Matlab GUI Documentation -- 1.4 Updating the Dataset List

Index

1.4 Updating the Dataset List

Can't exec program: /usr/local/bin/giftext.pl The OPeNDAP Matlab GUI consists of two sets of files: the M-files and associated data used to run the display and user interface, and a second collection of Matlab M-files used to describe the datasets available through the OPeNDAP Matlab GUI. These "metadata" files (also called the "archive M-files") contain descriptions of the datasets, and retrieval and catalog functions tailored specifically for them.

The metadata files are stored in a sub-directory of the main OPeNDAP Matlab GUI directory, called DATASETS. Generally speaking, most users will be quite unlikely to want to edit the OPeNDAP Matlab GUI M-files. However, there are several reasons why you might have to edit the archive M-files: adding a dataset, adding comments to a dataset, or otherwise editing the metadata. Chapter 3 contains information about the structure of the archive M-files and their associated functions.

For example, the archive M-file for the declouded Hatteras to Nova Scotia 1.1km resolution AVHRR dataset is called htn_decld.m. You will find this script in the browser subdirectory DATASETS.

The dataset descriptions are stored in Matlab M-files, but the way a browser user selects these M-files is through a "bookmark" file, comparable to the bookmarks used in a web browser like Netscape. You can edit and rearrange these bookmarks into folders like in Netscape, too. If you want to add your own M-file dataset descriptions to the bookmark file, you can just add it with the bookmark editor.

GUI Server Dialog

The collection of datasets the browser can access is continually updated at the OPeNDAP Matlab GUI central archive. You can update your browser with the contents of that archive by clicking the Data,Update Datasets button. If you know of another archive of GUI dataset descriptions, you can use the Preferences,Change GUI Server option to point the browser at that server instead.

Update Datasets Dialog

When you want to update the dataset descriptions in your copy of the OPeNDAP Matlab GUI, click on Data,Update Datasets, and the dialog in the figure will appear. If you want to continue, simply click the Update button.

The update function downloads a new MANIFEST file, and then retrieves all the new files mentioned in that file, as well as new versions of already-existing M-files in your DATASETS directory. The update process also updates any bookmarks you might have that point to datasets in the MANIFEST. If there are bookmarks that you've added (that match no entry in the MANIFEST), they are left untouched. If there are datasets in the MANIFEST that are not in your bookmarks file, they are added to your bookmarks, in a folder called "New Datasets."

Tom Sgouros, December 21, 2004