Re: gsn_csm_coutour_map and reource file

On Tue, 11 Nov 2008, SR Nelson, School Geographical Sciences wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I need to plot a large number of data sets using the gsn_csm_contour_map_xxx
> functions and was hoping to use a resource file to cut down on large amounts
> of identical code being repeated in several NCL scripts. However, I'm having
> a few issues setting these resources.
>
> 1) Not all of the resources seem to be being passed to the plotting function
> and used as switches as indicted by the web documentation page. e.g.
> *cnFillOn : True
> results in the plot having filled contours, but does not turn off the
> information label or add the label bar or continent outlines as it does when
> set directly in the script.
>
> 2) Despite setting *mpFillOn : False this has no effect, and using getvalues
> after plotting function is called shows mpFillOn = True.
>
> Are these problems related to when the resource file is load in relation to
> when the he gsn_csm_contour_map function is called? Or are they being
> overwritten? I've tried looking at the code and not found any indication that
> the latter is happening, but appreciate I may have missed something.

Sarah,

I'm afraid your observations are correct. The gsn_csm_xxxx scripts
were meant to create a certain look of plot, and hence they set a
bunch of resources that are different than what a default NCL plot
would look like. These resources override anything set in a resource
file. It would be too expensive to check for every possible resource
that might be set in a resource file, and then not set a resource
inside of gsn_csm_xxxx as a result.

There are a couple of possible ways that you can set a bunch
of resources without have them clutter up your code.

One way is to create a file, say "res.ncl" with lines like:

    res = True
    res_at_cnFillOn = True
    res_at_cnLinesOn = True

and then you can load this file whenever you want these resources
set.

    load "res.ncl"

Another way is to create a procedure that you have to call:

procedure set_cn_and_mp_res(res:logical)
begin
   res_at_cnFillOn = True
   res_at_cnLinesOn = False
   res_at_mpFillOn = False
end

begin
  ...
  res = True
  set_cn_and_mpres(res)
  ...
end

I prefer the second method.

> Also, I've noticed that when using cnFillOn = True (even when not using a
> resource file), the contour lines are not turned off as indicated in the web
> documentation page. Is this correct?

The documentation is wrong. I think it meant to say that
only the contour line labels are turned off. I have fixed this.
You will need to set cnLinesOn to False. Thanks for pointing
this out.

--Mary

>
> Apologises for the long message, any help would be much appreciated,
> Regards,
> Sarah
>
>
> ----------------------
> Sarah Nelson
> School Geographical Sciences
> University of Bristol
> University Road
> Bristol BS8 1SS
> Tel: 0117 3317316
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Received on Tue Nov 11 2008 - 08:45:17 MST