New NWPSAF web site: how it relates to AAPP users

[Nigel Atkinson]

With the introduction of the new NWPSAF web site in March 2016, there are several changes that AAPP users need to know about in order to continue to receive AAPP updates and general information.

The most obvious change is the method of software download, which is explained in a news item. Although the AAPP user account on the old ftp site (at ftp://ftp.metoffice.gov.uk) is currently still available, it is recommended that users register on the new site. You will then be able to download, from the web site, either the current full release of AAPP or the incremental updates. OPS-LRS is available in the same way.

Secondly, you will find a number of supplementary downloads on the downloads page, including test cases, OPS-LRS auxiliary files and MAIA data files.

OPS-LRS users may have noticed that there is now a very large number auxiliary files available; most users will only need the latest ones, but some users will need historic files. Therefore to simplify the management of these files we have made available a script, which can automatically download the files that you need. More information is available on the downloads page.

For the test cases, we have added a new test case for raw Metop CADUs, which invokes EUMETSAT’s Metopizer tool (available from EUMETSAT’s web site). This may be of interest to some users.

AAPP documentation, including release history, is available on the documentation page. This includes a new User Guide (html), which attempts to address many of the questions that have been asked by users over the years.

The new web site has necessitated a new AAPP Forum – see the Forums page. We recognise that there is lots of useful information still on the old Forum (linked from the Forums page), and therefore this will remain in place for the time being – but read-only. New postings will be made on the New forum. As before, “Announcements” are made by the development team, while “General discussion” posts can be made by any registered user.

From time to time, the AAPP Team sends notifications by email, e.g. new software versions or urgent bug fixes. For this, we will continue to use the old AAPP v7 user list, supplemented by the more recent on-line registrations for AAPP. (When AAPP v8 is released, all registrations will use the on-line method).

If you find information or functionality that appears to be lacking on the new site, please contact us via the Helpdesk – see link under “Support”.

Regards,

Nigel Atkinson

[Author]

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