CWMS-Vue and HEC-DSSVue

Overview

HEC-DSS and HEC-DSSVue

HEC-DSS and HEC-DSSVue are the foundational data storage system and data visualization user interface used throughout the CWMS software suite. HEC-DSS is the primary time-series database format used for sharing data between models during CWMS computation runs. HEC-DSSVue is a user interface that simplifies managing data in many CWMS programs. HEC-DSSVue comes as both a standalone program and as library included within programs such as HEC-ResSim.

CWMS-Vue 

CWMS-Vue is a graphical user interface program for viewing, editing, and manipulating data in HEC-DSS files and CWMS databases. With CWMS-Vue, data may be plotted, tabulated, edited, and manipulated with over fifty mathematical functions. Along with these functions, CWMS-Vue provides several utility functions, such as entering datasets into a database, renaming dataset names, copying datasets to other database files, and deleting datasets.

Funded Activities

HEC-DSS and HEC-DSSVue

CWMS-Vue 

Accomplishments for HEC-DSS and HEC-DSSVue

Migrate to HEC-DSS 7 and Retire HEC-DSS 6

HEC-DSSVue now only creates HEC-DSS version 7 files. The team provided support for converting to version 7 files for HEC-ResSim, HEC-HMS, HEC-WAT, CWMS, and EFM-plotter.

Improve SHEF-DSS Import/Export Functionality

HEC-DSSVue now supports more flexible importing and exporting of SHEF. When using the new SHEF functionality (implemented in Python) the A and B parts of the HEC-DSS path are no longer constrained to a fixed length by Fortran configuration files.

Develop Python API for HEC-DSS

A first version of the Python API for HEC-DSS was created with core functionality (regular time-series, paired-data, and raster data). Training on this library was given during the Data Workshop held in September 2024 at the St. Paul District office. Attendees from several districts learned how to use this API during the workshop.

Accomplishments for CWMS-Vue

Support Data Read/Write Using CWMS-Data-API

The ability to read data from and write data to CDA was added to CWMS-Vue previously, however only the reading of data from CDA was possible until this FY. Updates to CDA were required to allow the writing of data from CWMS-Vue. Users can now read/write CDA data using CWMS-Vue. 

Maintenance Contract

Many bugs were addressed with the CWMS-Vue maintenance contract. Issues with the Measurements Tab feature were addressed to make it ready for production in the release of CWMS 3.4. This feature was paid for by field offices through WMIST in previous FYs, but there were minor issues that needed addressed this year prior to releasing the feature. Additionally, many issues with plotting, editing, and extracting Local Regular Time Series (LRTS) and Pseudo Regular Time Series (PRTS) were addressed.  

Improvements for Graphical and Validation Editors

Enhancements were made to the Graphical Editor (GE) and the Data Validation Editor (DVE). There are new layout options for arranging the plot and table editors (vertical or horizontal layouts). Additional fill options have been added as action buttons adjacent to the tabular editor. The fill options include Linear Fill (not new), Repeat Fill (not new), Raw Fill (not new), Add Constant (new), Multiple Factor (new), and Fill to End (new). Location View options were added so that users can append Public Name or Location Alias to the front of the CWMS pathname for ease of selecting multiple time series.

Time Zone Labels on Plots

Time zone labels were added to time series plots. Time zones have been labeled on plots from the CAVI time series icons for a while and this capability was carried over to CWMS-Vue. The "view" time zone is now labeled on plots, tables, and within the GE and DVE.

Saving Changes Back to the CWMS Database

A performance deficiency was addressed when saving time series back to the CWMS database (only changed values will be saved). Previously, all values within the time window were saved back to the CWMS database regardless if they were unchanged. This had become an issue recently, as districts were validating period of record datasets. Currently, this feature is only implemented in the GE and DVE and not in the tabular editor, which is planned for the next release.

Improved Time Series Group Editing

Improvements to the Time Series Group Tab editor were completed, and there is a new popup editor that allows users to sort the assigned time series, filter the assigned time series by time series ID, location, parameter, etc., deselect time series from groups including select and delete multiple at once, and assign additional time series to group including select and add multiple at once. Users can also add data and paste values into reference time series, alias, and attribute fields from main Time Series Groups tab.

Technology Transfer - Update User's Manual

The beginning phases of a standalone CWMS-Vue User's Manual were started, in preparation of the CWMS-Vue standalone release in FY25. Much of the documentation will be separated from the CWMS User's Manual. It will also include cross references to the HEC-DSSVue User's Manual for features that are shared between HEC-DSSVue and CWMS-Vue (i.e. math functions, scripting, viewing local DSS files, etc.).