movement of a storm associated with the phenomena) and requires a complete volume scan.. To enter the alert you first determine which of the three   alert   thresholds   groups   correspond   to   the geographically based alert area(s) you are considering. DATA  ACCESS The  following  section  will  deal  with  the  editing  of products, annotations, maps, and alert areas. Edit/Send Radar Coded Messages (RCM) In general, there are two types of RCM products sent out by the RPG. One type is the operational RCM, which is called the post-edit alphanumeric RCM. This RCM is available to all PUPS and is displayed only on the alphanumeric terminal via the Display menu. It is requested from the RPG either via the Display menu or the RPS list. This is an alphanumeric-only product that may have already undergone editing at the PUP and been returned to the RPG for distribution. The other type of RCM is the pre-edit version to be edited  by  one  designated  PUP  per  NEXRAD  unit. There  is  adaption  data  at  the  PUP  which  specifies whether the PUP is designated for editing of the pre-edit version of the RCM. This is called the Edit RCM flag. It is located on the RCM Parameter edit screen which is accessible from the Extended Adaption Data menu, which,  itself,  is  accessible  via  password  from  the Adaption Data menu. The RPG also has adaption data which specifies which PUP in the NEXRAD unit is designated to receive, edit, and return the pre-edit version of RCM. This adaption data must match the PUP adaption data as to who is to do the RCM editing. Generation/Distribution of Free Text Messages Any PUP can generate free text messages (FTM) and distribute them to other users. Only RPG OP can distribute messages to the RPG. While the message is being generated, it is called a PUP text message (PTM). This generated PTM is known as a FTM by the RPG after it is distributed. When messages are received from any RPG, they are considered FTMs. Edit/Send  Product  Annotations  (Graphic) Product  annotations  for  graphic  products  are overlays. These annotations can be selected for display by  default  whenever  the  annotated  product  is  displayed using  the  Overlay  Associations  edit  screen.  A  PUP  or RPG OP can annotate any graphic product Only an RPG OP can send a product’s annotation to the RPG. When  an  annotation  is  generated  for  a  particular product, the annotations are associated with only that one  specific  version  of  the  product.  After  generation  via the graphic screen, a graphic product’s annotation can be distributed to the RPG by using an alphanumeric terminal command listed on the Gen and Distribute Products menu. Once the annotations are sent to the RPG, the RPG may distribute the anntated product to the PUPS, and the “Other Users” on its distribution list. Edit Background Maps To  enable  the  editing  of  background  maps,  the System   Option   Command   (P)ASSWORD,   (E)DIT MAPS, (E)NABLE must have been selected previously (since the last PUP restart). There  are  two  versions  of  both  the  low-  and high-detail maps; the original (which cannot be altered) and  the  modified  (the  latest  edited  version). Edit Alert Areas and Alert Categories There are two separate alert areas that are definable by each PUP for the NEXRAD unit coverage area via the graphic tablet and on one of the graphic screens. The other graphic screen will operate normally during this procedure. Alert areas 1 and 2 are separate overlays displayable with products. When a product is displayed with an alert area overlay, only the included alert boxes are displayed. Each alert area has its own set of up to 10 alert categories associated with it. These categories describe the types of alerts and the threshold level numbers that trigger alerts. Section  12  of  the  technical  manual,  Operation Instructions   Principal   User   Processor   (PUP) Group/Doppler   Meteorological   Radar   contains detailed  guidance  on  editing/sending  of  RCMs, generation/distribution   of   FTMs,   editing/sending product  annotations  (graphic),  editing  background maps, and editing of alert areas and alert categories. USER FUNCTION OPERATIONS User function operations provides a way for the operator to predefine up to 31 normal PUP operator selections into a single user function. Upon subsequent selection of a user function for execution, each of its predefine  selections  is  performed  in  sequence,  as 12-13