Contents - Index


Batch mode operation

Command-line parameters

There are three operations tha can be performed from batch mode.  What parameters are found determines the operation mode.  A registered copy of the program is required to save information in batch mode.

A - make an overlay image for a particular pass
B - Point the program to display a pass
C - map generation
D - Make a passlist, or prevent a passlist from being generated

Mode A - overlay generation

WXtrack  <date/time string>  (e.g. WXtrack 12251500,  or:  WXtrack 199912251500)

In mode A, WXtrack will accept one parameter, the time of a pass in the standard format (e.g. 12251500 for 15:00 UTC on Christmas Day, December 25).

If the <date/time string> is present, it is assumed that you wish to generate one set of pass details and overlay map for the named pass.  You can specify the pass to include the year by adding a four digit year (later than the year 1956) to the above format, i.e. 199912251500) and optionally two digits of seconds as well (e.g. 19991225145959).  The program will first extract the day from the command-line parameter, and generate a pass list for that day, using the current 2-line parameters.  In batch mode, this pass-list will not be saved to PassList.txt.  This pass list will then be scanned to find the pass specified on the command-line.  

In the event of a match between the pass list and the parameter not being found, any seconds in the parameter will be ignored and the matching process repeated.  A final attempt will be made using just month, day, hours and minutes.  If a match is not found, an error message will be briefly displayed, and the program will close.

If the specified pass is found, the program generates the pass details and overlay image for the pass, and saves them to disk.  Once this task is complete, the program shuts down.  No manual intervention is required.

Mode B - displaying a pass

WXtrack  <date/time string> M  (e.g. WXtrack 199912251500  M)

As mode A, except the presence of a second parameter on the command-line  will leave the program open on the Map Tab at the pass in question, so that you can investigate that pass.  The active control will be the minutes of the pass time control.  The mode is only tested with NOAA satellites, but should work with any satellite.

Mode C - map generation

WXtrack  <date/time string>  M  <N> (e.g. WXtrack 199912251500  M  120)

As mode A, except that the Map screen, rather than a simulated pass, is generated.  The result is saved as the file: snapshot000.bmp in the results folder.  Once this task is complete, the program shuts down.  No manual intervention is required.  <N> specifies the interval between pass snapshots.  If N = 0 then a single snapshot is made at the start of the pass.  If N = 15 then a snapshot is made every 15 seconds into the pass, terminating when the pass ends.  Be warned that this can produce a large number of snapshot<nnn>.bmp files!

Mode D - making pass lists

WXtrack  -passlist:<N>  (N is the number of days, e.g. WXtrack  -passlist:5)
  • forces generation of N-day passlist.txt (up to 99 days).
  • closes program once the passlist file is made.
  • use for making up multi-day passlists automatically.

    WXtrack  -nopasslist
  • inhibits automatic generation of passlist.txt file.
  • but then runs as normal interactive program.
  • still creates passlist.txt file when Make Pass List button pressed.
  • use for normal running of WXtrack where you have multi-day pass lists, and wish to prevent them being overidden.


    A problems from mixing Keplers

    Please note that you may not get the expected results if you generate a pass list with one set of Keplers, but run the program with a different set.  This might happen if, for example, you generate a set of Keplers for an extended period, e.g. several weeks ahead, save the extended pass-list, and the update your Keplers but don't regenerate the extended pass list.  When you run the program, passes in the earlier list may not match passes fron the later list.  In these circumstances, WXtrack may not match a pass if 12 minutes, 59 seconds from one set of Keplers becomes 13 minutes, 02 seconds from another.  Use consistent Keplers when trying to match previous results.