Cumulus Support

Well I'm in trouble yet again (and I'm pretty sure I'm NOT an idiot) but something is going wrong as I'm having more problems with my Jan10log.txt file, or certainly with the manner in which Cumulus is collecting its data after a night when the computer is powered down.

This morning I started Cumulus as usual, and the Data Download Window appeared as usual, but straight away I was suspicious because there was a long pause before it started to download data. Furthermore the data download went of for a long, long time. But when it finished all seemed to be well.

Then I noticed a very high accumulated rainfall reading so I checked out the "Average & Extremes for January 2010" window to find there had been, for example 46 Rain days and 34 days of Air Frost in January (Now that must be a record, but as for accuracy a bad start to the year - grrh!

I checked out the Dayfile.txt to find it had readings for he whole of January up to the 31.01.10 and then REPEATED the data from the 03.01.10 to 01.02.10 (the long download this morning??).

I promise I'm not playing about with my datafiles but am at a loss to know what is going on. I don't want to even try to put it right until someone can offer me an explanation.....

Extract from Datafile.txt

01/01/10,1.7,315,16:14,-2.2,03:44,12.6,12:29,1032.0,00:14,1039.9,22:44,0.0,00:00,0.0,1.6,0.0
02/01/10,1.7,292,13:14,-0.3,03:59,13.2,12:44,1040.1,00:14,1045.7,12:29,6.0,12:44,7.2,3.2,0.0
03/01/10,3.1,90,19:21,-4.3,22:57,0.0,14:00,1010.1,00:00,1025.4,22:57,0.0,00:00,8.1,-3.1,22.6
04/01/10,2.4,90,00:51,-7.0,07:01,11.0,12:58,1010.7,23:58,1022.8,02:06,0.0,00:06,0.0,-1.5,11.7
05/01/10,5.4,360,13:58,-1.7,00:43,6.9,12:13,998.7,23:58,1010.7,00:13,1.2,11:43,0.9,0.4,50.9
06/01/10,7.5,360,07:43,-5.9,23:28,4.7,11:58,998.2,01:58,1011.2,23:13,1.2,12:13,0.6,-0.7,79.6
07/01/10,3.4,90,05:58,-6.1,22:13,10.6,13:13,1010.7,01:13,1017.5,23:58,2.4,12:13,3.3,-1.0,28.8
08/01/10,3.4,360,12:38,-6.5,00:43,6.5,12:38,1017.5,00:13,1025.8,20:31,1.1,12:22,0.6,-2.5,30.3
09/01/10,4.4,360,18:25,-5.6,23:07,7.1,12:28,1022.5,23:47,1026.3,10:49,3.6,13:25,0.6,-1.4,45.8
10/01/10,3.7,360,06:32,-5.1,00:02,1.3,11:48,1014.3,20:48,1022.5,00:02,0.0,00:02,0.0,-0.7,39.0
11/01/10,7.5,135,22:26,-1.1,22:14,0.9,13:03,1011.7,23:51,1016.2,10:18,1.2,12:48,0.3,-0.3,229.0
12/01/10,19.7,135,10:38,-0.8,14:50,1.1,10:35,991.5,17:54,1011.7,00:03,3.6,13:53,2.4,0.0,612.1
13/01/10,9.2,135,01:17,-0.9,04:47,0.8,22:17,992.4,00:02,996.7,11:22,3.6,12:17,6.9,-0.2,241.5
14/01/10,7.1,135,23:49,0.2,01:34,2.4,22:49,995.9,00:04,1008.0,22:55,0.0,00:04,0.0,1.0,141.0
15/01/10,15.3,158,19:20,1.7,00:19,9.9,13:11,993.1,05:19,1009.1,10:15,4.8,06:04,10.2,7.0,525.4
16/01/10,12.6,158,03:04,3.9,22:50,9.3,13:50,994.8,05:49,1005.6,23:35,3.6,09:01,15.6,6.9,195.9
17/01/10,4.8,248,13:06,3.8,07:05,13.2,12:59,1005.9,00:05,1019.2,23:34,0.0,00:05,0.0,6.8,47.4
18/01/10,4.4,180,12:43,5.7,22:05,9.1,12:27,1019.1,00:04,1022.7,10:42,3.6,17:09,0.3,7.0,56.8
19/01/10,16.0,135,19:25,3.7,22:29,5.8,00:05,1005.1,23:50,1020.8,00:35,3.6,15:57,2.1,4.8,492.9
20/01/10,10.5,135,01:05,2.7,23:10,5.3,14:44,1004.4,02:20,1013.1,23:25,1.2,00:05,2.1,3.7,202.2
21/01/10,11.9,180,22:10,2.1,03:55,8.5,23:21,1000.5,08:47,1013.9,07:48,3.6,13:18,11.7,4.6,393.3
22/01/10,10.2,158,00:11,1.0,23:34,13.7,13:11,1006.2,00:02,1019.4,23:49,7.2,00:10,5.7,6.8,52.0
23/01/10,2.7,315,12:19,0.4,06:04,11.6,12:16,1019.2,00:04,1021.8,11:01,1.2,01:04,0.3,3.8,7.7
24/01/10,3.7,270,12:40,0.8,04:18,11.2,12:15,1021.4,00:03,1025.0,11:46,0.0,00:03,0.0,3.6,11.2
25/01/10,3.4,135,13:33,-0.8,19:20,6.7,15:15,1024.8,00:19,1036.2,23:33,1.2,04:34,0.3,2.0,17.7
26/01/10,3.1,90,12:30,-1.9,23:48,2.3,14:19,1036.1,00:03,1040.0,18:42,0.0,00:03,0.0,0.7,27.0
28/01/10,9.2,360,21:12,-2.2,01:03,10.5,12:44,999.7,23:56,1038.8,00:33,3.6,08:18,1.2,4.7,107.2
29/01/10,12.9,68,09:32,0.6,23:43,7.7,12:43,991.1,05:31,999.7,00:12,3.6,08:32,3.9,4.5,209.3
30/01/10,7.8,22,02:02,-2.9,19:53,8.4,14:19,997.5,01:32,1003.9,19:40,3.6,11:28,0.9,0.5,55.5
31/01/10,5.4,292,14:41,-3.1,02:57,5.6,15:26,1003.5,00:01,1009.2,23:49,3.6,11:10,0.3,0.7,37.6
03/01/10,4.4,248,11:29,-4.0,23:52,9.7,12:32,1009.4,00:05,1022.3,23:52,0.0,00:05,0.3,2.2,60.9
04/01/10,2.4,90,00:52,-7.0,07:02,11.0,12:59,1010.7,23:59,1022.8,02:07,0.0,00:07,0.0,-1.5,11.7
05/01/10,5.4,360,13:59,-1.7,00:44,6.9,12:14,998.7,23:59,1010.7,00:14,1.2,11:44,0.9,0.4,50.9
06/01/10,7.5,360,07:44,-5.9,23:29,4.7,11:59,998.2,01:59,1011.2,23:14,1.2,12:14,0.6,-0.7,79.6
07/01/10,3.4,90,05:59,-6.1,22:14,10.6,13:14,1010.7,01:14,1017.5,23:59,2.4,12:14,3.3,-1.0,28.8
08/01/10,3.4,360,12:39,-6.5,00:44,6.5,12:39,1017.5,00:14,1025.8,20:32,1.1,12:23,0.6,-2.5,30.3
09/01/10,4.1,135,11:48,-5.5,22:33,6.8,12:33,1022.5,23:48,1026.1,10:48,1.2,12:18,0.6,-1.3,36.5
10/01/10,3.7,360,06:33,-5.1,00:03,1.3,11:48,1014.3,20:48,1022.5,00:03,0.0,00:03,0.0,-0.7,38.3
11/01/10,6.8,90,22:48,-1.1,22:18,0.9,13:03,1011.8,23:48,1016.2,10:18,1.2,12:48,0.3,-0.3,214.5
12/01/10,14.6,135,11:03,-0.7,17:48,1.1,10:48,991.7,17:48,1011.8,00:03,1.2,14:03,2.1,0.0,594.8
13/01/10,9.2,135,01:18,-0.9,04:48,0.7,13:52,992.4,00:03,996.6,11:48,2.4,13:04,6.9,-0.2,236.9
14/01/10,6.8,135,23:50,0.2,01:35,2.3,22:50,995.9,00:05,1007.8,22:50,0.0,00:05,0.0,1.0,136.8
15/01/10,15.0,180,21:20,1.7,00:20,9.6,13:05,1000.0,23:50,1008.9,10:20,4.8,06:05,10.2,7.0,511.6
16/01/10,12.6,158,03:05,3.9,23:05,9.3,13:50,994.8,05:50,1005.6,23:35,3.6,00:35,15.6,6.9,193.7
17/01/10,4.1,270,00:35,3.8,07:05,13.2,13:05,1005.9,00:05,1019.2,23:35,0.0,00:05,0.0,6.8,43.5
18/01/10,3.4,180,00:50,5.7,22:20,8.9,12:35,1019.1,00:05,1022.6,11:05,1.2,17:20,0.3,7.0,54.9
19/01/10,13.3,180,18:20,3.7,22:35,5.8,00:05,1005.1,23:50,1020.8,00:35,2.4,22:50,2.1,4.8,480.8
20/01/10,10.5,135,01:05,2.7,23:11,5.2,14:26,1004.4,02:20,1013.1,23:26,1.2,00:05,2.1,3.7,203.8
21/01/10,11.6,158,22:34,2.1,03:56,8.5,23:19,1006.4,23:49,1013.8,03:26,2.4,18:34,11.4,4.7,407.5
22/01/10,8.8,202,00:04,1.0,23:34,13.4,13:04,1006.2,00:34,1019.4,23:49,4.8,00:19,6.0,6.7,53.0
23/01/10,1.4,270,12:19,0.4,06:04,11.6,12:19,1019.2,00:04,1021.7,11:04,1.2,01:04,0.3,3.8,6.0
24/01/10,3.1,22,12:19,0.6,22:04,10.9,13:04,1021.4,00:04,1024.9,23:34,0.0,00:04,0.0,3.6,12.9
25/01/10,2.0,360,10:49,-0.7,19:19,6.6,14:04,1024.8,00:19,1036.2,23:34,1.2,04:34,0.3,2.1,18.3
26/01/10,3.1,180,12:34,-1.9,23:49,2.2,14:19,1036.1,00:04,1040.1,10:49,0.0,00:04,0.0,0.8,32.5
27/01/10,4.8,135,21:19,-2.2,01:04,8.0,13:49,1020.9,23:49,1038.8,00:34,1.2,08:19,0.6,3.7,49.9
28/01/10,5.8,270,04:34,4.8,21:05,10.2,12:49,999.7,23:57,1021.0,00:19,1.2,21:20,0.6,5.9,88.7
29/01/10,9.5,360,07:02,1.0,23:32,7.6,12:47,991.1,05:32,999.7,00:13,3.4,01:17,3.9,4.6,208.8
30/01/10,7.8,22,02:02,-2.8,20:01,8.4,14:21,997.5,01:32,1003.8,20:17,1.2,11:32,0.9,0.6,53.1
31/01/10,5.1,315,15:12,-3.1,02:57,5.5,15:27,1003.5,00:01,1009.2,23:49,1.2,11:12,0.3,0.7,36.2
01/02/10,4.4,360,13:30,0.5,06:54,8.8,12:45,1009.4,00:05,1015.1,15:15,0.0,00:05,0.0,3.8,44.2

Please zip and attach your diags folder.

In anticipation I will be asked I attach the Diag Folder.

You beat me to it Steve.... sorry I'm being such a pain!

These are old files. The latest one is from the 28th Jan. There is something strange about the way you are running Cumulus, which is linked with the fact that you have installed to Program Files. Sometimes when you start Cumulus, it is either looking in a different location for the files, or it is having permissions problems and is unable to read and write the files. This is the cause of most if not all of your problems.

Sorry Steve I attached the correct file.

Since the 31st Jan, it appears that the date and time format on your PC changes from US format to UK format at 1700 each day:

2010-01-31 17:00:00 : Writing todayfile, LastUpdateTime = 1/31/2010 5:00:00 PM raindaystart = 2477.69995117188
2010-01-31 17:15:00 : Writing todayfile, LastUpdateTime = 31/01/2010 17:15:00 raindaystart = 2477.69995117188

2010-02-01 17:00:00 : Writing todayfile, LastUpdateTime = 2/1/2010 5:00:00 PM raindaystart = 2478
2010-02-01 17:15:00 : Writing todayfile, LastUpdateTime = 01/02/2010 17:15:00 raindaystart = 2478

Some time later, by morning, it has changed back to US format again. This means that when Cumulus read the last updated timestamp of 1/2/2010 this morning (1st Feb written in UK format), it read it as 2nd Jan in US format (as by now it had switched back to running on US format) so downloaded the data from the logger back to 2nd Jan.

steve wrote:Since the 31st Jan, it appears that the date and time format on your PC changes from US format to UK format at 1700 each day:......................

That is ominous, Steve, thanks for picking it up for me, I'll look into it straight away.

Everything seem set for UK time at the moment and I can't find any reason or cause for the computer to keep changing to and from UK/US settings.

I shall check the "Region and Language Settings" prior to starting and closing Cumulus for the time being to avoid this happening again and at the same time try to find the cause of the changes you have detected.

However, what is the best way for me to restore Cumulus to eliminate these new inaccuracies?

The easiest way is to restart from a backup - the one from 0706 today should be OK. Make sure the timestamp in the today.ini corresponds to the format that your system is currently using - it looks like the timestamp is UK, so that should be OK, if you really are set to UK format now. It's not a good day for checking that sort of thing (being 2/2), but it looks like when you closed Cumulus at 1031 today it was on US format:

2010-02-02 10:31:11 : Writing todayfile, LastUpdateTime = 2/2/2010 10:16:55 AM raindaystart = 2478

In UK format it would look like this:

2010-02-02 10:31:11 : Writing todayfile, LastUpdateTime = 02/02/2010 10:16:55 raindaystart = 2478

Thanks Steve,

I'm off out now so I think I might leave it till tomorrow and in the meantime just keep an eye on my system clock for the rest of today.....

I have detected no changes in in the date format so have restored my reading using the 'backup' files you recommended, Steve. The January figures now are OK.

All very odd.......

Glad you've got it sorted out at last Geoff

Coincidentally, I'm getting monthly log problems in my weather station software too. Something I shall be investigating, but in the meantime have removed the monthly data table from the web page until I get the data right.

Geoff, you might find this thread interesting: https://cumulus.hosiene.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2424