This file is a 'quickstart' for people who hate long documentation. There are several unusual features in McHurricane™ 3.x that need some explaination and scanning these notes should prevent most problems. For additional information, please refer to the full documentation.
McHurricane™ Versions 3.0 and later are Year 2000 (Y2K) Compliant.
WINDOW SETUP: After initially opening McHurricane™, you will find the Map and Storm Log windows sized for the "Classic" monitor. Please take the following action to adjust the windows for your monitor:
1. Drag the Storm Log window by the window Title Bar to the right side of your screen. Now extend the Log window to the bottom of the screen with the Grow Box (bottom left corner of the window).
2. Expand the Map window to line up with bottom and left sides of the Storm Log window.
3. This is the typical arrangement for larger screens so that both the log and the map may be seen simultaneously. If you wish to expand the map to the full screen, click on the Zoom Box, clicking on the Zoom Box the second time will return the window to its previous size. Note that if you quit the program with the map in the full screen position, that becomes the default size and the Storm Log will be hidden the next time you launch McHurricane™. You will need to select the Log from the Window menu or resize the map window to view the Log window.
NEW: Registration: New registrations: you will be provided a registration number upon receipt of the shareware fee. Current registered users: please contact me for your registration number via Email or USPS (addresses below). Select "Personalize" under the Options menu and enter the requested information. Once accomplished, the shareware related notices are removed and your name is added to the "About…" window.
Launch Problem: Several people who have updated to the version 3.0 series reported a McHurricane launch problem. In every known case, rebuilding the desktop corrected the trouble.
DATA CONVERSION: Plot times may be converted between zones including Daylight Savings (only for version 3.x generated storm tracks) and 12/24 hour display; distances and speeds may be converted between nautical and statute format; and pressures between millibars and inches of mercury. I recommend your Log/Entry Display preferences (Options menu) be set prior to initiating or opening storm files since only the information displayed in the log window ('active storm') will be altered when display preferences are changed. Storm files opened after display preference changes are made will be shown in the revised format. You can update data formatting for previously opened storms by selecting the track(s) from the Storm Log menu. The significance of this is that Plot information in the floating "plot info" window (created when a map plot is clicked on while the Option key is pressed) will reflect data in the altered preference format only for storms formatted via the above methods.
ALERT! As much as I have worked with McHurricane™, I continue to enter data in the wrong format while testing (spelled "messing") with the various conversion preferences. Again, I suggest that you establish a format for data, stick with it, and ONLY use the preferences INSTALL button when viewing temporary changes to data format since the INSTALL button does not save changes to disk and alter your default settings.
ALTERING STORM TRACKS: Storm files provided with the shareware version of McHurricane™ 3.2 are Version 3 formatted. McHurricane™ 3.0 formatted storm files, Atlantic Basin 1886-1997 and E. Pacific 1980-1997, are now provided with new registrations and disk updates. They may also be obtained by registered users free via email attachment. The storm movement speed and direction in the revised storm files are omitted; however, the other information is compatible with NHC records and are in "Best Track"(smoothed) format. Storm files which were generated by ealier versions of McHurricane™ may be viewed with Versions 3.x of McHurricane™ but these files cannot be altered. If you are a registerd user of McHurricane™ prior to version 3.0 and anticipate altering non-3.0 formatted storm files, I suggest you retain your pre-version 3.0 McHurricane™ application.
DATA ENTRY: There are a several noteworthy changes/conditions in the Data Entry window from prior versions of McHurricane™. When inserting a plot, pressing the Tab key after entering a plot number simply advances the entry point to the next edit field. If you are altering or deleting a plot, pressing the TAB key after entering a plot number will display the respective plot information.
The plot number may be changed at any time prior to selecting the "More" or 'Done" button, but different results occur depending upon which item was selected in the File menu. If either "Change Plot" or "Delete Plot" were selected, pressing the Tab key will update the listed plot data to correspond with the new plot number. If "Insert Plot" was selected, changing the plot number alters the insertion point of the plot but any data in the Data Entry window edit fields will be retained for further editing. The plot insertion point is always before the entered plot number.
If you do not wish to enter data in fields that don't reflect a bullet, simply tab through or ignore the fields.
NEW: When the Data Entry window is opened or the "More" button is selected for Updating a track, the previous Plot Date is automatically inserted in the Date Edit Field. Pressing the "plus" (or "equal") key or "minus" key will increase or decrease the day figure, any resulting change to the month and year is taken into account. (This will also work for plot deletions but has no lasting affect since the displayed data is used only for plot confirmation.) Once you have established that the date is correct, press the Tab key to advance to the next edit field. Many thanks to Al Boyd not only for the idea but also for coding this capability. The 'increasing/decreasing date' function will not work for years earlier than 1904.
MAP PRINTING AND COPY INSTRUCTIONS: The maps in McHurricane are large graphics and exceed the capability of most printers. This necessitates selecting a portion of the map consistant with the printer page dimensions and until this is done, the "Print Map" item in the File menu is not selectable. The following are guides for printing selected portions of maps and copying selections to the clipboard.
Map print instructions:
1. Select the File menu "Page Setup…" and select "Landscape" or "Portrait" to establish the configuration of the Print Rectangle and improve centering printout on page. Default is Portrait.
2. Select the desired map and scroll it to display the approximate area to be printed. Reducing the map size via the Scale menu usually aids in this operation.
3. Press the Shift and Option keys, the cursor will change to an arrow. Place the cursor in the approximate center of the area to be printed, then press the mouse button to create a 'print rectangle' on the map. (A printer must be selected in the Chooser for this to occur.) The cursor will now change to a four-way arrow; the keys may be released. Continuing to hold the mouse button down, or pressing it anytime the cursor is within the rectangle and displayed as a four-way arrow allows movement of the rectangle. The Arrow keys may also be used for 'nudging' the rectangle. CAUTION: Do not attempt to print a map selection if portions of the Print Rectangle extend beyond the map edges, this results in rather 'unusual' print-outs. A beep will normally alert you to an out-of-bounds condition. If this occurs, place the cursor in the approximate center of the rectangle and with the Shift and Option keys down, click the mouse button, this should return the rectangle to within the map borders. You may also drag the rectangle to within bounds. You cannot select a print rectangle while in "Double" scale.
4. Pressing the mouse button with the cursor outside the rectangle (hand cursor changes to a fist) will allow normal map scrolling by mouse movement.
5. Once the print rectangle has been created, the Menu item "Print Map" is selectable. The print rectangle is automatically cleared and the Menu item "Print Map" is inactivated following printing. Should you decide to abort the printing operation, press the Command key and click the mouse button to clear the print rectangle.
NOTES:
• The print rectangle area may be copied to the Clipboard in lieu of printing it (Command-C).
• Application Memory needs to be adjusted to 3200K if you wish to print a map selection when more than five 100-plot storms are open; otherwise, the Suggested 3000K setting should suffice. If you do not print maps, 2700 or 2800K probably will be OK. These conditions also apply for copying large map areas.
Copy selection instructions: Drag the mouse while holding the Shift key and mouse button down (cursor becomes a cross-hair). Moving the selection rectangle or the map is the same as for the Print Rectangle. Select Copy from the Edit menu (Command-C) to place the selected map area on the clipboard, the selection rectangle is also automatically cleared once copied to the clipboard. If you wish to abort the copy process, press the Command key and click the mouse button to clear the rectangle. You cannot select an area to copy while in "Double" scale.
PLOT INFO WINDOW: Pressing the Option key causes the cursor to become a pointing hand. Placing the tip of the pointing finger on a plot and clicking the mouse button will bring up a small window (actually a pallet) that displays information concerning the plot including the distances from the plot to existing Custom Cities. The Plot Info Window may be moved to any position which then becomes the window's default position. Storm Type is displayed using the following format: TD = tropical depression, TS = tropical storm, H1 = category 1 hurricane, etc. The PlotInfo window and rectangle are not selectable from any scaled map display but, if selected in Regular scale, the information will continue to be displayed in all other scale options.
MAP SCALING: Print and Copy areas are not selectable from a "Double" scaled map display. The PlotInfo window and rectangle are not selectable from any scaled map display but, if selected in the Regular scale, the information will continue to be displayed when any scale value is selected.
OPTIONS MENU (Preferences)
These should be reasonably self-explanatory except for two items:
• The 'DST in effect' button, stands for Daylight Savings Time and if selected, times in files generated with McHurricane™ 3.x will take DST into account. DST is not applicable to Atlantic or Greenwich times.
• Saving the Map Display preferences (Options menu) records the open map as default.
That is about it, I hope McHurricane™ serves you well. Please remember, you can receive free updates via email attachments simply by requesting them. If you prefer a disk copy, please send me $2 to cover my expenses. You can determine the latest version or obtain the latest full documentation from the McHurricane™ page, URL shown below.
MCHURRICANE HOME PAGE: <http://mchurricane.emcst.com>
or <http://www.emcst.com/pub/billchen/mchurc.html>
NEW: THE "CITY COORDINATES" file has undergone a major revision. Coordinates are now based on TIGER/Line® files, an extensive data base used by many governmental agencies. More information on TIGER/Line® may be obtained at the following URL: <http://ftp.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/>.
Please let me know if you run into any problems or have any questions or suggestions.
Bill Chenault
EMAIL: USPS:
billchen@emcst.com (preferred) William I. Chenault
BILLC2535@aol.com (weekly) 149 Country Club Road
Shalimar FL 32579-1636
P.S. Here are a few of the cyclonic information sites (valid during '97 season) that may be of interest to you:
<http://www.storm97.com/> Palm Bch Post, FL — my favorite, they will email Atlantic Basin updates.
<http://www.storm97.com/reports/> Recent E. Pacific storm data/updates (hope to email Pac info in '98).
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/> NOAA's Tropical Prediction Center in Miami.
<http://www.met.fsu.edu/explores/tropical.html> Florida State Univ.
<http://www.gobeach.com/hurr.htm> St Maarten Is. - Leeward Caribbean Islands.
<http://tropical.atmos.colostate.edu/text/tcfaq1.html> Colorado St. U., FAQs.
<http://wxp.atms.purdue.edu/hurricane> Purdue U., Current + historical tracks.
<http://www.gate.net/~taifun/> General information.
3.2.1 - 02/03/98 - Replaced corrupted window resource that caused some odd problems.
3.2 - 01/15/98 - Map printing routines altered to allow Epson 600 and 800 series color printers to print maps properly. Registered users may now convert downloaded versions to registered copies via the Options Menu "Personalize" item (registration number required). Bracketed button in Data Entry window changed to "More" vice "Done." Automated plot date entry.
3.1 - 10/12/97 - All custom city plots now have the same map display. The Plot Info window displays distances from the selected plot to all existing custom cities. Map and Data printouts have better centering. (Thanks, Al Boyd.)PlotInfo window and rectangle now close when the Options menu is selected. Fixed a bug that in certain cases allowed saving & displaying hyphens as zeros. Eliminated double error msg when essentual data omitted during plot entry. Map printout 'Storm names/times/dates' block improved.
3.0.9 - 09/13/97 - Improved Data Entry window 12-hr time display and corrected 12-hr Log window conversion (erroneously changed a 1200 am entry TO 1200 pm). Changed year entry in file name from 2 TO 4 digits (i.e., 97 to 1997). Eliminated McHurc cursor display when program is in background. Corrected conversion bug in time re-entries in the Change/Delete Data Entry window edit fields.
3.0.8 - 08/24/97 - Eliminated a spurious window (seldom seen) when Plot Info window opened. Replaced Data print out format. Corrected bug in 12-hour time entry. Changed storm class display in Plot Info and Log windows to reflect storm type, i.e., TD = tropical depression, TS = tropical storm, H1 = category 1 hurricane, etc.
3.0.7 - 07/03/97 - Print Data item now inactive when no storm is open. Date conversion corrected. Close Storm item now works in OS 7.5.3/5. Change Plot routines cleaned up, plot entries correctly convert to Data Entry window Edit Fields. Added "DST" to Log window time entry title and Data Entry window when active. Window menu control improved.
3.0.6 - 06/16/97 - Improved Custom City routines and reduced memory requirements.
3.0.5 - 06/09/97 - Corrected bugs in plot time/date change conversion, wnd circle plotting size, and map updating.
3.0.4 - 06/08/97 - Corrected problems with changing maps and plotting on Pacific maps.
3.0.3 - 06/03/97 - Cleared a couple minor bugs including the wind circle "coloring" for B&W.
3.0.2 - 05/21/97 - Altered "open file" procedures to cope with Power Computer problems and corrrected bug in the Close File routine.
3.0.1 - 05/17/97 - Corrected "save file" bug and enhanced several areas for appearance.
3.0 - Complete rewrite to improve overall function and to include many requested conversion capabilities. Added time zone registers and year 2000+ capability. Increased allowable number of storms and plots open at once to nine and 100.
