Cumulus.ini: Difference between revisions

2,900 bytes added ,  17 May 2022
#*This is the First Time Setup Wizard which will lead you through the 6 steps that are the minimum requirements to get station up and running with CumulusMX. There is a Next button at the bottom of the page that will take you through these steps. However, the Next button will allow you to move on even though some fields have not been completed. This is not a good idea, however, as CumulusMX will not function correctly if you do not enter these fields so DO NOT click on Next until all the fields on a Wizard page are completed. This is especially true of the Latitude and Longitude settings and the Unit settings. Please make sure that the Unit settings are what you want to use as once set they CANNOT be changed without causing major problems.
#* The settings that are displayed to you in the Station part vary depending on the station type you have selected (and the particular MX release), so there is not a screenshot to show you the other settings for your station type.
#* Location = Your Station name and description, your latitude and longitude (in decimal format (Google Maps provides this if you pin your location), and your height above Seal Level in feet/metres.
#* Units = The units you are going to use for Temperature, Wind, Pressure and Rain. As stated these cannot be changed after their original settings as it will render all CumulusMX stored data invalid, so make sure you set them correctly.
#* Station = Select a Station type from the dropdown box and once you have set this additional settings will appear that are pertinent to the station type you have selected. It is important to get this correct as failure to do so will result in CumulusMX being unable to find your Weather Station.
#* Logging = This is frequency that CumulusMX will store data in the log files. It defaults to 5 minutes but may be changed to other values by clicking on the dropdown. This is also where you set the data Rollover Time to either 9am or Midnight which tells CumulusMX when you consider your end of metrological day processing should take place.
#* Internet = Local Copy or FTP. Local copy assumes you are running your own Internet Web Server on which you will host your own or the default web site and when you click on it a path field will open up so you can tell CumulusMX where to put your files. FTP assumes you will be using a Hosting Company (most people use this option) for your Web Site and once you click on FTP further fields will open up and it is here that you put the details given to you by your Hosting Service in order to FTP the web files to your Web Site. You can set both if you wish but be aware of the extra load that this may impose on your CumulusMX computer.
#* Actions = This where you set the time intervals for CumulusMx to upload standard file and realtime files to your Web Host. Standard files are the files required for a web site and this is called the Normal Interval. To enable it you click on the first box, but if you want these files to be go to Web Host as well you must also click on the FTP box as well. Note this interval is in minutes and that is set on the Normal Interval box (default 15 minutes). Realtime files are those required to run features on your web site like the Gauges. This is in seconds, but please be careful setting it below 5 seconds as depending on the speed of you Internet connection and the response of your Web Host it may be possible to set a time when the FTP task never completes leading to incorrect readings. The default is 30 seconds and as with the Normal settings you have to enable it and and tick on FTP if you want these file sent to your Web Host.
#* at this point you have set up the minimum settings to get CumulusMX up and running and you will notice that Next has changed to All Done. When you click on this two things will happen, your initial Cumulus.ini file will be saved and
# Optionally, use [[Samplestring.ini]] file as a guide to create a [[Strings.ini|strings.ini]] file (look up the cross reference if you want to do this now, but you can leave it to later) where you can tailor a number of texts that Cumulus produces.
#* The advantage of creating your '''strings.ini''' file now, is that it is read when MX starts, and we will shortly restart MX.