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You'll find that if you are reading this file, you are on the proper WWW page to be able to view the current weather satellite elements file on your WWW browser, but that does not necessarily mean that you can put the elements in the proper place in the QFAX system! We have at least four scenarios in the program and we try to include step-by-step instructions below, assuming a very basic modicum of knowlege about your operating system. All users should perform the following backup procedure before downloading elements into their QFAX systems: Copy the entire contents of the main QFAX directory to a floppy disk or other archive device. This will ensure recovery of the most current active working system of QFAX. Failure to comply with this instruction may lead to serious problems!!! We recommend that you download current elements twice per month to minimize navigation errors on polar images, and to ensure accurate satellite predictions. As a final precaution, copy the elements.dat file from your QFAX directory (on the hard disk) to elements.old, before carrying out any of the procedures below. 1) Windows 95 QFAX Users - WWW browser on the QFAX system computer - the "IDEAL" scenario After the backup has been completed (do it!), click on the elements.dat note, and simply choose Save As from the File menu of your WWW browser. Make sure that you Save as Text and NOT Source. This will ensure that you save the file in a format that QFAX can use it. You may have to remove a .txt extension from your file name. Make sure that you Save it into the QFAX directory so that QFAX can find it. Allow the WWW browser Save function to overwrite the existing file (because you've done the backup, right!?). You are done! 2) Windows 95/DOS QFAX Users - WWW browser also a PC, not on QFAX system computer - the "IT'LL DO" scenario Follow procedure 1 above (do the backup first!). Modification required is to save to a floppy disk and transfer file from floppy disk to the QFAX directory on the QFAX computer. 2A) Modification of above scenario (#2) for situations where internal network contains both the QFAX and WWW browser computer - this is too individualized to cover on this page - consult your network administrator after showing him/her these instructions and perhaps tailored instructions can be developed in-house for you! The "NOT OUR JOB" scenario! 3) Mac WWW/PC QFAX Users - the "CAN'T SHAKE THE MAC SYNDROME" scenario Do the backup on your QFAX system first. Use the Mac WWW browser to save the elements file, but you must save the file as elements.dat on a PC formatted diskette using Mac System 7. System 7.5 or higher users (Mac) should have no problem reading these disks as PC-formatted disks. However, system 7.0 or 7.1 systems probably will have to use an application called PC-Exchange or another utility program to ensure that the file is saved in PC-DOS or PC mode. From this point on, take the floppy to the PC system which is running QFAX, and copy it over directly, as described in scenario #2. 4) DOS Wethrfax users - the "TOUGH LOVE" scenario Satellite tracking is done by the Bird-Dog program for Wethrfax users. Generally, this means that the elements file (called kep.log) is kept in a directory other than your WETHRFAX directory (probably BIRD-DOG). Make sure that you save your kep.log file in the directory which contains the Bird-Dog application! It is helpful to also have it in the WETHRFAX directory. Hope that helps! Email us exploresadm@met.fsu.edu if you have any problems or questions! But the first question we will ask you is, "Did you backup your old stuff before you tried this?"!!! phr 3/27/00 |