file: /users/bsahr/EVLA/monitor_data_archive/NetBeans/monartool_V1.3.8
            /gui/trunk/src/main/resources/docs/release_notes_v1_3_8.txt

date: Wednesday, 11/17/2010
author: Bill Sahr

This version of the query interface Ids itself as:
   MONITOR DATA QUERY IF, Ver 1.3.8, 11/17/2010, 16:00, monartool

As usual, the URL for this version of the query intreface is:
     https://mcmonitor.evla.nrao.edu/monartool-gui/main.faces

These release notes contain some information that will be useful
to users.  Please read at least item 1 below, and the 2 items
given under the heading "Known Issues".  Please pass these notes
along to query interface users who do not appear on the distribution
list for this email.


1. This version of the Query Interface can be used to query any of the
five databases that are currently available.  The five databases and
their contents are:
    1.1 evlamon   The main database for EVLA antenna monitor data.
    1.2 monstdby  The backup database for EVLA antenna data.
    1.3 montest   A database used for development & testing of the
                  Query Interface.  It contains EVLA antenna data
                  for the period 7/16/2009 - 8/13/2009.  Obviously,
                  this database is of no interest to a user.  Please
                  be certain that you are NOT unintentionally connected 
                  to this database when queries are run.
    1.4 vlbatest  Contains VLBA monitor data.
    1.5 widarmon  Contains WIDAR correlator monitor data.

When 1st loaded, the Query Interface will connect to evlamon.

One can select/change the database from the main Query Interface web page.
There is a drop down list in the upper right hand corner of the main page
that is used to select the database.

If either the vlbatest or widarmon databases are selected, the left hand 
portion of the main web page will change to permit easier selection of the 
modules of interest.  The vlbatest version of the web page allows single
or multiple VLBA sites to be selected.  It also includes a "show all sites"
option.


2. An error that prevented the proper application of stylesheet based
formatting of the web pages was corrected.  The application of styles
has allowed many changes including: 
     - more variation in the fonts
     - more use of color
     - improved formatting of the data table produced by the "show data"
       function
     - media sensitive formatting for the screen versus printer versions of
       the table produced by the "show data" function
     - full use of the width of the screen for the display of plots
     - media sensitive formatting of the plot as displayed on the screen
       versus the plot as printed
and other changes.


3.  The larger plot size for plots displayed on the screen benefitted
from a lossless format for the plot images.  The plots now use a .png file
format rather than .jpg.  If you encounter any difficulties viewing or
printing the plots/charts produced by the query interface please let me
know.  (Bill Sahr, X7285, bsahr@nrao.edu)


Known issues
1. There are some problems with the screen & print formats produced by
the "show data" function.  When long module names & monitor point names
have been selected there may be a misalignment of the date & monitor
data rows due to wrapping (2 lines instead of 1) of either the
date & time or of the module name.  This behavior has not been seen
for the case of EVLA antenna data, but is sometimes seen for the WIDAR
correlator data.  Since this issue is expected to be only a minor
inconvenience to users, it was decided not to delay the release of
this new version of the query interface.  Please note, downloaded files
do NOT have this problem.  All elements of the rows of downloaded files
are always properly aligned.

If this issue proves to be more than a minor nuisance to you, please
contact me & let me know.  This issue will be addressed in a future
release of the query interface.

2. Some strange effects, due to web browser caching of pages, have been
seen when this new version of the query interface is run in a browser
that has recently run the previous version of the query interface.  It
is strongly recommended that one completely CLOSE & QUIT THE WEB BROWSER
(kill the entire browser, not just a tab) and then start a fresh
copy of the browser before loading this new version of the query interface
for the 1ST TIME.  This recommendation applies only to the very 1st attempt
to load and run the new version of the query interface.  Subsequent
loading/reloading of the main web page does not require special treatment.