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This section contains additional notes about the operational behavior of the D2D workspace.

Auto Update

As new versions of currently loaded products become available to the system, they are automatically displayed. Auto Update functions in all five display panes.

For example, if you are displaying Meteorological Aviation Report (METAR) station plots and new data are received in the database, the new METARs are plotted on the screen.

Time Matching

By default, when you add overlays to a displayed product, the system matches the valid times to those of the initially displayed product. This feature can be overridden by the Load Mode called Forced Load (refer to Section 3.1.6 Practice Modules on the Volume Browser Module 13: Load Modes for more information on Load Modes). Time Options (see Section 2.1.6.3) also allows you to override standard time matching.

General Status Messages

When data are missing or incomplete, or there are other problems with the workstation, the system sends status messages which are displayed in the Status Bar along the bottom left edge of the D2D window.

There are three priority levels: Routine, Significant, and Urgent.

• Routine messages appear in the General Status Area of the Status Bar. A list of these messages is appended to the General Status Dialog Box. Both are shown in Exhibit 2.1.5-1.

This General Status Dialog Box is opened by clicking on the triangle icon located on the left side of the Status Bar. A subdued green light, located next to the "Status" label, turns bright green when a new message is received.

• Significant messages also appear in the Status Bar, but they blink on and off to catch your attention.

• Urgent messages appear in a Red Banner Announcement Dialog Box like the one shown in Exhibit 2.1.5-2.

The announcer software now accepts a sound file as an optional argument. Sounds may accompany some messages. At present, the audible alarm is sounded only when there is a loss of radar data.

This dialog box is closed by clicking anywhere in it or by clicking on the Acknowledge button. The Acknowledge All... button confirms all the messages that may have accumulated and were not acknowledged when initially received.

Radar Status

Radar status messages appear along the bottom right edge of the Main Display. A list of these messages appears in the Radar Status Dialog Box which is opened by clicking on the triangle icon next to the "Radar" label. A subdued green light, located next to this label, turns bright green when a new message is received. This dialog box is similar in appearance to the General Status Dialog Box shown in Exhibit 2.1.5-1. Radar status messages may include announcements from the Radar Product Generator (RPG) and are usually related to the radar applications. (Refer to Chapter 7 Radar Applications.) Significant messages also appear on the status bar, but they blink on and off.

System Clock

The workstation's system clock appears along the bottom right edge of the Main Display.

Pie Chart and Watch Face Indicators

The D2D pointer changes to either a small pie chart or to a watch face to let you know the system is processing your request. When you see the pie chart, you can still use the system but it may be slow to respond. When you see the watch face, the system is busy and cannot respond to your request. Wait until the watch face disappears before trying another action.

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