quick_plot version 1.2  --- A simple data plotting utility for reviewing data.
7/21/03

ADAPS 4.5 VERSION

      Authors: 	Lucky Sultz, Montana District
		Joe Nielsen, OSW

      This is OSW Scripts page version.
      Refer questions to "gs-w osw scripts"


	quick_plot is a simple utility for retrieving data from ADAPS and plotting 
the data via gnuplot. The idea for quick_plot is to allow a way to quickly 
retrieve and graphically review unit value data for a short period of time.  For 
example;  You have returned from a field trip and entered your data into ADAPS. 
Now you have two ways to review the data.  NWISWeb lets you look at data mostly 
for DCPs, unless you have entered your data logger sites into the NWISWeb system. 
Or Hydra.  Hydra is a very powerful way to review your data, but currently does 
not allow you to view a group of sites.  You have to get out of Hydra and restart 
the program for each site.

	Using quick_plot, you can create a file of sites and DDs which quick_plot 
can then quickly step through and plot.  If you find data problems using the 
quick_plot graphs, you can then go into Hydra and fix spikes, etc for the affected 
sites. 

Using quick_plot:

	quick_plot allows you to enter station numbers in three ways:
 
	1. one at a time from the keyboard 
	2. from a file of site numbers and DDs created specifically for quick_plot 
	     This a simple text file and can be created with any text editor.
	     Alternatively, a small utility, "make_plotfile" will create the input 
	     file for you by prompting you for station numbers and DDs.  The created 
	     file is named "plotfile" which is the file that quick_plot will look 
	     for when started. If quick_plot cannot find your "plotfile" you will be
 	     given the opportunity to run make_plotfile and create one from within 
	     quick_plot.

	3. from an existing ADAPS group. The program will list your available groups
	     and prompt you for the group to plot.

	You will be prompted for the time period you would like each plot to display, 
either as a start date in the form YYYYMMDD or a number of days prior to today (1-100).

	You will be prompted for how long you would like each plot to be displayed. If
you enter a number of seconds each plot will be displayed for that period of time and
then automatically move on to the next plot. If you enter "-1" for the period, a <CR>
will be required to move between plots. 

	You will also be prompted for whether you want to view computed or edited data.


	quick_plot is meant for displaying short periods of unit value data, but 
will display all the data from the begin date you enter up to today.  There is very 
little error-checking so, if you ask for a station with no data, it will quit.  
When you reach the last station in a list, it will quit.  You can also quit between 
plots by typing in "99" in <CR> mode or ^C will end the script at any time.


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	gnuplot is a freeware plotting utility.  It is the program that is used 
by NWISWeb to plot their graphs and so, should be available on most, if not all 
USGS NWIS machines.  After you download the quick_plot and make_plotfile scripts, 
you need to make them executable by typing "chmod 755 quick_plot.dat" and 
"chmod 755 make_plotfile.dat".  The scripts should then be available from your 
directory by typing the file name. Your SA can also set them up in a common area 
and make them available to all users. You can also add the program to the Local
Applications (LA) menu of ADAPS if you want the option to run it directly from there. See
the OSW Scripts web page for details.

	If you don't have gnuplot on your Solaris system, let your SA know. It can 
be downloaded from the USGS site at 
	http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/unix/solaris/gnuplot.html  
Installation is just a matter of a few minutes.


