McIDAS-V can use data from local files, remote data servers such as OPeNDAP or ADDE and even web servers. Further about specific data formats and sources is available.

Select the sources of data to work with within McIDAS-V using the Data Sources tab of the Data Explorer. Once selected, the data source will be shown in the Field Selector tab where the user can select parameters, display times, the display type, and create the display.

McIDAS-V can work with any number of data sources at one time. Choosing a data source with McIDAS-V typically only reads the metadata (i.e., data about the data); no parameter data values are read until the user request a display to be made.

Use the Data Sources tab to select the data that is to be used in McIDAS-V. This can be brought up by selecting the Data Sources tab of the Data Explorer window, or by using the Display->Create Layer from Data Source... menu item in the Main Display window.

This section describes:

• Choosing Satellite Imagery
• Choosing Hyperspectral Data
• Choosing Orbit Tracks Data
• Choosing NEXRAD Level II Radar Data
• Choosing NEXRAD Level III Radar Data
• Choosing Point Data
• Choosing Upper Air Sounding Data
• Choosing Gridded Data
• Choosing Front Positions
• Choosing Data on Disk
• Choosing Cataloged Data
• Choosing a URL
• Choosing Flat File Data