vws auto update.

[wbjeep]

  Hello, I recently put a davis weather monitor II in my back yard, it's wired to it's control panel and I have the weather link connected to a pc running vws internet. that works well to that point, but Im trying to make a web page also. seems everything Ive done since installing vsw has been wrong. I've been looking for some instructions that I could actually follow and Ive installed or attempted to install a few templates. At this point I just want vws to update my site just as it is and if im lucky enough to learn something I'll teak it as i go.. www/wildcatweather.com is my sad attempt.. any help will be appreciated

[utahweatherbear]

Can't help ya with VWS...but I love your banner! 

I'm sure someone familiar with VWS will give ya a hand...

[stevebrtx]

Ok, I see the problem, your link it wrong. But, it looks like you have a start on it. Looks like the last update was last night, do you want it to update on a regular schedule? I've set mine to update every 15 minutes, weather here is so boring that's all that's necessary.

I use FrontPage (now outdated, but still functional) to create my pages, I've got Dreamweaver but there are many different programs available and as you have noted, some templates.

What areas do you want to improve or incorporate?

[wbjeep]

Im wanting it to update every few minutes, but i know Ive done it incorrectly I couldnt figure out how to do is so when vws made a htm index file I just renamed it to index.php.. unfortunately i just know enough code to mess things up.. Im just lost at this point and was hoping for a tutorial of some kind.

[stevebrtx]

Ok, start with 3 things, first go to Settings, then down to File Settings and set the database to update at an interval, like mine is 15 min. Also go further down and set the Jpeg File Settings to the same value of time and also specify what directory the Jpegs are in, mine are in VWS/Root So now all the jpegs and files and database will be updated regularly.

Next go to Internet and down to HTML settings, here you set the conversion and timing. First set the timer to update to match the previous update interval. Next you will notice the VWS templates are .htx files. VWS will convert them to .htm or .html files, not .php. On the left column you put the address of the file in it's htx form, for instance my main file reads c:\vws\root\wx.htx as it's in the root directory under VWS. In the right column you put what it will be converted to, in my case c:\vws\root\index.htm. So, now all the jpegs, the db and the template files are being updated regularly.

Finally if you're using VWS FTP you need to configure it to regularly transmit all the templates and jpegs to your site regularly. I have mine set to upload starting 10 seconds after VWS is set to update. It will also retrieve other information which you obviously already have set up. A word of suggestion, VWS FTP is not robust and I'd say most guys are using something else like Fling, or CuteFTP etc. I use Cute and I transmit about 40 files every 15 minutes in as little as 30 seconds vs 3-4 minutes with VWS, but your choice.

I've probably forgot some basic steps, so poke at it and ask questions. Documentation isn't great and gosh help you if you have to correct a rainfall amount, that's a whole other world that takes a PHD and lots of patience and luck.

[wbjeep]

Ok, start with 3 things, first go to Settings, then down to File Settings and set the database to update at an interval, like mine is 15 min. Also go further down and set the Jpeg File Settings to the same value of time and also specify what directory the Jpegs are in, mine are in VWS/Root So now all the jpegs and files and database will be updated regularly.

Next go to Internet and down to HTML settings, here you set the conversion and timing. First set the timer to update to match the previous update interval. Next you will notice the VWS templates are .htx files. VWS will convert them to .htm or .html files, not .php. On the left column you put the address of the file in it's htx form, for instance my main file reads c:\vws\root\wx.htx as it's in the root directory under VWS. In the right column you put what it will be converted to, in my case c:\vws\root\index.htm. So, now all the jpegs, the db and the template files are being updated regularly.

Finally if you're using VWS FTP you need to configure it to regularly transmit all the templates and jpegs to your site regularly. I have mine set to upload starting 10 seconds after VWS is set to update. It will also retrieve other information which you obviously already have set up. A word of suggestion, VWS FTP is not robust and I'd say most guys are using something else like Fling, or CuteFTP etc. I use Cute and I transmit about 40 files every 15 minutes in as little as 30 seconds vs 3-4 minutes with VWS, but your choice.

I've probably forgot some basic steps, so poke at it and ask questions. Documentation isn't great and gosh help you if you have to correct a rainfall amount, that's a whole other world that takes a PHD and lots of patience and luck.

ok seems I've done everything you have outlined already,, Im stuck on where im supposed to be loading on the server..when Im in the ftp upload i have the htm files like>> C:\vws\stations\wildcat\root\index.htm  from location,, I've been loading to wildcatweather\root.. and i've loaded soo much now I think i need to do a server clean.. im going to tale a look at fling or cute.

thank you for your help

[stevebrtx]

Seems I've been told you really shouldn't load to the server root, I load to a folder on the server and of course each time it uploads it's set to automatically overwrite files which is what VWS will do. Once you have your updates working and it looks like on your site that is coming along, you can worry about fine tuning the FTP. I tried Fling but ended up staying with Cute as I had already bought it for other sites.

As you become more comfortable with VWS you'll recognize things as you poke down through menus, as I said, documentation is thin so most comes from experience and reading here on the forum.

Have fun and Easter Blessings to you and all.