The Standard Templates

Cumulus has a number of template files that it uses if you select to 'Include standard files' within Internet Configuration:

The template files are stored in the 'web' folder under your Cumulus installation on your PC. They all have a 'T' (for 'template') in their names:

Template	Introduced	Description
indexT.htm	from version 1.0 27th January 2004	Shows latest observations and calculated values
todayT.htm	from version 1.0 27th January 2004	Shows today's extremes
trendsT.htm	from version 1.0 27th January 2004	Has thumbnails of standard graphs, select one to display equivalent full trend graph.
recordT.htm	from version 1.0 27th January 2004	Shows all-time extremes
yesterdayT.htm	revised from version 1.5.1 10th January 2006	Shows yesterday's extremes
gaugesT.htm	from version 1.7.11 21st June 2008	Includes some free gauges originally written for FreeWX, displays the three wind gauges from the Cumulus main screen and two real time wind gauges.
thisyearT.htm	from version 1.9.2 (build 1002) 5th July 2011	Shows latest annual extremes
thismonthT.htm	from version 1.9.2 (build 1002) 5th July 2011	Shows extremes for latest month
monthlyrecordT.htm	from version 1.9.3 10th April 2012	Shows extremes for a particular month in all years

What is meant by 'Cumulus processes templates'

When Cumulus is ready to perform a web site update, it will read each template file:
- those listed in table above if Include Standard Files is selected
- those listed in Cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site as local files (the first 10 appear on 'Files' tab in internet settings screen reached from configuration menu) that also have Process? selected (set to 1 in Cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site).
and run a process that creates locally web pages (until build 1092 the created pages were in XHTML 1.0 Transitional using charset=iso-8859-1; from build 1093 the created pages are in HTML 5 using charset="UTF-8")
- By inserting Hyper Text Mark-up Language structure and text as defined by the template.
- Where it finds a web tag it will insert the relevant observations from the weather station, values calculated by Cumulus, time-stamps, or miscellaneous values, for each.
- The file name that Cumulus uses for the created local webpage depends on whether the original template is being processed by Include Standard Files (in which case the created web page is the same name without a T) or being processed as an Extra file because it is listed on the Files tab (or in cumulus.ini FTP section) as a local file (in which case the created web page is the same as the original filename with its extension but with 'tmp' suffixed to the extension). The latter copes with customised templates that do not use the 'T' convention.
Cumulus will FTP these up to your web space on the internet. If you have asked it to use Rename on the remote file, a temporary name is created with the suffix 'tmp' added to the final file name as shown in diagram above. The final file names on your web site will be as in table above, without the letter T for templates being processed by Include Standard Files, or the name you specify for the remote file name on the Files' tab (or in Cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site) for customised templates (The chart labels these as Extra files).

The standard website set up, with several other files, is fully described in Simple_Website_setup.

Changing the Standard Templates

Typically the templates are modified to include additional weather data, or remove it. This is generally done by adding or removing Cumulus webtags, but you normally have to vary the HTML structure by adding/editing/removing table cell ( to ) elements and possibly add/remove a row ( to ) element.

You can modify one or more of the template files listed above. For example, you may wish to
- change the wording that appears on the web page by editing it on the template;
- add a link to another of your pages or externally;
- add/remove some Cumulus derived information;
- add a page counter; etc
Remember to edit the xxxT.htm files, (not the xxx.htm files as they are created by the Cumulus 'process')
It is best to close down Cumulus while updating the template files.
Use windows Notepad or another text editor tool to modify the HTML as necessary.
- Do not use a word processor as that will introduce unwanted characters;
- Many web page editors (like wordpress) should also be avoided as they can change the page structure and remove the Cumulus web tags;
- Other HTML editors (like Notepad++, HTML kit-292 to cite just two free ones) are just text editors that use colour and other aids to help you identify what you are editing and may make it easier for you.

Templates in cumulus\web\originals sub-folder

From version 1.8.9 onwards, the Cumulus installer installs the standard templates in a Cumulus subfolder called 'web/originals' so you can refer to them. Do not edit these.

Editing to create one or more customised templates in the standard web sub-folder

Keep copies of any xxxT.htm files you modify. It is best to back up the whole Cumulus folder onto a different disc on a regular basis.
If you edit one or more of the templates, listed in the table above, in the cumulus\web sub-folder, keeping their original names, this has the advantage that Cumulus will process the customised template as if it is an unmodified standard one.
You just need to have 'Include Standard Files' ticked (as shown above) on the Files tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu.

Coding standard and character encoding for Customised Templates using the same names as Standard Cumulus Templates

Your edited template should be written in HTML 5 using charset="UTF-8" encoding.

If it is using one of the standard names in the table above and does not comply with that coding, then you need to unselect the 'UTF-8 encode' selection illustrated here, get to it via Configuration menu, Internet option, Sites/Options tab and look for Web Settings frame in top centre.

Using third party user customised templates

If you choose to use designs from other providers and they use the standard names listed in the table at the start of this article you need to check if their web page coding starts as HTML5 extract below.

If it does mention charset="UTF-8", and uses the name of a standard template and is stored in cumulus\web, then the UTF-8 encode should be selected as shown in 'Web Settings' frame above.
If it uses a standard name and path, but does not mention utf-8, then uncheck the UTF-8 encode in the frame illustrated.
Finally, if it uses a name other than a standard one, treat as #Creating or Editing Templates in a Separate Folder.

HTML 5 - a very quick quide to structure

It is possible to take the standard Cumulus web templates and customise these into totally new ones to your own requirements. A basic understanding of HTML is useful. A Cumulus template written in HTML 5 requires a simple start to the file:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<!-- the above must be on the first line by itself and tells the browser that HTML 5 applies -->
<html lang="en"><!-- modify this if you are not using English language -->
<head>
	<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><!-- assigns the recommended standard encoding -->
        <meta name="description" content="<#location> weather data">
        <meta name="keywords" content="Cumulus, <#location> weather data, weather, data, weather station">
        <title><!-- insert here what is to appear in browser tab title --></title>
        <link href="weatherstyle.css" rel="stylesheet"> <!-- This line links the standard Cumulus stylesheet
 to the HTML page and implies the HTML and CSS files are in the same web site directory -->
</head>
<body> <!-- This defines the start of what the browser is to display in its window -->

The main part of the page (you can base that on what you can see in the closest standard template to what you are trying to achieve) goes here.

You then need to surround the navigation bar links

class="td_navigation_bar">:<a href="index.htm">now</a>::<a href="gauges.htm">gauges</a>::<a href="today.htm">today</a>::<a 
href="yesterday.htm">yesterday</a>::<a href="thismonth.htm">this month</a>::<a href="thisyear.htm">this year</a>::<a 
href="record.htm">records</a>::<a href="monthlyrecord.htm">monthly records</a>::<a href="trends.htm">trends</a>:<#forum><#webcam>

with the relevant HTML structure (see standard templates for examples, often they are in a table cell defined by and where X is set to the number of cells in other rows.

All templates should have this standard finish to a Cumulus style template:

<p class="credits"><br />
Page updated <#update><br />
powered by
<a href="http://sandaysoft.com/products/cumulus" target="_blank">Cumulus</a> 
v<#version> (<#build>)
</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>

Updating to a new Cumulus build

As soon as you edit templates, remember that when you update to a new build of Cumulus (or re-install the current version) the installer offers you the option of either installing the new build's standard 'HTML templates' in the 'cumulus\web' folder (and any updated files in 'Cumulus\webfiles'), or not replacing the current contents of those sub-folders. If on the installer screen shown you select to install the templates, any changes you made in the web subfolder will be lost as Cumulus will delete everything from the 'cumulus\web' folder before installing the new build's standard 'HTML templates' in that 'cumulus\web' folder.
If you use a mixture of unmodified standard templates and customised templates with standard names and a release announcement says there are updated scripts, then please do backup your customised templates before running the installer as you will need to accept the new build's standard 'HTML templates' in the 'cumulus\web' folder (by selecting the box in the screen above) to download those updated versions of scripts called from any of the standard template coding you have retained unmodified.

Consequently, the recommendation is that for any customised templates, you delete the original template from the web sub-folder (leaving it in the web\originals sub-folder) and put your customised template in a different folder. If you do this:

You reduce the risk of accidental overwriting.
You can either use a standard template name or you can select a new filename (it is recommended you continue to insert the suffix 'T' to indicate it is a template that needs to be processed by Cumulus).
You can select your own local folder path.
You do need to tell Cumulus the local and remote file names you require - as described in #Creating or Editing Templates in a Separate Folder

Adding/removing Solar table cells for main page and trend graphs

Here are two examples relating to solar and UV sensors. See this FAQ for todayT.htm and yesterdayT.htm, but they are similar to indexT.htm (except they have one label, one value and one time-stamp per row).

Simple customisation of indexT.htm

The standard file includes a table where for each row ( to ) there are 4 cells ( to ) arranged as 2 pairs. The HTML tag that starts the row uses a class to define its look, in the style-sheet linked to the HTML that class will have properties like background colour defined. Each pair of cells consists of a label identifying the observation being reported and a Cumulus web tag representing where the value is to appear.

Look through the standard file and find the following code segment containing the definition for one row wrapped by comments mentioning 'Solar data':

  <!-- Solar data. If you don't have a solar sensor, you may wish to delete everything from here to the next comment -->
  <tr class="td_temperature_data">
    <td>Solar Radiation</td>
    <td><#SolarRad> W/m²</td>
    <td>Evapotranspiration Today</td>
    <td><#ET> <#rainunit></td>
  </tr>
  <!-- End of solar data -->

Delete all of the above code segment if you do not have a solar sensor on your weather station.
The <#ET> web tag only applies to Davis weather stations that include a solar sensor, if your solar sensor is another make, you might want to partly or completely change the code to the following so you can see your lux observation (Fine Offset solar measuring models only) and/or your ultraviolet observation instead of, or in addition to, whichever of the original parameters either does not apply, or does still apply:

  <!-- Solar data. If you don't have a solar sensor, you may wish to delete everything from here to the next comment -->
  <tr class="td_temperature_data">
    <td>Sunshine</td>
    <td><#Light> Lux</td>
    <td>UV Index</td>
    <td><#UV></td>
  </tr>
  <!-- End of solar data -->

Your weather station might be a sort that can accept Extra Sensors and if so you probably want to add webtags for those taking your cue from the solar example here.
The standard page does not include any indoor temperature and humidity measurements that your station may offer, if you decide to add these or any other observations, remember you need to add another 'tr' start tag with the appropriate class attribute value, and don't forget the end tag.
Since on this web page there are two pairs of table cells per row, if you really want to add just one pair in a row, then you need to also add an empty pair of cells to keep the same count of cells in every row:

<td colspan="2"></td>

Slightly less simple customisation of trendsT.htm

Look through the standard file and find the following code segment defining a table...

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="Graph_menu">
  <tr>
    <td colspan="5">Click on a thumbnail to show a large graph in the panel above.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/wind.png")'><img src="images/windsm.png" alt="Wind Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/temp.png")'><img src="images/tempsm.png" alt="Temperature Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/intemp.png")'><img src="images/intempsm.png" alt="Inside Temperature Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/press.png")'><img src="images/presssm.png" alt="Pressure Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/rain.png")'><img src="images/rainsm.png" alt="Rain Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/windd.png")'><img src="images/winddsm.png" alt="Wind Direction Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/tempm.png")'><img src="images/tempmsm.png" alt="Temp Min/Max Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/hum.png")'><img src="images/humsm.png" alt="Humidity Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/raint.png")'><img src="images/raintsm.png" alt="Today's Rainfall Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/raind.png")'><img src="images/raindsm.png" alt="Daily Rain Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td colspan="5" class="td_navigation_bar">:<a href="index.htm">now</a>::<a href="gauges.htm">gauges</a>::<a href="today.htm">today</a>::<a href="yesterday.htm">yesterday</a>::<a href="thismonth.htm">this month</a>::<a href="thisyear.htm">this year</a>::<a href="record.htm">records</a>::<a href="monthlyrecord.htm">monthly records</a>::<a href="trends.htm">trends</a>:<#forum><#webcam></td>
  </tr>
</table>

If you look in 'web\images' sub-folder (this path can be changed in cumulus.ini) of where you have installed cumulus.exe, you will see 3 more pairs (solar, UV, and Sunshine) of images not mentioned in above segment. You might want to add 1 or 2 of them taking hints from the revised segment below. Note that in two rows a 'colspan' attribute is used to place one piece of text across the entire row, and the value given to that parameter needs to match the number of 'td' elements in other rows. Also note that because an odd number of thumbnails is included split between the two rows, that one 'td' element is empty to ensure each row has same number of cells. On the screen (extract) shown here, you select solar, uv or sunshine to determine which of the 3 extra graphs, are file transferred (or copied) to your web site. Remember, in practice your station will not support all 3, so you will need to edit the changes shown below to suit your instrumentation.

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="Graph_menu">
  <tr>
    <td colspan="7"> <!-- Note that in this revision the original 5 has been changed to 7 -->

Click on a thumbnail to show a large graph in the panel above.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/wind.png")'><img src="images/windsm.png" alt="Wind Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/temp.png")'><img src="images/tempsm.png" alt="Temperature Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/intemp.png")'><img src="images/intempsm.png" alt="Inside Temperature Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/press.png")'><img src="images/presssm.png" alt="Pressure Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/rain.png")'><img src="images/rainsm.png" alt="Rain Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
	<td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/solar.png")'><img src="images/solarsm.png" alt="Solar Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td> <!-- Only for stations supporting Solar measurement in Watts per square metre -->
	<td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/uv.png")'><img src="images/uvsm.png.png" alt="Ultraviolet Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td> <!-- only for stations supporting UV -->
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/windd.png")'><img src="images/winddsm.png" alt="Wind Direction Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/tempm.png")'><img src="images/tempmsm.png" alt="Temp Min/Max Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/hum.png")'><img src="images/humsm.png" alt="Humidity Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/raint.png")'><img src="images/raintsm.png" alt="Today's Rainfall Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/raind.png")'><img src="images/raindsm.png" alt="Daily Rain Graph Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td>
    <td class="td_thumbnails"><a onclick='changeImage("images/sunshine.png")'><img src="images/sunshinesm.png" alt="Sunshine Hours Thumbnail" width="150" height="100" border="0" /></a></td> <!-- only for stations measuring hours of sunshine -->
    <td></td> <!-- This is an empty element to ensure the same number of elements is in all rows of thumbnails -->
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td colspan="7" class="td_navigation_bar"> <!-- Note that in this revision the original 5 has been changed to 7 -->
:<a href="index.htm">now</a>::<a href="gauges.htm">gauges</a>::<a href="today.htm">today</a>::<a href="yesterday.htm">yesterday</a>::<a href="thismonth.htm">this month</a>::<a href="thisyear.htm">this year</a>::<a href="record.htm">records</a>::<a href="monthlyrecord.htm">monthly records</a>::<a href="trends.htm">trends</a>:<#forum><#webcam></td>
  </tr>
</table>

In your implementation, you may only use 1 or 2 of the 3 included here. Also you may want to delete the 'td' elements relating to indoor observations. Just remember to adjust the 'colspan' value and, if you have an odd total number of thumbnails split between an even number of rows, to make all rows the same number of columns by including the null 'td' element shown in the above example.

Creating or Editing Templates in a Separate Folder

If you are making anything but minor changes to the template, consider creating your own files with (same or preferably) different names in a separate folder.

What to select on the 'Files' tab of the Internet Settings screen within the 'Configuration' menu

In this section, the instruction cover both template files (Cumulus has to be asked to 'process' these) and other files (such as images, web pages without cumulus web tags, log files etc) that are to be file transferred or copied multiple times each day.

Include Standard Files (see top left in this image).
- Remember if you are not using any of the standard template names in cumulus\web to unselect this setting (as shown in the nearby image).
- If one or more of the standard templates is still in cumulus\web, then you want this setting set as per the image at the top of this article.
Include Standard Images, Solar, UV and Sunshine
- These settings are selected as applicable. The images are needed for the moon, trend graphs and gauges to appear on your web site. The last 3 are set according to customisation described above in #Slightly less simple customisation of trendsT.htm.
Local files: List here the new or edited template files (text including Cumulus webtags) you have created.
- Also list here any non-template files that you want Cumulus to upload (or copy across) at either the normal website updating interval or the realtime updating interval.
- 0 to 9 can be stored in cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site by placing the path and filename in left hand column on the Files tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu. An easy way to achieve this is by using the appropriate Browse... button as that will ensure the parts of the path have the correct separator.
- Local files 10 upto (from version 1.9.3) 99 have to be manually inserted (or amended) by editing cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site, using a ExtraLocalNN= line (note NN is any 1 or 2 digit number) and placing the path (remember for Windows local files the parts of the path are separated by '\') and filename after the equals sign. An easy way to achieve this is by copying one of the lines with NN set to between '0' and '9', next replacing the numerical digit with the required 2 digit number and then changing the filename as needed.
Realtime? column
- Leave the column unselected for template (or other) files 0 to 9 to be processed at the upload 'Interval' specified in the middle of the Web settings frame on the Sites/Options tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu. For NN values '10' upto '99', normal interval processing is achieved by including a ExtraRealtimeNN=0 line.
- Select the relevant box for processing a file at the 'Realtime interval' (set at the bottom of the web settings frame shown earlier in the article). For NN values '10' upto '99', realtime interval processing is achieved by including a ExtraRealtimeNN=1 line, in cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site.
Process? column
- If the local file you have specifed is a template file (i.e. text including Cumulus webtags) these need to be processed by Cumulus to create webpages; select 'Process?' column for 0 to 9 on the Files tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu; or for 10 upto 99 add ExtraProcessNN=1 in Cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site.
- If the local file you have specifed is any other type of file, then leave box in this column clear or for 10 upto 99 add ExtraProcessNN=0 in Cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site.
UTF-8? column
1. If the local file you have specifed is a template file (i.e. text including Cumulus webtags) these need to be processed by Cumulus to create webpages and Cumulus therefore needs to be told what encoding you used for the customised template.
2. From build 1093 (27 April 2014), you need to select the 'UTF-8?' column for 0 to 9 on the Files tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu; or for 10 upto 99 add ExtraUTFNN=1 in Cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site.
- If it is not a template file, the setting here is irrelevent.
Binary? column
- For web pages 0 to 9, select this [it is mandatory for image files, but optional on most other files; however its use will ensure accurate transfer if any extended (non-ASCII) character set letters (like accented ones) or symbols (like temperature degree symbol) are used on your customised pages] on the Files tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu; this is achieved by including ExtraBinaryNN=1 for NN values '10' upto '99' in Cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site.

'Remote filenames' and 'FTP?' columns for remote servers

If your web server is on a remote server, then the instructions for remote files require that file transfer is used:

Sites/Options tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu.
- The host, username, password and initial directory are specified here.
Files tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu.
1. For files 0 to 9 enter the full path (directory and required file name) in the Remote filenames column on the Files tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu; for NN values '10' upto '99' this is achieved by including ExtraRemoteNN= with directory and filename after the equals sign in Cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site. (IMPORTANT, as the Cumulus Help screen says the Remote filenames column "does not use the 'ftp directory' setting. You should specify the full path for the file, starting from the point you are at when you log in to your site's FTP server" (remember the separator is '/' for server paths).)
2. Finally, select 'FTP?' column for 0 to 9 or for 10 upto 99 add ExtraFTPNN=1 in Cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site.

'Remote filenames' and 'FTP?' columns for local servers

If your web server is on the same computer (or local network) as Cumulus, then the instructions for remote files are changed slightly because copying rather than file transfer is used:

Sites/Options tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu.
- It is rarely needed to specify the host, username, password and initial directory of a local web server on this screen
- The exception is if your webpage includes a script requiring loading a local file like 'dayfile.txt' because the security design of some browsers may restrict where files can be loaded from, and if your local server is visible to anyone, you cannot know what browser is being used to view the page.
Files tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu.

For files 0 to 9 enter the full path (on your computer or network) and required file name (destination for file copy instruction) in the 'Remote filenames' column on the Files tab of the Internet screen within the 'Configuration' menu; for NN values '10' upto '99' this is achieved by including ExtraRemoteNN= with full path and filename after the equals sign in the existing [FTP site] section of cumulus.ini.
Finally to indicate a 'Copy' instruction is required, unselect both Binary and FTP? columns for 0 to 9; or for 10 upto 99 add ExtraBinaryNN=0 and ExtraFTPNN=0 in the existing Cumulus.ini#Section:_FTP_Site.

If a particular webpage on a local web server includes a script requiring loading a local file like 'dayfile.txt', then just for that webpage enter its remote web file name, and select Binary and File Transfer Process, as per the previous set of instructions. (The remaining pages will be copied across locally using the specified full path without FTP as per instructions directly above).

Customised templates

Contents