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Using the McIDAS-X Bridge

This section describes how to create displays from a McIDAS-X bridge session. The McIDAS-X Bridge provides a way to load data from an active McIDAS-X session into McIDAS-V. Note: The McIDAS-X bridge will only work if you have McIDAS-X, and are updated to at least version 2007a or later. If you do not, proceed to the next section.

The set of steps include:

Starting the McIDAS-X Bridge Listener

To start the McIDAS-X bridge listener, type MCLISTEN START in a running McIDAS-X session (version 2007a or later) on a remote or local machine.

Creating a McIDAS-X Bridge Session

In the Data Explorer window, select the Data Sources tab. On the left side of this tab, select McIDAS-X Bridge from the list of available choosers. For more information about the McIDAS-X Bridge chooser, see Creating a McIDAS-X Bridge Session.

Image 1: Data Sources Tab of the Data Explorer
Image 1: Data Sources Tab of the Data Explorer

If you are connecting to the listener on your local machine, connect to the defaults of localhost listening on port 8080. Otherwise, enter in a host name and the corresponding port number and click the Add Source button button. If MCLISTEN START was not run on the local or remote host, an error box will say that the "Connection to McIDAS-X Bridge Listener at localhost:8080 failed".

The data source is shown in the Field Selector tab of the Data Explorer. The Frame Sequence will be listed in the Fields panel. Click the (tab icon) tree tab to the left of "Frame Sequence" to expand that list and list all available frames in the connected McIDAS-X session. You have the option to select all available McIDAS-X frames, or one single frame. Select the "Frame Sequence", and create a "McIDAS-X Image Display" by clicking the Create Display button button.

Image 2: Field Selector Tab of the Data Explorer
Image 2: Field Selector Tab of the Data Explorer
Creating a McIDAS-X Display in McIDAS-V

The McIDAS-X bridge session will be in the Layer Controls tab of the Data Explorer, mirroring the McIDAS-X frame(s) selected. You can enter McIDAS-X commands in the "Command Line" text entry box at the bottom of the Layer Controls tab. This will run McIDAS-X commands, and the McIDAS-V display in the Layer Controls tab will update to reflect the results. Although the bridge session resembles a normal McIDAS-X session, interactive commands are not implemented, but recall commands do work.

Image 3: McIDAS-X Bridge Controls
Image 3: McIDAS-X Bridge Controls

Create a loop of satellite images in the McIDAS-X bridge session without displaying a map. Import these McIDAS-X frames into the current McIDAS-V 3D panel by selecting the Settings tab and checking the "Display data in main 3D panel" option. This will import all of the navigated McIDAS-X frames into the 3D panel. It is recommended that you do not use maps from McIDAS-X when importing frames, as their quality diminishes as you zoom in on the 3D display.

If at any time you receive an error message: Selected image(s) not available, it is due to the fact that McIDAS-V will only import navigated frames. In cases where you have a combination of navigated and non-navigated frames, McIDAS-V will import the navigated frames into McIDAS-V. Non-navigated frames will remain in your 2D display in the Layer Controls.

Image 4: McIDAS-X Display in McIDAS-V
Image 4: McIDAS-X Display in McIDAS-V
Accessing Additional Tutorials

For more help with using the McIDAS-X bridge, please see the McIDAS-X Bridge tutorial on the McIDAS-V Documentation webpage.


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