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4.6.2 Attachments to Administrative Messages

It is possible to send attachments (also called enclosures) along with administrative messages. Attachments can be either text or binary files. There is a size limit of 50,000 bytes; attachment files are written to disk when received, and disk space is limited. Currently, only one attachment file can be sent with an administrative message.

Notes:

• The dialog box where you enter the attachment file name automatically places you in the $FXA_DATA/mhs/enclosures/outfiles directory.

• The dialog box also displays a list of the files in this directory; you can click on a file name and it automatically appends it to the $FXA_DATA/mhs/enclosures/outfiles path. When you create an attachment file, put it in this directory so you can make use of this attachment capability.

There are some additional sites (not WFOs or RFCs) that have systems connected to the WAN. You can send messages to these sites by entering these site IDs in the Addressee field. These site IDs cannot be used in the WSFO ID or Product Designator fields, because there currently aren't any WMO IDs assigned to products initiated at these sites.

• NCF NCF
• NHR NHDR system, NWS headquarters
• NHW NHDW system, NWS headquarters
• NHA NHDA system, NWS headquarters
• NMR NMTR system
• NMW NMTW system

Use the Text Browser to display the message. When an administrative message is received, the AWIPS software stores it in the text database and the message time is displayed on the Text Browser Menu.

Receive an Attachment File

When a message with an attachment is received by a site, the attachment is written to a disk file and is not stored in the text database. The attachment file's path is appended to the message; the contents of the attachment are viewed by using the Text Display's Import from File capability.

1. Select: File

2. Select: Import from File...

3. Enter the full path name of the attachment file as shown in the administrative message.

Objective 3 - Create and Send Attachment Files

1. Create the attachment file. Any text editor can be used to create a text attachment file. However, to display the attachment on the Text Display, the editor must be UNIX-based, such as vi or emacs.

The Text Display can only display plain text. The software that sends attachment files automatically looks in the $FXA_DATA/mhs/enclosures/outfiles directory, so if attachment files are put there, they are easy to retrieve.

2. Click the Attach menu button from the Text Editor Control Bar. The Attach File Dialog Box is displayed where you can type in the file name, including the path.

3. Click the OK menu button when you have entered the correct file name, and the file is included with your message. If the specified file can't be found, an error message is displayed. Otherwise, the name of the attachment file is displayed at the bottom of the Text Window.

4. If you want to cancel the attachment, click the Attach menu button again, reselect the file, and then click the Cancel button in the Attach File Dialog Box.

5. To send the administrative message with an attachment file, click the Send menu button on the Text Editor Control Bar. A dialog box reminds you that an attachment file is going to be sent, and it displays the file name.

6. If you want to send the attachment file, click the OK menu button; otherwise, click the Cancel menu button. If you click the Cancel button, neither the message nor the attachment is sent. The attachment file name is deleted, so if you click the Send menu button at this point, it sends the original message without the attachment.

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