HURRTRAK Installation & Documentation Instructions
Thank you for purchasing the HURRTRAK System from PC Weather Products.
PLEASE READ ALL OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE INSTALLING.
This information sheet provides information on
- Installing the software
- Reviewing/Printing the documentation, system helps
- Initially setting up the system
General Installation Comments (Important):
There are 2 installation options available to the user.
1. Update install. This option is ONLY for users who are upgrading from the 2001 or 2002 versions of the HURRTRAK software. It updates all of the software modules and databases while maintaining all of the users data. This includes database data, user preferences, custom maps, etc.. Recommended for folks upgrading from the 2001 or 2002 versions only.
2. Full Install. This option is for…
a. New Installations
b. Older version upgrades… those that are upgrading from the 2000 and prior versions of the HURRTRAK system. The system is installed to a different directory than your current version. Your may remove a prior version before or after this install is complete. The 1995 - 2002 storm databases are included with this install however the users prior database data is not preserved. User preferences will need to be redefined, etc..
Update Install instructions:
1. Exit all applications, you may be required to restart the system
2. Insert the CD into the CDROM drive
3. Using Explorer or My Computer, browse the CD Drive and execute the update.exe application
4. Have your serial number handy and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. One phase of the upgrade is the updating of your current database files. This may take several minutes depending on system speed.
Note: When complete your Windows Program Group may still contain the “2001/2” name. This is a known issue but is not a problem... you do have the 2003 system installed which will be confirmed by the startup screen of the main tracking program. You man rename this Windows Program Group by “right clicking” on it and selecting the rename function. Do not rename the file folder / directory.
FULL Install instructions:
1. Exit all applications, and reboot the system before installing.
2. Insert the CD into the CDROM drive
3. Using Explorer or My Computer, browse the CD Drive and execute the install.exe application.
4. Have your serial number handy and follow the on-screen instructions. Note: You may be required to restart the system after only part of the installation is done. This is normal and you should answer Yes to the reboot prompts. After the reboot the install will start again. Please follow the on-screen prompts again.
5. At the end of the install, you will be prompted to install Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, please install it at this time. It is required in order for you to examine the Online System Documentation. Note: If you want to install Adobe later, execute ar405eng.exe in the acrobat directory on the CD. Do not install this if you have Acrobat reader Version 5 or 6 already installed.
Special Installation considerations for EM/Pro and RM/Pro (full install only)
The Hurrtrak EM/Pro and RM/Pro install (including Global) has 3 components:
1. Hurricane Tracking System Files - The Hurricane Tracking system files are required and contain all of the programs, files and windows components. This must be installed, at least, once.
2. DEM (Digital Elevation Model) data - Installation of the DEM data files is required if you are planning on using the SLOSHView Inundation Analysis Program. These files require 279 MB of hard disk space. You may install this component at a later time.
3. Geographical Street Atlas Data - This data is used by the HURRTRAK program to draw the detailed “street level” maps. This data MUST be loaded in order to use the SLOSHView program. These files require 365 MB of hard drive space and can be installed at a later time. There are 2 options regarding loading this data.
· No installation. Select this option if you do not plan on using the SLOSHView program and do not require “street level” tracking charts.
· Installation it to your hard drive. This will allow you to use the SLOSHView program and allows the HURRTRAK program to display detailed “street level” maps. (recommended).
Learning the System…
System Documentation & Helps
System Documentation (Users Manual)
In response to our customer input and the acknowledgment that many software vendors provide online documentation, we provide our system documentation in electronic form (selectable from the application's program group). There are several advantages to this approach in areas of ranging from distribution to usage. Some of these include:
- the ability to do keyword searches (finds)
- the option to print all or only those portions of the manual that you need
- ease of distribution
- documentation that is always accessible
- the ability to easily share the manual among users
- no copy limitations
The system documentation can be viewed by selecting the "system documentation" option from the Windows Start Programs menu or by selecting "Display System Documentation" from the HURRTRAK Help menu.
We have included extensive help files (selectable from the application's program group) in addition to "context" sensitive help. Just about every screen or function has a help option. Selecting it will provide you information on the function being worked on. There are also extensive search and find capabilities.
After installing the system there are several system/user parameters that should be setup first. They include the following.
1. Setting up a new storm database. The system comes with the storm databases from 1995 to 2002. It is installed with the default set to the 2002 database. If you want to create a new storm database either user the File – Database option from the main tracking program or go to System Setup - General options and follow the on-screen directions.
2. Define your "Base" Location and time zone. If you have an interest in a single location, you may define it to the system in the General Options. (available from Tools-User Preferences-General). After doing so, the main application menu status bars will show storm information relative to your location. You should also define your time zone at this time.
3. Define your system's EMail parameters (EM & RM only). In order to use the email capabilities of the system, you will need to define these in Email General options. (tools-user preferences- email setup).
4. Define your personal EMail Addressbook (EM & RM only). To send email, you must first define all of the possible recipients in the Addressbook option. (tools-user preferences-email addressbook).
5. Define your HURRTRAK ONLINE parameters. To receive HURRTRAK Online information you must define several parameters.
If you are going to use the Internet connection method to receive data (recommended) you must do the following.
A. Define your Internet connection parameters in the Internet Item in the Windows control panel (Installed as part of MS Explorer).
Select the HURRTRAK ONLINE user option (tools-user preferences-hurrtrak online) and
B. Define your Userid and Password. Be certain that you enter them EXACTLY as shown on your subscription letter!
C. If using a proxy server, set up http proxy parameters as directed by your system network administrator.
At this point, you are ready to request data either manually or automatically.
If you are going to use the Direct Dial method you should select the file-HURRTRAK ONLINE Direct Dial option from the main menu and select your systems modem and enter the direct dial access phone number. Make sure you include any local access codes that are required to dial out. The direct dial access number is 770 956-1097. Direct Dial is not recommended and is available mainly for backup in case the internet connection fails.
6. Setup HURRTRAK Online automation. If you are getting data via the internet connection, you may setup the system to automatically poll for new data at regular intervals. This will let you get new data without having to request it. This is most beneficial for users who are "always" connected to the internet however dialup users can also use this feature. This option is in Hurrtrak Online option. (tools-user preferences-hurrtrak online, automation tab).
7. Setup your Impact Analysis parameters (EM & RM only). If you are going to run the county or zip code report you will want to customize the states that are included in the analysis. You may do this in the Impact Analysis option (tools-user preferences-impact analysis). Narrowing down the "states of interest" will improve the performance when generating these reports.
8. Setup Action Points. Several of the system's decision support features (including decision arcs) are based off of your organizations decision criteria or "action points". These are defined in the system setup's location maintenance option. Highlight a location you would like to add action points for and select the "define action points" option.
The setup items mentioned above only represent a fraction of all of the various system and user preference available to the user.