.hluresfile

The ".hluresfile" file can be used to change some of NCL's graphical defaults.

Note that several graphical defaults will be changed in NCL 6.1.0 and later. We will indicate below which defaults are different.

For example, in versions NCL 6.0.0 and earlier, the following graphical defaults are in effect:

• black background, white foreground
• "times-roman" font
• 32 color color table
• a colon (':') for a function code
• X11 window output will be 500x500 pixels

We recommend the following defaults (all of which are the defaults for NCL V6.1.0 and later, except for the color table and the X11 pixel size):

• white background, black foreground
• "helvetica" font
• different color table
• a tilde ('~') for a function code
• larger X11 window can be created by increasing wkWidth and wkHeight

To change these settings for older versions (pre 6.1.0) of NCL, save this sample hluresfile, rename it to ".hluresfile", make any desired changes, and put it the home directory of every machine you run NCL on.

If you don't want this file in your home directory for some reason, you can call the file whatever you what, put it any directory, and set the NCARG_USRRESFILE environment variable to the full path to the file (including the filename itself).

Of course, you can modify this file and add other default changes that you want. Here's what a sample ".hluresfile" might look like:

!=========================================
! This is a sample .hluresfile. It should
! go in your home directory.
!
! Comments for ".res" files are preceded by a "!".
! Remember quotations are not used in .res files.

! White background/black foreground, these are the default in V6.1.0
*wkForegroundColor  : (/0.,0.,0./)
*wkBackgroundColor  : (/1.,1.,1./)

! Have a favorite colormap that you use for everything? You can
! make it your default here (note the name is NOT in quotes).
!
! In Version 6.1.0, the default is "ncl_default":
! http://www.ncl.ucar.edu/Document/Graphics/ColorTables/ncl_default.shtml
!
! For all available color maps, see 
! http://www.ncl.ucar.edu/Document/Graphics/color_table_gallery.shtml
*wkColorMap         : BlueWhiteOrangeRed

! Font - this is the default in V6.1.0. 
! Use times-roman to get the pre-V6.1.0 default.
*Font           : helvetica 

! Function Codes [Default is a colon]
*TextFuncCode               : ~     
 
! Make default X11 window larger (adjust as necessary)
*wkWidth                     : 800
*wkHeight                    : 800

! Increase the default (16mb) contour memory
! For example, if you have gridded data that
! is larger than 500 x 500, you may need this.
*wsMaximumSize: 32556688
!==========================================