Matlab GUI Documentation -- 1.2.3 Issuing a Data Request

Index

1.2.3 Issuing a Data Request

Once the parameters of a data request have been specified, you can issue the request by clicking the Get Data button.

Sometimes, inadvertently or not, you ask for a lot of data. The browser has a data size threshold you can set to notify you when you make a request like this. The data source you've selected may give the browser an estimate of how much data is on the way, and the browser will ask you for confirmation in the event that the estimated size of the data requested takes up more memory than the data size threshold specified in the Preferences,Get Data Threshold popup menu.

If you approve the request (or if you weren't asked), the requested data are retrieved, loaded into Matlab, and displayed according to the directions (you will be asked for these directions, see section 1.2.4). The browser displays a message telling you what has been loaded into Matlab (the figure).

Data returned to Matlab

Note that along with the data you requested, the URL that pointed to that data, as well as the text of any credits that apply to Can't exec program: /usr/local/bin/giftext.pl

the data are also returned. To duplicate the request just made, say in some later session, you could issue the following command:

>> loaddods(R1_URL)

(This assumes that R1_URL has not changed. Since the browser is likely to re-use that name in future sessions, it is good practice to save it in a different name if you think you might request that data again.)

Of course, once the data are incorporated into Matlab variables, the entire power of the Matlab analysis package is available. For many users, this is the real goal. Other users may find the data display functions of the OPeNDAP Matlab GUI valuable.

Tom Sgouros, December 21, 2004