stadiums. To add places for this purpose, follow these steps:
1. Select Setup > Map > Places Database to open the Select State menu, select the state, and
click OK to open the Place List for the selected state.
2. Click Add to open the Add Place menu.
3. Click on the appropriate location on your map display to have the longitude and latitude
coordinates automatically generated, or key in the longitude and latitude coordinates.
4. Key in the text (for example, enter an intersection name) in the Name box, type in the range
at which you want the place to display in the Show Range Text box, select the Show on
Maps options, and click OK to return to the Place List.
5. Click Done. You will be asked if you want to save the new name to a file. Click OK.
6. Go to the Views panel on the left side of the display. Verify that the view is in the range
specified in step 4, and click Update. Make sure that the new text is displayed.
To further emphasize a customized place, you can use the Street Spotter feature to import an icon
for it. See Section 3.5.5 for details.
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2.6 Adjusting the Color Palette
The Setup > Colors command lets you adjust the color palette used by FasTrac Millennium.
If you have access to the Advanced Baron Chart (via the Setup > Data > Baron
Chart command, see section 6.3.3), you should use it rather than the Setup Colors
menu to adjust radar colors. Also, you should use the Setup > Map > Map Layers
command discussed in section 2.1 to adjust mapping colors.
The following steps describe how to use this particular
function:
1. Select Setup > Colors to open the Setup Colors menu.
Note that a color value is assigned to each listed element.
2. Select an element, and click Edit to open the Choose
Color menu.
3. Adjust the color, which changes as you edit the values.
There are six options: Hue, Saturation,
Lightness, Red, Green, and Blue. Enter a
number from 0 through 255 in each of these
spaces to specify the amount of that component
to include. You can also move the sliding
pointer below the rainbow colored bar to raise
and lower the hue value. You can click
anywhere on the large colored box to the left of
the number boxes to automatically change the
values of that color (this method affects every
value except the hue). As you change the
numbers, the rectangle below the number spaces indicates the color.
Press ENTER or click OK when you have adjusted the color to the way you want. You can exit
without making any changes by pressing the escape key (ESC) or by clicking Cancel.
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