Weather by Zip Code: THE MODULE

tshif

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One of the coolest applications I have ever seen, from my own perspective as well as what I have seen in pure user delight, is the Weather by Zip Code program.

Written by our own Super Nerd Uno, Ward Mundy, the program allows you to enter your zip code, and get a customized weather report - provided by Noah - verbalized right over the phone.

To install it, you download a couple of zip files, use phpMyAdmin to do some sql stuff, make a few manual entries and create a dial plan or two, then make a custom destination for it. (As I recall, the first couple of versions also required some naked dancing around a fire pit and possibly the use of voodoo dolls to get it installed, but I digress.)

:idea: If this is sounding like the ramp up to another FreePBX module - you're right!

weatherzip.jpg


Weather By Zip:THE MODULE installs the entire system as envisioned by Nerd Uno. Its installs the zip code database, supports both swift and flight, and comes complete with a feature code in the FreePBX Feature code control screen. No manual adjustments are required to install Ward's ultra-cool program!

Install and Upgrade
This module should co reside with the original non-modularized version of the Weather by Zip Code program. (The feature codes of course must be unique)

The installation will take between 45 seconds and 1:30 seconds on a reasonably fast machine.

On a reasonably slow machine - it can fail outright due to the size of the database it's populating with some 42 thousand zip codes. We are preparing an update that we think will resolve this. (6.24.09)

Upgrading/ Reinstalling will not cause duplicate ZIP code databases.

Installation:
Step 1: Download the module to your desktopFrom here. (Be sure to select the most current stable non development version.)
Don’t decompress the archive!

Step 2: Use a web browser to access FreePBX on your PBX. Choose Tools, Module Admin, Upload Module.

Now, browse to the weatherzip-1.X.X.tgz file on your Desktop and click the Upload button. Now click local module administration, scroll down and click on Weather by Zip - and then the Install radio button.

NOTE: This will take longer than any module you have ever installed before. BE PATIENT and don't interrupt it.

The orange square that normally shows you installation progress WILL BE BLANK until the process is completed.

You will KNOW you are done when you see the messages saying that the Weather by ZipCode and the ZIP code database have been installed.

If after some time you get a single white status line on the top of this status box, and nothing else, your system has not completed the installation of the ZIP code database. (There IS a way to proceed should this happen to you.)

Now click Process, and complete the usual FreePBX install and reload process.

Step 3: Use a web browser to access FreePBX on your PBX. Choose Setup, Weather by ZIP.

You will be presented with configuration screen. Select the Text to Speech engine that make sense for your PBX, and click Process, and complete the usual FreePBX confirm and reload process.

That's all there is to it. If everything went according to Hoyle, you can pick up any extension and dial *947 (or whatever you have changed it to in the Features Control screen of FreePBX) and be asked for your zip code.

Now - the next time your sitting there thinking it would be good exercise to get up, walk to a window and see what the weather is like outside - remember you don't really have to. :1eyeb:

Don't forget to let us know how this works for you!

Until next time -
tshif

More info:
This module is compatible with the security models used in the following distributions:
PBX In A Flash
TrixBOX CE *See Special Issues
Elastix *See Special Issues

The Module’s wiki Page is here.

Asterisk Version Compatibility
This module has been tested and found to work correctly with Asterisk versions 1.4 and 1.6.

Known Issues:
1. This module does not properly clean up changes made to extensions_custom.conf. Specifically, this line:
# include custom_weatherzip.conf
Will be attached to the bottom of the extensions_custom.conf file every time you install / re install the module. This is harmless, and will be corrected in a future release of the module.

2.This module supports only mysql, if your PBX is deployed using another database, this module will fail.
 

The Deacon

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Tony,

It works just like it's supposed to!

Thanks for modularizing this great module!

You ROCK!

-Rick
 

tshif

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Tony,
It works just like it's supposed to!
Thanks for modularizing this great module!
You ROCK!
-Rick


Rick -THANKS for the feedback. LOL - Its always nice when the first posting is a success rather than a difficulty! I'm glad you like it.

I should have swift working during the reading of the report (instead of Igor) in the next day or so - schedule permitting.

:smash: - Tony
 

The Deacon

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Rick -THANKS for the feedback. LOL - Its always nice when the first posting is a success rather than a difficulty! I'm glad you like it.

I should have swift working during the reading of the report (instead of Igor) in the next day or so - schedule permitting.

:smash: - Tony

Tony - Swift worked for me right out of the box; but maybe it's because I have swift already installed?
 

tshif

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Rick -
That would be an elegant solution - do nothing and it works!

Just let me ask one question: The report is being read by swift and not flite? Try a different Zip code that you've never listened to before - and let me know what happens. Make sure you dont have the non module version installed with the same feature code. Verify your actually exercising the module version.
 

The Deacon

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Rick -
That would be an elegant solution - do nothing and it works!

Just let me ask one question: The report is being read by swift and not flite? Try a different Zip code that you've never listened to before - and let me know what happens. Make sure you dont have the non module version installed with the same feature code. Verify your actually exercising the module version.
Tony:

Sorry for the premature good news...

Ok, I still had the old module installed. I changed the number from 947 to 977. Allison still asked me for the information, but robot boy read me the weather report.

-Rick
 

tshif

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Rick - OK Cool. That's current expected behavior. That's actually easier to find the fix for than if it behaved inconsistently from machine to machine. Thanks for the follow up info.
 

Hat

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Works!!!
I do not have Swift installed, just Igor. Install went smooth. Tested on numerous zips - all worked.
Thanks for this.
 

tshif

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Works!!!
I do not have Swift installed, just Igor. Install went smooth. Tested on numerous zips - all worked.
Thanks for this.

Great News - Thanks as usual Tom for the feedback!
 

tshif

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Compatible with TrixBOX CE

This module has been tested and run real nice on TrixBOX CE.

More info:
This module is compatible with the security models used in the following distributions:
Fonicatec PABX
Foncordiax
PBX In A Flash
TrixBOX CE (See Below)
The Module’s wiki Page is here.

On TrixBOX CE, the sounds directory in which the weather reports are stored has disappeared. The symptom for this would be a weather report that introduces the report but never plays it. Here's how to recreate the directory (from putty or your favorite program)
cd /var/lib/asterisk/sounds
mkdir tts
chmod 775 tts
chown asterisk:asterisk tts
 

tshif

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Module version 1.0.2: Maintenance Release (Obsolete)

Please download and upgrade your Weather by Zip Module from this location.

This upgrade should be applied to ALL current installations.

There are two changes in this maintenance release.

1. The debug variable was set to true in the previous module version. It is now set to false by default.

2. The module no longer requires that the default database ID and password be used. This version removed that requirement. If you change your MySQL User name and or password, this version of the module will be fine with that.

(NOTE: This upgrade has been superseded. Please see the next message in this thread.)
 

tshif

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Module version 1.1.0: Maintenance Release

Module version 1.1.0: Maintenance Release
Please download and upgrade your Weather by Zip Module from [URL="http://projects.colsolgrp.net/projects/list_files/weatherzip"]this location.
[/URL]
This upgrade should be applied to ALL current installations.

There is one change in this maintenance release.

1. Swift playback of the weather reports now works correctly.

In previous version, when swift was selected, it would only be used for prompting the caller for the ZIP code - then Igor (flite) would read the report.

This has been corrected - when swift is selected, it will be used for both the prompting, and the reading of the report.

As always - please let us know how the latest upgrades work for you!

-Tony
 

tshif

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Weather by ZIp Code Module: SVN and Dev Support

Weather by Zip Code Module (and other) Developer Support and SVN
To everyone who has participated as a developer (or even thought about it) for any version of the Weather by Zip module, (or any of the PBXIAF Modules) . . . Read On –

As you may know from reading other posts here, I have been looking for a proper sub version management system to serve as a living workspace for the modules we have developed for PBXIAF/FreePBX. My original plan was to use some existing service – and we vetted several for the projects. But – for a variety of reasons (cost, rules, etc.) – eventually it was decided we would host this service directly.

The Software Project Management portal is meant and provided for coders/developers, as well as the more technical non-programmer as way to let anyone who wants to, get involved in the development process.

In addition to being a subversion repository, the site provides a full range of tools to make the distributed development process easier and more effective. Each project is supported by its own dedicated development resources, like A library of builds (Files), Dev Forums, Wiki, and a full range of ticketing from Bug Reporting, to Feature Requests. Road maps are available for most projects.

At first – I thought that duplicating Forums might not be worthwhile – the forums here are awesome – and we sure don’t want to take anything away from them. However, some times the chit chat between developers can muddy up the waters of the threads – and make information hard to find. So – we offer Development forums for the purpose of keeping some of the creation nuts+bolts discussion from cluttering up the great PBXIAF forums.

If you’d like to look around, drop by http://projects.colsolgrp.net Guests can look, but not change anything. Once your there, if you’d like to participate in any of the listed public projects – just follow the instructions and sign up. This place was designed with you in mind.

Oh Yeah! Weather by Zip: The Module lives on this new site, you'll see it when you visit.

It's very new - so be nice and keep any
mad5.gif
to a minimum, ok?

Public unregistered review (our open house period) may eventually be curtailed to registered users only. Please drop by and kick the tires – and see if you might like to hang out and build some stuff with us!

- Tony
 

tshif

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Module version 1.1.1: Maintenance Release

Module version 1.1.1: Maintenance Release
Please download and upgrade your Weather by Zip Module from this location.

This upgrade should be applied to ALL current installations.

There is one change in this maintenance release.

1. The TTS report files stored in /var/lib/asterisk/sounds/tts
are now deleted by FreePBX cron task one ever 24 hours. Reports greater than calendar date + 1 are removed.

In previous version, these reports were never automatically removed and could build up in the TTS folder.

As always - please let us know how the latest upgrades work for you!

-Tony
 

tshif

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Module version 1.1.2: Maintenance Release

Module version 1.1.2: Maintenance Release
Please download and upgrade your Weather by Zip Module from this location.

This upgrade should be applied to ALL current installations.

There are two changes in this maintenance release.

1. Igor (flite) was reading the weather reports, even if swift was selected. This bug was reintroduced in v 1.1.1, and is now corrected (again) here in v 1.1.2.

2. A bug preventing successful module upgrades due to a database error when inserting the cron task for TTS file cleanup has been corrected.

As always - please let us know how the latest upgrades work for you!

-Tony
 

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