Weather Information FTP Services

Table of Contents

  1. What is FTP?
  2. How Do I FTP?
  3. Anonymous FTP
  4. Registered Users FTP
  5. IDcodes and File Naming Convention
  6. Alternative ways for starting FTP
  7. Commonly used FTP commands for command line FTP applications
  8. Where is the file, now I've received it?

What is FTP... ?

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) allows you to transfer files from another computer to your own. The file may be plain text or compressed text, or it could be a picture. The host computer, where you get the data from, might be in the office next door or on the other side of the planet. You will need the Internet address of the file, e.g. ftp.bom.gov.au

How Do I FTP?

FTP File transfer can be done in two different modes:

  1. ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange, is a standard format representing characters. A text file is usually in ASCII format.
  2. BINARY (system of 0s and 1s) is used when a file contains characters that are not printable, such as images and computer programs. ( Binary mode can also be used for ASCII files)

Once you have started the ftp program and you would like to know the mode you are currently in:

  1. Type type to see your current mode.
  2. Type binary to switch to BINARY mode to transfer files.
  3. Type ASCII to switch to ASCII mode to transfer files.
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Anonymous FTP

Via WEB Browser

Type ftp://ftp2.bom.gov.au/anon/gen/index.html in the location box of your browser and select relevant directory.
All current forecasts and warnings are at: ftp2.bom.gov.au/anon/gen/fwo
Current analysis and forecast charts are at: ftp2.bom.gov.au/anon/gen/difacs
Samples of registered user products are at: ftp2.bom.gov.au/anon/sample/

TELNET

General access to a file through FTP can only be gained if the creator of the file has made it publicly accessible on a computer archive. This will accept the word "anonymous" as logon and your e-mail address as a password or type "guest" if you don't have e-mail address.

As an anonymous user you can do the following:

  1. If you're in telnet, type ftp ftp2.bom.gov.au ( or see Starting FTP )
  2. When prompted for user-id, enter anonymous.
  3. When prompted for the password, enter your e-mail address ( or guest )
  4. Type ls
  5. Use an ftp command to download the required information.
  6. Type quit to finish FTP session.
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Registered Users FTP

Registered Users FTP allows access to archive information for which you have paid a Subscription.

You are only able to transfer data, via ftp, from within the sub-directories allocated to you on the ftp.bom.gov.au machine.

How you access this information is almost the same as anonymous FTP, except that you will need to enter your username and password, which is provided to you after the subscription has been processed.

As a registered user you should do the following:

  1. If you're in telnet session, type ftp ftp.bom.gov.au ( or see Starting FTP )
  2. When prompted for user-id, enter anonymous.
  3. When prompted for the password, enter your e-mail address ( or guest )
  4. Type user bom***
  5. Enter the appropriate password (provided to you after you have registered with us).
  6. Type pwd (to check that you in the right directory e.g. /users/ftp/register/bom*** ).
  7. Use an ftp command to download the required information.
  8. Type quit to finish FTP session.
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ID Codes and File Naming Conventions

What is the format of the product ID Code?

The general form of the identification code is:
IDcxxxxx.ext
where:
  
IDa constant which identifies this string as an ID code
ccategory of product
xxxxxindividual product identifier whose form depends on the category, c
extoptional file extension, indicating file type

Category of product (idCxxxxx)

Category may have the following values:
  • B = Bundled products, eg IDBxxxxx
  • C = Climate, eg IDCxxxxx
  • D = NT, eg IDDxxxxx
  • E = Satellite products, eg IDExxxxx
  • G = Graphical Weather Packages, eg IDGxxxxx
  • N = NSW/ACT, eg IDNxxxxx
  • Q = Qld, eg IDQxxxxx
  • R = Radar, eg IDRxxxxx
  • S = SA, eg IDSxxxxx
  • T = Tasmanian products, eg IDTxxxxx
  • V = Victoria, eg IDVxxxxx
  • W = WA, eg IDWxxxxx
  • X = Digital Fax, eg IDXxxxxx
  • Y = National Meteorological Operations Centre, eg IDYxxxxx

Individual product identifier (idcXXXXX)

The identifier field varies in length and composition, depending upon the category of product - c. For full details, refer to the Product Identification Code Listing.

Optional file extension (idcxxxxx.EXT)

The file extension is optional. When required it indicates the product's file type or format as follows:
ExtensionDescription
.auvoice file
.axfAIFS Exchange Format file
.catconcatenated voice file
.gifgif image file
.htmhtml/shtml file
.jpgjpeg image file
.mpgmpeg image file
.ncNetCDF file
.pspostscript
.txttext file
.wavvoice file
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Alternative ways for using FTP

  • If you are in telnet, type ftp
  • You can also FTP from your web browser (see your web browser's help pages for more information)
  • it is easier to use dedicated Graphical User Interface (GUI) FTP software.
  • There are many shareware and freeware FTP software packages available on the Internet.
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Commonly used FTP commands for command line FTP applications

  • get - transfers a file from the remote computer to your computer
  • put - transfer a file from your computer to the remote computer
  • mget - transfer multiple files from the remote computer to your computer
  • mput - transfer multiple files from your computer to the remote computer
  • dir - gives a list of the files of the current directory on the remote machine
  • ldir- gives a list of the files of the current directory on your computer
  • cd - changes the current directory on the remote machine
  • lcd - changes the current directory of your machine
  • help - lists the commands available
  • quit - ends from your ftp session
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Where is the file, now that I've received it?

If you are using GUI FTP software the location of your file will be shown on the screen. When opening your application (word processor/ text editor or viewer) ensure that you are in the right directory or folder.

If you are using Unix FTP, files will be transferred to your current directory on your server.

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