Welcome to the Cumulus Support forum.

Latest Cumulus MX V3 release 3.28.6 (build 3283) - 21 March 2024

Cumulus MX V4 beta test release 4.0.0 (build 4018) - 28 March 2024

Legacy Cumulus 1 release v1.9.4 (build 1099) - 28 November 2014 (a patch is available for 1.9.4 build 1099 that extends the date range of drop-down menus to 2030)

Download the Software (Cumulus MX / Cumulus 1 and other related items) from the Wiki

For New Users

Discussion of the Cumulusutils tool and website generator.

Moderator: HansR

AndyKF650
Posts: 704
Joined: Thu 20 Aug 2020 8:35 am
Weather Station: Davis VP2 Plus
Operating System: RPiv4 64bit Linux 12 Bookworm
Location: Jersey Channel Islands
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by AndyKF650 »

Hi Hans

As you can see I have been working on the site pages and am very happy with how it looks now. The banner picture needed a bit of a fiddle about but I got there.

I am impressed with the standard statistics on the site and the relative ease at getting changes made. The realtime data and Noaa areas work as expected now.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
HansR
Posts: 5871
Joined: Sat 20 Oct 2012 6:53 am
Weather Station: GW1100 (WS80/WH40)
Operating System: Raspberry OS/Bullseye
Location: Wagenborgen (NL)
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by HansR »

Hi Andy,

That looks really nice, nice wide photo in the header!

One advice in case you are not aware of: there is a file in lib (HighchartsDefaults.js) which contains the app-wide defaults for the charts. So if you e.g. would like to change the background and border of the charts (all charts, not only the Home charts) you could modify attributes in that file. Make sure you then remove it from your utils-directory otherwise it will be overwritten for every non-thrifty website run. See the general discussion in the colour thread from here. Good examples of this is in some of the Spanish sites (originating from Javier) and in Patricks site (both of which fell off the map because of Win 7).

Regards,
Hans

https://meteo-wagenborgen.nl
CMX build 4017+ ● RPi 3B+ ● Raspbian Linux 6.1.21-v7+ armv7l ● dotnet 8.0.3
User avatar
HansR
Posts: 5871
Joined: Sat 20 Oct 2012 6:53 am
Weather Station: GW1100 (WS80/WH40)
Operating System: Raspberry OS/Bullseye
Location: Wagenborgen (NL)
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by HansR »

Please note that I split Dador's topic on ExtraSensor charts off to a separate topic: Using ExtraSensors only for the charts.
It is neither a beginners topic nor is Dador a beginner on CumulusUtils.
Hans

https://meteo-wagenborgen.nl
CMX build 4017+ ● RPi 3B+ ● Raspbian Linux 6.1.21-v7+ armv7l ● dotnet 8.0.3
User avatar
Paul C
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 7:45 am
Weather Station: Davis VP2 with solar
Operating System: Windows 10
Location: Brampton, Cumbria, UK
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by Paul C »

Hope this is the right place.

I am really wanting to use this program, I,m desperate for some decent Wind Rose charts.

I have downloaded the files and put them in my CumulusMX folder in a folder called CumulusUtils

I have now gone to my website as I call it and uploaded all the files a new folder called CumulusUtils

My website or root ? already has a folder called lib and css and CUicons

Sadly I cant follow the instructions after that

Is there someone that can lead me through these stages please. Thanks
Paul C
Brampton, Cumbria, UK
117m ASL
http://www.bramptonweather.co.uk
Image
User avatar
HansR
Posts: 5871
Joined: Sat 20 Oct 2012 6:53 am
Weather Station: GW1100 (WS80/WH40)
Operating System: Raspberry OS/Bullseye
Location: Wagenborgen (NL)
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by HansR »

Yes, this is the right place.
I assume you found the installation wiki.
I also assume you use the latest version.

There is a difference (or there should be) between your CumulusMX machine and your webserver.
  1. First: You start on your CMX machine and there, in the CumulusMX directory, you create a directory utils. You copy the whole distribution in there (or unzip it there directly). The CUicons directory here is optional which is why it is not in the wiki.
  2. Second: On the webserver you create the directories lib and css (you have these already) and copy the CUicons directory directly to the webserver root. You can see in the wiki what is intended.
  3. NOTE: lib and css are only needed if you want to generate the website. otherwise most modules are independent and have only HTML as output (most modules: AirLink and ExtraSensors require more and are more complex).
Once this is done the files are in place and you need to make some decisions on how to use CUtils (which is short for cumulusutils). The important decisions are:
  1. Will you be using Cutils for the generated website or will you only use it modular i.e. e.g. you use only the records or the top10 or the graphs. Using Cutils modular requires you to understand more about the technique of websites and you will need a website yourself. Note that even if you use Cutils to generate its website you can use that website as a menu choice in your own website. I advise you to look around and decide on how to use it. (I will assist with running Cutils and configuring it, not with creating other websites).
  2. Will you be using FTP to transfer your files? If yes, configure CUtils to do so. If not than leave the defaults as is.
Now you have made some decisions it is time to run CUtils for the first time. It is important for me to know what OS you use: Windows or Linux (Rasbian). I understand from your profile you use Windows. I am limited in knowledge of running CMX on Windows but if needed there are many who do and know a lot more.

To run open a command window (you know: the black window) and change dir to the CumulusMX directory. You will also find that through the menu under system. You can also in the Windows Explorer do a CTRL-SHIFT and rightclick the CumulusMX folder. You then get the menu which enables you to Open a PowerShell Window Here. This has a blue background. Both command windows are valid.

Now you are in the command prompt on the CumulusMX directory. Run the command according to the wiki and according to what you want (the website or one or more modules). This should have the following results and In the CMX directory you will find: (I don't describe the outputs yet):
  1. cumulusutils.ini - this is the configuration file which from now on determines what Cutils does for you. In here are the so called inifile parameters.
  2. CUstringsEN.ini - this is the language file. You will not translate as native English speaker but you may use this to change the strings if you wish. Be careful though because of length.
  3. the above are the only two files of Cutils in the CMX directory. All other output will be written to the utils subdirectory.
  4. Logfiles can be found in the utils/utilslog directory. If you have problems, please send the logfile related to your latest run.
NOTE: I see you have the standard CMX website activated. If you want to add e.g. the windrose as a page/menu choice within that site you may need to ask other users how to accomplish that. I do not know that website well enough.

So, let's get started, do the first run and pass some info on what you want and how you want it. Don't forget the logfile.
Hans

https://meteo-wagenborgen.nl
CMX build 4017+ ● RPi 3B+ ● Raspbian Linux 6.1.21-v7+ armv7l ● dotnet 8.0.3
User avatar
Paul C
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 7:45 am
Weather Station: Davis VP2 with solar
Operating System: Windows 10
Location: Brampton, Cumbria, UK
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by Paul C »

Thankyou

Ok so far I am at this stage

Showing the directory of utils
Showing location of required files on my webserver (website)

Does that look correct please
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Paul C
Brampton, Cumbria, UK
117m ASL
http://www.bramptonweather.co.uk
Image
User avatar
HansR
Posts: 5871
Joined: Sat 20 Oct 2012 6:53 am
Weather Station: GW1100 (WS80/WH40)
Operating System: Raspberry OS/Bullseye
Location: Wagenborgen (NL)
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by HansR »

It looks OK, I have the following remarks:

1) On your CMX machine I would advise you to rename the CumulusUtils directory to utils. This makes it conform the wiki and the naming which everybody else uses. It prevents confusion and typing.

2) the css and lib directories on teh webserver probably contain files with the same names as utils uses (e.g. gauges.js) I probably should name some files differently because the content can be really very different. So if you want to use cutils as website generator I suggest that also on the webserver you create a utils subdirectory with the lib and css subdirs to prevent collisions.

Yes the naming makes it somewhat complex as the CMX world has changed a lot over the pas few years. I will change that when appropriate in an upcoming version (v7) but that will take some time. The above instruction should help you out though.

Do I understand well you will be using it as website generator?
Hans

https://meteo-wagenborgen.nl
CMX build 4017+ ● RPi 3B+ ● Raspbian Linux 6.1.21-v7+ armv7l ● dotnet 8.0.3
User avatar
Paul C
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 7:45 am
Weather Station: Davis VP2 with solar
Operating System: Windows 10
Location: Brampton, Cumbria, UK
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by Paul C »

OK

I have renamed the folder to utils

on my webserver (website) I have added a folder named lib and another called css ( within by utils folder)

My intention is to use it along side CumulusMX, to have a link on the main MX pages to your version as an add on. In time I really want the wind rose data to display fully on my MX website as a link, but for now I am happy to use your program in full

www.bramptonweather.co.uk/utils etc or even www.bramptonweather.co.uk/extragraphs

So whats next please ( time to take a break by the way and prepare my tea) cheers
Paul C
Brampton, Cumbria, UK
117m ASL
http://www.bramptonweather.co.uk
Image
User avatar
HansR
Posts: 5871
Joined: Sat 20 Oct 2012 6:53 am
Weather Station: GW1100 (WS80/WH40)
Operating System: Raspberry OS/Bullseye
Location: Wagenborgen (NL)
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by HansR »

Ok.
Now you run cumulusutils as instructed in the wiki. That should give you the cumulusutils.ini where you need to configure some things, notably the FTP and the location of the realtime and the datafiles. Then run it a second time and, if everything is well, that should give you the website on the URL: http://www.bramptonweather.co.uk/utils
Hans

https://meteo-wagenborgen.nl
CMX build 4017+ ● RPi 3B+ ● Raspbian Linux 6.1.21-v7+ armv7l ● dotnet 8.0.3
User avatar
Paul C
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 7:45 am
Weather Station: Davis VP2 with solar
Operating System: Windows 10
Location: Brampton, Cumbria, UK
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by Paul C »

I think this is what I fail to understand, I just dont get it

Am I suppose to go to the command prompt ? if so entering utils/bin/cumulusutils.exe doesnt work

"utils" is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
Paul C
Brampton, Cumbria, UK
117m ASL
http://www.bramptonweather.co.uk
Image
User avatar
HansR
Posts: 5871
Joined: Sat 20 Oct 2012 6:53 am
Weather Station: GW1100 (WS80/WH40)
Operating System: Raspberry OS/Bullseye
Location: Wagenborgen (NL)
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by HansR »

Well, you open a command window and go to the CumulusMX directory just as described above.
This means that the CumulusMX directory is your working directory.

From that position you give the command (you did say you renamed the cumulusutils directory to utils). If it starts complaining about utils not being a command or whatever it is strange. Could you send me the screenshot just before you hit enter?

If you installed correcty all executables are in the bin directory (it is distributed as such) so it MUST execute. Can you make a screenshot of the contents of the utils/bin directory?
Hans

https://meteo-wagenborgen.nl
CMX build 4017+ ● RPi 3B+ ● Raspbian Linux 6.1.21-v7+ armv7l ● dotnet 8.0.3
User avatar
Paul C
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 7:45 am
Weather Station: Davis VP2 with solar
Operating System: Windows 10
Location: Brampton, Cumbria, UK
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by Paul C »

Attached screenshot
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Paul C
Brampton, Cumbria, UK
117m ASL
http://www.bramptonweather.co.uk
Image
User avatar
HansR
Posts: 5871
Joined: Sat 20 Oct 2012 6:53 am
Weather Station: GW1100 (WS80/WH40)
Operating System: Raspberry OS/Bullseye
Location: Wagenborgen (NL)
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by HansR »

Ok, so that's good.
Now can you send the screenshot of the command window with the command just before you hit enter?
Hans

https://meteo-wagenborgen.nl
CMX build 4017+ ● RPi 3B+ ● Raspbian Linux 6.1.21-v7+ armv7l ● dotnet 8.0.3
User avatar
Paul C
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 7:45 am
Weather Station: Davis VP2 with solar
Operating System: Windows 10
Location: Brampton, Cumbria, UK
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by Paul C »

attached
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Paul C
Brampton, Cumbria, UK
117m ASL
http://www.bramptonweather.co.uk
Image
freddie
Posts: 2434
Joined: Wed 08 Jun 2011 11:19 am
Weather Station: Davis Vantage Pro 2 + Ecowitt
Operating System: GNU/Linux Ubuntu 22.04 LXC
Location: Alcaston, Shropshire, UK
Contact:

Re: For New Users

Post by freddie »

If you're using a command prompt window then shouldn't the command be

Code: Select all

utils\bin\cumulusutils.exe
i.e. backslashes not forward slashes?
Freddie
Image
Post Reply