Environment Canada Weather/Weather Warnings

[htrdlicn]

OK. I believe I've found the problem...
...Testing now. Will upload the (hopefully) final version with devicevalues later.

Cool, Looking forward to that.

Years ago, a friend and I hacked together a script that parsed the EC HTML to get our weather information... But it depended on their HTML not changing - and it always did. As such I have been thinking that I would retry using the (now available) XML.

I actually started writing it yesterday, and then I thought "I better google this" and sure enough you have done a smash up job!

Thanks a lot!

[Wadenut]

Yes, I remember your script.

This has been quite an experience.
Originally, I'd planned on only having a weather warning announcement for my own use. Then, it took on a life of it's own, growing from a 100 line script to about 800 and counting.

I'll test the DeviceValues function for the rest of today (looking good so far). This function makes creating Event Conditions based on changing weather conditions easier to work with.

And...
Today as luck would have it, we have a Weather Warning active so, I had the perfect opportunity to tune this part up by formatting the text into something that would make sense when spoken. I think you'll like it.

If all goes well, the only thing left to do will be to test Humidex (no data until next summer) which I expect will be OK, and to perhaps deal with EC modifying an existing weather warning.

Need input here:
Do we want to be alerted when the Advisory changes?

My thought would be yes. I know it happens, but I haven't seen this yet so don't know what to expect.

[Wadenut]

v1.16 is available

V1.16 of the script is available.

This should fix the degree problem.

All Device Values, where applicable, are available for use as conditional triggers for events.

This version also adds a clickable HTML link to the full text of a Weather Advisory when applicable. The link is contained within the DeviceString of the Advisory Device. The summary text can be optionally written to the HS log when a change occurs.

The "Weather Warning" DeviceString contains a summary of the Advisory text. The full text of a Weather Advisory can be quite lengthy and would simply not, in my opinion, look very good on the Status page.

[htrdlicn]

Working Great!

Seems to be working very well.

No longer saying &deg

It was even saying wind (wind up toy) before, and now it's saying wind (wind is from the south). Not sure if that was your doing or the speech engine (neospeech) reading it in context.

The only thing I will be changing is to add a super condensed version. "it is cloudy and 21 degrees"

Many thanks from a lurker,

Jason

Nevermind, The forecast is still saying wind (as in wind up toy)

[Wadenut]

You can do the condensed version by deselecting some of the items to speak in the configuration.

I can't take credit for the wind/winde. Must be the context. Bugs me too.

[Wadenut]

I see no point in having an verbal alert update when a Weather Warning is changed. The text of this warning, which has been in effect since yesterday has been updated four times so far. The only change has been the Date/Time. The script already provides a link to the full text of the alert where we can get the fully updated information.

Thoughts?

SNOWFALL WARNING IN EFFECT.
Issued: 04:09 AM AST Wednesday 23 November 2011.
Persons in or near this area should be on the lookout for adverse weather conditions and take necessary safety precautions.

This one is telling me to expect 35cm (13.8 inches for the Americans *) of snow today. Time to batten down the hatches. I probably wouldn't have known were it not for the script.

* That reminds me. Anyone want the option to convert to English measurements?
Also, a French version might be possible if needed.

[Wadenut]

Any requests?

I have noticed that, at least in my time zone, the wind direction is sometimes being converted to "time zone" for speech. This is fixed in 1.17.
1.16 speaks the "Full Text" link when speaking Current Conditions. OOPS. Fixed in 1.17
I noticed too that I neglected to update "Version =" since 1.14. This only affects debug output so isn't much of a concern.

I've also added an option to 1.17 to direct speech to selected Speaker clients. Default will be ALL.

I'd like to know what more you think needs to be done, if anything.
There is a TO DO list accompanying the download. This list will contain items I'm aware of and working on.
If there's nothing else to be done, then I will upload 1.17 and that should be the final version.

[langenet]

That's what you get for living in Nova Scotia Greg!... Then again, I'm sure your used to it!

I haven't had time to try you EC script yet... though looks really good.

Robert

Edit. I don't use Speach yet, however, it would be nice to rather have it default to all clients to be user selectable (on or off).
Also a handful of gifs would be nice to make it 'colourful'!

[Wadenut]

That's what you get for living in Nova Scotia Greg!... Then again, I'm sure your used to it!

I haven't had time to try you EC script yet... though looks really good.

Robert

Edit. I don't use Speach yet, however, it would be nice to rather have it default to all clients to be user selectable (on or off).
Also a handful of gifs would be nice to make it 'colourful'!

Thanks Robert. I appreciate the feedback.

For no speech, simply don't run the Announcement events.
Default speech goes to all clients, unless specified otherwise in the options. (Starting with 1.17)

Gifs, eh? I was afraid someone might ask for that. I'll start on it now.
I'll probably have to scape those from other plugins. I hope no-one minds.
Perhaps I'll make them selectable.

[langenet]

Thanks again Greg...

I really don't know anything about speach as I thought I'd never use it... though it's interest is growing. Perhaps I should open up a new thread.

Thanks for adding colour to it! Yes, for everyone else, we in Canada spell it with a 'u'! eh....

Rob

Hope your snowblower works!!! I see the weather going your way. We got off lucky in Ottawa.

[Wadenut]

Hope your snowblower works!!! I see the weather going your way. We got off lucky in Ottawa.

It's been snowing here all morning. I just got through moving the lawn mower and the tiller to the back of the garage, and the snowblower to the front. I'll likely need it tomorrow. It's a workhorse. Always has started first pull. Failing that there's electricity... hopefully. May need to use the PowerBox I just bought at Canadian Tire [ "More than just tires" ] on sale.

[Wadenut]

Also a handful of gifs would be nice to make it 'colourful'!

You shall have your Gifs, Robert. I've spent the whole day finding something colorful for you and adding them.

They'll be re-sizable via an option.

I want to let this run for awhile before I upload 1.17 (since there have been no other requests. I assume I've done it right).

[Loup]

[Loup]

[Wadenut]

Hi Wolf,

The directions in the file are pretty straight forward. There ARE a lot of options.

To start with:
- Rename the file from "Environment Canada Weather.vb.txt" to "Environment Canada.vb" and copy it into your \Homeseer\"Scripts" directory.
- Look carefully at the options in the file:
-- You need to tell it what location to use for your local weather.
-- Select the device codes to use. (In case you already use the ones in the file.)
-- The rest can be changed later on

- Create an event to run the script about every 30 minutes.

The script will create all of the required devices and other events for you.

You should be good to start.

I'm sorry; it's only going to work with an English site right now. My French is not good, but if enough people want it, I may consider a French version later.