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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Hello Sysops,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>A number of folks have inquired about updating keplerian
data and others such as </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Jim</span></font><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> (AD1C’s)
country files and K1XX’s usdbraw file on a Windows setup. Generally
what I do is create something called a “batch” file. This
will run totally separate from the Spider software. Within the
“batch” file is where you tell your computer what you want it to
do. Combine this “batch” file with a program called WGET (<a
href="http://pages.interlog.com/~tcharron/wgetwin.html">http://pages.interlog.com/~tcharron/wgetwin.html</a>)
and you will be able to automate the process of updating your keplerian data,
country files or anything else for that matter. The interface to DXSpider
is provided by the “crontab” file located in the directory \spider\local_cmd.
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><u><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The Batch File</span></font></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Create your batch file by opening “Notepad.exe”.
In this example, the keplerian data will be retrieved and converted. Keep
in mind that the paths that you see are specific to my machine. If you
are running spider using the default paths then these should work for you too,
provided that AMSAT does not change the URL. When you save the file, name it
whatever you want and save it where you want. I save mine to c:\.
It will save with a .txt extension (i.e. kepupdate.txt).
Right click on the file and choose “rename”. Rename the file
“kepupdate.bat”. It you do not change the file extension to BAT the
computer will not know this is a batch file. Here is the code I use
within the batch file.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>cd c:\spider\perl</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>del</span></font> nasa.all</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>cd c:\spider\perl</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>wget http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/keps/current/nasa.all</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>cd c:\spider\perl</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>perl convkeps.pl -c nasa.all</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The first line will tell the computer to look in the
c:\spider\perl directory and delete the file called “nasa.all”.
Once done it will look at the next command line which tells it to work in the
same directory path. Notice the WGET in the fourth line. This is the WGET
program (freeware) which must reside in the directory that you are working
in. The case here is the perl folder located via the path c:\spider\perl.
The computer will go to the URL “</span></font><a
href="http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/keps/current/nasa.all">http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/keps/current/nasa.all</a>”
<font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>using
the WGET program and get the file “nasa.all” and download it to the
current directory that it is working in (c:\spider\perl). Once this is
complete, the computer will look at the next command line in the batch file and
execute it. In this case it uses the perl command to convert the “nasa.all”
to the file that DX spider will use to read the keplerian data. In essence what
the batch file accomplished here was to delete a specific file, go to the
internet to retrieve a file and convert it to a file that DXSpider uses.
This all happens in about 2 seconds of course. If you wanted to tailor
this batch to get AD1C’s country files, just change the URL to <a
href="http://www.country-files.com/cty/cty.dat">http://www.country-files.com/cty/cty.dat</a>.
The other commands would also change and look like this.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>cd c:\spider\data</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>cd c:\spider\data</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>wget http://www.country-files.com/cty/cty.dat</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>cd c:\spider\perl</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>perl create_prefix.pl</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><u><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The Crontab File</span></font></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In order to make this batch file execute automatically, I
use the Windows Task Scheduler and assign a time that I want this to occur.
Tailor it to your own needs. To further augment the process of the
update, you now have to visit the “crontab” file located in the
directory \spider\local_cmd. It is within this file that you can have
DXSpider run specific jobs for itself. In my system I have the running of
the batch file synchronized to run a few minutes before the crontab job.
The crontab job of “Load/keps” is done this way.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>1 21 * * 0,2,4 run_cmd('load/keps')</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>What this does is run the job “load/keps” at 1
minute after 2100 hrs on Sunday(0), Tuesday(2) and Thursday(4). It is
overkill I know. I just haven’t gotten around to changing it yet,
but it works. To create another job to load the new prefix’s when AD1C
issues an update, use the same line but just change the time or day that you
want it done. Such as </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>* 18 25 1,3,5,7,9,11 * run_cmd(‘load/prefix’)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>This will run the job at 1800hrs every 25<sup>th</sup> day
of January, March, May, July, September, and November; In other words
every other month on the 25th. If you are wondering about the
“*” and what each field represents, here is a breakdown.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
11.5pt'> </span></font></p>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0
style='border-collapse:collapse'>
<tr>
<td width=118 valign=top style='width:88.55pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>*</span></font></p>
</td>
<td width=118 valign=top style='width:88.55pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
border-left:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>*</span></font></p>
</td>
<td width=135 valign=top style='width:101.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
border-left:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>*</span></font></p>
</td>
<td width=101 valign=top style='width:1.05in;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
border-left:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>*</span></font></p>
</td>
<td width=118 valign=top style='width:88.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
border-left:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>*</span></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width=118 valign=top style='width:88.55pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>Minutes 0-59</span></font></p>
</td>
<td width=118 valign=top style='width:88.55pt;border-top:none;border-left:
none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>Hour 0-23</span></font></p>
</td>
<td width=135 valign=top style='width:101.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:
none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>Day of Month 1-31</span></font></p>
</td>
<td width=101 valign=top style='width:1.05in;border-top:none;border-left:
none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>Month 1-12</span></font></p>
</td>
<td width=118 valign=top style='width:88.6pt;border-top:none;border-left:
none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>Day of Week 0-6 (0 is
Sunday)</span></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
11.5pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Ranges of numbers are allowed. Ranges are two numbers
separated with a hyphen. The specified range is inclusive. For example, 8-11
for an hours entry specifies execution at hours 8, 9, 10 and 11. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Lists are allowed. A list is a set of numbers (or ranges)
separated by commas. Examples: 1,2,5,9 or 0-3,5,8-12.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
11.5pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I closing, here are some important points to keep in mind.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>-</span></font><font
size=1><span style='font-size:7.0pt'>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>WGET needs to be in the file folder that the batch file will be doing
its work. I do not know how else to do it as I am not that computer
savvy. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>-</span></font><font
size=1><span style='font-size:7.0pt'>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Make certain that you have the correct URL where you want WGET to get
its file.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>-</span></font><font
size=1><span style='font-size:7.0pt'>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Synchronize the Windows Task Scheduler with the Crontab so things are
done in proper sequence.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>-</span></font><font
size=1><span style='font-size:7.0pt'>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Pay close attention to how you set up the crontab job to set it
correctly.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>-</span></font><font
size=1><span style='font-size:7.0pt'>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Remember to change the extension of TXT to BAT or the batch file will
not run.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I hope this helps some SYSOPS to better automate some of the
processes. If anyone cares to add comments to the procedures contained
here to enable the batch to run better or do multiple things, please do
so. I am always willing to learn a better way. Share the knowledge.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Anthony - N2KI</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>30MDG - 1187</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <a href="http://www.n2ki.com">www.n2ki.com</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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