Modifying the Config File

[jimb]

Noob here with a question. I understand the config file needs to be modified for correct Time and Weather information, driven by city. How do I find that information in the qz (zipped) file and where is it located. Which subfolder? Thanks

[sdetweil]

@jimb it says you have to download the file

http://bulk.openweathermap.org/sample/city.list.json.gz

means you have to download it, then unzip it from where ever it was downloaded (usually the ~/Downloads folder)

[rrslssr]

Hello. I too am a Noob. Here is what I entered into my config.ps file,
which is located in the ~/MagicMirror/config directory:

            {
                    module: "weather",
                    units: "imperial",
                    windUnits: "imperial",
                    tempUnits: "imperial",
                    position: "top_right",
                    header: "Weather Forecast",
                    config: {
                            weatherProvider: "openweathermap",
                            type: "forecast",
                            units: "imperial",
                            windUnits: "imperial",
                            tempUnits: "imperial",
                            location: "Your-City",
                            locationID: "Your-Location-ID", //ID from http://bulk.openweathermap.org/sample/city.list.json.gz; unzip the gz file and find your city
                            apiKey: "Your-Newly-Created-apiKey"
                    }
            },

As sdetweil stated, you have to download the file: http://bulk.openweathermap.org/sample/city.list.json.gz, unzip it and search for the city closest to your location. This will give you the values for location: and locationID: ( “Your-City” and “Your-Location-ID” ).
I found that searching for the 2-letter state value allowed me to find my location quicker.

Then, you need to create a free account at https://openweathermap.org/ to obtain the apiKey that will be automatically created with your new account.

BTW, the “imperial” values result in Fahrenheit and MPH values. You can change the values or delete those lines if you want Metric values as that is the module’s default.

Take care.

[sdetweil]

@rrslssr said in Modifying the Config File:

BTW, the “imperial” values result in Fahrenheit and MPH values

of course… that is the well known technical name for not Metric

[jimb]

Sam, thanks for your response. I thought the file may have been part of the installation. I’ll grab it, thanks

[sdetweil]

@jimb its not, because it changes all the time, and its not our info

[jimb]

Another question everything is displaying OK and working except the two weather feeds. Both indicate “Loading” and just sit there…

I researched the City, City ID, and obtained an API key from OpenWeather. Is there a way to run them separately on their own, or do I need to troubleshoot it?

Config:Check does not show any errors. Thanks

[sdetweil]

@jimb weather is done all in the browser, so open the browser developers window.

ctrl-shift-i on the browser keyboard, select the console tab and put weath in the filter field

show any errors… I suspect 401, not authorized.

you are using a v3 API key, so have to add the apiVersion:“3.0”
to the weather module config

[jimb]

Sorry, your reply is higher than my limited knowledge :
Do I have to enter some line(s) in the config file? I had no success with the browser instructions.

[sdetweil]

@jimb notjing in config.js. we are trying to look at the errors from the module

so you need to use the browser you are viewing mm with

three keys on the keyboard.
ctrl-shift-i

or npm start dev
to start mm with the dev window open

then select the console tab

[UncleRoger]

@jimb I will always defer to @sdetweil 's greater knowledge and intelligence but another option is (I hope, anyway, since it’s what I’m using) to use the latitude and longitude of your location. I have the weather module set up to show my wife’s school using the coordinates. (We are known for our microclimates here – her school 2 miles away may have completely different weather from what we have at home.)

To get the coordinates, I went to maps.google.com, clicked on a location, then copied the resulting URL. It should look like this:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7761918,-122.4222641,16.25z?entry=ttu

The first number after the @ sign is the latitude; the second is the longitude. So you could put in your config file:

lat: 37.7761918,
lon: -122.4222641,

and it will show the weather for your location (or the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House in that example). This might be handy if you’re not near a city listed in the file.

[UncleRoger]

And now, having actually looked at the file in question, I see it includes latitude and longitude for each entry. Very cool.

[jimb]

Sam, some progress. Operating in “dev” mode I do show status 401 unauthorized . However I am unable to 'place the ‘V 3.0’ in a way/place where it is recognized correctly. I tried placing it on its own “3.0” “API id…” and inside the quote mark "3.0 API ID …

That gives me a syntax error and blows up the config file.

[sdetweil]

@jimb all the parms to a module go inside the modules
config:{} section

things to the left of : do not need quotes
things to the right of : do not need quotes if they are true/false, or a number

otherwise they need quotes. single or double doesn’t.mattet as long as both ends are the same.

also for each.parm you add, it needs to tell the interpreter if there is more after it. do this by adding a trailing comma

the apiVersion Parm

should look like this

{
   module:"weather",
   position mmmmm , 
    config:{
            apiVersion:3.0,
             whatever other parms
     }
}

[jimb]

Sam, I seem to be deeper in the weeds. After adding the apiVersion:3.0 parameter just below the config identifier in the config file -

running dev displays the following error-

Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier 'weather identifie ‘weatherProvider’

and the config file blows up.

Do I need to add this on some other line?

[sdetweil]

@jimb after the config: for the module

[jimb]

Sam, that’s where I put it. I can’t cut and paste here because I’m on a different computer than the Pi.

[sdetweil]

@jimb said in Modifying the Config File:

Sam, that’s where I put it. I can’t cut and paste here because I’m on a different computer than the Pi.

turn on ssh, and install the bitvise or winscp ssh clients

then you can do everything from your PC. it’s SOOOOO much better

[jimb]

Sam , After adding the commas to the end of the version Iine I ran it with the check on the config file- All OK. I ran MM in Dev mode and now am getting a 401 error when it attempts to load the openweather resource files. So I seem to not be passing the version or ID string>

[sdetweil]

@jimb can you show the config for the weather module…