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GCE Data Toolbox Installation

Initial Toolbox Installation

1. Download a complete installation package from the Downloads page

2. Extract the files in the Zip archive to a directory accessible to MATLAB, making sure the option to use folder names or recurse sub-directories is enabled

3. Start the MATLAB application using the program icon or system menus

4. Change to the file directory where the toolbox instance was unzipped using the MATLAB path browser or 'cd' command in the command window (e.g. cd c:\matlabr13\toolbox\gce_datatools)

5. Type 'startup' to launch the GUI start up dialog, which contains buttons to view the documentation and run programs for searching and retrieving existing datasets or creating new data sets

6. Optionally create a MATLAB shortcut to change to the toolbox directory and run the startup.m script

(Note: if you choose not to use the included startup script to run the tools, make sure to add the toolbox directories to the MATLAB search path to avoid errors running functions that access files outside the working directory)

Minor Toolbox Version Upgrades

1. Download an update distribution package from the Downloads page

2. As a precaution, back up the /userdata and /settings directories from the original installation to another directory

3. Extract the files to the original installation directory, overwriting existing m-files and other files

4. Replace the contents of the /userdata and /settings directories if erased by the unzip utility

(Note: An Apple Macintosh user reported that unzipping the patch file using the OS/X Finder and dragging the contents to the original toolbox installation directory deleted original files in /userdata not included in the patch file. To avoid losing your settings you may need to follow the major upgrade procedures instead)

Major Toolbox Version Upgrades (2.x to 3.x)

1. Download a complete distribution package from the Downloads page

2. Extract the files to a different directory than any prior versions as a new installation

3. Copy any data files, workflow scripts or custom flag functions you have added to the toolbox to corresponding locations in the new directory (e.g. in [toolbox]/userdata, [toolbox]/settings, [toolbox]/workflows and [toolbox]/qaqc)

4. If you want to retain your preference settings, or if you have added to or customized the imort filters, unit conversions, or metadata style templates distributed with the toolbox, copy files in the 'userdata' directory to the corresponding location in the new directory to retain your modifications in the new version:

  • Customizations:
    • data import filters: userdata/imp_filters.mat
    • metadata templates: userdata/imp_templates.mat
    • metadata format styles: settings/metastyles.mat
    • unit conversions database: settings/ui_unitconv.mat
    • menu extensions: extensions/extensions.m
  • Preferences and Settings:
    • ClimDB station lists: settings/ui_expclimdb.mat
    • data grid layout preferences: settings/ui_datagrid.mat
    • ClimDB data retrieval preferences: settings/ui_fetch_climdb.mat
    • USGS data retrieval preferences: settings/ui_fetch_usgs.mat
    • search results and search history: search_indices/search_default.mat
    • user registration information: settings/gce_user_registration.mat

Data Turbine

If you want to leverage support for Data Turbine, please see the Data Turbine Installation page