The AFOS PIL Header to AWIPS WMO Header Translation Tool (PIL-to-WMO Translator)

The National Weather Service (NWS) is undergoing a major transition at all its field sites in the communications and processing system from the Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS) system to the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS). Since the implementation of AFOS at all CONUS field sites early 1980s, the communication of all products has been done with the use of a unique 9-character AFOS Product Identification List (PIL) header (CCCNNNXXX). With the implementation of AWIPS, the NWS made a policy decision that the communication of all products on the AWIPS network would standardize on the use of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) header format (TTAAii CCCC). The use of WMO headers in AWIPS is documented in the NWS Communications Identifier Policy dated January 1995. The policy is documented at the following web site: http://tgsv5.nws.noaa.gov/oso/awips.html

In order to ease the transition from AFOS PILs to WMO-based AWIPS headers for all NWS field offices, an Oracle-based tool was developed to allow sites to verify lists of products they should have in their AWIPS data base, construct AWIPS WMO headers from AFOS PILs, as well as to translate AFOS PILs into associated AWIPS WMO headers. The translation tool will be made available to all sites in a web-based format and will be a key component in the AWIPS commissioning process planned to begin around January 2000.