McIDAS User's Guide
Version 2018.1
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Listed below in alphabetical order are some of the McIDAS-X system files. Some are required to run McIDAS while most are used by McIDAS commands (e.g., OUTLUSAM is used by command MAP). You can manually change only those files below with the statement "can be modified with a text editor" in their function description.
The system files are located in the ~mcidas/data, $HOME/mcidas/data, $HOME/.mctmp and other MCPATH and REDIRECT directories. File names ending with .CORE (e.g., MAP.CORE and UACROSS.CORE) are supplied with McIDAS and should not be modified. Site and user versions of these files (if they exist) end with .SITE and .USER, respectively.
| File name | Function |
|---|---|
| ADDERROR.DOC | list of ADDE error messages and the routines that produce them |
| AIRSBAND.DOC | text file containing information about each of the 2378 bands in AIRS data |
| AIRSBANDINFO | binary file created from AIRSBAND.DOC that the AIRS server uses to map wavelength and wave number to band number |
| ALLOC.WWW | allocation of frame sizes |
| AREAnnnn | area files, where nnnn is the area number |
| BASICVV1 | LW file used by the RUN command to store variables |
| *.bdf | bitmap distribution files that define fonts you can use |
| BREF.ET | image enhancement for NEXRAD Base Reflectivity products |
| bufrVersion*.txt | text files used by the -X BUFR server and -XCD BUFR filer to label BUFR files in a consistent manner using category/subcategory |
| CNTYOUTL.DAT | county outline basemap for the WWDISP command |
| CONTEXT.DAT | configuration settings for the McIDAS-X GUI |
| CONTOUR.DEF | default contour intervals for the GRDDISP and PTCON commands; can be modified with a text editor |
| CORE.SAT | satellite names and information used by the ADDE navigation commands |
| COUNTRY.TXT | list of countries and their two-letter codes used by the CCODE command |
| COUNTRY.TXT.OLD | list of countries and their two-letter codes used in McIDAS-X versions before 2002; this file is for reference purposes only so users who access MD files created with a version earlier than 2002 can find out which country codes are used in those files |
| CREF.ET | image enhancement for NEXRAD Composite Reflectivity products |
| DCGFSMOS | text file used by the SCHE command to register the GFS MOS MD file schema |
| DCGRET | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the GRET MD file schema |
| DCIHGT | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the IHGT MD file schema |
| DCIRAB | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the IRAB and IRSG MD file schemas |
| DCISEN | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the ISEN MD file schema |
| DCISFC | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the ISFC MD file schema |
| DCISHP | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the ISHP MD file schema |
| DCNAMMOS | text file used by the SCHE command to register the NAM MOS MD file schema |
| DCNGMMOS | text file used by the SCHE command to register the NGM MOS MD file schema |
| DCPIRP | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the PIRP MD file schema |
| DCRAOB | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the RAOB and RSIG MD file schemas |
| DCRAWI | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the RAWI MD file schema |
| DCSVCA | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the SVCA MD file schema |
| DCSYN | LW file used by the SCHE command to register the SYN MD file schema |
| DCUPPR | text file used by the SCHE command to register the UPPR MD file schema |
| DEFAULT.GRX | default graphics palette for the GU command |
| DNKEYS | list of MD file keys, field widths and units used by the system commands (ASCII format); LW file FLDWDTH is generated from this list |
| *.ET | image enhancement files created with the EU command |
| *.FFD | font types used by the FONT command and global keyword |
| FLDWDTH | LW file list of MD file keys and field widths for the MDL command |
| FRAMED | frame panel information |
| FRAMENH.001 | frame enhancement |
| Framen.p | frame directory where n is the frame number and p is the panel number; examples are 1.1, 3.2, 2.4, 10.2 |
| gbtbpds001.* | text files used to translate GRIB file information to McIDAS grid header data; file gbtbpds001.0v1 contains originating center information; files gbtbpds001.2v* contain parameter names and units; file gbtbpds001.4v1 contains time definitions; files gbtbpds001.a* contain model information; files gbtbpds001.b* contain map/domain information |
| GEO.CORE | parameter and keyword settings for the GEO command |
| GEODATA.CORE | satellite dataset, channel, resolution and coverage settings for the GEO command |
| *.GIF | GIF-format files created by the FRMSAVE command |
| GLM.CORE | default parameter and keyword settings for the GLMDISP and GLMLIST commands |
| GLM_*.CFG | configuration files used to map McIDAS parameter names to the actual parameter names in GOES-R Series Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) netCDF point files; see the "GOES-R Series netCDF Dataset Remarks" section in the DSSERVE command documentation for how to create an ADDE dataset if you have GLM netCDF point files |
| GMSCAL | GMS calibration file |
| GRaannnn | grid files where aa is either part of the grid file number or the letters ID; nnnn is the grid file number |
| GRAPHIC.GRX | default graphics palette for the GU command |
| *.GRX | graphics palette files created by the GU command |
| GRAPHICS.KEY | shared memory Block Key for graphics |
| grib2*.txt | text files used by the -X GRIB server and the -XCD GRIB filer to translate GRIB2 file information to McIDAS grid header data; file grib2NCEPModels.txt contains model information; file grib2NavLookup.txt contains navigation information; file grib2Parameters.txt contains parameter information |
| HIRSCRPF | HIRS calibration reference parameters for computing HIRS brightness temperatures |
| HIRSTAUL | HIRS transmittance coefficients |
| IDSVCA | surface station identifiers (binary format) |
| IMAGE.ET | default image enhancement for the EU command |
| IMGDISP.CORE | predefined products for the IMGDISP command |
| LEO.CORE | parameter and keyword settings for the LEO command |
| LEODATA.CORE | navigation dataset, satellite dataset, channel and resolution settings for the LEO command |
| license.txt | McIDAS software acquisition and distribution policies |
| LREF.ET | image enhancement for NEXRAD Layer Reflectivity products |
| LWPATH.NAM | current file redirection listing |
| MAP.CORE | coverages and projections of predefined maps used by MAP, WWDISP and all other commands that allow specification of predefined maps |
| *.MCB | McBASI program text files; can be modified with a text editor |
| MCCMDHIST.TXT | list of commands entered through the command line or run through the GUI; each new McIDAS session is indicated with the line Starting a new McIDAS session on <date and time>; the number of commands stored in the file is equal to the value set in the -ih flag in the .mcidasrc file; MCCMDHIST.TXT is accessed through the Command History GUI under the main GUI window's List menu or through the SEE command or a text editor for cutting and pasting |
| MCRGB.TXT | list of predefined colors and RGB values for the EU and GU commands (ASCII format); can be modified with a text editor |
| MCSTRETCH.TXT | information about the expanded stretch option, and satellite and band combinations that can use it |
| MCTABLE.TXT | ADDE client routing table; created and modified by the DATALOC and AKA commands |
| MDaannnn | MD files where aa is either part of the MD file number or the letters XX; nnnn is the MD file number |
| *.MNU | F Key Menu text files; can be modified with a text editor |
| MOD06.cfg | sample configuration file used to map McIDAS parameter names to the actual parameter names in a MODIS MOD06 HDF point file |
| MOD07.cfg | sample configuration file used to map McIDAS parameter names to the actual parameter names in a MODIS MOD07 HDF point file |
| MODIS.CORE | MODIS Level 2 product server (MODX) display variables |
| MSUSCRPF | MSU calibration reference parameters |
| *.NAM | file redirection listings for the REDIRECT command |
| netcdfbuoy.nc | sample netCDF point file containing buoy data; netcdfpoint.cfg is a sample configuration file for this type of data |
| netcdfgrid.cfg | sample configuration file used to map McIDAS parameter names to the actual parameter names in a netCDF grid file |
| netcdfpoint.cfg | sample configuration file used to map McIDAS parameter names to the actual parameter names in a netCDF point file |
| OUTLANT | Antarctica basemap (high resolution) |
| OUTLARST | Argentinian states basemap (high resolution) |
| OUTLAUSS | Australia states basemap (high resolution) |
| OUTLAUST | Australian region basemap (high resolution) |
| OUTLAUSW | Australia's Lake Eyre basemap (high resolution) |
| OUTLEURO | European region basemap (high resolution) |
| OUTLHPOL | world political boundaries basemap (medium resolution) |
| OUTLHRES | world coastal boundaries basemap (high resolution) |
| OUTLSUPU | USA basemap with states and major waterways (very high resolution) |
| OUTLSUPW | world coastal boundaries basemap (medium resolution) |
| OUTLUSAL | North American basemap for text (nongraphical) maps (very low resolution) |
| OUTLUSAM | North American basemap with states and provinces (high resolution) |
| OUTLWRLD | world basemap for text (nongraphical) maps (very low resolution) |
| *.PIX | virtual frame files saved with the SVF command |
| *.PRD | predefined text products for WXTLIST command |
| PRE1.ET | image enhancement for NEXRAD 1-Hour Precipitation products |
| PRE3.ET | image enhancement for NEXRAD 3-Hour Precipitation products |
| PRET.ET | image enhancement for NEXRAD Storm-Total Precipitation products |
| RADAR.ET | radar enhancement for the EU command |
| RAOBCON.CORE | default parameter and keyword settings for the RAOBCON command |
| RAOBPLOT.CORE | default parameter and keyword settings for the RAOBPLOT command |
| RESOLV.SRV | ADDE dataset names on the local server; created and modified by the DSSERVE command |
| RVEL.ET | image enhancement for NEXRAD Radial Velocity products |
| SATANNOT | satellite annotation line information |
| SATBAND | image band information used by the IMGLIST command |
| SAVESTR | string table save file |
| SCHEMA | blueprints of all registered schemas |
| SERVERTABLE.TDAT | list of datasets available to the McIDAS-X GUI; the list is automatically generated by the GUI by running DSINFO commands for each group in the client routing table, MCTABLE.TXT |
| SFCCON.CORE | default parameter and keyword settings for the SFCCON command |
| SFCPLOT.CORE | default parameter and keyword settings for the SFCPLOT command |
| SKEDFILE | system scheduler commands file |
| *.ST | stretch tables created with the SU command |
| STNDB.CORE | station database |
| STRTABLE | active string table files |
| SYSKEY.DOC | system key table; ASCII representation for the SYSKEY.TAB file; can be modified with a text editor |
| SYSKEY.TAB | system key table derived from SYSKEY.DOC (binary format) |
| TERMCHAR.001 | McIDAS display characteristics file |
| TOPOHRES | topography file used by the ADT command |
| TOPOLRES | topography file used by the ADT command |
| TOPS.ET | image enhancement for NEXRAD Echo Tops products |
| towns.nd1 | geographic data used by the TOWNS and FIND commands |
| towns.nd2 | geographic data used by the TOWNS and FIND commands |
| towns.txt | geographic data used by the TOWNS and FIND commands |
| UACROSS.CORE | default units and keyword values for the UACROSS command |
| UASAVE.fff | sounding edit files created with UAPLOT command, where fff is the frame number that the diagram was displayed on |
| UC.DOC | list of User Common words and their functions |
| UNIDATA.MNU | sample F Key Menu template file (ASCII format) |
| USCOUNTY.MAP | National Weather Service county basemap used by the MAP and WWDISP commands |
| USSTATE.MAP | National Weather Service state basemap used by the MAP and WWDISP commands |
| USZONE.MAP | National Weather Service zone basemap used by the MAP and WWDISP commands |
| VASTBLS | calibration file used to display 2-byte mode AA VAS data transmitted by GOES satellites from 22 September 1980 to 18 November 1986 |
| VERSION.TXT | ASCII text for the current version of McIDAS-X |
| VIL.ET | image enhancement for NEXRAD Vertically-Integrated Liquid products |
| VIRTnnnn | virtual graphics files created with the VIRT global keyword, where nnnn is the virtual graphic number |
| WXUSER.PRD | user's predefined text products used by the WXTLIST command; can be modified with a text editor; there may also be a WXSITE.PRD file created by the site administrator |
| XRD.TXT | list of commands available in McIDAS-XRD optional sidecar package; the version number of the package, e.g., McIDAS-XRD 2017.1, is specified near the beginning of the file |
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