User`s guide

ODV HowTo

1 Introduction

This document contains in-depth descriptions on how to perform frequently occurring

tasks with ODV.

2 Collections

2.1 Adding or Deleting Meta- and Collection Variables

The sets of meta- and collection variables in a given ODV data collection are defined

when the collection is created. ODV allows modifying these variable sets at any time and

lets you add new variables, delete existing ones or change the properties of existing var-

iables using the Collection>Properties>Meta Variables or Collection>Properties> Collec-

tion Variables options.

You add a new variable by pressing the New button and specifying label, units, the

number of significant digits (numeric variables only), the quality flag schema to be used

for this variable, and the data type and byte length (TEXT variables only). Click OK to

add the new variable to the end of the variable list and repeat this procedure for all new

variables to be added.

You change the position of a given variables in the list by selecting that variable and

clicking on the Top, Up, Down, Bottom buttons. You change the properties of an existing

variable by selecting the variable and clicking on the Edit button. You delete an existing

variable by selecting the variable and clicking on the Delete button. Note that mandato-

ry meta-variables cannot be deleted.

After making the changes ODV will re-write the entire collection accommodating the

new or modified variables in the new version. Please note that the new variables will

not contain any data initially. You may selectively add data for the new variables and

keep the data of other variables unchanged using the Merge Data (selected variables)

import mode (see chapter 4.8 in the ODV User’s Guide).

3 Station Maps

3.1 Making Cruise Maps

You can create full-page, high quality stations maps showing the currently selected sta-

tions of the open data collection using View>Window Layout>Layout Templates>Full

Screen Map. Station maps may also be produced if you only have access to the station

metadata (e.g., station positions, dates, etc.), but the actual station data are inaccessible.

Here is how to proceed: