                             WEATHERGRAPHIX 3.4

                                 Tim Vasquez
                                P.O. Box 9808
                             Abilene, Texas 79607
                          71611.2267@compuserve.com


May 5, 1994

To all users:

     This is WeatherGraphix version 3.4.  It's intended only to be an
interim release to keep everyone happy until the advanced WeatherGraphix
system -- the Digital Atmosphere (tentative name) -- is completed.
No more versions of WeatherGraphix will be issued, since the source 
code is completely "maxed out" under the compiler, with only a little
room for bug corrections.  I'll issue a bug correction release if it
warrants.

     The "Digital Atmosphere" is currently under development, and will
represent a quantum leap over WeatherGraphix, in terms of graphics, user
interface, speed, and meteorological processing.  It will run on all
286 and higher computers with at least VGA.  Although specifics about the
program are proprietary, the pricing structure will be different.
But WeatherGraphix users who are registered when the system is released
will only pay an "upgrade" fee, mainly to help cover newly designed
high-quality manuals, improved packaging, disks, new technical support with
a BBS coming online, etc.  A release date is unavailable since it depends
largely on how my free time pans out.

     The planned SKEW-T (sounding) enhancement may be provided separately
at a later date.  Mathematical complications are delaying programming it,
and it would just stall getting WeatherGraphix 3.4 out.

     For those who aren't yet registered, WeatherGraphix 3.4 is still
$45 at the above address.

     Thanks for your interest, and I hope this program helps to challenge
and fascinate you as you keep tabs on weather situations.


     Tim Vasquez
     Programmer





ENHANCEMENTS of Version 3.4 over 3.3--------------------------------------

     -ASOS IDENTIFIERS.  Stations using the "AO2" code are now plotted as
         squares instead of circles, in addition to the "A02" code which
         was earlier recognized.  A02 was a code that was incorrectly
         used by some reporting stations recently.
     -WIND GROUPS.  Pesky stations reporting a non-standard missing surface
         wind group for example "CAO SA 1255 AMOS 42/40/36M/005" or 
         "CAO SA 1255 AMOS 42/40/MMMM/005" are now parsed correctly.  The
         program searches for "number"-"M/" sequences and them with
         "/MMMM/" to force a four-digit group in the wind slot.
     -COLOR CODING.  Station plots may now be color-coded.  Using the
         default color scheme, RED stations indicate IFR (instrument
         flight rules), where visibility is below 1 mile and/or the ceiling
         is below 1000 feet.  BLUE stations indicate MVFR (marginal flight
         rules), where visibility is below 3 miles and/or the celing is
         below 3000 feet.  These scheme gives you a quick look at where
         the weather is bad.  If you don't like it, just go to the
         color table file and set IFR and MVFR colors to the same as
         the station plot.
     -CEILING PLOTS.  Program configuration now adds the option of whether
         ceilings will be included with each station plot.  Choosing NO
         will keep "E35", "M110", etc from being plotted, reducing clutter
         a little.
     -ISOPLETH LINE STYLES.  The user has full control over the line
         color, style, and contour interval for each parameter.  To change
         these, simply open WEATHER.COL with any text editor and change
         the values to your desired settings.  This feature has been
         wanted by quite a few users.
     -WEATHER SYMBOLS.  Standard graphic weather symbols are used on
         station plots.
     -CONVECTIVE OUTLOOKS.  The parsing was totally rewritten to improve
         reliability.  In version 3.3, the convective outlooks rarely
         plotted successfully.  If a station in the convective outlook
         cannot be found, the user is informed that WEATHER.LOC file
         should be modified.  Also, a bug was removed, which caused
         outlook points specified at a distance from a station (e.g.
         30 NW MAF) to be plotted at an incorrect latitude.
     -DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS.  Several diagnostic analysis parameters can
         now be plotted (Vertical Totals, Cross Totals, Total Totals,
         SWEAT, K Index, KO Index, Showalter Stability Index, 1000/500 mb
         Thickness).  These REQUIRE that TTAA data be in the DATA.UPR file,
         otherwise, no values will be plotted.  PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS
         MENU IF YOU HAVE NO TTAA DATA IN THE FILE!!!  FD data can't
         be used here.
     -POTENTIAL TEMPERATURE/EQUIVALENT POTENTIAL TEMPERATURE.  The
         program is now capable of plotting theta and theta-e values.
     -STATUS BAR BLANKING.  Under the Other menu, the user may now
         select Status Bar Blanking.  This causes the menu and status
         bar to disappear, making the chart perfect for printouts and
         screen captures.  To continue, simply hit any key.
     -POINT/ROUTE OVERLAY.  This will allow you to overlay any points or
         routes.  Simply enter the three-letter identifier or a sequence
         of them, and the program will search the extensive WEATHER.LOC
         file to map out the entry.  This is perfect for flight planning.
     -RADAR MODULE.  No changes.
     -FDLO/FDHI DATA.  This is read in at the beginning of the program.
     -COMPATIBILITY.  Each module has been programmed to read in
         604-circuit data, as well as information from databases in which
         the first character is a control code or a space.  It should
         work fine with systems such as Cyclogenesis.  If you have any
         problems, though, try using the PROCESS program which has been
         provided in this package.

