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TSTool Documentation Quick Start - 6 important part of defining a workflow in TSTool is understanding and implementing naming conventions for data object identifiers. When time series are selected in the upper-right area of the main TSTool window and are copied to the Commands area, the time series are represented as a time series identifier (TSID), which is a unique identifier that allows TSTool to read the time series from its data source (datastore, file, etc.). The general form of a TSID is: Location.DataSource.DataType.Interval~DataStoreOrInputType The periods in the TSID are important because they indicate the separation between TSID parts. The TSID part values depend on the specifics for each data source. For example, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS) web service uses a data type of 00060- 00003 to indicate mean daily stream discharge whereas other datastores use Streamflow. TSTool users need to understand the source, characteristics, and limitations of data, using information on a data provider’s website and also see TSTool appendices (see Resources section below). When TSTool sees a TSID in the command area, it interprets the TSID as an implicit read command and will attempt to read the time series from the data source. Press the Run All Commands button to read the data for the indicated TSID. In this example, TSTool will request data from the RCC ACIS web service. Progress in processing commands and progress within each command is indicated in the lower right corner of the main window. When progress is 100% complete, time series that are read are listed in the Results area in the main window. To view the time series graphically, right-click on the time series list and select the Graph – Line menu item to graph highlighted time series. This will result in a graph being displayed in TSTool’s graphing tool. You can zoom into a period (horizontal axis) by using the left mouse button to draw a box on the main graph or the overview graph using the mouse. The visible period for the main graph will be highlighted in white in the overview graph. When zoomed in, use the navigation buttons under the graph to page through data. View the complete time series in a table by selecting the Table button at the bottom of the graph window. Up to this point you have been exposed to a few TSTool conventions such as TSIDs and have a basic understanding of the mechanics of using the interface. Although these simple commands may suffice for very simple purposes, the real power of TSTool is in its ability to automate data processing. Example 2 – Using Commands Interactively browsing through data is a useful capability and is often the way that one would start evaluating how to complete a data analysis. However, repetitively “clickity-clicking” on menus and buttons is not efficient, and trying to remember a sequence of manual steps can lead to errors and inefficiency. Consequently, TSTool provides commands to automate processing in a documentable, repeatable manner. Commands are somewhat equivalent to Excel spreadsheet formulas; however, TSTool commands are defined, sequenced, and displayed in the command area rather than being mixed with data. TSTool by default tries to query the full period of available data (unless datastores themselves constrain the query to a limited period). Once the amount of data is known, the user can evaluate data quality and refine the period to their needs. The TSID syntax in the Commands area tells TSTool to read the time series. However, there are no controls to indicate the time period to read or provide other options that may be appropritae for the datastore. To illustrate how commands are useful, first select one of the TSIDs in the Commands area (by left-clicking). Then right-click to display the popup menu and select the