Re: PHP Weather 2.1.2

[Martin G. <gim...@gi...>]

Dan Martin <da...@da...> writes:

> I have figured out after struggling a bit how to pull most of the
> information in 2.1.2, but I am still having difficulties pulling
> "Clouds" and "Weather." I know that the information is in an array,
> but I am unclear on how to bring it out of the array.
>
> I also cannot seem to pull wind direction (SW, NW, W), but I can
> pull the compass degree (135, 90, 110).
>
>
> Here is the code:
>
>
> $weather = new phpweather();
> $icons   = new pw_images($weather);
> $location = $weather->get_location();
> $image   = $icons->get_sky_image();
> $data = $weather->decode_metar();
> $temp = $data[temperature];
> $windvar = $data[wind];             <-----This Doesn't Work
> $cloudvar = $data[clouds];            <-----This Doesn't Work
> $time =  date("m/d/y g:i a",($data[time]));
> $weathervar = $data[weather];

First of all, please remember to use strings when you index into an
array. Like this: $var = $some_array['some index']. The other way is
deprecated...

To see the structure of the array do this:

  echo "<pre>\n";
  print_r($data);
  echo "</pre>\n";

Then you'll see that $data['wind'] is yet another array that contains
up to eight entries depending on the weather. You'll always find these
entries:

  $data['wind']['deg'];               // Wind direction in degrees
  $data['wind']['knots'];             // Wind speed, knots.
  $data['wind']['miles_per_hour'];    // Wind speed, miles per hour.
  $data['wind']['meters_per_second']; // Wind speed, m/s.

If there are gusts, then you'll find these entries as well:

  $data['wind']['gust_knots']
  $data['wind']['gust_meters_per_second']
  $data['wind']['gust_miles_per_hour']

Finally, the wind might be varying between two directions:

  $data['wind']['var_beg']
  $data['wind']['var_end']

As for the $data['clouds'] entry, then this is an array of arrays. The
first entry is the first cloud-layer, the second entry is the layer
above etc. So

  $data['clouds'][0]['condition']

could be FEW if there were few clouds in the first layer. The altitude
of this layer is

  $data['clouds'][0]['metar']  or
  $data['clouds'][0]['ft'].

The second layer (if there is such a layer) is stored at
$data['clouds'][1].

You'll notice that the data in $data is language-neutral. You'll have
to provide your own strings for N, NW, W etc when you parse the
data. The best way would probably be to make a new method in
pw_text.php and then reuse the strings and other methods that are
already present there.

If you come up with a good extenstion of pw_text.php, then please send
it to the list so that it can become part of the distribution.

-- 
Martin Geisler                       My GnuPG Key: 0xF7F6B57B

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