The ISS realtime plot images are generated in the background by a set of batch scripts collectively known as the zplot scripts. They are part of the zebra source tree, in zebra/src/zplot, so the operational copies of the scripts are located in the bin directory of the zebra top directory.
The batch plotting relies heavily on the zebra project configuration, including environment variable settings in proj_env and the Plots file. See the comments in those files for further explanations.
Sometimes it is necessary to regenerate the realtime plots. For example, if data are filled in at ATD that do not fall within the last several hours or so, then their plots will not be generated automatically by the plotnow script. Likewise, if the zebra display configuration changes for the realtime plots, such as a change in the plot limits or colors, then all of the existing plots must be regenerated. Remember that all plots must be generated as the iss user to avoid permission and ownership problems.
The easiest way to regenerate plots is with the zplotloop script.
mead:/h/atd/iss>cd project/name2004/zebra/ mead:/h/atd/iss/project/name2004/zebra>zconfig . zplotloop Usage: zplotloop <begin> <end> [<hours>] [-enqueue <queue>] [zplotd opts...] The begin time can be 'start', which uses the project start date and the first plot hour. The end time can be 'now'. The end time can be 'end', which uses the project end date. The plot period in hours defaults to PLOT_PERIOD.
This script accepts begin and end time specifications on the command line, and an optional platform name, and then cycles through the plot times regenerating all of the plots which depend on data from the given platform. For example, the following command replots all of the iss2 surface data from the beginning of the project until now:
mead:/h/atd/iss>cd project/name2004/zebra/ mead:/h/atd/iss>zconfig . zplotloop start now iss2/surface_met
This example regenerates all plots between the given dates. Note that the start time must start on one of the expected plot times of the day, such as 05:00 or 17:00. Otherwise all new plots will be generated with different plot times, separated by the plot spacing of 12 hours, rather than overwriting all of the existing plots at the original plot times.
mead:/h/atd/iss>cd project/name2004/zebra/ mead:/h/atd/iss>zconfig . zplotloop 20-Jul-2004,05:00 22-Jul-2004,17:00
The mglass1 soundings frequently need to be updated manually, since older soundings when emailed do not fall within the current plot period.
mead:/h/atd/iss>cd project/name2004/zebra/ mead:/h/atd/iss>zconfig . zplotloop start now mglass1
The output of the zplotloop script will be prolific, but all of it will be emailed also for more convenient perusal.