FX Connect (FXC) is a real-time meteorological display system with collaborative capabilities. FXC is the main component of a development project
which explores distributing workstation and server functions over different remote locations. A unique feature of FXC is that it can accommodate the
interaction of forecasters at different locations through a graphical user interface. When connected to an AWIPS Server, FXC allows the display of selected
data and imagery over which graphics may be created, manipulated, and viewed by remotely located collaboration participants.
This Guide provides a brief overview of the system architecture and describes the many functions available from the FXC User Interface. The system
emulates the AWIPS User Interface design and takes advantage of the display generation capabilities of AWIPS. As this system is applied to the needs
of various users, some customization of the Main Menu and data selectors has occurred. Slight variations will exist in Main Menu layout and content.
This Guide applies generally to systems known as FX Connect, FX Collaborate, and the Briefing Tool.
FXC features include the conventional capabilities of:
- Display of diverse data sets (images, observations, and text);
- Interactive display manipulation (zoom, pan, toggle overlays, overlay color);
- Interactive display generation (cross sections, time series, time/height, model soundings);
- Extensive manual graphic and annotation tools;
- Display procedures.
Advanced capabilities of FXC include:
- Slide creation and presentation;
- Chat capability;
- Internet access to WWW products
- Display of radar data from any WSR-88D radar;
- Creation and display of JPEG images;
- Independent or collaborative mode of operation.
1.1 Scope
This document serves a guide to the use of FXC in data display, interactive graphics creation, and forecaster collaboration. Technical details of FXC architecture
and server configuration will be described in separate documents.
1.2 Intended Audience and Assumed User Skills
This guide is intended for use by weather forecasters and other users of hydrometeorological data. We assume that users of this Guide have a basic understanding
of, and experience with, using a mouse to navigate a graphic user interface. This includes such operations as opening, closing, resizing, and moving windows, and
selecting items from menus. While FXC is designed to have a "look and feel" similar to that of AWIPS D2D, knowledge of D2D is not necessary for the successful
use of FXC. However, familiarity with AWIPS D2D and its associated data and displays should be helpful in learning to use FXC.
