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[[Category: Configuration_Files]]
[[Category:Configuration Files]]
This page has been renamed from "Cumulus.ini" to preserve the early history of that page.
= Initial Configurations =
The main cumulus.ini [[:Category:Configuration Files| configuration file]] is located in the directory in which you installed Cumulus.exe. It is a text file containing initialization parameters used by the Cumulus application, and is read only when Cumulus starts up. Cumulus re-writes the contents of the application configuration screens to the file when it shuts down.


The information that was on this old Cumulus.ini page has been moved into separate pages for Cumulus 1, MX early releases, and MX latest releases.
A second cumulus.ini may be stored in the reports sub-directory, this only contains a [[#Section:_MainForm|single section]] and relates to the screen used for NOAA reports.


=History of this page=
The parameters listed can change the look of Cumulus, hold basic information about your location, amend the way Cumulus interfaces with your weather station, and hold the settings used to interface with your website and various external websites.


This page has proved the most complicated of all those in the Wiki to maintain:
If you are using an old version, then checking the release information may be advisable to identify the sections applicable to your build and the parameters allowed within those sections may be a subset of those listed below.
# Settings change extremely often
= File Structure =
#* Therefore it is a lot of effort to keep the documentation up to date
The main file consists of a number of sections, each with a heading delimited by '[ ]', (although the order in the file may be different to that in this article). Parameter lines are in the form 'attribute=value' and grouped by those sections.
#* It is obviously easiest if an update is made here as soon as the settings change, sometimes that happens (perhaps by developer doing an update here)
# The design of configuration menus/screens/pages to edit the settings periodically changes
#* This means information about how to change settings often depends upon which release someone is using
#** In turn that means, either Cumulus users of latest release, or those using an earlier release, will struggle with the documentation
# Developers often provide limited information about settings,
#* Sometimes new settings are mentioned in an answer in a forum post, and do not get mentioned as a change in release announcements
#** This means that finding accurate information to update this page requires an awful lot of research that is very time consuming


The above observations applied for the legacy software, when Cumulus 2, and then 3 (MX), came along the documentation was originally split. When MX started (in 2019 to early 2020) to try to replicate much of what Cumulus 1 offered, it made sense to reuse what was written on this page for Cumulus 1, instead of duplicating it on a second page.
Some [[#Sections_dealing_with_interfaces_to_external_sites|sections]] relate to the external websites that Cumulus can optionally supply with updates. These are set by configuration screens and the whole sections will always be present. If you do not use those external services their parameters will be set to the defaults.


Then from mid 2020 to early 2021, there was rapid development of MX by the new developer, and MX began to increasingly diverge more and more from the legacy configuration, this page reflected that by introducing sub-sections (Cumulus 1 only, MX only, and both).
Each new version of cumulus may add additional parameters set by revised configuration screens (these initially appear at the end of the relevant section), and/or permit additional parameters to be added manually (these can be inserted anywhere within the section).
From early 2021 onwards that 3 sub-section design for this page failed because new MX releases began to diverge from earlier MX releases. In other words, parameters that had existed at an early MX release, were no longer used by later releases. It was possible, but increasingly more and more difficult, to track new parameters to add that were added at particular releases, so the documentation got more and more obsolete.


To sum up, it was impossible for this page to show information for the legacy software, for early MX releases, and for later MX releases. The response was to move off this page anaything not relevant to the latest MX release, and to restructure this page based on how MX settings are altered, rather than where a parameter appears in the file.
== Beta builds ==
If you are using a beta build, there may be changes to the information shown below with additional sections and/or additional parameters (attribute=value) under test. Brief details of such changes will be given in the support forum annoucement for the relevant build. New sections and/or attributes and/or values for beta versions of Cumulus are not listed here until the version becomes 'live' however there is a [[Cumul.ini_(Beta)|page]] that details the additional parameters available in the Beta version once they have become established, but for details of beta tests see [http://sandaysoft.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=2 the forum].
= Editing the file =


== Initialisation ==
When Cumulus is run for the very first time, the ''Station settings'' screen within the '''Configuration''' menu is displayed, so that the basic minimum settings can be entered into Cumulus.ini. Should you accidentally delete Cumulus.ini this would happen again, so it is always best to take a backup of the complete Cumulus directory and sub-directories so nothing is lost in such a situration.


==Steve Loft Era==
See [[Setup]] for further advice, noting in particular that some settings (such as units, date/time formats) should stay unchanged.
== Settings controlled by application ==
Many configuration parameter lines are changed from the various application edit, view, or configuration screens, and so making any amendments using those screens should ensure your replacement values are acceptable. You should never edit these parameter lines directly in the file ''while Cumulus is running'', as when Cumulus shuts down it will replace your amendments to these parameters with the contents of the relevant application Edit/View/Configuration screens.


<big>The configuration file content relating to the legacy software (e.g. 1.9.4) has been moved to [[Cumulus.ini_(Cumulus_1)|legacy page]]</big>


''You can edit them in the file with Cumulus stopped'', but beware of selecting invalid values for these parameters, generally it is safer to use the application to edit them (unless you are importing values from another setup), and Cumulus will read the new values when it is next restarted.
== Settings independent of application ==
Some configuration settings can only be applied by editing this file to insert a new parameter line; they do not appear anywhere in the configuration screens. Cumulus does not write these values back out to the file on shut down, so they do not appear with default values - in other words, you need to ''add'' them if you want to set them. Make sure you place these additional parameters in the correct section as listed below.
=== Editing outside Cumulus ===
*It is best to take a copy of the existing cumulus.ini file before you make any changes (either by using application screens or by editing the file), so you can return to the original if necessary.
*If your system is configured to use a comma for a decimal separator, then you should use a comma in any decimal values that you set in this file.
*You should use a text editor (not a rich text editor nor word processor) to edit this file as only letters, numerical digits, decimal separators and the equals symbol are allowed in any parameter. If you use a spreadsheet program to make use of the manipulation it offers, ensure it is set to output in pure text.
*The parameter lines (attribute=value) can be in any order, but must be in the correct section. You might find it helpful to sort the attributes within a section into alphabetical order, to ''ensure you have no duplicates'' and to make it easier to find the particular parameter line you may wish to edit in the future.

= File Contents =
== Introduction ==
The entries shown in the 'parameter line entry' column include the default value from the configuration screen where applicable, a typical example value where appropriate, or just the attribute and an equals sign where there is no typical value.

== Section: Station ==
See individual parameters for specific instructions on setting them. In many cases this is by using Station Configuration Screen, but if the parameter line does not exist in your file, then insert it using a file editor as per instructions above.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:400px" | Legacy Software 1.x.y releases
!style="width:600px" | Function
!style="width:200px" | Beta builds of legacy software
!style="width:200px" | Cumulus 2 alpha releases
!style="width:300px" | MX beta 3.0.0
|-
|-
| This page was created for the legacy Cumulus 1 software (up to 1.9.4). If you look at the history tab of this page, user‎ '''Shamrockspider''' created this page at 12:55 on 27 August 2009 for the purpose of '''Documenting the cumulus.ini file content and its function.'''
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Station]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section name - the following parameters relate to the station configuration.
|-
|Type=-1
|Station Type as set by the checked radio box in the [[Cumulus_Screenshots#Configuration_Menu_Screens|Station Configuration Screen]], Station Type block. For details of [[Supported_Devices]] click that link.
*0=Vantage Pro
*1=Vantage Pro2
*2=WMR-928
*3=WM-918
*4=[[EasyWeather_Format#Usage_of_easyweather.dat_fields_for_Cumulus_input_of_latest_record: |EasyWeather]] (using .dat file)
'''NOTE:''' You can also use ''Type=4'' if you want to run Cumulus without a weather station attached, to view historical observations. A full set of (historic) files in the ''data'' subfolder copied from a system with a weather station attached is needed, but in this case, the [[#Introduced_for_problems_with_Fine_Offset_family| EWFile= ]] attribute should be at its default of not having any filename value.
*5=Fine Offset/Watson/MyDel etc
*6=WS2300
*7=Fine Offset with Solar Sensors
*8=[[WMR100-200_Protocol|WMR100]]
*9=[[WMR100-200_Protocol|WMR200]]
|-
|Model="your Model description"
|The weather station model description - you choose what text appears for this on (from version 1.9) 'Display' settings screen within Configuration menu - the field is at the bottom left of that screen).
|-
|Port=0
|Com port in your computer which is connected to your weather station if connected via a serial port. Defaults to port 0.
|-
|Latitude=0
|You are advised ''not'' to directly edit this parameter in the file, but to type Latitude (unsigned) Degrees, Minutes, Seconds and select 'N' or 'S' in the Station Configuration Screen Location block. Value in this parameter is Latitude in Decimal Degrees based on what you have entered, Positive for North, Negative for South
|-
|Longitude=0
|You are advised ''not'' to directly edit this parameter in the file, but to type Longitude (unsigned) Degrees, Minutes, Seconds and select 'E' or 'W' in the Station Configuration Screen Location block. Value in this parameter is Longitude in Decimal Degrees based on what you have entered, Positive for East, Negative for West
|-
|LatTxt=
|You are advised ''not'' to directly edit this parameter in the file, but to type Latitude Degrees, Minutes, Seconds in the Station Configuration Screen Location block. Latitude in text string format of hemisphere D, M and S. HTML ampersand codes are used for spaces and unit characters.
|-
|LonTxt=
|Longitude in text string format of hemisphere degrees, minutes and seconds. HTML ampersand codes are used for spaces and DMS characters.
|-
|Altitude=0
|your station altitude as entered in the Station Configuration Screen Location block. See Cumulus Help for that screen.
|-
|AltitudeInFeet=1
|Altitude measurement unit as set in the Station Configuration Screen Location block.
*0 = metres Above Sea Level
*1 = feet ASL
|-
|Humidity98Fix=0
|Selected in the Station Configuration Screen Settings block.
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, humidity displayed and recorded as 100% if your sensor registers a relative humidity of 98% or greater. Normally only useful for Oregon Scientific stations.
|-
|Wind10MinAverage=0
|Selected in the Station Configuration Screen Settings block.
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, Cumulus will calculate and display a 10-minute average wind speed instead of using the value supplied by the station.
|-
|CalculatedDP=0
|Selected in the Station Configuration Screen Settings block.
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled, Cumulus will calculate the dew point instead of using the value supplied by the station. This avoids the restriction in the Oregon Scientific stations where the dew point can never be below freezing point.
|-
|CalculatedWC=0
|Selected in the Station Configuration Screen Settings block.
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled, Cumulus will calculate the wind chill instead of using the value supplied by the station. You should set this if you have specified any calibration values for wind and/or temperature, so that Cumulus can also apply those adjustments to the wind chill.
Note that some stations (Fine Offset, for example), do not make a wind chill value available to Cumulus. For these, Cumulus always calculates it.
|-
|UseWindChillCutOff=1
|Add to cumulus.ini [Station] section to disable 'calculate [[Wind chill]] only if temperature less than 10&#176;C rule'.
*0 = Disabled, Cumulus will use wind speed to determine the wind chill ignoring the temperature criterion
*1 = Enabled (default), Cumulus will use both temperature and wind speed criterions to determine if wind chill applies.
Note if your station is a type that supplies wind chill to Cumulus; that ''CalculatedWC=1'' is needed for this setting to have any effect [i.e. you need to set Cumulus (see parameter directly above) to calculate the wind chill as this setting cannot change how your weather station calculates wind chill].
|-
|ChillHourThreshold=45
|The temperature threshold is specified in the units that you use in Cumulus (see [[Heat/cold_degree_days_and_Chill_hours]])
|-
|ChillHourSeasonStart=10
|The season start figure is the calendar month number (1 to 12)
|-
|RolloverHour=0
|Log roll over time as selected on the Station Configuration Screen
*0 = midnight
*9 = 9am/10am
|-
|Use10amInSummer=1
|Daylight saving correction for 9am roll over
*0 = Use 9am in summer (use 10am not checked on Station Configuration Screen)
*1 = Use 10am in summer selected on Station Configuration Screen
|-
|
SnowDepthHour=9
|This line needs to be added in the [Station] section of the Cumulus.ini, it is the [[Weather_Diary|Snow lying/falling]] roll over time (time when yesterday's values in log.xml are forgotten) - Allowed values are 0 to 23 and represent the time to the nearest hour that snow depth measurements are taken.
*0 = midnight (default)
*9 = 9am,
*13 = 1pm etc.
Note this time is independent of your rollover time selections in the two preceding parameters.
|-
|ConfirmClose=0
|Confirm you wish to close Cumulus application after telling it to close
*0 = Disabled, application will close immediately
*1 = Enabled, application will prompt for confirmation that you wish to close it (do not use this if you might suspend/standby/hibernate your computer)
|-
|CloseOnSuspend=1
|If this is selected, on the Station Configuration Screen, Cumulus will close if you suspend/standby/hibernate your computer. You should not select 'Confirm shutdown' if you use this option.
*0 = Disabled, application will not close if you suspend/standby/hibernate your computer (it is highly recommended you close Cumulus manually before your computer is put into suspend/standby/hibernate state)
*1 = Enabled, application will close on suspend/standby/hibernate of your computer (recommended if your computer can go into any of these states when left alone)
|-
|DataLogInterval=2
|Selected in the Station Configuration Screen [[Cumulus_Screenshots#Station|Data log interval]] block on the right hand side and defines frequency of logged information in the [[Monthly_log_files]] and, when applicable, in [[Extra_Sensor_Files]].
*0 = 1 min
*1 = 5 mins
*2 = 10 mins (default)
*3 = 15 mins
*4 = 20 mins
*5 = 30 mins
Notes:
*For a Davis station set to match your station logging interval. (Otherwise you may activate the 'feature' in the Davis stations where they send the entire contents of the data logger when Cumulus asks for the data since it was last running). See Readme.txt.
*For some station Types, Cumulus only reads latest readings while it is running, and missing station readings are not captured if Cumulus is restarted.
*For other makes as ''Cumulus on restarting is able (see next parameter) to read logged data from your station'' you can choose to match Cumulus and station logging intervals, then the frequency of logged information will be same regardless of whether Cumulus is running continuously or restarted.
*Some Cumulus users set this Cumulus logging interval to be one of the two shorter times so they retain the maximum measurement detail in case of any need to correct rogue measurements, but have set their station logging interval at a longer time so that the station does not overwrite the memory locations over the longest period they might be away. In this case, the frequency of logged information will change between the periods Cumulus is running and the catch-up readings from station logger when it is restarted.
|-
|UseDataLogger=1
|If selected, at start-up, Cumulus will download data from the stations data logger (if it has one) to catch up from the point where Cumulus was last shut down. See last parameter for advice re station logging interval.
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled (Default)
|-
|WindUnit=0
|[[Wind_measurement#Wind_Speed|Wind speed measurement unit]] Cumulus records in as selected in the Station Configuration Units block
*0 = m/s
*1 = mph
*2 = km/h
*3 = kts
These are the labels that Cumulus applies on its screens and web pages, most weather stations work in one unit (e.g. dm/s for Fine Offset) and so the values are converted to any of the 4 listed during processing
|-
|PressureUnit=0
|[[Pressure_Measurement]] unit Cumulus records in (as selected in the Station Configuration Units block)
*0 = mb
*1 = hPa
*2 = in
These are the labels that Cumulus applies on its screens and web pages, most weather stations work in one unit (e.g. hPa for Fine Offset) and so the values are converted to any of the 3 listed during processing
|-
|RainUnit=0
|[[Rain_measurement]] unit Cumulus records in (as selected in the Station Configuration Units block)
*0 = mm
*1 = in
These are the labels that Cumulus applies on its screens and web pages, most weather stations work in one unit (e.g. dm for Fine Offset) and so the values are converted to either of the 2 listed during processing
|-
|TempUnit=0
|[[Temperature_(and_humidity)_measurement#Temperature_Scales|Temperature measurement unit]] Cumulus records in (as selected in the Station Configuration Units block)
*0 = Celsius
*1 = Fahrenheit
|-
|LocName=
|Location Name (as entered on the Station Configuration Screen)
|-
|LocDesc=
|Location Description (as entered on the Station Configuration Screen)
|-
|StartDate=13/08/2009
|By default this will be set to the date of initial installation of the Cumulus application. See [[FAQ#I_have_inserted_pre-Cumulus_data_making_.27Records_began_on.27_date_wrong]]
|-
|LastLoggerDownload=13/08/2008 12:48:52
|The date/time of the last down load from your weather station '''(note: no longer used)'''; see [[Webtags#Miscellaneous|
<#LastDataReadT>]] and [[Today.ini|Timestamp]]
|-
|YTD[[FAQ#My_monthly_and.2For_annual_rainfall_totals_are_wrong|rain]]=0
|Year to date correction if starting part way through year as entered in the Station Configuration Screen. Value is entered in your current [[Rain_measurement]] units. Default is 0.
|-
|YTDrainyear=0
|The year for which the YTDrain is to be applied. Default is 0 meaning not applied to any year.
|-
|UseCumulusForecast=0
|From the Station Configuration Screen Forecast block, if selected Cumulus will generate a simple weather forecast, if your station does not supply one, or as an alternative to the one supplied by your station. See the [[Forecast webtag]] for more information. See next parameter for interval between forecast updates.
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled
|-
|HourlyForecast=0
|If Cumulus is set (see previous parameter) to generate a forecast (see [[FAQ#My_forecast_says_.22Not_available.22]]),
*0 = Disabled, (default) Cumulus will use Zambretti Forecaster every time it updates the web pages.
*1 = Enabled, this setting causes the forecast to be updated only once an hour (on the hour).
|-
|UseCumulusPresstrendstr=0
|Set in the Station Configuration Screen Settings block. If selected Cumulus will generate the name for the current pressure trend, e.g. "Falling", "Rising quickly" etc, instead of the one supplied by your station. The names used are those in the UK Shipping Forecast. Note that some stations do not supply this anyway, so setting this has no effect (Cumulus always generates the names for those stations).
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|FCpressinMB=1
|Forecast pressure unit as selected in Station Configuration Forecast block
*0 = inches
*1 = mb
|-
|FClowpress=950
|Low Pressure extreme limit as entered in the Station Configuration Forecast block. Default is 950mb
|-
|FChighpress=1050
|High Pressure extreme limit as entered in the Station Configuration Forecast block. Default is 1050mb
|-
|UseZeroBearing=0
|Set this in the Station Configuration Screen Settings block.
*0 = Disabled, Cumulus displays the current bearing read from the station (i.e. the last direction the wind was blowing from before it became calm). Note that the average wind bearing will always display zero bearing if there has been no wind for the last 10 minutes, as the average bearing takes wind speed into account.
*1 = Enabled, Cumulus display a bearing of zero (and '---' for the compass point) when the wind is calm
|-
|WarnMultiple=0
|Multiple Instances of Cumulus running on PC
*0 = Disabled, (default) Multiple instances allowed.
*1 = Enabled, prevents multiple instances of Cumulus from running. Requires a Cumulus restart to take effect.
|-
|CloudBaseInFeet=1
|Cloud base measurement unit
*0 = metres
*1 = feet (default)
|-
|RTdisconnectcount=N
|By default, the 'realtime' ftp connection stays connected. You can make it disconnect periodically by adding an Option to periodically disconnect the realtime FTP connection, the theory being that it will not get stuck if the server dies, and will keep trying to reconnect.
N must be a positive integer. For example set N to '60'; it represents the number of realtime ftp uploads between disconnections - so 60 would give an hour if 1 minute realtime interval selected.
|-
|Logging=1
|Add to cumulus.ini [Station] section to have Cumulus start with [[debug]] logging on
|-
|AvgSpeedMinutes=N
|where N is the number of minutes over which Cumulus calculates its average speed, if you have Cumulus set to do this. Default = 10. If you selected 60, then Cumulus would calculate rolling 60-minute average wind speeds.
|-
|AvgBearingMinutes=N
|where N is the number of minutes over which Cumulus calculates (by treating the wind as a vector and taking into account the speed as well as direction) its average bearing. Default = 10.
|-
|ListWebTags=1
|Add this entry to make Cumulus create (each time it is restarted) a file called webtags.txt that contains an unsorted list of all the webtags that Cumulus supports
|-
|RainSeasonStart=1
|The month of the year that is used as the start of the annual 'rain season'. Default = 1 = January.
|-
|RainDayThreshold=-1
|The threshold value which the daily rainfall has to equal or exceed for the day to be considered a 'rain day'. Default -1 = 0.2mm or 0.01in. Value is entered in your current [[Rain_measurement]] units.
|-
|NoFlashWetDryDayRecords=1
|When set to 1 stops new Longest Wet/Dry Period records being 'flashed'
|-
|UseSpeedForAvgCalc=0
|When enabled (=1) Cumulus will use the longer-term 'speed' values in the average speed calculation. The 'Use 10-min average wind speed' option must be selected for this option to have any effect.
|-
|RoundWindSpeed=0
|When set to 1, this setting causes wind speeds rounded to the nearest integer.
|-
|ErrorLogSpikeRemoval=0
|??keeps the number of messages in the error log window to a maximum of 256?
|-
|UVdecimals=0
|This parameter (attribute=value) is added directly to the file, it does not appear on a configuration screen.
UV values are now displayed and logged as whole numbers by default. You can change this by adding this entry specifying the number of decimal places. (added 1.9.3 build 1038)
*0 = Integer Values (default)
*n = Number of decimal places e.g. 1
|-
|NoSensorCheck=1
|The option (for 'incomplete' stations) to disable the sensor check described in this [http://wiki.sandaysoft.com/a/FAQ#Cumulus_isn.27t_performing_periodic_tasks.2C_like_data_logging_or_web_uploads FAQ]
*0 = Sensor check enabled (default)
*1 = Sensor check disabled
|}


Back in 2009, the file was fairly simple, and therefore documentating it was also fairly easy.
==== Davis family specific: ====
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Station]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section name - the following parameters relate to the station configuration.
|-
|ForceVPBarUpdate=0
|Set this in the Station Configuration Screen Settings block. Select to force the Vantage Pro (and Pro2) barometer to update once a minute instead of the default 15 minutes. Note that you may not need this, more recent stations already update every minute
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|SyncDavisClock=0
|When set, at start-up, Cumulus will set the Davis VP/VP2 clock to the same time as the PC
*0 = Disabled, default as deselected on the Station Configuration Screen
*1 = Enabled
|-
|VP2ConnectionType=0
|Weather station connection type as selected in the Station Configuration Screen VP type block
*0 = serial
*1 = usb
*2 = TCP/IP
|-
|VP2TCPPort=22222
|Set this in the Station Configuration Screen VP2 TCP/IP Settings block. Comunications port used if VP type has TCP/IP selected. Default is 2222
|-
|VP2IPAddr=0.0.0.0
|Set this in the Station Configuration Screen VP2 TCP/IP Settings block. Weather station IP address if VP type has TCP/IP selected. Default is 0.0.0.0
|-
|VP2SleepInterval=x
|where x is sleepinterval in milliseconds. See note in ''readme.txt'' about VP2SleepInterval - in current release it is around line 50. This parameter (attribute=value) is added directly to the file, it does not appear on a configuration screen. See [[FAQ#My_Davis_station_shows_a_higher_maximum_wind_speed_than_Cumulus]]
This is the period which Cumulus waits between reads of the data from Davis stations. The default is 500 ms; if you suspect that data is being missed, you could try reducing this figure. For VirtualVP users, tests revealed that VP2SleepInterval = 1100 seems to work the best. It updates every two seconds with few exceptions.
|-
|VPClosedownTime=x
|where x is the number of seconds after the start of the re-connect attempts that you want the program to close itself (added v.1.8.5 b.726). This parameter (attribute=value) is added directly to the file, it does not appear on a configuration screen.
|-
|VP2PeriodicDisconnectInterval=0
|Set this in the Station Configuration Screen Settings block with the ''Discon period'' value. Causes Cumulus to disconnect for the specified number of seconds, once a minute, on the minute (or as close as possible) to allow the Weatherlink IP to connect to the Davis Weatherlink site. Set it to zero to disable, if you are not using the Weatherlink site.
|-
|DavisCalcAltPress=1
|Davis stations calculate Sea Level Pressure from Station Pressure using a formula based on several parameters such as temperature, humidity, etc, rather than just using altitude as most other stations. CWOP require 'Altimeter Pressure' to be uploaded, i.e. a value calculated simply using altitude. The station does not provide this value directly, nor the station pressure, so Cumulus has to read some extra data once a minute in order to do the calculation. This can take several seconds, so it means that a 'normal' data reading may be missed.


Some settings were in [[Cumulus_Screenshots#Configuration_Menu_Screens|configuration screens]], and the file was arranged so that those settings were stored under a heading that generally (not in every case, for historic reasons) reflected the screen name. Documenting these was comparitively easy, the setting could be found easily and its allowed values could be easily tested.
If you don't use CWOP, or you are happy for Cumulus to send Sea-Level pressure to CWOP (the difference is small unless you are at high altitude), set this value to 0.
Cumulus will then use the Sea-Level Pressure value instead of the Cumulus calculated Altimeter Pressure.
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled (default)
|-
|LogExtraSensors=0
|This is set in the settings frame on the Station settings screen off the configuration menu. Set this to 1 if you have additional sensors (e.g. a Davis Leaf Wetness probe) to make Cumulus read, display, and log the readings from the sensors. You don't need to select this for Solar/UV sensors.
|}


A lot of extra settings were added to the file, but not added to the configuration screens. Documenting these was particularly difficult as only some got mentioned in release announcements, so the others were hard to discover, and allowed values were not always clear.
====Introduced for problems with Fine Offset family:====
| Each time a beta version of Cumulus 1 was available, any parameters specific to that beta appeared in [[Cumulus.ini_(Beta)]], and only moved to the main page when that beta finished, and became the main release.
*These parameters apply to Fine Offset stations and their clones, but a few may be more widely applicable
| The same beta page, [[Cumulus.ini_(Beta)]], was briefly used for Cumulus 2.
*Some parameters are set on screens, other attributes do not appear in the file unless they are added using an external editor, but the values still have a recommended default value as explained below.
| Finally, that beta page, [[Cumulus.ini_(Beta)]], was used for all the changes in Cumulus 3 (the MX beta):
*As Cumulus does not check station type before applying any of these settings, ensure for Davis stations (these do not have spike problems) the spike removal filters are set to the defaults shown below.
*Some of the parameters for Cumulus 1 were not used by MX beta
*However, spike removal correction may be implemented for La Crosse stations using the EW filter settings below.
*Some of the parameters for Cumulus 1 were used by MX beta
*Stations not recognised by Cumulus ''may'' be set to create an [[EasyWeather_Format#Usage_of_easyweather.dat_fields_for_Cumulus_input_of_latest_record: |EasyWeather_Format]] file requiring the first two parameters below.
*Beta MX only added 3 new parameters
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Station]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section name - the following parameters relate to the station configuration.
|-
|EWInterval=0
|This parameter is entered in the Station Configuration Screen Settings block.
*0= Default, meaning not applicable
*n= any integer representing Easyweather logging interval in minutes (used for reading latest observations from [[EasyWeather_Format#Usage_of_easyweather.dat_fields_for_Cumulus_input_of_latest_record: |Easyweather]] software output).
|-
|EWFile=
|This is set in the settings frame on the Station settings screen off the configuration menu.
*(attribute and equals sign, but no value)= Default (Station '''Type''' ''not'' set to 4)
*[[EasyWeather_Format#Usage_of_easyweather.dat_fields_for_Cumulus_input_of_latest_record: |Easyweather.dat or EasyWeatherPlus.dat]] file path/name as entered in the Station Configuration Screen Settings block.
'''Note:''' If you want to run Cumulus without an attached weather station (because your station has a fault or because you have a second PC), it is possible to run Cumulus with station '''Type=4''' but with the default of no file specified in this parameter. The full directory structure and its files including those in the ''data'' sub-directory are needed (kept from when your station was working or copied from the PC with the station).
|-
|LogExtraSensors=0
|This is set in the settings frame on the Station settings screen off the configuration menu.
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled; Use if you a) have Fine Offset models (generally those [[EasyWeather_Format#Note_on_Models|models 3xyz]]) with Solar/UV sensors, b) '''Type=4''' set in that parameter (see top of [station] section), and c) '''EWFile='''''path'''''/EasyWeatherPlus.dat''' set in previous parameter. Only relevant if '''all these''' conditions met.
|-
|RestartIfUnplugged=0
|This is set in the settings frame on the Station settings screen off the configuration menu.
*0 = Disabled, default i.e. deselected on the Station Configuration Screen
*1 = Enabled, Cumulus will restart if it detects that a Fine Offset station is unplugged.
|-
|EWdisablecheckinit=0
|Add this line to cumulus.ini [Station] section if application gets stuck when Cumulus starts up connected to a Fine Offset (clone) station (added Cumulus version 1.9.2, build 1011).
*0 = Disabled, default, it checks the first two bytes of the Fine Offset station's memory.
*1 = Ignores part of memory (see [[FAQ#When_I_start_Cumulus.2C_I_get_the_error_message_.22The_station_is_not_initialised.22]])
|-
|EWduplicatecheck=0
|Add this line to cumulus.ini [Station] section if application gets stuck in the download stage.
Introduced in version 1.8.5 (b.630) to deal with certain bytes being given the same value in first and second line. For example one problem is that "55 AA" repeats at the start of the second line of data. Those bytes are only supposed to appear at the start of the first line (or so I am told).
*0 = Disabled, default, Cumulus accepts all bytes from the Fine Offset station's memory.
*1 = Ignores part of memory (see
|-
|SyncFOReads=1
|Add this line to cumulus.ini [Station] section
Specifies the Fine Offset synchronisation mode of operation.
*0 = default
*1 = Re-synchronizes each day
|-
|ReportLostSensorContact=0
|Add this line to cumulus.ini [Station] section
Option to turn off reporting of 'lost sensor contact' for Fine Offset stations. (added Cumulus 1.9.4 b.1070)
*0 = reporting off
*1 = reporting on (default)
|-
|EWpressureoffset=x.y
|Add this line to cumulus.ini [Station] section
Got a pressure problem with a Fine Offset station when the pressure 'offset' that Cumulus reads is garbage, so Cumulus just uses zero? Tell Cumulus what offset to use, by using an external text editor to insert this parameter where x.y is the difference between your station (absolute) and sea-level (relative) pressures, in mb/hPa.
|-
|EWminpressureMB=900
|Add this line to cumulus.ini [Station] section
Cumulus will ignore all pressure readings from the station that are less than this value (units are always hPa/millbars)
|-
|EWmaxpressureMB=1200
|Add this line to cumulus.ini [Station] section
Cumulus will ignore all pressure readings from the station that are greater than this value (units are always hPa/millbars)
|-
|EWmaxHourlyRain=999
|An hourly rain rate 'spike removal' filter for weather stations that do not supply rain rate so cumulus has to calculate it; ''changes in calculated value'' greater than the value specified here (set in calibration screen of configuration menu) will be ignored by Cumulus when it calculates the rain rate. Cumulus ignores this parameter for other makes of weather station that supply a rain rate to Cumulus.
|-
|EWmaxRainRate=999
|A rain rate 'spike removal' filter, ''changes in calculated value'' greater than the value specified here (set in calibration screen of configuration menu) will be ignored by Cumulus when it calculates the rain rate. Cumulus ignores this parameter for other makes of weather station that supply a rain rate to Cumulus.
|-
|EWgustdiff=999.0
|A wind gust 'spike removal' filter, ''changes in calculated value'' greater than the value specified here (set in calibration screen of configuration menu) will be ignored by Cumulus
|-
|EWwinddiff=999.0
|A wind speed 'spike removal' filter, ''changes in calculated value'' greater than the value specified here (set in calibration screen of configuration menu) will be ignored by Cumulus
|-
|EWpressurediff=999.0
|A pressure change 'spike removal' filter, ''changes in read value'' from any station greater than the value specified here (set in calibration screen of configuration menu) will be ignored by Cumulus
|-
|EWTempdiff=999.0
|A temperature change 'spike removal' filter, ''changes in read value'' from any station greater than the value specified here (set in calibration screen of configuration menu) will be ignored by Cumulus. Replace 999.0 with the maximum difference in degrees C you are prepared to accept between successive data readings
|-
|EWhumiditydiff=999.0
|A humidity change 'spike removal' filter, ''changes in read value''from any station greater than the value specified here (set in calibration screen of configuration menu) will be ignored by Cumulus
|}


This was the position when Steve Loft ceased his involvement with Cumulus. This page contained all parameters used for Cumulus 1, some of these were used by MX beta too.
==== Oregon Scientific specific: ====
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Station]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section name - the following parameters relate to the station configuration.
|-
|LogExtraSensors=0
|This is set in the settings frame on the Station settings screen off the configuration menu.
*0=Disabled (default)
*1= Enabled - Used for Oregon Scientific WMR-928 and similar stations if you have additional sensors (e.g. another temperature probe) to make Cumulus read, display, and log the readings from those sensors. You don't use this for Solar/UV sensors.
(Note this attribute appears under [[#Davis_family_specific|Davis]] and [[#Introduced_for_problems_with_Fine_Offset_family:|Fine Offset]] tables above with different usage explanations).
|-
|WMR928TempChannel=N
|This line needs to be added in the [Station] section of the Cumulus.ini. For WMR-928 stations (and other stations using the same protocol, eg WMR-968) to use an 'extra' channel (see previous parameter) as your main temperature sensor, set N to the required channel
|}


The beta page contained some Cumulus 1 beta parameters that were still under development and the parameters that were only used by MX.
==== La Crosse specific: ====
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Station]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section name - the following parameters relate to the station configuration.
|-
|WS2300Sync=1
|This line needs to be added in the [Station] section of the Cumulus.ini. This makes Cumulus check the time that the station is going to communicate with the sensors, and synchronises all of its reads to be 2.5 seconds after that. Experiments have shown that this does not help the bad data situation.
|-
|LCMaxWind=X
|This line needs to be added in the [Station] section of the Cumulus.ini. It is setting for the La Crosse max wind speed, where X is the maximum (uncalibrated) wind speed in m/s that you want to allow. The value you supply should be in metres/second, regardless of what wind unit you are using in Cumulus.(V1.8.8 Build 874 on)
|-
|WS2300IgnoreStationClock=0
|This line needs to be added in the [Station] section of the Cumulus.ini. Option to ignore the La Crosse station clock on logger download.
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled
|-
|RestartIfDataStops=0
|This line needs to be added in the [Station] section of the Cumulus.ini. Option to restart Cumulus if data from La Crosse stations stops. This may fix whatever the problem is; it may not. But it should at least stop the same data being repeatedly logged.
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled
|-
|ReportDataStoppedErrors=0
|This line needs to be added in the [Station] section of the Cumulus.ini. Option to turn off reporting of 'data stopped' errors to the Cumulus error log (may be needed with La Crosse stations)
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled
|}
|}


== Mark Crossley era==


* Cumulus.ini content has changed drastically, and therefore the documentation page called "Cumulus.ini" has also had to change drastically
==== Hydreon specific: ====
* There was a period when it was possible for one page to document both the legacy Cumulus 1.9.4 and all MX releases, but that has long gone.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Station]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section name - the following parameters relate to the station configuration.
|-
|RG11port=1
|Specifies the COM port to use for [[Rain_measurement#Optical_Rain_Gauge | Hydreon RG-11 rain detection devices]]. 1 = COM1. Set on RG11 screen within configuration menu, see its ''Help'' for more information.
|-
|RG11TBRmode=1
|Specifies the Hydreon RG-11 rain device mode of operation.
*0 = Rain detection mode - "It's Raining"
*1 = Tipping bucket mode. Set on RG11 screen within configuration menu.
|-
|RG11tipsize=0.01
|Specifies the tipping bucket size for Hydreon RG-11 rain detection devices. The 'tip size' must be specified in the units that you have configured Cumulus to use for rain. Set on RG11 screen within configuration menu.
|-
|RG11port2=

RG11TBRmode2=

RG11tipsize2=
|Settings to connect a second Hydreon RG-11 rain detection device. Set on RG11 screen within configuration menu.
Note that you must have one RG-11 set to "It's raining" mode and the other to "tipping bucket" mode. Cumulus does not validate this.
|}


== Section: Offsets ==
Set these parameters using the '''Configuration''' menu and ''Calibration'' screen, nothing else can be added to this section.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:300px" | MX beta releases 3.0.0 to MX release 3.4.6
!style="width:600px" | Function
!style="width:250px" | MX releases 3.6.0 to 3.7.0
!style="width:400px" | MX releases 3.8.0 to 3.9.7
!style="width:200px" | MX releases 3.10.0 to 3.11.4
!style="width:250px" | MX release 3.12.0 onwards
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Offsets]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following 'attribute=value' parameters are the adjustment factors for your specific sensors
|-
|PressOffset=Offset_Value
|Default 'Offset_Value' is 0 in this parameter used for formula: Cumulus pressure = Measured Pressure + 'Offset_Value'
|-
|TempOffset=Offset_Value
|Default 'Offset_Value' is 0 in this parameter used for formula: Cumulus Outdoor Temperature = Measured Outdoor Temperature + 'Offset_Value'
|-
|HumOffset=Offset_Value
|Default 'Offset_Value' is 0 in this parameter used for formula: Cumulus Humidity = Measured Humidity + 'Offset_Value'
|-
|WindDirOffset=Offset_Value
|Default 'Offset_Value' is 0 in this parameter used for formula: Cumulus Wind Bearing = Measured Wind Bearing + 'Offset_Value'
|-
|InTempOffset=Offset_Value
|Default 'Offset_Value' is 0 in this parameter used for formula: Cumulus Indoor Temperature = Measured Indoor Temperature + 'Offset_Value'
|-
|WindSpeedMult=1
|Multiplier by which measured Average [[Wind_measurement#Wind_Speed|Wind Speed]] is to be corrected (default=1).

e.g. Officially in UK the wind speed is measured with sensors at 10m above ground level. If your sensor is not at 10m AGL then a correction multiplier should be applied using the following formula ''V10/Vh = 1/(0.233 + 0.656*log10(h+4.75))'' where "h" is your sensor height in meters so if your anemometer is 5m off the ground, V10/Vh comes out at 1.134
|-
|WindGustMult=1
|Multiplier by which measured [[Wind_measurement#Wind_Speed|Wind Gust]] Speed is to be corrected (default=1).
|-
|TempMult=1
|Multiplier by which measured Temperature is to be corrected (default=1).
|-
|HumMult=1
|Multiplier by which measured Humidity is to be corrected (default=1).
|-
|RainMult=1
|Multiplier by which measured Rainfall (and therefore rainfall rate too) is to be corrected (default=1).
|-
|UVOffset=Offset_Value
|Default 'Offset_Value' is 0 in this parameter used for formula: Cumulus UV level = Measured UV level + 'Offset_Value'
|-
|UVMult=1
|Multiplier by which measured UV to be corrected (default=1).
|}

== Section: Web Site ==
All parameters edited in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab'' Web Site block.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Web Site]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters relate to your website
|-
|ForumURL=<nowiki>http://sandaysoft.com/forum/</nowiki>
|A website forum URL
|-
|WebcamURL=<nowiki>http://www.sanday.org.uk/webcam/webcam.php </nowiki>
|URL for your Webcam
|}

== Section: FTP Site ==
See individual entries for how to edit these parameters.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[FTP site]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters relate to your website FTP parameters
|-
|Host=
|Selected in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab''. This is either the name or the IP address of the ftp server to which you connect when you upload pages to your web site. You probably used it with an external FTP program when you followed the instructions in the Cumulus help, Readme.txt or [[Simple_Website_setup]].
''Leave blank if you are not using ftp, but simply creating the output files on your pc.''
|-
|Port=21
|Selected in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab''. Port used for FTP upload, default =21
|-
|Username=
|Select in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab'' your web site FTP login Username
|-
|Password=
|Shows your web site FTP login password as entered in the Internet Configuration Screen (note: this is not encrypted)
|-
|Directory=
|Selected in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab''. Directory (including path) on your server to which FTP will upload the files. Starting point is the position specified by ftp server (see Host above)
|-
|AutoUpdate=0
|Set in the Internet Configuration Screen Web Settings block.
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled, Cumulus will automatically upload your processed web pages to your web site at regular intervals (as specified by the 'Update Interval') using FTP to the directory as specified in 'Directory'.
|-
|UpdateInterval=15
|Set in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab'' Web Settings block in '''Interval''' box. The interval in minutes at which you wish auto updates (either FTP to your website or output to a directory on your pc) to occur. Default 15 minutes.
|-
|IncludeSTD=1
|Selected in the Internet Configuration Files Tab screen
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled, (default) the standard web files provided with Cumulus will be processed and uploaded at each web update.
|-
|IncludeSTDImages=1
|Selected in the Internet Configuration Files Tab screen
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled,(default) the standard image files generated by Cumulus (graphs, etc) will be uploaded at each web update to a subfolder of the 'Directory' you specified called 'images'.
|-
|EnableRealtime=0
|Set in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab'' Web Settings block.
The [[realtime.txt]] file contains various weather parameters and is used by the CumulusRealtime.swf (shock wave flash) real time wind gauges (as on the supplied 'gauges' web page).
*0 = Disabled (default) If you have the 'auto update' option set (and a suitable interval configured), Cumulus will create the realtime.txt file at the specified normal update Interval (not the Realtime Interval) so that you can specify it as an extra file to upload during the 'normal' upload, or use it for any other purpose on your PC.
*1 = Enabled, Cumulus will create the realtime.txt file, and upload it to your web site, at the interval specified by Realtime Interval (see below).
|-
|RealtimeInterval=3000
|Set in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab'' Web Settings block. The time in seconds between uploads of the realtime.txt file.
|-
|RealtimeFTPEnabled=0
|Selected in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab'' Web Settings block
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, Cumulus will establish an FTP connection to your web site, so that the realtime.txt file, and any other files you specify, can be uploaded when realtime processing takes place. The 'EnableRealtime' setting must be set to 1 for this setting to have any effect.
|-
|RealtimeTxtFTP=0
|Selected in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab'' Web Settings block
When set to 1 Cumulus will upload the [[realtime.txt]] to your web site during realtime processing. The 'EnableRealtime' and 'RealtimeFTPEnabled' settings must both be set to 1 for this setting to have any effect.
|-
|ActiveFTP=0
|Set in the Internet Configuration Screen ''Sites/Options tab'' Web Settings block
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, Cumulus will use 'active' FTP mode instead of the default 'passive' mode. You should only select active mode if you are having problems with FTP uploads.
|-
|FTPRename=0
|Selected in the Internet Configuration screen ''Sites/Options tab'' Web Settings block
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, the new update is loaded using temporary names, files are renamed on the sever afterwards
|-
|DeleteBeforeUpload=0
|Selected in Internet Configuration Screen ''Sites/Options tab'' Web Settings block
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, files are deleted from sever before the new update is loaded
|-
|ResizeGraphs=0
|Selected in the Internet Congfiguration Screen Web graphs block.
*0 = Disabled (default) Cumulus uploads the default 750 x 300 pixel graphs.
*1 = Cumulus resizes the large graph images when creating them for upload to your web site. Specify the required height and width in the corresponding boxes. Note that the images are simply scaled to the new size; there will be some loss of quality
|-
|GraphHeight=300
|Graph height, default is 300 (pixels) - see previous parameter
|-
|GraphWidth=750
|Graph width, default is 750 (pixels) - see ResizeGraphs parameter
|-
|ImageFolder=
|Set in Internet Configuration Screen Files tab. Path and file name in LOCAL folder to which the generated image files are also copied at each web update interval, either the 'normal' interval, or the 'realtime' interval, depending on next parameter. Used if you want backups of generated images. See Cumulus Help.
|-
|ImageCopyRealtime=0
|Set in Internet Configuration Screen Files tab.
*0 = files copied in 'normal' interval each web update (default)
*1 = files copied in 'real time' interval.
|-
|ExtraLocal[0-9]=
| Set in Internet Configuration Screen Files tab. Path and file name on local computer for alternate files #0 through #9. See cumulus Help for details of how to specify reading current monthly log here.
|-
|ExtraLocal[10-99]=
|Path and file name on local computer for alternate file #10 through #99. These additional files can only be selected by adding parameter lines to the configuration file, they are not visible in the Internet Configuration screen Files tab.
|-
|ExtraRemote[0-9]=
|Path and file name on web server for alternate files #0 through #9. Set in Internet Configuration Screen Files tab. See cumulus Help for details of how to specify creating current monthly log here.
|-
|ExtraRemote[10-99]=
|Path and file name on web server for alternate file #10 through #99. These additional paths/files can only be selected by adding parameter lines to the configuration file, they are not visible in the Internet Configuration screen Files tab.
|-
|ExtraProcess[0-9]=0
|Set in Internet Configuration Screen Files tab.
*0 = Disabled, (default) extra file will not pass through the cumulus 'tag processor'.
*1 = Enabled, extra file will be passed through the 'tag processor' in Cumulus, in the same way that the standard Cumulus web pages are. This allows to you to create your own web pages into which Cumulus will insert the various weather parameters. See the "Web tags" section of the help file for a list of the tags which you can use. Cumulus will create a temporary file to hold the processed version of your file and then upload that.
|-
|ExtraProcess[10-99]=0
|Set in this config file only.
*0 = Disabled, alternate file #10 through #99 will not pass through the cumulus 'tag processor'.
*1 = Enabled, alternate file #10 through #99 will be passed through the 'tag processor' in Cumulus, in the same way that the standard Cumulus web pages are. This allows to you to create your own web pages into which Cumulus will insert the various weather parameters. See the "Web tags" section of the help file for a list of the tags which you can use. Cumulus will create a temporary file to hold the processed version of your file and then upload that
|-
|ExtraBinary[0-9]=0
|Set in Internet Configuration Screen Files tab.
*0 = not binary (if pure ASCII characters)
*1 = Binary (e.g. images)
|-
|ExtraBinary[10-99]=0
|Set in this config file only.
*0 = alternate file #10 through #99 is not binary (is pure ASCII characters)
*1 = alternate file #10 through #99 is Binary (e.g. images)
|-
|ExtraRealtime[0-9]=0
|Set in Internet Configuration Screen Files tab. If you select this for any files, you will also need to select the Realtime option.
*0 = Disabled, (default) file uploaded as part of normal upload
*1 = Enabled, file uploaded during Realtime upload
|-
|ExtraRealtime[10-99]=0
|Set in this config file only. If you select this for any files, you will also need to select the Realtime option.
*0 = Disabled, alternate file #10 through #99 uploaded as part of normal upload
*1 = Enabled, alternate file #10 through #99 uploaded during Realtime upload
|-
|ExtraFTP[0-9]=1
|Set in Internet Configuration Screen Files tab.
*0 = Disabled, File copied to the location specified in the Remote Filename box.
*1 = Enabled, (default) File uploaded by FTP
Not intended for standard Cumulus web pages (tick box at top of screen, missing files will be ignored), nor for NOAA reports (FTF for them set up in '''NOAA Setup''' within Configuration menu).
|-
|ExtraFTP[10-99]=1
|Set in this config file only.
*0 = Disabled, alternate file #10 through #99 copied to the location specified in the Remote Filename box.
*1 = Enabled, alternate file #10 through #99 uploaded by FTP
|-
|ExternalProgram=
|The name (including path) of a command-line program to be run at the 'normal' web update interval, after all of the processing has been performed.
|-
|ExternalParams=
|The corresponding 'paramaters' for 'ExternalProgram' used to specify any parameters to be passed to the command.
|-
|RealtimeProgram=
|The name (including path) of a command-line program to be run at the 'realtime' web update interval, after all of the processing has been performed.
|-
|RealtimeParams=
|The corresponding 'paramaters' for 'RealtimeProgram' used to specify any parameters to be passed to the command.
|-
|DailyProgram=
|The name (including path) of a command-line program to be run once a day, after the daily 'rollover' has been performed.
|-
|DailyParams=
|The corresponding 'paramaters' for 'DailyProgram' used to specify any parameters to be passed to the command.
|-
|MaxFTPconnectRetries=3
|Set in this config file only. Allow configurable max FTP connect retries (default is retry up to 3 times)
|}

== Section: Display ==
Set these parameters using Configuration menu and [[Cumulus_Screenshots#Display_and_Colour_screens_as_at_version_1.9.4|either ''Display'' or ''Colours'' screens]] as seen on link and indicated below.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Display]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section heading - the following parameters affect how the main screen looks.
|-
|Heading=My Weather
|Title Heading on the Main Screen. Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block
|-
|SavePosition=0
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block.
*0= default, the main window will be displayed in the middle of the main or only monitor connected to your pc
*1= the current position of the main window will be saved to [[Cumulus.ini#Section:_MainForm]] when Cumulus closes, and the window will open again at that position the next time Cumulus starts.
|-
|StartMinimised=0
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block.
*0= default, the main window will be displayed on the main or only monitor connected to your pc
*1= If set to 1, Cumulus will start with the main window minimised, either to the system tray or the task bar, depending on the 'MinimizeToTray' setting (see next parameter).
|-
|MinimizeToTray=0
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block
*0 = Disabled (default), Cumulus will minimise to the task bar
*1 = Enabled, causes Cumulus to appear as an icon in the system tray when it is minimized. The icon will flash if a record is broken or an error occurs. Double click on the icon to restore the main window (or right click on the icon and use the pop-up menu).
|-
|ForecastCentred=0
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block.
*0 = Disabled, (default) Forecast appears left justified on main screen below sun and moon details
*1 = Enabled, Forecast appears centred horizonatally on main screen below sun and moon details
|-
|ShowCurrentConditions=0
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block
*0 = Disabled, (default)
*1 = Enabled, a box labelled 'Current:' appears at bottom of Cumulus main screen. See [[Webtags_as_boolean_operators_in_HTML#Current_Weather_Conditions]] for possible use of this information, and [[Currentconditions.txt]] for the effect when the contents of the box on main screen changes.
|-
|FontColour=4227327
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the screen font color
|-
|BackColour=12632256
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the application background color
|-
|HeadingColour=10485760
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the screen heading color
|-
|ClockDigitColour=4227327
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the figures on clock in top right corner of main screen
|-
|ClockColour=16777201
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the main screen clock background color
|-
|TwelveHourClock=0
|Set by left click on clock on main screen
*0 = 24Hr clock mode
*1 - 12 Hr am/pm clock mode
|-
|DisplaySolarData=0
|Set by ''Display solar/extra data'' item in the Display Configuration Screen ''General'' block.
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, adds an extra panel to the main screen below the recent extremes panel - EITHER
**Panel displays ''Temp'', ''Dew pt'' and ''Hum'' (this [[FAQ#How_does_Cumulus_deal_with_extra_sensors.3F|extra sensor data]], can be populated from Oregon WMR-928 stations, see next 3 parameters) OR
**Panel displays ''Evapotranspiration (ET)'', ''Ultraviolet (UV)'' and ''Solar radiation'' if station '''Type''' is Vantage Pro and solar data is available
|-
|WMR928Channel1Caption=Extra channel 1
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen ''WMR928 extra channel captions'' block. Note that the extra channel data for WMR928 stations is only displayed on the main screen if ''Display solar/extra data'' is Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block (see previous parameter). This parameter defines the caption to be used when Cumulus reads observations from the extra sensor.
|-
|WMR928Channel2Caption=Extra channel 2
|See previous parameter.
|-
|WMR928Channel3Caption=Extra channel 3
|See 'WMR928Channel1Caption=Extra channel 1' parameter
|-
|SnowUnitText=cm
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block. Snow measurement unit. Default is cm. Can be any unit (or other text) you like, remember all snow depth observations must be entered as an integer (without any decimal part)!
|-
|DisplayCloudBase=0
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block.
*0 = Disabled, (default)
*1 = Enabled, the calculated cloud base is displayed on the main screen. The calculation is a simple one; 1000 feet for every 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit difference between the temperature and the dew point.
|-
|DisplayHumidex=0
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block
*0 = Disabled (default) [[Heat_index]] displayed on main screen. The heat index is calculated only if the actual temperature in the shade (not in direct sunlight) is above 27 °C (80 °F), so normal temperature shown here for cooler temperatures.
*1 = Enabled, calculated [[Humidex]] value to be displayed on the main screen instead of Heat Index. (Note that Cumulus displays degrees C or F for Humidex, whereas strictly speaking it is unitless. This is for the convenience of those who use Fahrenheit but would still prefer to see Humidex displayed, where it might be confusing to show the unconverted value.)
|-
|LegendSymbolWidth=3
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen Graph block. The width of the plot lines in graph legends
|-
|ChartLineWidth=2
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen Graph block. The width of the plot lines in the graph body
|-
|WindGaugeRange=50
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block. Value represents the default full scale deflection of the top of the 3 wind plots in the wind speed units you have selected. Default value is 50 in that unit.
|-
|WindGaugeArcColour=16773091
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeAnimated=1
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen. Animate the Wind Gauge pointer movement
*0 = Disabled,
*1 = Enabled (default)
|-
|WindGaugeAnimationFactor=2
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen. This sets the speed of the wind gauge animation. Lower values correspond to a faster animation speed. Be careful not to set the animation too slow, particularly with stations which update frequently (e.g. Davis) as the animation will never catch up, and will use significant CPU time.
|-
|WindGaugeTickColour=9841920
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeFontColour=9841920
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeInnerCircleColour=16765615
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeNeedleColour=128
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeInnerCentreColourFrom=16765615
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeInnerCentreColourTo=16765615
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeOuterCentreColourFrom=16765357
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeOuterCentreColourTo=16711680
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeOuterCircleColour=16765615
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeOuterRimColour=9470064
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeAverageSectorColour=32768
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugePeakSectorColour=33023
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeNeedleShineColourFrom=1049273
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindGaugeNeedleShineColourTo=328090
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the upper of the 3 wind plots
|-
|CompassColour=12632256
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the middle of the 3 wind plots
|-
|CompassTickColour=16711680
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the middle of the 3 wind plots
|-
|CompassLabelColour=16777215
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the middle of the 3 wind plots
|-
|CompassBearingColour=0
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the middle of the 3 wind plots
|-
|CompassCurrentPointerColour=255
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the middle of the 3 wind plots
|-
|CompassAveragePointerColour=16711680
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the middle of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindRoseColour=8388608
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the wind rose shading that represents duration and intensity of wind in different directions
|-
|WindRoseLabelColour=0
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the wind rose compass points
|-
|WindRoseAxesColour=8388608
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the circle and radii of lower of the 3 wind plots
|-
|WindRoseTransparency=50
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu.
|-
|NumWindRosePoints=16
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen Graphs block
The number of points to plot on the Wind Rose diagram (choose 8 for Fine Offset stations)
|-
|TransparentGauges=0
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. The square backgrounds of the three wind gauges on the Cumulus main screen
*0= same colour as the main window background (default)
*1= the images will be processed to make the background colour transparent.
|-
|LogFTPErrors=1
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block
*1= (default), the FTP errors will be logged to the Cumulus Error Dialog display
*0= to suppress the logging of FTP errors.
|-
|DigitBackground=0
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the colour to be used for background to displayed observations on main screen
|-
|LabelColour=0
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the Parameter labels on main screen - default black. Note alarm conditions can change label colour (see next 2 parameters).
|-
|AlarmColour=255
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the Parameter labels on main screen - default red - when an alarm is set for that parameter
|-
|PastAlarmColour=16711680
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the Parameter labels on main screen - default blue - when an alarm is cleared for that parameter
|-
|PanelHeadingFontColour=0
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the heading at the top of each panel with observations
|-
|PanelLineColour=0
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the heading at the top of each panel with observations
|-
|PanelBorderColour=8421504
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the edging of each panel with observations
|-
|PanelGradientColourFrom=16777215
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the panel background
|-
|PanelGradientColourTo=13226453
|Set on the colour setting screen in the Configuration menu. Decimal code for the panel background
|-
|DisplayBeaufortDesc=1
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block
*1 (default), the Beaufort description of the current average wind speed will appear in the header of the wind panel on the main screen.
*0, it will instead appear as a 'tool tip' for the wind panel.
|-
|DisplayBarometerTrendText=1
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block
*1 (default), the description of the current barometer trend will appear in the header of the barometer panel on the main screen.
*0, it will instead appear as a 'tool tip' for the barometer panel.
|-
|UpdateAtStartup=1
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen General block
*1 (default), the display will be updated as data is downloaded and processed from the station's logger. This increases the time taken to process the data.
*0, it makes the download faster as display is onlyn updated when catch up completed; this may be significant if there is a lot of data to download.
|-
|IndependentGraphsWindow=0
|Set in the Display Configuration Screen Graphs block
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled
|}

== Section: Graphs ==
Set many of these parameters using '''Configuration''' menu and either ''Display'' (Graphs block) or ''Colours'' screens.
Set the colours of the data lines on graphs/charts and Select whether to plot particular data by using '''View''' menu and ''Graphs'' option, then right click over the relevant graph.
Set the SAG colours and axis position by using '''View''' menu and ''Select-A-Graph'' option, the settings for different observations are at the foot of the screen.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Graphs]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters relate to your graph settings
|-
|GraphHours=12
|The number of hours data to be displayed in temperature (outdoor, heat index, wind chill, dewpoint and apparent temperature), humidity, rainfall rate, rainfall, pressure, solar radiation, UV index, wind speed and wind direction graphs.
You can enter any multiple of 12 from the Display Settings Screen, and you can also edit cumulus.ini and set this item to any other value. But note that setting it to a non-standard value is unsupported (i.e. if it causes problems, I probably won't fix them) and if you change any display settings, the value will get reset to a supported value (so you'll need to edit cumulus.ini again).
|-
|ChartMaxDays=7
|How many days of values to plot on the daily min/average/max temperature, daily sunshine, and daily rain charts (default=7)
|-
|Background=12632256
|Decimal value for the Graph and Chart background colour.
|-
|WindColour=65535
|Decimal value for the 10 minute average wind speed plot colour
|-
|GustColour=8421376
|Decimal value for the Wind Gust plot colour
|-
|RainColour=9527753
|Decimal value for the Rain plot colour
|-
|RainTodayColour=9527753
|Decimal value for the Rain Today plot colour
|-
|TempColour=9527753
|Decimal value for the Outside Temperature plot colour
|-
|HeatIndexColour=16711680
|Decimal value for the Heat Index plot colour
|-
|AppTempColour=8388736
|Decimal value for the Apparent Temperature plot colour
|-
|PressColour=9527753
|Decimal value for the Pressure plot colour
|-
|WindDirColour=255
|Decimal value for the Wind Direction plot colour
|-
|DewPointColour=255
|Decimal value for the Dew Point plot colour
|-
|WindChillColour=32768
|Decimal value for the Wind Chill plot colour
|-
|MinTempColour=16711680
|Decimal value for the Minimum Temperature chart plot colour
|-
|MaxTempColour=255
|Decimal value for the Maximum Temperature chart plot colour
|-
|AvgTempColour=32768
|Decimal value for the Average Temperature chart plot colour
|-
|DailyRainColour=32768
|Decimal value for the Daily Rain chart plot colour
|-
|InsideTempColour=0
|Decimal value for the Inside Temperature plot colour
|-
|InsideHumColour=255
|Decimal value for the Inside Humidity plot colour
|-
|OutsideHumColour=16711680
|Decimal value for the Outside Humidity plot colour
|-
|Graph3D=0
|3D or normal graph selection as selected in the Display Configuration Graphs block
*0 = normal graph selected
*1 = 3D graph selected
|-
|PlotLatestGust=0
|Plot Latest Gust selection as selected in the Display Configuration Graphs block
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|OriginIsSouth=0
|Wind Direction Graph Y Axis origin
*0 = North as Origin (default)
*1 = South as Origin
|-
|ShowFreezingLine=0
|Draw a horizontal line on the temperature graph at 0°C/32°F
|-
|TempVisible=1
|Select whether to plot the outside air temperature on the temperature graph
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|HIVisible=0
|Select whether to plot the heat index on the temperature graph
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|DPVisible=1
|Select whether to plot the dewpoint values on the temperature graph
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|WCVisible=1
|Select whether to plot the wind chill values on the temperature graph
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|AppTempVisible=1
|Select whether to plot the apparent temperature values on the temperature graph
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|InHumVisible=1
|Select whether to plot the indoor humidity values on the humidity graph
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|OutHumVisible=1
|Select whether to plot the outdoor humidity values on the humidity graph
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|GraphGradientEnabled=0
|Use gradient shading on the graph background
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled
|-
|GradientStart=12632256
|
|
* Until MX release 3.4.6, people using MX needed to refer to the page now called [[Cumulus.ini_(Cumulus_1)]], which was called "Cumulus.ini" at the time, and the beta page, [[Cumulus.ini_(Beta)]], as MX still used most of the parameters that the legacy software used and just a few new parameters. The latter still contained information from the last Cumulus 1 beta relating to Proxies section of Cumulus.ini, as that had not been finalised.
|-
* When Mark Crossley brought MX out of beta, he started adding new features to MX:
|GradientMiddle=16777215
** Some features represented functionality in the legacy software that MX had lacked, these used parameters that had been used for the legacy software
** For other new features, like interfaces with new weather station types and new sensors, he created new parameters, and the beta page began to rival the legacy page in the number of parameters it covered
* The information about MX on the beta page stayed there until April 2020
|
|
* Release 3.6.0 was when the functionality of MX first started to exceed the functionality of the legacy software
|-
* Between April and June 2020, information on the beta page was slowly moved across to the main page, it took some time as it needed to be verified because as MX developed configuration file content was changing
|GradientEnd=8421504
* Suddenly, a lot of people were migrating from the legacy software to MX
* To help people migrating, from June 2020, all settings (for both the legacy software and MX) were covered on a single "Cumulus.ini" page
* As people migrated, they could see on that single page clearly which parameters in their '''Cumulus.ini''' file were still valid, and what new parameters were needed when they migrated
* For those using MX, the page was recording the new parameters that were being added to the file as MX developed
* Now the history of all the changes at that time can be viewed on this page, as this was originally the page that once held that combined information.
|
|
* From release 3.8.0, the pace of change in MX was so fast, and the contributors to the Wiki so few, the page then called "Cumulus.ini" (with its previous content) stopped being maintained.
|-
*# The main problem was somebody needed to do a lot of research, and devote a lot of time, to track what the developer was changing.
|SAGintempcolour=32768
*# There was a second problem, it was clear that it was too complicated to use the same page to describe configuration for the legacy software, older MX releases, and the latest MX release
|(Select-A-Graph)
* Consequently, the "Cumulus.ini" page had to change, and the first move meant accepting MX and the legacy software could not be documented any more on the same page
|-
** A new page was created [[Cumulus.ini_(Cumulus_1)]], and all the information specific to the legacy software was split off from this page
|SAGouttempcolour=255
* This still left the problem that this page, at that time called "Cumulus.ini", had information that related to a release that had been superseded
|
** Another new page was created, [[Cumulus.ini (MX_3.0.0_to_3.7.0)]], and all the MX information was moved there.
|-
* Finally, this old "Cumulus.ini" paqe, with the attached history, but without any parameter information in the main page, was renamed to its current name, so it has preserved the history of the old page that had been split into two new pages, neither of which had the past history
|SAGpressurecolour=16711680
|
|-
|SAGraintotalcolour=8388608
|
|-
|SAGrainratecolour=16776960
|
|-
|SAGgustcolour=16711935
|
|-
|SAGpeakgustcolour=65280
|
|-
|SAGspeedcolour=8388736
|
|-
|SAGinhumcolour=32896
|
|-
|SAGouthumcolour=8388608
|
|-
|SAGheatindexcolour=128
|
|-
|SAGwindchillcolour=8421504
|
|-
|SAGwinddircolour=0
|
|-
|SAGdewpointcolour=8421376
|
|-
|SAGsolarradcolour=65535
|
|-
|SAGmaxsolarradcolour=16711935
|
|-
|SAGapptempcolour=0
|
|-
|SAGuvindexcolour=65280
|
|-
|SAGintempaxis=L
|(Select-A-Graph)
|-
|SAGouttempaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGpressureaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGraintotalaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGrainrateaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGgustaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGpeakgustaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGspeedaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGinhumaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGouthumaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGheatindexaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGwindchillaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGwinddiraxis=L
|
|-
|SAGdewpointaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGsolarradaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGmaxsolarradaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGapptempaxis=L
|
|-
|SAGuvindexaxis=L
|
|-
|SAG3D=0
|
|-
|SAGgradientback=0
|
|-
|SAGleftgrid=1
|
|-
|SAGrightgrid=1
|
|
* At release 3.10.0, the settings pages in the admin interface were given a significant makeover, and huge numbers of new settings were created, while many others became redundant
* It was clear the old [[Cumulus.ini (MX_3.0.0_to_3.7.0)|MX "Cumulus.ini"]] page was badly designed for the way 3.10.0 operated
* That old page was already out of date as it had not been updated for 3.8.0 changes
* It became obvious it was easier to start a new page that would would be based around 3.10.0 MX release, but would incorporate changes from 3.8.0 onwards, and would ignore anything that was now redundant
* The other change was a redesign of the page, so it focussed on explaining how to change the settings using the admin interface, rather than just documenting what each parameter in the file was used for
|
* As MX was developed, its settings pages were being redesigned, and so where you changed particular parameters in the file was modified making the documentation that already existed obsolete for people using latest release, but still valid for people who were using an older release.
* As release 3.12.0 was planned to add many, many more parameters to the Cumulus.ini file, and the Settings pages get another redesign, it was decided the documenting of the changes in 3.8.0, 3.9.2, and 3.10.0 would be delayed until it became clearer what might change in 3.12.0
* The new [[Cumulus.ini]] page to cover all these recent releases was created in June 2021, a year after the last big change to a page with that name.
|}
|}


=Original content of this page=
== Section: Alarms ==
Set these using the '''Edit''' menu, ''Alarms'' screen.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Alarms]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters relate to your alarm settings
|-
|alarmlowtemp=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
*0 = Disable low temperature alarm (default)
*1 = Enable Low temperature alarm
|-
|LowTempAlarmSet=0
|Setting for low temperature alarm point (degrees)
|-
|LowTempAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|LowTempAlarmSoundFile=C:\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name of sound file for Low Temperature alarm
|-
|alarmhightemp=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
*0 = Disable high temperature alarm (default)
*1 = Enable High temperature alarm
|-
|HighTempAlarmSet=0
|Degrees above which alarm will occur.
|-
|HighTempAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|HighTempAlarmSoundFile=C:\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name of sound file for High Temperature alarm
|-
|alarmlowpress=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
|-
|LowPressAlarmSet=0
|Pressure below which you wish Low Pressure alarm to occur
|-
|LowPressAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|LowPressAlarmSoundFile=C:\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name for sound file to play for Low Pressure Alarm
|-
|alarmhighpress=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
*0 = Disable low High Pressure alarm (default)
*1 = Enable High Pressure alarm
|-
|HighPressAlarmSet=0
|Pressure above which you wish High Pressure alarm to occur
|-
|HighPressAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|HighPressAlarmSoundFile=C:\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name for the sound file used for the High Pressure Alarm
|-
|alarmhighraintoday=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
*0 = Disable High Rain today alarm (default)
*1 = Enable High Rain today alarm
|-
|HighRainTodayAlarmSet=0
|Rain level above which alarm to occur
|-
|HighRainTodayAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|HighRainTodayAlarmSoundFile=C:\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name for the sound file used for the High Rain Today Alarm
|-
|alarmhighrainrate=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
*0 = Disable High Rain Rate alarm (default)
*1 = Enable High Rain Rate alarm
|-
|HighRainRateAlarmSet=0
|Rain rate above which you wish alarm to occur
|-
|HighRainRateAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|HighRainRateAlarmSoundFile=C:\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name for the sound file used for the High Rain Rate Alarm
|-
|alarmhighgust=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
*0 = Disable High Gust alarm (default)
*1 = Enable High Gust alarm
|-
|HighGustAlarmSet=0
|Gust speed above which you wish alarm to occur
|-
|HighGustAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|HighGustAlarmSoundFile=C:\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name for the sound file used for the High Gust Alarm
|-
|alarmhighwind=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
*0 = Disable High Average Wind alarm (default)
*1 = Enable High Average Wind alarm
|-
|HighWindAlarmSet=0
|Average Wind speed above which alarm to occur
|-
|HighWindAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|HighWindAlarmSoundFile=C:\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name for the sound file used for the High Wind Alarm
|-
|SensorAlarmSet=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
*0 = Disable sensor contact lost alarm (default)
*1 = Enable sensor contact lost alarm
|-
|SensorAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|SensorAlarmSoundFile=C:\Program Files\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name for the sound file used for the Sensor Contact lost Alarm
|-
|alarmtempchange=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
*0 = Disable Temperature Change alarm (default)
*1 = Enable Temperature Change alarm
|-
|TempChangeAlarmSet=0
|Temperature change value to trigger the alarm
|-
|TempChangeAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|TempChangeAlarmSoundFile=C:\Program Files\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name for the sound file used for the Temperature Change Alarm
|-
|alarmpresschange=0
|Select in Edit Alarms Screen
*0 = Disable Pressure Change alarm (default)
*1 = Enable Pressure Change alarm
|-
|PressChangeAlarmSet=0
|Pressure change value to trigger the alarm
|-
|PressChangeAlarmSound=0
|Alarm Action
*0 = Disable, (default) no sound on alarm
*1 = Enable sound on alarm
|-
|PressChangeAlarmSoundFile=C:\Program Files\Cumulus\alert.wav
|Path and file name for the sound file used for the Pressure Change Alarm
|}


==How this page used to be laid out, and why==
== Sections dealing with interfaces to external sites ==


For both [[Cumulus.ini_(Cumulus_1)|Cumulus 1]] and [[Cumulus.ini (MX_3.0.0_to_3.7.0)|early MX releases]], the content on this page was arranged assuming people were editing the file directly.
=== Section: WUnderground ===
Set in the Internet Configuration Screen sites/Options tab
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Wunderground]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - Parameters for your [http://www.wunderground.com/ Weather Underground] site
|-
|ID=
|Your Weather Underground station identifier (note: not your user name).
|-
|Password=
|Your Weather Underground password. (note: not encrypted)
|-
|Enabled=0
|Set if you wish to upload to your Weather Underground site
*0 = Disabled, (default) no Weather underground site
*1 = Enabled, data sent at the interval specified below
|-
|RapidFire=0
|'rapid fire' mode.
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, You should also tick 'Enabled'. Rapid fire updates occur every 5 seconds.
|-
|Interval=15
|Time in minutes between uploads to Weather Underground. (default = 15)
|-
|SendUV=0
|Current UV value
*0 = Disabled (default) no UV info sent
*1 = Enabled, UV value sent with the data
|-
|SendSR=0
|Solar Radiation
*0 = Disabled (default) no solar data sent
*1 = Enabled, Solar Radiation value sent with data
|-
|SendAverage=0
|Causes average wind speed and directon to be sent rather than instantaneous/gust speed and direction.
*0 = Disabled (default) instantaneous/gust speed data sent
*1 = Enabled, average wind speed sent with data
|-
|CatchUp=1
|If possible send missing historic data to the server on startup
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled (default)
|}


Therefore, the file was described by working through the sections on the file, and explaining the parameters that could go in each section.
=== Section: [[Twitter.txt|Twitter]] ===
Set in the Internet Configuration Screen sites/Options tab
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Twitter]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters relate to your [[Twitter]] site parameters
|-
|User=
|your Twitter login username
|-
|Password=
|your Twitter login password ('''note:''' this is not encrypted)
|-
|Enabled=0
|Set in Internet Configuration Screen Twitter block
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, tweats sent at the specified interval.
|-
|Interval=60
|interval in minutes that Tweats will be sent.
|-
|OauthToken=
|Twitter inserted authentication token parameter - you can delete this line with Cumulus stopped
|-
|OauthTokenSecret=
|Twitter inserted authentication token parameter - you can delete this line with Cumulus stopped
|}


For the longer sections, parameters might be split into separate tables to make it easier.
===Section: PWSweather ===
Set in the Internet Configuration Screen sites/Options tab
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[PWSweather]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters relate to your [http://www.pwsweather.com/ PWS] weather site parameters
|-
|ID=
|Your PWS Weather station identifier (note: not your user name)
|-
|Password=
|your PWS weather site login password ('''note:''' this is not encrypted)
|-
|Enabled=0
|Select in Internet Configuration Screen PWS Weather block
*0 = Disabled (default) no data sent to PWS
*1 = Enabled, data sent to PWS at the specified interval
|-
|Interval=15
|Interval in minutes that updates will be sent to your PWS weather site
|-
|SendUV=0
|Current Ultra Violet level
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, UV level sent with normal data
|-
|SendSR=0
|Solar Radiation level
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, Solar radiation reading sent with normal data
|-
|CatchUp=1
|If possible send missing historic data to the server on startup
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled (default)
|}


Before release 3.10.1, there were two types of parameters in Cumulus.ini.
=== Section: APRS ===
#"read-only" settings were made directly in the "Cumulus.ini" file, there was no way to adjust these parameters using the settings screens/pages
Set in the Internet Configuration Screen sites/Options tab
#"read-write" settings could be changed in two ways, either by editing the file with Cumulus stopped, or by finding the parameter on a setting screen (for MX, these are in admin interface).
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[APRS]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters relate to your [[APRS]] weather site parameters
|-
|ID=
|Your APRS identifier
|-
|pass=-1
|your APRS password (Note: not encrypted)
|-
|server=cwop.aprs.net
|The APRS server to use
|-
|port=14580
|The port number to use on the APRS server.
|-
|Enabled=0
|Select in Internet Configuration Screen APRS Settings block
|-
|Interval=9
|Time in minutes between uploads to the APRS server
|-
|APRSHumidityCutoff=1
|For Oregon Scientific, so it doesn't report humidity to [[APRS]] when the temperature is below -10&#176;C
|-
|SendSR=0
|Solar Radiation level
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, Solar radiation reading sent with normal data
|}


:You will see in the two pages split off from this page ([[Cumulus.ini_(Cumulus_1)]] and [[Cumulus.ini (MX_3.0.0_to_3.7.0)]]), how the parameters had to identify themselves as read-only or read-write.
=== Section: WOW ===
Set in the Internet Configuration Screen sites/Options tab
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[WOW]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters relate to your [http://wow.metoffice.gov.uk/WOW| WOW] weather site parameters
|-
|ID=
|Your WOW station ID
|-
|Password=
|your WOW password (Note: not encrypted)
|-
|Enabled=1
|Updates enabled/disabled
|-
|Interval=15
|Time in mimutes between uploads to the WOW server
|-
|SendUV=0
|Current Ultra Violet level
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, UV level sent with normal data
|-
|SendSR=0
|Solar Radiation level
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, Solar radiation reading sent with normal data
|-
|CatchUp=1
|If possible send missing historic data to the WOW server on startup
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled (default)
|}


==Why has this original "Cumulus.ini" page been renamed, cleared of old content, and made historic?==
=== Section: Weatherbug ===
Set in the Internet Configuration Screen sites/Options tab
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Weatherbug]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters relate to your [http://weather.weatherbug.com| Weatherbug] weather site parameters
|-
|ID=
|Your Weatherbug station ID
|-
|Password=
|your Weatherbug password (Note: not encrypted)
|-
|Enabled=1
|Updates enabled/disabled
|-
|Interval=15
|Time in mimutes between uploads to the Weatherbug server
|-
|SendUV=0
|Current Ultra Violet level
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, UV level sent with normal data
|-
|SendSR=0
|Solar Radiation level
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled, Solar radiation reading sent with normal data
|-
|CatchUp=1
|If possible send missing historic data to the server on startup
*0 = Disabled
*1 = Enabled (default)
|}


#One big change in 3.10.1 is that (almost) all settings are now made via the [[MX Administrative Interface|Admin interface]].
=== Section: xAP ===
#*Therefore it makes no sense any more to organise this page how someone editing the file directly might want.
Set in the Internet Configuration Screen sites/Options tab
#*The replacement [[Cumulus.ini]] page is now organised by how you change settings in the admin interface (i.e. similar to how settings have been explained in [[MX_Administrative_Interface#Changing_Settings]]).
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
#Another change is that some of the settings that used to be made on the “Station Settings” page, are now made on different pages in that interface.
|-
#Yet another change is that what you pick in some settings can affect what settings are shown later on the admin interface page.
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
#*You could say the settings pages have become intelligent.
!style="width:600px" | Function
#*For example, when you select a weather station type it ensures only parameters that relate to that weather station type are shown.
|-
#*As another example, you can opt in or out of the default web site design, so that determines which parameters relating to web sites are shown.
|style="background:lightgray;"|[xAP]
#A final change is that some parameters are grouped as “Advanced”, so that novices can avoid those.
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters are used if you have enabled xAP in the Station Configuration xAP Settings block
|-
|Enabled=0
|When set, Cumulus will periodically send out xAP weather reports. See [http://www.xapautomation.org/ http://www.xapautomation.org/] for more details
*0 = Disabled (default)
*1 = Enabled
|-
|UID=4375
|Sets the UID for xAP messages. You should only need to change this if you have more than one instance of Cumulus running on a network.
|-
|Port=3639
|IP port your computer uses to send data to xAP
|}

== Section: NOAA ==
All these can be set in the NOAA Setup Screen in Configuration menu. You might select to close Cumulus, and edit the 'Norm' parameters by using a external editor to manipulate into required format, copy, and paste, the values from another source (as there are a lot of figures to type in).
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[NOAA]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters are set from the NOAA Setup dialog in Cumulus
|-
|Name=
|Your NOAA Station name
|-
|City=
|NOAA location city
|-
|State=
|NOAA location state/county/province or the equivalent in your nation
|-
|12hourformat=0
|Use 12 or 24 hour time format in the reports
*0 = 24 hour format (default)
*1 = 12 hour format
|-
|HeatingThreshold=
|The temperature which is to be used to calculate [[Heat/cold degree days and Chill hours | heating degree days]]
|-
|CoolingThreshold=
|The temperature which is to be used to calculate [[Heat/cold degree days and Chill hours | cooling degree days]]
|-
|MaxTempComp1=27
|The value used in the reports for the counts of days with max temperatures above the specified temperature.
|-
|MaxTempComp2=27
|The value used in the reports for the counts of days with max temperatures below the specified temperature.
|-
|MinTempComp1=0
|The value used in the reports for the counts of days with min temperatures below the specified temperature.
|-
|MinTempComp2=-18
|The value used in the reports for the counts of days with min temperatures below the specified temperature.
|-
|RainComp1=0.2
|The value used in the reports for the counts of days with rain totals greater than (or equal to) the specified amount.
|-
|RainComp2=2
|The value used in the reports for the counts of days with rain totals greater than (or equal to) the specified amount.
|-
|RainComp3=20
|The value used in the reports for the counts of days with rain totals greater than (or equal to) the specified amount.
|-
|AutoSave=0
|If set, when Cumulus does the end of day reset, it will auto create NOAA-style reports for the month and year corresponding to the day which has just ended.
|-
|NOAAUseUTF8=0
|'''(Added in Cumulus 1.9.4 beta build 1078)''' Specifies the 'Character set' in which NOAA reports are generated whether automatically (by Cumulus just after rollover) or manually (by selecting '''Save''' in NOAA Monthly/Annual Reports screen within Edit menu).
*0 = Uses the encoding used for the viewer's operating system's default ANSI code page.
*1 = Uses UTF8 ((UCS Transformation Format—8-bit) format - the dominant character encoding for the World-Wide Web as using one to three bytes it represents most characters in common use covering most languages.
|-
|NOAATempNorm[Jan-Dec]=
|Long term temperature averages for each month, used for 'departure from the norm' calculations.
|-
|NOAARainNorm[Jan-Dec]=
|Long term rainfall averages for each month, used for 'departure from the norm' calculations.
|-
|AutoFTP=0
|If set, when Cumulus does the first FTP upload after the daily reset, it will also upload the latest auto-created monthly and yearly NOAA-style reports. Note that you must already have regular (non-realtime) FTP configured.
|-
|MonthFileFormat="NOAAMO"mmyy".txt"
|Defines the format of the filename used for the monthly reports, using date formatting characters (see [[Webtags#Time.2FDate_.27format.27_Parameter]]). The default uses a 2 digit number for the month, but you may prefer the full month name or an abbreviation in your language. Note that any characters which are not date formatting characters should be in double quotes.
|-
|YearFileFormat="NOAAYR"yyyy".txt"
|Defines the format of the filename used for the yearly reports, using date formatting characters (see [[Webtags#Time.2FDate_.27format.27_Parameter]]). Note that any characters which are not date formatting characters should be in double quotes.
|-
|FTPDirectory=
|The FTP directory into which Cumulus will attempt to upload the latest NOAA-style reports. You must give the full path from the point of login, and do not supply a trailing 'slash'. Note that the directory must actually exist on the server.
|}

== Section: Solar ==
Set mostly in solar block at foot of Station Settings screen of Configuration menu.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[Solar]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section Name - the following parameters are set from the Solar Setup dialog in Cumulus
|-
|SunThreshold=75
|If you have a solar sensor: Cumulus tries to determine whether the sun is shining by determining whether the current solar radiation value is above a certain percentage of the current theoretical maximum. The value you supply here is used as that percentage. The default value is 75%.
|-
|RStransfactor=0.8
|Cumulus uses the Ryan-Stolzenbach formula to determine the current theoretical maximum solar radiation at your location at the current moment in time. This formula has a factor to allow for the transmission of the radiation through the atmosphere; the default is 0.80.
|-
|SolarMinimum=0
|This setting allows you to specify a minimum solar radiation value which needs to be reached before it can be considered to be sunny. Note that this setting does not replace the calculation using the current theoretical maximum, it specifies an additional condition which has to be met. This setting therefore allows you to cater for the periods at the beginning and end of the day when the theoretical maximum is very low.
|-
|LuxToWM2=0.0079
|Edit cumulus.ini to add this parameter if you have a Fine Offset station with a solar detector. These supply 'Lux' values rather than 'W/m2' values that Davis stations supply. Cumulus attempts to convert from Lux to W/m2 using the supplied multiplication factor.
|-
|UseBlakeLarsen=0
| Called B/l on screen. Set this to 1 if you have a Blake-Larsen Sun Recorder, and you want Cumulus to get today's sunshine hours from it. You need to configure the Blake-Larsen software to put the SRsunshine.dat file into the Cumulus data folder so that Cumulus can read it.
|}

== Section: MainForm ==
This is an optional section if you have set 'Save main window position' on Display settings screen.
This section appears in the main cumulus.ini (found in same directory as cumulus.exe) where it stores the position of the main Cumulus screen on your monitor. Cumulus updates this section of the main cumulus.ini on closing, after you move the screen around on your monitor. An equivalent section also appears in a shorter cumulus.ini stored in the reports sub-directory where it stores the position of your last saved NOAA screen.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!style="width:150px" | Parameter Line Entry
!style="width:600px" | Function
|-
|style="background:lightgray;"|[MainForm]
|style="background:lightgray;"|Section name - the following parameters relate to the Cumulus screen position.
|-
|Left=100
|The last saved Cumulus main screen position, in pixels from the left-hand edge of the screen.
|-
|Top=50
|The last saved Cumulus main screen position, in pixels from the top edge of the screen
|}

Latest revision as of 07:20, 15 June 2021

This page has been renamed from "Cumulus.ini" to preserve the early history of that page.

The information that was on this old Cumulus.ini page has been moved into separate pages for Cumulus 1, MX early releases, and MX latest releases.

History of this page

This page has proved the most complicated of all those in the Wiki to maintain:

  1. Settings change extremely often
    • Therefore it is a lot of effort to keep the documentation up to date
    • It is obviously easiest if an update is made here as soon as the settings change, sometimes that happens (perhaps by developer doing an update here)
  2. The design of configuration menus/screens/pages to edit the settings periodically changes
    • This means information about how to change settings often depends upon which release someone is using
      • In turn that means, either Cumulus users of latest release, or those using an earlier release, will struggle with the documentation
  3. Developers often provide limited information about settings,
    • Sometimes new settings are mentioned in an answer in a forum post, and do not get mentioned as a change in release announcements
      • This means that finding accurate information to update this page requires an awful lot of research that is very time consuming

The above observations applied for the legacy software, when Cumulus 2, and then 3 (MX), came along the documentation was originally split. When MX started (in 2019 to early 2020) to try to replicate much of what Cumulus 1 offered, it made sense to reuse what was written on this page for Cumulus 1, instead of duplicating it on a second page.

Then from mid 2020 to early 2021, there was rapid development of MX by the new developer, and MX began to increasingly diverge more and more from the legacy configuration, this page reflected that by introducing sub-sections (Cumulus 1 only, MX only, and both). From early 2021 onwards that 3 sub-section design for this page failed because new MX releases began to diverge from earlier MX releases. In other words, parameters that had existed at an early MX release, were no longer used by later releases. It was possible, but increasingly more and more difficult, to track new parameters to add that were added at particular releases, so the documentation got more and more obsolete.

To sum up, it was impossible for this page to show information for the legacy software, for early MX releases, and for later MX releases. The response was to move off this page anaything not relevant to the latest MX release, and to restructure this page based on how MX settings are altered, rather than where a parameter appears in the file.


Steve Loft Era

The configuration file content relating to the legacy software (e.g. 1.9.4) has been moved to legacy page

Legacy Software 1.x.y releases Beta builds of legacy software Cumulus 2 alpha releases MX beta 3.0.0
This page was created for the legacy Cumulus 1 software (up to 1.9.4). If you look at the history tab of this page, user‎ Shamrockspider created this page at 12:55 on 27 August 2009 for the purpose of Documenting the cumulus.ini file content and its function.

Back in 2009, the file was fairly simple, and therefore documentating it was also fairly easy.

Some settings were in configuration screens, and the file was arranged so that those settings were stored under a heading that generally (not in every case, for historic reasons) reflected the screen name. Documenting these was comparitively easy, the setting could be found easily and its allowed values could be easily tested.

A lot of extra settings were added to the file, but not added to the configuration screens. Documenting these was particularly difficult as only some got mentioned in release announcements, so the others were hard to discover, and allowed values were not always clear.

Each time a beta version of Cumulus 1 was available, any parameters specific to that beta appeared in Cumulus.ini_(Beta), and only moved to the main page when that beta finished, and became the main release. The same beta page, Cumulus.ini_(Beta), was briefly used for Cumulus 2. Finally, that beta page, Cumulus.ini_(Beta), was used for all the changes in Cumulus 3 (the MX beta):
  • Some of the parameters for Cumulus 1 were not used by MX beta
  • Some of the parameters for Cumulus 1 were used by MX beta
  • Beta MX only added 3 new parameters

This was the position when Steve Loft ceased his involvement with Cumulus. This page contained all parameters used for Cumulus 1, some of these were used by MX beta too.

The beta page contained some Cumulus 1 beta parameters that were still under development and the parameters that were only used by MX.

Mark Crossley era

  • Cumulus.ini content has changed drastically, and therefore the documentation page called "Cumulus.ini" has also had to change drastically
  • There was a period when it was possible for one page to document both the legacy Cumulus 1.9.4 and all MX releases, but that has long gone.
MX beta releases 3.0.0 to MX release 3.4.6 MX releases 3.6.0 to 3.7.0 MX releases 3.8.0 to 3.9.7 MX releases 3.10.0 to 3.11.4 MX release 3.12.0 onwards
  • Until MX release 3.4.6, people using MX needed to refer to the page now called Cumulus.ini_(Cumulus_1), which was called "Cumulus.ini" at the time, and the beta page, Cumulus.ini_(Beta), as MX still used most of the parameters that the legacy software used and just a few new parameters. The latter still contained information from the last Cumulus 1 beta relating to Proxies section of Cumulus.ini, as that had not been finalised.
  • When Mark Crossley brought MX out of beta, he started adding new features to MX:
    • Some features represented functionality in the legacy software that MX had lacked, these used parameters that had been used for the legacy software
    • For other new features, like interfaces with new weather station types and new sensors, he created new parameters, and the beta page began to rival the legacy page in the number of parameters it covered
  • The information about MX on the beta page stayed there until April 2020
  • Release 3.6.0 was when the functionality of MX first started to exceed the functionality of the legacy software
  • Between April and June 2020, information on the beta page was slowly moved across to the main page, it took some time as it needed to be verified because as MX developed configuration file content was changing
  • Suddenly, a lot of people were migrating from the legacy software to MX
  • To help people migrating, from June 2020, all settings (for both the legacy software and MX) were covered on a single "Cumulus.ini" page
  • As people migrated, they could see on that single page clearly which parameters in their Cumulus.ini file were still valid, and what new parameters were needed when they migrated
  • For those using MX, the page was recording the new parameters that were being added to the file as MX developed
  • Now the history of all the changes at that time can be viewed on this page, as this was originally the page that once held that combined information.
  • From release 3.8.0, the pace of change in MX was so fast, and the contributors to the Wiki so few, the page then called "Cumulus.ini" (with its previous content) stopped being maintained.
    1. The main problem was somebody needed to do a lot of research, and devote a lot of time, to track what the developer was changing.
    2. There was a second problem, it was clear that it was too complicated to use the same page to describe configuration for the legacy software, older MX releases, and the latest MX release
  • Consequently, the "Cumulus.ini" page had to change, and the first move meant accepting MX and the legacy software could not be documented any more on the same page
    • A new page was created Cumulus.ini_(Cumulus_1), and all the information specific to the legacy software was split off from this page
  • This still left the problem that this page, at that time called "Cumulus.ini", had information that related to a release that had been superseded
  • Finally, this old "Cumulus.ini" paqe, with the attached history, but without any parameter information in the main page, was renamed to its current name, so it has preserved the history of the old page that had been split into two new pages, neither of which had the past history
  • At release 3.10.0, the settings pages in the admin interface were given a significant makeover, and huge numbers of new settings were created, while many others became redundant
  • It was clear the old MX "Cumulus.ini" page was badly designed for the way 3.10.0 operated
  • That old page was already out of date as it had not been updated for 3.8.0 changes
  • It became obvious it was easier to start a new page that would would be based around 3.10.0 MX release, but would incorporate changes from 3.8.0 onwards, and would ignore anything that was now redundant
  • The other change was a redesign of the page, so it focussed on explaining how to change the settings using the admin interface, rather than just documenting what each parameter in the file was used for
  • As MX was developed, its settings pages were being redesigned, and so where you changed particular parameters in the file was modified making the documentation that already existed obsolete for people using latest release, but still valid for people who were using an older release.
  • As release 3.12.0 was planned to add many, many more parameters to the Cumulus.ini file, and the Settings pages get another redesign, it was decided the documenting of the changes in 3.8.0, 3.9.2, and 3.10.0 would be delayed until it became clearer what might change in 3.12.0
  • The new Cumulus.ini page to cover all these recent releases was created in June 2021, a year after the last big change to a page with that name.

Original content of this page

How this page used to be laid out, and why

For both Cumulus 1 and early MX releases, the content on this page was arranged assuming people were editing the file directly.

Therefore, the file was described by working through the sections on the file, and explaining the parameters that could go in each section.

For the longer sections, parameters might be split into separate tables to make it easier.

Before release 3.10.1, there were two types of parameters in Cumulus.ini.

  1. "read-only" settings were made directly in the "Cumulus.ini" file, there was no way to adjust these parameters using the settings screens/pages
  2. "read-write" settings could be changed in two ways, either by editing the file with Cumulus stopped, or by finding the parameter on a setting screen (for MX, these are in admin interface).
You will see in the two pages split off from this page (Cumulus.ini_(Cumulus_1) and Cumulus.ini (MX_3.0.0_to_3.7.0)), how the parameters had to identify themselves as read-only or read-write.

Why has this original "Cumulus.ini" page been renamed, cleared of old content, and made historic?

  1. One big change in 3.10.1 is that (almost) all settings are now made via the Admin interface.
    • Therefore it makes no sense any more to organise this page how someone editing the file directly might want.
    • The replacement Cumulus.ini page is now organised by how you change settings in the admin interface (i.e. similar to how settings have been explained in MX_Administrative_Interface#Changing_Settings).
  2. Another change is that some of the settings that used to be made on the “Station Settings” page, are now made on different pages in that interface.
  3. Yet another change is that what you pick in some settings can affect what settings are shown later on the admin interface page.
    • You could say the settings pages have become intelligent.
    • For example, when you select a weather station type it ensures only parameters that relate to that weather station type are shown.
    • As another example, you can opt in or out of the default web site design, so that determines which parameters relating to web sites are shown.
  4. A final change is that some parameters are grouped as “Advanced”, so that novices can avoid those.
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