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Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 9:42 am
by Sunfish
Hello
I understand that Cumulus produces a "data file", that can be accessed by 3rd parties who wish to extract data.
Can you confirm that the link to that file is /realtime.text
Thanks.
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 10:00 am
by beteljuice
That is a data list of current conditions and a few misc. bits and pieces.
Explanation here:
http://wiki.sandaysoft.com/a/Realtime.txt
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 10:12 am
by Sunfish
Beteljuice, thanks.
Therefore, should I tick, "FTP rename" in the the internet configuration?
I wish to send my data to a weather website.
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 10:41 am
by steve
Sunfish wrote:Therefore, should I tick, "FTP rename" in the the internet configuration?
FTP Rename is part of the FTP protocol; it prevents the short periods where a file is unavailable while a new copy is being uploaded. You should tick it if your FTP server supports it (not all do).
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 11:16 am
by Sunfish
Ticking "FTP rename" sends my website offline, and I won't touch that again.
So, is /realtime.text the file from which other parties (weather websites) can obtain data on current conditions, etc.
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 11:20 am
by nitrx
Sunfish wrote:Ticking "FTP rename" sends my website offline, and I won't touch that again.
So, is /realtime.text the file from which other parties (weather websites) can obtain data on current conditions, etc.
You ftp the realtime.txt why do want the name realtime.text ? The data are the same so why don't you let others point to the realtime.txt I don't see the sense.
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 11:25 am
by steve
Sunfish wrote:Ticking "FTP rename" sends my website offline, and I won't touch that again.
Your FTP server clearly doesn't support it, then.
So, is /realtime.text the file from which other parties (weather websites) can obtain data on current conditions, etc.
It's
realtime.txt, and by default it gets uploaded into the directory that you specify in the Cumulus internet settings - the same directory that the index.htm file gets uploaded to, if you're using the 'standard' web site.
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 11:25 am
by steve
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 11:30 am
by Sunfish
Steve, thanks.
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 12:50 pm
by beteljuice
... So, is /realtime.text the file from which other parties (weather websites) can obtain data on current conditions, etc.
Not really .......
Some sites maybe able to use the realtime.txt, but most want a particular format - it will normally say what they want on their sites. It may be necessary to 'construct' a file in the format they want using <#webtags>.
Cumulus has the ability to 'send' data to some weather sites. eg. Weather Underground.
I think nearly every possible site has been done by someone or another - So who do you want to have your data ?
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 1:41 pm
by Sunfish
Sure, Cumulus supports WU, PWS, Awekas, CWOP, WB etc, and I send my data there--I have no problem uploading, and everything works like clockwork.
MetServ takes data from my /realtime.text file and displays that, but Winfinder.com seems to have difficulty with this. It asks that I put a data file, produced by Cumulus, onto my web server, which they will 'pick up' every 15 minutes.
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 2:42 pm
by beteljuice
Windfinder will soon be lifting your data from elsewhere
see:
https://cumulus.hosiene.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5756
However; If you wish them to get your data direct and they can't parse realtime.txt, they give plenty of delimiting options:
Date \t Time \t AirTemp \t MaxTemp \t Windspeed \t Gusts \t WindDir \t Barometer \ Rain
- Times are preferred to be in local time and in any common format like 16.2.2010 or 2010-02-16 14:30 or 2:30p
- windspeeds are in knots, m/s or kmh (please tell me what you will use)
- pressure in hPa
- rain in mm/h - As delimiter we accept komma, semicolon, TAB or \t
- One or more header lines above the data with the data names ans units are welcome
If you use tabular data one or more header lines are welcome (though not mandatory).
The ideal frequency for the data is one record every 15 minutes.
If a file with tabular data contains data with a higher frequency we average them to 15 minute data.
Note that the 'rain' they want is rainrate !
Re: Data File
Posted: Sat 27 Aug 2011 6:00 pm
by Sunfish
Mmm...
Re: Data File
Posted: Sun 28 Aug 2011 2:42 pm
by Sunfish
Sending data OK, now, to Windfinder--not a bad site, if you're into wind.
Shame about the ads--on WU, I pay a few $; and there are no ads either, on PWS.
Re: Data File
Posted: Sun 28 Aug 2011 5:49 pm
by steve
Sunfish wrote:Shame about the ads--on WU, I pay a few $;
You do know that as a WU data contributor you are entitled to a no-ads account for free?