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The design of an interactive graphics system for the display of meteorological fields
Author(s) -
Hamilton J. E. M.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
software: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1097-024X
pISSN - 0038-0644
DOI - 10.1002/spe.4380140608
Subject(s) - graphics , computer science , security token , identification (biology) , field (mathematics) , value (mathematics) , verb , tree (set theory) , computer graphics (images) , simulation , operating system , artificial intelligence , mathematics , machine learning , mathematical analysis , botany , pure mathematics , biology
Abstract We describe a computer graphics system for the display of meteorological fields (such as plots of temperature and pressure). Much of the design effort has gone into the command processor which uses the usual command format of VERB PARAMETER = VALUE … The parameter and values are defined in terms of a tree sructure and the program searches as much of the tree as is necessary to make an unambiguous indentification of a token (where such an identification is possible). Because of this, commands can generally be abbreviated to the format VERB VALUE. This shortened form is possible even when the value of the command parameter is numerical. This is achieved by always specifying the units of numerical values (such as 5 days, 24 hours, 1000 millibars, etc.). The command format allows the user to manipulate a number of fields to form derived fields such as the difference of two pressure forecasts. The use of defaults for all parameters (which change as the user requests plots), reduces the amount of typing required to a minimum. A ‘Help’ facility aids the user in his choice of commands.