N-AWIPS Metafile Graphics Viewer Program (NTRANS) 
 Training Exercise
Prepared by Henry Steigerwaldt 


GOAL:   To learn about some of the features of the NTRANS Program.     

(NOTE:  If the NTRANS program is currently executing, exit the program. Then 
start the program again, so the program uses its default settings).


1)   Execute the NTRANS Program by clicking on the NTRANS icon.


2)   When the NTRANS window appears, move the cursor into the display area and 
     click the right mouse button.


3)   Select, load and loop a series of images displayed in only one panel.

      a)   Click on the ETA button in the SELECT MODEL window.

      b)   Click on one of the metafiles that appear in the window. 

      c)   Select this metafile by clicking on the word SELECT.

      d)   Click on one of the group files in the GROUP SELECTION window. 

      e)   Click on the box with the single black square located below the 
           words PANEL STRUCTURE, so the images will be displayed using only 
           one panel (the entire display area will be used). 

      f)   Now click on the only button located below the words LOAD PANEL to 
           load the images for display. NOTE:  While the images are loading, the mouse 
           cursor will be an "X" instead of the usual arrow.

      g)   Move the cursor into the display area and click the right button 
           to close both windows.

      h)   Animate the images by clicking on the double right pointing arrow 
           located in the upper right part of the screen.

            
4)   Let's change the rate of animation. 

      a)   One must first stop the loop by clicking on the double right 
           pointing arrow.

      b)   Click on TOOL located at the top of the NTRANS window, and then 
           click on DWELL RATE in the window that pops up (or while holding
           down the CONTROL key, press the D letter on the keyboard).
  
      c)   In the window that appears, click on one of the numbered buttons 
           located under the words SELECT SPEED to select one of the predefined dwell rate 
           settings. This will change the pause at the beginning and end of the loop, and the 
           pause between images. One can also make changes to the dwell rate by clicking on any of 
           the three slider bars.

      d)   Click on CLOSE and then click on the double right pointing arrow 
           to begin the animation again. 


5)   Select, load and step through a series of images using a 2- panel 
     display. An alternative selection process will be used. 

      a)   Stop the loop by clicking on the double right pointing arrow.

      b)   Click on FILE (top left), and while holding down the left mouse 
           button, drag the cursor across the words OPEN, MODELS, ETA, and then position the cursor 
           over the ETA_YYMMDD_HH_NA_MAIN  metafile and release the button (where 
           YY=year, MM=month, DD=day, HH=hour). This will select the metafile.

      c)   Move the cursor into the display area and click the right mouse 
           button.

      d)   Click on the 500 MB 6-H HGT CHNG group file in the GROUP SELECTION 
           window.. 

      e)   Click on the box with the two black squares located below the 
           words PANEL STRUCTURE, so the images will be displayed using two
           panels. 

      f)   Now click on button number one located below the words LOAD PANEL 
           to load the images for display. 

      g)   To select another group file for displaying in the second panel, if 
           no metafiles are displayed, click on the ETA button in the SELECT MODEL window. 
           Otherwise click on the ETA_YYMMDD_HH_NA_SEVERE metafile, then
           select this file by clicking on the word SELECT.

      h)   Click on the LIFTED INDEX group file in the GROUP SELECTION window.

      i)   Now click on button number two located below the words LOAD PANEL 
           to load the images for display. 

      j)   Move the cursor into the display area and click the right button 
           to close both windows.

      k)   Animate both images one period at a time with each mouse click by 
           clicking on the single right pointing arrow located in the upper
           right part of the screen.


6)   Select, load and display model soundings as well as time sections for 
     Nashville using a 2-panel display. 

      a)   Move the cursor into the display area and click the right mouse 
           button.

      b)   Click on the ETA_YYMMDD_HH_NA_VERT metafile in the SELECT MODEL 
           window. (NOTE:  This metafile may sometimes not be available for  
           selection).

      c)    Select this metafile by clicking on the word SELECT.

      d)    Click on the BNA SOUNDINGS group file in the GROUP SELECTION 
            window. 

      e)    Now click on button number one located below the words LOAD PANEL 
            to load the images for display. 

      f)    To select another group file for displaying in the second panel, 
            click on the BNA TIMEHGHT group file in the GROUP SELECTION window. 

      g)    Now click on button number two located below the words LOAD PANEL 
            to load the images for display. 

      h)    Move the cursor into the display area and click the right button 
            to close both windows.

      i)    Animate both images one period at a time with each mouse click by 
            clicking on the single right pointing arrow located in the upper right part of 
            the screen.


7)   Exit the NTRANS Program.

      a)   Click on EXIT located at the top of the NTRANS window. 

      b)   Confirm that you want to quit the program by clicking on OK in the 
           EXIT CONFIRMATION window.