Re: Christmas Wish Lists

["John C. Peterson" <jaypee@netcom.com>]

On Thu, Dec 16, 1999 at 08:07:05PM -0600, Nathan Neulinger wrote:
> 
> If you're going to interface with DUATS, you might as well use the
> telnet interface. It's got built in documented facilities for batch mode
> use, including download of weather graphics. That's pretty much all that
> the web version is - just a front end on the telnet/dialup version. 
> 
> -- Nathan
> 

   Nathan, when you get a chance, could you tell us where the
documentation is for this? Working with a supported interface seems
like the best approach for DUATS. A technical aside on this. The
newer versions of Don Libes' expect package have a new tool (well,
new to me), called "autoexpect". It "watches" a sample interactive
session and builds the expect script for you. Makes a great starting
point vs constructing a script from scratch by hand.

   On the other hand, I would not recommend abandoning the idea of
using web accessible (e.g. http) documents in this tool. DUATS is not
all encompassing in terms of the information that is available out
there.  The most obvious example would be for non-US pilots, to whom
DUATS is meaningless. Small or private airports are another example,
NOAA / NWS might be your only source for observations.  I find the
radar and satellite "loops" at www.intellicast.com to be very
useful.  The local soaring forecast for my area is another example,
it's only accessible over the web (or voice telephone call).  Anyhow,
you get the idea. The tool should provide access to a wide variety of
information.

John

-- 
 ___|___  | John C. Peterson, KD6EKQ | Try Linux for Intel x86, it's the
  -(*)-   | mailto:jaypee@netcom.com | Ferarri of 32 bit operating systems!
  o/ \o   | San Diego, CA   U.S.A    | See http://www.linux.org/ for info
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