SYNOPSIS

  bufrencode.pl --data <data file> --metadata <metadata file>
      [--outfile <file to print encoded BUFR message to>]
      [--strict_checking n]
      [--tableformat <BUFRDC|ECCODES>]
      [--tablepath <path to BUFR tables>]
      [--verbose n]
      [--help]

DESCRIPTION

Encode a BUFR message, reading data and metadata from files. The resulting BUFR message will be printed to STDOUT unless option --outfile is set.

Execute without arguments for Usage, with option --help for some additional info. See also https://wiki.met.no/bufr.pm/start for examples of use.

OPTIONS

   --help               Display Usage and explain the options. Almost
                        the same as consulting perldoc bufrencode.pl
   --outfile <filename> Will print the encoded BUFR message to <filename>
                        instead of STDOUT
   --strict_checking n  n=0 Disable strict checking of BUFR format
                        n=1 Issue warning if (recoverable) error in
                            BUFR format
                        n=2 (default) Croak if (recoverable) error in BUFR format.
                            Nothing more in this message will be encoded.
   --tableformat        Currently supported are BUFRDC and ECCODES (default is BUFRDC)
   --tablepath <path to BUFR tables>
                        If used, will set path to BUFR tables. If not
                        set, will fetch tables from the environment
                        variable BUFR_TABLES, or if this is not set:
                        will use DEFAULT_TABLE_PATH_<tableformat>
                        hard coded in source code.
   --verbose n          Set verbose level to n, 0<=n<=6 (default 0).
                        Verbose output is sent to STDOUT, so ought to
                        be combined with option --outfile

Required options

--metadata <metadata file>

For the metadata file, use this as a prototype and change the values as desired:

  BUFR_EDITION  4
  MASTER_TABLE  0
  CENTRE  88
  SUBCENTRE  0
  UPDATE_SEQUENCE_NUMBER  0
  OPTIONAL_SECTION  0
  DATA_CATEGORY  0
  INT_DATA_SUBCATEGORY  2
  LOC_DATA_SUBCATEGORY  255
  MASTER_TABLE_VERSION  14
  LOCAL_TABLE_VERSION  0
  YEAR  2008
  MONTH  9
  DAY  1
  HOUR  6
  MINUTE  0
  SECOND  0
  OBSERVED_DATA  1
  COMPRESSED_DATA  0
  DESCRIPTORS_UNEXPANDED  308004 012005 002002

For BUFR edition < 4, replace the lines INT_DATA_SUBCATEGORY, LOC_DATA_SUBCATEGORY, YEAR and SECOND with new lines DATA_SUBCATEGORY and YEAR_OF_CENTURY (the order of lines doesn't matter).

--data <data file>

For the data file, use the same format as would result if you did run on the generated BUFR message

    bufrread.pl <bufr file> --data_only | cut -c -31

or if you use bufrread.pl with --width n, replace 31 with n+16. For example, the file might begin with

     1  001195          Newport
     2  005002            51.55
     3  006002            -2.99
     4  004001             2008
...

Every time a new line starting with the number 1 is met, a new subset will be generated in the BUFR message. Lines not starting with a number are ignored.

For missing values, use 'missing' or stop the line after the BUFR descriptor.

Associated values should use BUFR descriptor 999999, and operator descriptors 22[2345]000 and 23[2567]000 should not have a value, neither should this line be numbered, e.g.

   160  011002          missing
        222000
   161  031002              160
   162  031031                0
...

To encode a NIL subset, all delayed replication factors should be nonzero, and all other values set to missing except for the descriptors defining the station.

Options may be abbreviated, e.g. --h or -h for --help

AUTHOR

Pål Sannes <pal.sannes@met.no>

COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 2010-2023 MET Norway