Using FlAniS Animation for GRLevel3
NOTE: Separate instructions & code for template users is on page 3 of this thread...
Some History:
FlAniS (the Flash AnimationS applet) is a project developed by SSEC (Space Science and Engineering Center) out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison by Tom Whittaker, and used heavily by the NOAA and the National Weather Service. It's a re-casting of the AniS Java applet that's now done in Flash. For the last few years the NWS has been busy changing over all of their standard Java and AniS animations over to FlAniS for satellite and radar animations. Most of their Java applets are now deprecated, with some already being removed. This has been a fairly slow process but they are making progress. As of now they are working on finishing the change over on their local, regional satellite animations and just last week began changing over their AniS Animated Radar over to FlAniS.
To use FlAniS you need:
- A configuration file
- The applet code
- The FlAniS zip files
The config file holds all of the instructions for the applet to use including the names of the images you will be using. The sample below is for GRLevel3 KDAX Composite Radar. Be sure to play with the "backcolor" and "forecolor" to get just the right look and feel for your web page.
Sample Configuration File (grlevel3.txt):
Code:
controls=startstop, looprock, step, speed, firstlast, zoom, refresh, toggle
controls_tooltip = Start & Stop, Rock Frames Back & Forth, Step Image One at a Time, Set Frame Speed, Go to First or Last Image, Zoom In, Refresh, Click to Remove Frame From Animation
filenames = kdax_cr_9.jpg, kdax_cr_8.jpg, kdax_cr_7.jpg, kdax_cr_6.jpg, kdax_cr_5.jpg, kdax_cr_4.jpg, kdax_cr_3.jpg, kdax_cr_2.jpg, kdax_cr_1.jpg, kdax_cr_0.jpg
start_frame = 1
start_looping = true
rate = 25
backcolor = #291F4B
forecolor = #ffffff
no_enh = true
You can refer to the FlAniS Documentation for the description of each config file entry along with many other options you can use:
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/flanis/
The applet code goes directly onto your web page:
Code:
Download the FlAniS Zip file here: http://www.eldoradoweather.com/satellite/flanis-2.0.zip
Unzip & upload the FlAniS zip files into a separate folder named flanis. There are 2 separate locations within the applet code with the path to the flanis folder and flanis.swf (ie /flanis/flanis.swf)
There are also 2 locations in the applet code where you will need to have the config file name (ie grlevel3.txt).
The image names in the configuration file use the same default GRLevel3 file names that are already being uploaded to your web server. Most people upload 10 files per radar type. Change the image names in the configuration file to match the 10 image file names you wish to animate. Make sure to get the image order correct. The oldest image is first in the list...
Set the width and height in 2 separate places in the applet code to any size you want. You will need to account for the height of the controls and add it to the total image height.
Place the applet code above on your webpage where you want the animation to appear.
General Instructions:
- Make sure you have typed in the proper image names & config file name into your configuration file.
- Upload the configuration file to your grlevel3 folder.
- Upload the web page with the applet to your grlevel3 folder.
- Create a new directory named "flanis" in your grlevel3 folder.
- Unzip and upload the flanis-2.0.zip files to the "flanis" directory inside your grlevel3 folder.
- Change the 2 configuration file names in the applet to match what ever name you are using.
Notice in the applet code that there are 2 "wmode" entries. These are needed to allow menu items to be able to display over the applet instead of hiding under the applet.
Code: