[esp-r] Re: Updating or changing the 'climatelist' from asciii or binany climate data

[Jon Hand (clcv10)]

A recent question about the list of climate files that can
be selected within prj and clm modules of esp-r....

Both clm and prj scan a file called 'climatelist' which
is held in the climate folder of the esp-r installation.
This is an ASCII file which uses a standard format which
can be cut and pasted by users for their own purposes.

The file includes a number key words

*item - marks the start of the climate meta-data

*name - this is what is displayed in the menu

*aide - further notes about the climate file

*dbfile - the name of the climate file (including path)

*avail - a toggle ONLINE or OFFLINE

*winter_s  *spring_s *summer_s  the day and month for season start  
and end

*winter_t  *spring_t  *summer_t   the day and month for typical week  
in season

*help_start
text which is useful
*help_end

The clm module is able to create the text blocks which
form entries to the climatelist file. To do this is asks the
user for opinions as to the duration of the seasons of
the year and then does a systematic scan of an existing
climate file to determine the best-fit week for each season
of the year.  Once the text block for a new climate is
created the user can use a text editor to paste the
data into the climatelist file.

Such meta-data is used by other parts of esp-r.  The
process is further described in the ESP-r cookbook.

And the process does take several steps and requires the
use of a text editor - so there is plenty of scope for improvement.

-ESRU