[gradsusr] Request environment variable for shapefiles

[Dave Allured]

Jennifer,

Using GASCRP would be sufficient.  However, I suggest this search order:

1. current dir
2. dirs in GASCRP
3. GADDIR

This is because the GADDIR install directory is read-only for me and 
some other users, and it would be good to have a clean mechanism to 
override shapefile collections that might hypothetically find their 
way into GADDIR.

Thanks for your consideration.

--Dave

On 8/2/2011 8:47 AM, Jennifer Adams wrote:
> How about using the directories in the GASCRP variable?
> 1. current dir
> 2. GADDIR
> 3. dirs in GASCRP
>
> That requires the least amount of new code and documentation.
> --Jennifer
>
>
> On Aug 1, 2011, at 2:03 PM, Dave Allured wrote:
>
>> Hi. This is a feature request for a separate environment variable
>> for the path to shapefiles. In recent GrADS versions, GADDIR is
>> used for both installation data files and shapefiles. Mixing an
>> installation directory with a user supplemented directory can create
>> some problems.
>>
>> I think a new environment variable such as GASHAPEDIR would be most
>> helpful. It would be nice if multiple paths could be specified as a
>> space separated list, as is now the case for GASCRP. For
>> compatibility, I suggest that the search order for shapefiles be as
>> follows:
>>
>> 1. Current directory.
>> 2. Paths in GASHAPEDIR, left to right.
>> 3. GADDIR.
>>
>> There are other ways to accomplish the goal. Multiple paths in
>> GADDIR is one of them. A separate environment variable seems most
>> user friendly to me.
>>
>> If desired, I would be willing to attempt a patch for this. What do
>> you think?
>>
>> --Dave A.
>> NOAA/PSD/CIRES
>> Boulder, Colorado