Cumulus Server Sided Flash Charts

[TNETWeather]

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Cumulus Server Sided Flash Chart

One of the reasons why I wanted to know the format of the realtime.txt file was so that I could do something like below.

This is a first shot at this so the code is very gross still and I have not yet gotten it to do everything I know it can do. Right now, I have a simple Chart that displays Temperature and Dewpt on a graph with increments of 15 minutes.

Still have to replace the slider graphics and want to be able to add Humidity with its own scale on the right side. I see how to do it, but it is a bit hairy.

When complete, I should have a whole series of charts that are auto generated and include data from the Cumulus XML data file stuff I've been doing as well.

Test Chart:
http://cumulus.tnetweather.com/charts/tempchart.php

This is done with the Maani XML/SWF Charts package. I've had a registered copy for a while, but never played with it. I do use his PHP/SWF Slideshow package a lot. I've also got his gauges package but again have not used it yet.

http://www.maani.us/xml_charts/

How its done

Collection:

A perl script runs via cron (called realtimelog.pl), once a minute and grabs the contents of the uploaded realtime.txt file (also uploaded once a minute)

The script re-formats the data (changes the date to ISO format) and then appends it to a logfile (realtime.log).

If the current minutes are 00, 15, 30 or 45, before it quits, it calls a generation script and then quits.

Generation script:

This script (called realgraph.pl) gathers data from the generated log created above, looking for times ending in 00 15 30 and 45. It then generates an XML file that has all the definitions of the chart in it so that the XML/SWF Chart package can display it.

This script is not complete yet... I don't have enough data yet, but I want it to collect a sliding window of 24 hours when it generates the data.

Display:

A web page, right now just a one from the samples modified to be PHP so that I can force a unique time getting the XML file, calls the XML/SWF Chart package with the above generated XML file and it displays the information.

[steve]

These are great, I was hoping to get something like this going, I just wasn't sure of the best way of getting the data to it. Using the realtime.txt file is a great idea.

Steve

[TNETWeather]

I already own the XML/SWF Charts package. It is not free though. While I think it is a good value at $45, others may not be able to splurge on that... so ..

I am going to apply the same data to a free package called Open Flash Chart. There are two versions, but I think I will stick with Version 1 rather than the Alpha version 2.

http://teethgrinder.co.uk/open-flash-chart-2/

[Paul C]

I already own the XML/SWF Charts package. It is not free though. While I think it is a good value at $45, others may not be able to splurge on that... so ..

I am going to apply the same data to a free package called Open Flash Chart. There are two versions, but I think I will stick with Version 1 rather than the Alpha version 2.

http://teethgrinder.co.uk/open-flash-chart-2/

Kevin

I must say those charts are excellant, but they did take almost a minute to download/appear. I wouldnt mind those on my website but not at $45 - The real benefit of Cumulus is the cost - free and I hope it can stay that way. I,m all for donations though.

Steve L - I am getting a little lost will all the recent post, great to see all the activity and suggestions, your head must be spinning

[steve]

but they did take almost a minute to download/appear.

They were quite quick for me. Maybe just a go-slow somewhere at the time you looked?

I wouldnt mind those on my website but not at $45 -

Hopefully Kevin will be able to do something similar with the free ones.

Steve L - I am getting a little lost will all the recent post, great to see all the activity and suggestions, your head must be spinning

I live my life in a constant state of bewilderment and confusion anyway!

Steve

[TNETWeather]

I do plan on migrating these to Open Flash Charts which is a free distribution (they do accept Donations). I will be using v2 of the package.

As to speed, there really isn't much data being sent. Only the XML file which contains the data. So the rest of the work is done on the browser side of the connection after they get the first base SWF in the browser cache.

I'm using a WWAN connection right this second and the whole current page loads in less than 3 seconds.



As for confusion.... I swear I followed a white rabbit into this forum a week or two ago and I've not been able to get out since. Can't find the rabbit either.

[arthurhh]

As for confusion.... I swear I followed a white rabbit into this forum a week or two ago and I've not been able to get out since. Can't find the rabbit either.

I have a similar problem
Those charts are neat I do like them, I assume you mean $45 US

I do like Steves software, maybe not as powerful as sthat other package, but nice and neat tight and easy to use.

[TNETWeather]

I plan on playing with the charts after I clean up the map pages. Something new.

[TNETWeather]

Non-Flash JpGraph Charts (graphs)

http://cumulus.tnetweather.com/samp-graph.php

These are generated from realtime.txt stored data. Same thing done for the Flash carts at the top.

JpGraphs has both a free and commercial version. While I am using the commercial library, there is nothing in these that would not work in the free version.

Scripts are still a little on the rough side and I've not added wind/gusts, rain, hi-low etc...

[TNETWeather]

I need to snarf some data from a site that is a bit more active than mine.

Wind is normally nominal here unless we are having a storm and rain is a tad bit scarce this time of year as well. We do have a windy day coming tomorrow but it would be nice to have a site that I can grab a copy of their realtime.txt on a regular basis that has some real weather.

Preferably, this would be a site that is updating at least once a minute so that I could grab once a minute.

Anyone match the activity want to volunteer...

[Paul C]

Winds picking up and plenty of rain forecast for the next 24hrs.

Can I assist ? - I have only just downloaded the latest version and as yet havent uploaded the new realtime file, but I can do that shortly ( when I get home ? )

cheers

[TNETWeather]

Paul,

Sure... since you are a metric site that will help testing that stuff too.

Shoot me a PM when you are ready. You need to setup realtime to update once a minute or more often. I would need to know the URL where it would be.

I would assume...

Code: Select all

http://www.bramptonweather.co.uk/cumulus/realtime.txt

I will then setup a process that grabs a copy of it and stores the data in a log file like I am already doing on my site. After a bit, I will have some data to play with.

[Paul C]

OK, I think I have now done it, not sure though ??

[Paul C]

Re boot of cumulus appears to have done the trick, now generating the text file. I have set it at every 60 seconds

let me know if its working, tks

(then I can go to bed)

[dane]

Kevin,
I am impressed with your graphics work, and I'd certainly like to see you continue this effort.
I have one problem, though: my system is not a server, and I am not online 24/7.
But I would love to be able to see (and save) graphic pictures of my weather data - on my plain, ordinary Windows notebook. Meaning: no Perl, no Php, just plain HTML and Java.
So: if you have a choice, please focus on charting facilities that will run on a vanilla Windows system, based on open system code like Open System Charting (I assume that would run on my home system).
Just a thought and a plea
Ib