flics-quick-guide

flics - quick guide

Note: images have not been updated to show 1.0.1 ... all text applies

flics is a simple forms management editor for the ICS-213 emergency management report. It's data files are pure ASCII text that can be sent from point to point using the internet, amateur radio, or other electronic link. The data files are designed to minimize the transfer size. This is particularly important on amateur HF. The data file and the transfer file are one in the same, but can be further encapsulated using either flarq or wrap for the purpose of confirming the received file integrity.

The user prepares, answers and views all ICS-213 data files from the single user interface dialog:

The File and Template menus are:

File:

New - clear all fields and name the default file "new.f2s"
Open - open an existing file - flics data files have the extension ".f2s", read as "form 2 send"
Save - save the current file to the name in the "file:" display box
Save As - save using a new filename that the user provides
Write - write the data to an ICS-213 pretty print form using Rich Text Edit format strings (file extension ".rtf")
Q-forms (Import / Export)

Import the data fields from a Qforms eXtended Markup Language (xml) file
Export the data fields to a Qforms compatible xml file

Wrap (Import / Export / AutoSend)

Import the data fields from a Wrapped ICS data file
Export the data fields to a Wrapped ICS data file
Create a wrapped ICS datafile and save in the NBEMS.files/WRAP/auto directory. If running, fldigi will find and automatically transmit the file.

Template:

Load - load an existing template file - flics template files have the extension ".f2t", read as "form 2 template"
Save - save the current form as a template file, using the default (or current) filename
Save As - save the current form as a template file, user provides the filenam

Config:

Use compression - compress and base64 encode all data transmitted; smaller transfer size for very large content, not human readable. Might result in a larger transfer file for small amount of content.
Use UTC - convert computer time to UTC for date/time stamp in ICS213 files

Note: data files and template files are identical. The only difference is their location in the computer directory structure and their extension. Message files and template files maintain their uniqueness by virture of their file name. If you reuse a filename the old data will be lost.

File locations:

On XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\NBEMS.files
On Vista: C:\Users\<username>NBEMS.files
On Linux: /home/<username>/NBEMS.files

Data files are located in the sub directory "ICS/messages"
Template files are located in the sub directory "ICS/templates"
Pretty print files (.rtf) are located in the "ICS/" subdirectory.

Here is an example of a template that has been loaded for processing and subsequent save as a message file. If you load a template file, modify it for transmission and save it using the "File/Save" menu item it will default you to the "Save As" menu item. You should rename the file to something symbolic to its current usage.

The data file for this template "Digi Net Report.f2t" contains:
============================= file contents ============================
<flics>1.0.0b1
<to:5 k2lbm
<p1:0
<fm:5 w1hkj
<p2:0
<d1:10 2009-09-29
<t1:9 00:03 UTC
<sb:29 Situation Report - F3 tornado
<s1:11 Dave Freese
<p3:16 On scene manager
<s2:12 Helen Freese
<p4:11 Coordinator
<d2:10 2009-09-29
<t2:9 00:22 UTC
<mg:211 1. # injured 4
2. # casualties 2
3. # displaced 30
4. Available doctors 1
5. Available nurses 2
6. Request:
a. shelter 30
b. morgue transport 2
c. ambulance transport 4, from Hazel Green UMC to City Hosp.

<rp:100 Expect ambulance by 03:00 UTC
Coronor pickup by 08:00 UTC
Shelter ready at Hazel Green High School.
============================= file contents ============================

Qform data file

Flics can read and write Qform ICS213 data files. The Qform data file is larger by virtue of the xml structure. The file size ratio is less when the content is larger.

Rich Text Format

The Rich Text Format file that the File/Write menu item produces can be opened with Microsoft Word, WordPad, Open Office, or any other word processing software that can read and write RTF files. Use that software for printing the report. It might be necessary to adjust the page margins for some RTF reader/printer applications.