1. Creating & Delivering A VISITview Teletraining Session Jack B. Settelmaier Bernard N. Meisner Scientific Services Division NWS Southern Region Fort Worth, Texas National Weather Service The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the National Weather Service.

2. National Weather Service Creating & Delivering A VISITview Session VISITview Website and History VISITview Website and History A review of the VISITview features. A review of the VISITview features. How to create, distribute and deliver a VISITview session. How to create, distribute and deliver a VISITview session. Hands-on exercise: Hands-on exercise: using the presentation you brought, or using the presentation you brought, or using the presentation I have provided. using the presentation I have provided.

3. National Weather Service VISITview Home Page

4. National Weather Service VISITview Home Page

5. National Weather Service VISITview What is it? A teletraining and real-time collaboration tool. A teletraining and real-time collaboration tool. Developed for the NWS VISIT program to support science training of forecasters. Developed for the NWS VISIT program to support science training of forecasters. Attempts to emulate AWIPS functionality. Attempts to emulate AWIPS functionality. New features added by the developer primarily based on our input. New features added by the developer primarily based on our input.

6. National Weather Service VISITview Summary of Features Image animationImage fading ZoomingImage colorizing AnnotationQuizzes WhiteboardChat function OverlaysPortals Use of external Web links Use of external Web links You may also record voice and all "annotation" activities for synchronized playback.

7. National Weather Service Creating A VISITview Presentation 1.Create your presentation (using PowerPoint, Corel Presentations, screen captures, etc.). 2.Save the individual slides as images (GIFs, JPEGs or PNGs). 3.Import the slide images into the VISITview Lesson Builder. 4.Add any of the desired VISITview features (slide names, quiz questions, text phrases, etc.). 5.Save and distribute the presentation.

8. National Weather Service VISITview Terminology Lesson-- a collection of Pages. Page -- one or more Frames. Frame -- a single image (GIF, JPEG, PNG). Overlay-- a image placed on top of another image. Portal -- a small window within the main window.

9. National Weather Service Lesson Builder Getting Started 1.Make a directory on your machine for the VISITview software and lessons. 2.Download the “vvinstall.exe” file. 3.Extract that file into your VisitView directory. 4.Create a subdirectory for each Lesson. 5.Create / assemble your Slides. 6.Start the Lesson Builder using the “visitbuild.bat” command.

10. National Weather Service Creating A VISITview Presentation The VISITview Lesson Builder

11. National Weather Service

12. VISITview Lesson Builder Loading an Image into a Page

13. VISITview Lesson Builder When in doubt, read the status bar!

14. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Selected image appears in preview window.

15. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Click “Insert” or “Append” to add the image

16. National Weather Service VISITview Image Animations Image Animations are created from a set of images. Image Animations are created from a set of images. They are not *.mpg or *.avi files. They are not *.mpg or *.avi files. Load the first image into a Page, then load the rest of the images as additional Frames of that Page. Load the first image into a Page, then load the rest of the images as additional Frames of that Page.

17. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Loading Additional Frames of a Page to Create an Animation

18. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder 1. Select “View Page Frames” 2. Specify images in Browse window 3. Select “Append All 4.” 1 23

19. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder The “Frames” are added to the “Page.”

20. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder 1. Select “View Pages” and the number of “Frames” is indicated in parentheses (5). 2. Now you can type a Page Label and 3. Specify the animation “Speed” and whether “Initially Looping” is desired 1 2 3

21. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Add any other desired Pages and Frames.

22. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Loading Two Frames in order to Fade Between Them

23. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Select “Browse Directories” and specify the first image.

24. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Select “Append” to add the image as a new Page.

25. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder 1. Select “View Page Frames” 2. Select the second image in the Browse window 3. Select “Append” to add the image as a new Frame to the Page 1 23

26. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder The “Frame” is added to the “Page.”

27. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder 1. Select “View Pages” and the number of “Frames” is indicated in parentheses (2). 2. Now you can type a Page Label. 3. Note “Enable Fade” has been selected automatically. 1 23

28. National Weather Service Image Fade Example The VISITview software will generate an 11 frame animation, morphing from the first image to the second, during your presentation. Note that you cannot Fade between two animations.

29. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Overlays and Portals

30. National Weather Service VISITview Adding Overlays and Portals Overlays typically contain a color, or range of colors, that are transparent so the underlying image can show through. Overlays typically contain a color, or range of colors, that are transparent so the underlying image can show through. A Portal is a picture-in-picture, and is viewed on top of the background picture. A Portal is a picture-in-picture, and is viewed on top of the background picture. Overlays and Portals are first inserted into a Lesson, then assigned to one or more Pages. Overlays and Portals are first inserted into a Lesson, then assigned to one or more Pages. Overlays and Portals must have the same number of Frames as the Page(s) to which they are assigned. Overlays and Portals must have the same number of Frames as the Page(s) to which they are assigned.

31. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Loading and Assigning Overlays

32. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder 1. Select “View Overlays” 2. Use “Browse Directories” to locate the overlay image. 3. “Insert” or “Append” the image into the lesson 1 2 3

33. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder 1. Select “View Overlay Frames” 2. Specify images in Browse window 3. Select “Append All 7” 1 23

34. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder 1. Select “View Overlays” and note that the number of “Frames” is indicated in parentheses (8). 2. Type an Overlay Label. 1 2

35. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Add any other desired Overlays.

36. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Overlays Assigning an Overlay to a Page

37. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Overlay 2 1.Select “View Pages” 2.Highlight the Page to which you want to add the overlay(s). 3.Click the “Select Overlays” button. 1 2 3

38. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Overlay 3 The “Choose Overlays” window will appear.

39. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Overlay 4 Select the Overlay(s) you wish to assign to this page. It/They will appear on the image.

40. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Overlay 5 Define the Transparency value in hexadecimal: xRRGGBB. Note this can be a single color or a range of colors: “xD0D0D0, xFFFFFF” Click “Save & Quit”

41. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Overlay 6 Select “View Pages” and note the letter “o” for Overlay has been appended to the Page header.

42. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Loading and Assigning Portals

43. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Portals 2 1. Select “View Portals” 2. Use “Browse Directories” to locate the portal image. 3. “Insert” or “Append” the image into the lesson. 1 2 3

44. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Portals 3 1. Select “View Portal Frames” 2. Specify images in Browse window 3. Select “Append All 7” 1 23

45. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Portals 4 1.Select “View Portals” and note that the Number of “Frames” is indicated in parentheses (8). 2.Type a Portal Label. 1 2

46. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Portals 5 Add any other desired Portals.

47. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Portals Assigning a Portal to a Page

48. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Portals 7 1.Select “View Pages” 2.Highlight the Page to which you want to add the Portal. 3.Click the “Layout Portals” button. 1 2 3

49. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Portals 8 The “Edit Portals” window will appear.

50. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Portals 9 Select a Portal you wish to assign to this page. It will appear as a small window on the image.

51. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Portals 10 Click on the Portal to drag and resize it as desired. The new position and size will be displayed. Repeat for additional portals if desired. Click “Save & Quit.”

52. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Portals 11 Select “View Pages” and note that the letter “p” for Portal has been appended to the Page header.

53. National Weather Service Creating A VISITview Presentation Saving Your Lesson

54. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Saving a Lesson

55. National Weather Service Saving a Lesson Assigning a File Name NOTE: You must specify a different file name every time you save your lesson; you cannot overwrite a previous version of a lesson.

56. National Weather Service Saving a Lesson Lesson Parameters

57. National Weather Service Saving a Lesson Lesson Parameters The primary and (if specified) alternate servers: must be running the VISITview server software. must be running the VISITview server software. Must be “visible” to all lesson participants. (Firewalls can be an issue here.) Must be “visible” to all lesson participants. (Firewalls can be an issue here.) You can run the server software on your machine.

58. National Weather Service Saving a Lesson Servers and Groups Although you communicate over the telephone during a teletraining session, the software communicates over the Internet. Although you communicate over the telephone during a teletraining session, the software communicates over the Internet. This is done by having one machine (and usually a backup) designated as a server. Its purpose is to act as a "re-broadcaster" of commands that it receives from the instructors and participants. This is done by having one machine (and usually a backup) designated as a server. Its purpose is to act as a "re-broadcaster" of commands that it receives from the instructors and participants. The servers used in the VISIT program can handle multiple, independent groups of users simultaneously without interference between them. The servers used in the VISIT program can handle multiple, independent groups of users simultaneously without interference between them.

59. National Weather Service Saving a Lesson Servers and Groups Usually, each VISIT training session is assigned a unique "group name" by the instructor when the lesson is created. Usually, each VISIT training session is assigned a unique "group name" by the instructor when the lesson is created. Each time a site connects the server, it joins a group (either automatically or by some overt user action). Each time a site connects the server, it joins a group (either automatically or by some overt user action). Each message that is sent from the user's workstation (i.e., Move the Pointer, Draw a Line, Stop the Animation) arrives first at the server. Each message that is sent from the user's workstation (i.e., Move the Pointer, Draw a Line, Stop the Animation) arrives first at the server. The server then resends this message to all sites in the same group (including the one that originated it). The server then resends this message to all sites in the same group (including the one that originated it).

60. National Weather Service Saving a Lesson Servers The following VISITview servers are generally available for NOAA use: www.ssec.wisc.edu www.ssec.wisc.edu visit.cira.colostate.edu visit.cira.colostate.edu visit.comet.ucar.edu visit.comet.ucar.edu www.wdtb.noaa.gov www.wdtb.noaa.gov www.roc.noaa.gov www.roc.noaa.gov Or, you can run your own VISITview server:

61. National Weather Service VISITview Running Your Own Server Type the following command in a DOS window: c:\VisitView\bin\jre.exe -cp c:\Visitview ViewServer Computer will respond with: VISITview Server $Revision: 1.28 $ listening on port 1631 at {date/time} Now you are a VISITview server!

62. National Weather Service Saving a Lesson Lesson Parameters Specify a unique Server Group name: so your group won’t interfere with any other group running on the server at the same time. so your group won’t interfere with any other group running on the server at the same time. I recommend you set Require ID to “true” so you can tell who’s who as you monitor the session. so you can tell who’s who as you monitor the session.

63. National Weather Service Saving a Lesson Lesson Parameters For those of us who cannot type and/or spell you can save a list of phrases to add to pages during a session. Insert a comma-delimited set of text phrases in the box. Insert a comma-delimited set of text phrases in the box. These will appear in the Phrases window (Alt+O) for your use during the session. These will appear in the Phrases window (Alt+O) for your use during the session. Vorticity, Lagrangian, Nittany Lions,

64. National Weather Service VISITview Saving A Lesson When you Save a Lesson, these files are written to the ZIP file: all the images. all the images. a visit.bat, visitm.bat, and visitlocal.bat files. a visit.bat, visitm.bat, and visitlocal.bat files. a viewmaster.html and viewstudent.html. a viewmaster.html and viewstudent.html. all the Java.class files. all the Java.class files. the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for Windows machines (in the bin/ and lib/ subdirectories). the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for Windows machines (in the bin/ and lib/ subdirectories).

65. National Weather Service Creating A VISITview Presentation Creating a Self-extracting Lesson for Distribution

66. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Making a Self-extracting Lesson

67. National Weather Service VISITview Lesson Builder Making a Self-extracting Lesson Specify the name of your zipped Lesson file. The resulting self-extracting file will have the same name but with an.exe suffix.

68. National Weather Service VISITview Distributing A Lesson Recipients download the *.exe file and extract it into a directory. Recipients download the *.exe file and extract it into a directory. While the lesson can reside in any directory we recommend you follow the convention: While the lesson can reside in any directory we recommend you follow the convention:VisitviewLessons Name of your lesson

69. National Weather Service VISITview Distributing A Lesson After extracting the lesson, recipients should test it by running the “visitlocal.bat” command. After extracting the lesson, recipients should test it by running the “visitlocal.bat” command. During a session the instructor(s) run the “visitm.bat” command. During a session the instructor(s) run the “visitm.bat” command. During a session the students run the “visit.bat” command. Note: you can practice by concurrently running both instructor and student sessions on your own computer! During a session the students run the “visit.bat” command. Note: you can practice by concurrently running both instructor and student sessions on your own computer!

70. National Weather Service VISITview Delivering a Lesson Instructor’s Controls Student’s Controls

71. National Weather Service Creating A VISITview Presentation Adding Quiz Questions

72. National Weather Service VISITview Adding Quiz Questions Quiz questions are stored in a separate text file which should not be distributed with the lesson*. Quiz questions are stored in a separate text file which should not be distributed with the lesson*. Only multiple choice questions are possible (which can be True/False). Only multiple choice questions are possible (which can be True/False). Questions are assigned to Pages using either the Page Number or Page Name. Questions are assigned to Pages using either the Page Number or Page Name. * The VISITview Builder will not include the Quiz Text File it in the lesson package.

73. National Weather Service VISITview Adding Quiz Questions Creating a Quiz: Edit the quiz_template.txt file Edit the quiz_template.txt file Save it as quiz.txt in same directory as your lesson. Save it as quiz.txt in same directory as your lesson.

74. National Weather Service VISITview Adding Quiz Questions Sample format of quiz.txt: # quiz info for lesson page 1 # page number: 1 question: On which day did Isabel make landfall? choices: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday answer: Thursday # # quiz info for lesson page 2 # page label: 2. Radar and Lightning question: No lightning occurred with these storms. (true or false) choices: True, False answer: False

75. National Weather Service VISITview Delivering a Lesson Instructor’s Quiz Window Students’ Quiz Windows

76. National Weather Service Main Display Status Window Page List Window Controls Window Phrases Window Bernard’s Suggested Screen Layout

77. National Weather Service Alt-1Alt-5 Alt-3 Alt-7 Alt-8 Alt-2 Alt-6 Alt-4 Chat WindowAlt+C Controls WindowAlt+M Help WindowAlt+? Page List WindowAlt+L Phrase WindowAlt+O Status WindowAlt+S ZoomAlt+Z / Alt+R BlackboardAlt+B / Alt+B Add TextAlt+T Left mouse button Right mouse button Ctrl + Left mouse button Ctrl + Right mouse button Ctrl + Shift + Left mouse button Ctrl+ Shift + Right mouse button VISITview Controls Developed by Bernard N. Meisner NWS Southern Region SSD ESC before releasing button to cancel drawing

78. National Weather Service Creating A VISITview Presentation Planned Future Enhancements

79. National Weather Service VISITview Planned Future Enhancements Support playback of ‘movies.’ Support playback of ‘movies.’ QuickTime? mpeg? QuickTime? mpeg? whatever can be supported on the widest assortment of platforms, and that can be somewhat controlled. whatever can be supported on the widest assortment of platforms, and that can be somewhat controlled. WDTB-desired integration with Weather Event Simulator. WDTB-desired integration with Weather Event Simulator. code that allows "playback" of a recorded session for a specified range of pages through a script. code that allows "playback" of a recorded session for a specified range of pages through a script. Lesson Builder writing XML data related to the lesson being constructed. Lesson Builder writing XML data related to the lesson being constructed. So the WMO cataloging software can mine a lesson and extract metadata. So the WMO cataloging software can mine a lesson and extract metadata.

80. National Weather Service Creating A VISITview Presentation Sample Teletraining/Collaboration Teletraining/CollaborationSession

81. Questions? mailto: jack.settelmaier@noaa.gov bernard.meisner@noaa.gov National Weather Service

82. Extra Reference Slides Follow National Weather Service

83. Lesson Builder Importing a Presentation 1)Create your presentation in PowerPoint, Corel Presentations, etc. 2)Save the presentation slides as images (GIFs*, JPEGs, PNGs). 3)Start the Lesson Builder using the “visitbuild.bat” command. * Some PowerPoint versions produce non-standard GIFs.

84. National Weather Service Saving a Presentation Microsoft PowerPoint

85. National Weather Service Saving a Presentation Microsoft PowerPoint

86. National Weather Service Saving a Presentation Microsoft PowerPoint

87. National Weather Service Saving a Presentation Corel Presentations

88. National Weather Service Importing a Presentation

89. National Weather Service Importing a Presentation Navigate to the First Slide of your saved presentation.

90. National Weather Service Importing a Presentation

91. National Weather Service Add Page Labels

92. National Weather Service Saving The Lesson NOTE: You must specify a different file name every time you save your lesson; you cannot overwrite a previous lesson.

93. Questions? mailto: jack.settelmaier@noaa.gov bernard.meisner@noaa.gov National Weather Service