The NWS is set to implement the dual-image forecast icons on 7-Jul-2015, and the advforecast2.php script has been updated (V4.00) to support both ‘old’ and ‘new’ forecast automatically.
The dual-images are dynamically created by a DualImage.php script (which I kinda reverse-engineered from the NWS version as there was no code available for their official version) by combining up to two icon template images to form a new image with 6-hour periods, and individual numbers for PoP where needed.
The new companion DualImage.php script and the associated icon templates (in ./forecast/icon-templates) is available
as a download for standalone users (along with the advforecast2.php script download) from the
script page at Saratoga-Weather.org - Scripts -NWS Forecast
Also available there is a newer set of PoP-stamped .jpg icons at 55x55px sizing to match the newer NWS icons.
For Base-USA template users, the Update tool page has the complete updates (with the new icons that weren’t included in the saratoga-icons.zip set). Use query for Base-USA, Plugin-*, 06-Jul-2015 to get the complete .zip file.
Folks using the meteotriviglio animated GIF icons will NOT have dual-images displayed – only the first 6-hour image will show up. It’s just too involved to take apart two animated GIFs, extract parts, combine on new images and remake the single animated GIF. Also, the following NEW NWS images would be needed from Meteotriviglio to complete the current icon set:
Effective July 7, 2015, NWS will implement changes to the icons depicted on all of its Point Forecast pages. Highlights will include new icons with increased clarity, 6-hour increments for rapidly changing weather and new color blocks to highlight forecast hazards.
They’ll still work (except for the ones that are missing in the new NWS list of icons in the first post).
If your location receives a DualImage request, then the V4.00 advforecast.php script will generate a link to the first icon in the pair (with PoP if specified).
For example, in the string I’d used with Niko above
the request for DualImage.php?i=scttsra&j=ra&ip=10&jp=50 would result in an image link to ./forecast/images/scttsra10.gif to display … the plain rain icon request would be ignored.
Hopefully, Meteotriviglio will generate the missing icons to include in his set – the issue about dynamically creating the animated GIF dual-icons will remain for the indefinite future. If you want the dual-icons to display, you’ll need to switch back to .jpg icons … sorry
Thanks, Ken, for all your hard work in setting this up. I’ve decided to give the dual icons a try after having used the Meteotriviglio icons for several years. I haven’t changed my ajaxWDwx3.js setting for the current condition icon from .gif to .jpg yet however, so it is still animated.
The update is ready - advforecast2.php V4.01 does fix the text-flow around the icon and the HTML validation issues.
For Base-USA template users, the Update tool page has the complete updates (with the new icons that weren’t included in the saratoga-icons.zip set). Use query for Base-USA, Plugin-*, 07-Jul-2015 to get the .zip file.
Note: if you had not installed the 06-Jul-2015 update, the use that date for the query to get all the files needed.
Standalone users, use the script page for source and icons.
For those folks running Scott’s alternative dashboard 692, you will see all the stuff in the proper places, but vertical alignment will be missing. I did some experimentation with the ajax-dashboard6 and found that some code changes in the dashboard could fix the alignment issues.
:roll:
