 
__________________________________README_____________________________________
		TROPICAL CYCLONE TRACKING SYSTEM for Windows95
=============================================================================
(C) 1997 Craig Rorrer, Millennium Software Products		‘README.TXT’


Introduction:
------------
	This copy of T.C.T. hurricane tracking software is SHAREWARE.  In
other words, this copy is offered free-of-charge to all tropical weather 
enthusiasts for a one month trial period. This document contains information 
pertaining to the complete T.C.T. Basic and/or Professional programs; there-
fore, some features discussed will not be available from your copy of the 
software.
	 For information on purchasing TCT Basic 1.0 or TCT Professional, 
please see ‘PURCHASE INFO’ at the end of the document.

To install T.C.T.
----------------
T.C.T. is designed specifically for the Windows95 platform.  Therefore, you 
cannot install T.C.T. without Windows95 on your computer. (Macintosh users
must be running Soft Windows, Virtual PC, or equivalent.

TCT1a.zip contains all the files needed for installation.  Un-Zip the files, 
run INSTALL.EXE, and follow the instructions on your screen.

When installation is complete, you can access T.C.T. from the bottom of your
START menu.


General Overview of Program Features:
------------------------------------
	T.C.T. is a complete hurricane tracking, forecasting, and climate 
analysis tool.  The fully-featured program includes the following:  

· Complete library of all recorded Atlantic storms (1886-PRESENT, 900+ storms)
· 	(PROFESSIONAL) + Complete libaray of Pacific Storms (1949-PRESENT)
· Complete tracking coverage of the Atlantic.
· 	(PROFESSIONAL) + Complete Pacific tracking coverage
· Animation of track plots 
· Powerful forecasting tool with customizable options
· Instant importation and decoding of most NHC reports
· Graphical plots of wind fields, dropsondes, and more
· Graphical Vortex analysis, with animation option
· Compare NHC’s forecast track to T.C.T.’s
· Compute forecast probabilities
· Unlimited number of storm tracks on the same map
· Extensive analysis of hurricane climatology from the storm library

Update Board:
------------
	The Update Board is the opening screen shown when T.C.T. begins.  The 
Update Board loads the currently selected storm and all other information 
pertaining to that storm, such as National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports, 
wind fields, dropsondes, etc.  The Update Board gives you point-and-click 
access to all data.  Double click on any of the reports to have them 
instantly displayed and decoded.  You can also compute a forecast, access 
climatology functions, and launch track plots from here.

Maintaining Storm Data:
----------------------

	Much of the drudgery associated with using computer tracking programs 
comes with the data entry involved. Entering a weeks worth of track data by 
hand can be a labor-intensive task.  T.C.T. was designed to minimize the 
amount of information that must be entered into the program.  The Import 
Master, available from the STORM menu (v1.0 only), will load almost any 
tropical data that is downloaded from the internet and instantly add it to 
the storm library.  The data must be in its original raw format in order for 
T.C.T. to decode it. For example, a Detailed Vortex Data Message must be 
formatted like this sample report:

AF554 WX OB 03 KMIA
DETAILED VORTEX DATA MESSAGE

A. 06/1634Z
B. 26 DEG 00 MIN N
   88 DEG 00 MIN W
C. 700 MB 3150 M
D. 30 KT
E. 180 DEG 18 NM
F. 110 DEG 45 KT
G. 180 DEG 15 NM
H. 1005 MB DROPSONDE
I. 09 C/ 3082 M
J. 10 C/ 3040 M
K. 8 C/ 26 C
L. POORLY DEFINED
M. C08-14
N. 26 DEG 00 MIN N
   88 DEG 00 MIN W
O. 1245/07
P. 5/10
Q. NONE
	
	If you wish, you may enter data manually by using the various <Add> 
buttons.

Tracking Storms:
---------------
	T.C.T. Basic provides tracking coverage for the entire Atlantic Ocean 
(5 views are available with the shareware version). The quickest method to 
launch the track viewer is to click <Plot Track> on the Update Board. This 
method only displays the track of the storm currently loaded on the Update 
Board.
	You can also view more than one track at once.  <Plot Multiple Tracks> 
gives you a list of all available storms.  Double click on the storms you 
wish to view to add them to the track list.  You have the option of viewing 
the track plots on a single map, or in consecutive plots.  And you may view 
either a static or an animated plot.

Forecasting Storms:
------------------
	T.C.T. provides a powerful historical forecasting model for computing
the projected path of a storm. The forecast is based on the extensive data 
available from the storm library, which is filtered and analyzed to derive 
the climate-based projection. The forecast tracks can then be viewed with the
map viewer. This is not the most accurate method of forecasting tropical 
systems because many hurricanes choose to ignore statistical averages.  NHC 
forecasts are also easily displayed.
	<Custom Forecast> allows you to set the options used in deriving 
forecasts.  You can select the forecast period and interval, as well as the 
criteria for filtering the storm library.
	T.C.T. can also plot its forecast alongside the NHC forecast for easy 
comparison. (Since the forecast model requires the entire storm library to 
derive a forecast, this feature is not availble in shareware versions)
	
Wind Fields:
-----------
	Wind field data may be entered manually or it can be automatically 
imported.  T.C.T. displays current wind field data, as well as NHC forecast 
wind fields.  You may define up to four wind regions per track point, 
although it’s not necessary to use all four. 

(Not available with shareware version)

Importing Reports:
-----------------
	The Import Master will import and decode the following types of 
reports:

· Detailed Vortex Data Messages
· Supplemental Vortex Data Messages
· Dropsondes
· Most National Hurricane Center reports

The Import Master will prompt you for a file to import. If it recognizes the 
type of report, it will load the file into the viewer. The viewer has two 
windows. The left window displays the raw data report and the decoded version 
is displayed on the right.  
	To add the report to the storm library and Update Board, click the 
<Save> button.  Depending on the type of report, it will be added to the 
appropriate window on the Update Board.  If there is a graphic associated 
with the report, you may click the <View Graphic> button to display it.



Storm Library:
-------------
	The storm library is T.C.T.’s collection of tropical cyclone data.  
The 900+ storms that make up the library are an integral part of the program. 
The library is used whenever a forecast is performed or climate data is 
accessed.  The library will continue to grow as you use the program and new 
storms are added.
	Various storm filtering options are available with T.C.T.  <Storm 
Filter> allows you to search the storm library for the criteria you select 
and view the storms that match. For example, the filter will allow you to 
view:

· All hurricanes from 1900-1950 that had pressures under 960mb and winds 
  over 100mph
· All storms that formed east of 50° longitude and became category 4 storms.

	These are only examples as the filtering possibilities are truely 
endless.

(Due to the large size of the storm library, it could not be included with 
the shareware version)

Purchase Info:
-------------
You can get your fully-featured registered copy of T.C.T. v1.0 from 
Millennium Software Products for as little as $29.95 + $3.50 S/H (T.C.T. 
Basic).  To order, fill out the interactive registration form available 
within the program.  Select "Registration Form" from the ABOUT menu and 
follow the instructions on the screen.  Or if you wish, print out the form 
on the following page and send with payment to the following address:

				Millennium Software Products
				3809 IOLA CT.
				Virginia Beach, VA  23456-4900








============================================================================


The Interactive registration form is available from the ABOUT menu of T.C.T. 


REGISTRATION FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE TRACKING SYSTEM V1.0


__________________________________   _________________________ 
LAST NAME				FIRST NAME

______________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS
______________________________________________________________________

__________________________________ ,  ______    _______________
CITY					 STATE    ZIP

___________________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS (Optional)

_____________________________________________________________________________
Where did you find this Shareware copy of T.C.T.? (ie: Compuserve, AOL, Weathernet software page...)




# T.C.T. Basic 	       ____ x $29.95 	 = $_________
# T.C.T. Professional ____ x $59.95 	 = $_________
+ S/H ($3.50 /item)		  	 = $_________
--------------------------------------------
	Total  				 = $_________




Program will be shipped on (4) 3.5-inch diskettes.



				Millennium Software Products
				3809 IOLA CT.
				Virginia Beach, VA  23456-4900







