trouble with using template with forecast files

[Roz MacCracken]

Hi All,

I am trying to create a templated control file for a couple of forecast
files.

I have files with the name:
2008101400.AWIPSF06.tm00.sg - 2008101400.AWIPSF36.tm00.sg (there are 6 files
total).  I have created control files called:
eta6.awipsf06.ctl - eta6.awipsf36.ctl  (mainly because I can't get the
%f2 option to work in my grads scripts.)

 Then, I created an index file called eta6.awipsf06.idx, using:
gribmap -i eta6.awipsf06.ctl,
which was created without errors.

I can display data using the respective control file, pointing
at the corresponding index file.  (this is without templating).  So,
the control files do display data without templating.

I have changed the dset line in the control file to:
dset ^%y4%m2%d2%h2.AWIPSF06.tm00.sg, changed tdef to 999,
and have added the "options template" to the control file.

I have 2 questions..fairly easy, but, I can't get this to work...

First, when I change the control file to the dset, and "options template"
above, and "set t 1", I get the error, "Undefined Grid", with no data.
Is there something that I've missed doing in my control file so that
I can display data using a template?

Should I have changed the dset to %y4%m2%d2%h2.AWIPSF%f2.tm00.sg?  And,
if this is a better way, how do you set the date within a
grads script to get it to display the forecasted time?
(i.e., "set time 12Z14Oct2008(f=12)"...that may not be right...)

Thanks.

Roz MacCracken

Sample of part of the control file:

dset /ETA6/%y4%m2/%y4%m2%d2%h2.AWIPSF06.tm00.sg
index /ETA6/ctl/maps/test.AWIPSF06.tm00.sg.idx
undef 9.999E+20
title 2008100100.AWIPSF06.tm00.sg
*  produced by grib2ctl v0.9.12.5p41
dtype grib 212
options template
pdef 185 129 lcc 35.0 -95.0 105 49 25 25 -95 40635 40635
xdef 181 linear -140 0.5
ydef  91 linear  15 0.5
tdef 100 linear 00Z01oct2008 1dy
zdef 1 linear 1 1
vars 31
ACPCPsfc  0 63,1,0  ** surface Convective precipitation [kg/m^2]
ALBDOsfc  0 84,1,0  ** surface Albedo [%]
APCPsfc  0 61,1,0  ** surface Total precipitation [kg/m^2]
BGRUNsfc  0 234,1,0  ** surface Baseflow-groundwater runoff [kg/m^2]
CAPEsfc  0 157,1,0  ** surface Convective Avail. Pot. Energy [J/kg]
CFRZRsfc  0 141,1,0  ** surface Categorical freezing rain [yes=1;no=0]
CICEPsfc  0 142,1,0  ** surface Categorical ice pellets [yes=1;no=0]
CNWATsfc  0 223,1,0  ** surface Plant canopy surface water [kg/m^2]
CRAINsfc  0 140,1,0  ** surface Categorical rain [yes=1;no=0]
etc....