I am very happy with new users, as there are now both in France and Spain.
I understand you are experimenting to get things running, but I notice on the map that you don't have name, description nor latitude or longitude filled in the basic Cumulus Setup. So I will list in this message some preconditions needed for CumulusUtils (and Cumulus itself for that matter) to run properly. If you follow these rules you can avoid fails and frustration. If you have any remarks or run into problems, let me know and I will adapt this message so to smooth the process of starting up. It is not all that difficult, but there are some rules to follow.
NOTE: a map cleanup exists. If you do not run cumulusutils website (or mapson), tou will be removed from the map. Also you cannot use the website generator if the elementary information does not exist in the system. The generator will then exit.
This message contains some information on how to use CumulusUtils as a starter.
- Read the manual. It is far from perfect, but it does contain some important information. If you find errors, please notify me.
- The working directory MUST be the CumulusMX directory. Because you are to install CMX wherever you want, there is no assumption of where it is and the computer is not being searched. You just have to start there. All utils directories are relative to the CMX directory.
- To use Cumulusutils properly, you need at least 32 days of data. With less days in the system only some of the data driven modules will work. SysInfo, MapsOn and Forecast will always work because they do not need weather data. So set up your weather station, fine tune it and be patient for a month. Check the running of Cumulus[MX].
- Make sure your Cumulus version is running smoothly and that your station has it's name, description and location defined in Cumulus.ini . These are important identification parameters. CumulusUtils' Website Generator won't run without these at all.
- Follow the installation instruction in the manual and run the command once with the ALL commandline parameter: This will create the cumulusutils.ini file with most of the required parameters.
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utils/bin/cumulusutils.exe all
- Fill in the parameter 'Website' in the section [Maps] (obligatory for being on the Map) or switch off the parameter 'Participant' in the section [Maps] by setting it to false. See point 10 if you want to go further in this phase.
- If you run into problems, check your data first (or start with this):
- utils/bin/cumulusutils.exe All CheckOnly
- Correct any errors
- utils/bin/cumulusutils.exe All
- Repeat while necessary
- Try running with the default values first. Then start changing the inifile bit by bit. Focus on content first, then on appearance.
- If you wish to create your website with CumulusUtils, try running the modules first without uploading. Then upload. If all works well, run the website generator:
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utils/bin/cumulusutils.exe website
- Decide how you wish to use cumulusutils.ini: modulewise - using the modules in your existing website - or as a website generator, being the basis of your website. Make yourself acquainted with the important related parameters: And:
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[General] IgnoreDataErrors=true/false GeneratejQueryInclude=true/false Language=nl-NL
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[FTP site] DoUploadFTP=true/false UploadDir=
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CumulusRealTimeLocation=
- Having run several times with different commandline parameters, recheck the inifile: some parameters may have been added.
- Don't ignore the logfiles!
- Best is to run in a 24 hr cycle for website or individual modules. Run a sysinfo command at any frequency you want.
- With version >= 4.0.0, the version of CMX MUST be >= 3.7.0.
If I don't reply, the other (first) users have a lot of experience by now and no doubt can answer.
When you are sufficiently confident about CumulusUtils result, use your own locale (and translation), start changing it's appearance and create your usermenu for the personal touch.
Step by Step is the way to go.
Despite the original ambition to create something simple, it turns out the variety of user demands and possibilities is so great the complexity increases automatically.
We have to live with it.