Post-process and vizualize
================================================

Python
------------------------------------------------

We recommend to use python (https://www.python.org/) to analyse and visualize Meso-NH outputs. The `MNHPy <https://github.com/QuentinRodier/MNHPy>`_ library was developed for this purpose, and you can find an image gallery `here <https://jorispianezze.github.io/MNHPy/>`_.

.. note::

   All the plots made in examples test cases are made with `python <https://www.python.org/>`_ and `MNHPy <https://github.com/QuentinRodier/MNHPy>`_.

Ncview
------------------------------------------------

ncview (https://cirrus.ucsd.edu/ncview/) can be used to quickly preview the contents of a Meso-NH file.

.. warning::

   * If your netCDF files are compressed with the Zstandard compression library (by default since Meso-NH 6.0), your environment must be adapted to support them. The easiest way is to load the Meso-NH environment in the shell used to start :file:`ncview`. You can do this by running the command: 
   
     .. code-block:: bash
        :substitutions:

        . YOUR_PATH/|MNH_directory_extract_current|/conf/profile_mesonh

   * If you do not want to load the Meso-NH environment or if Meso-NH is not installed on your computer, you can install the :code:`hdf5plugin` (available from conda) and set the :code:`HDF5_PLUGIN_PATH` environment variable with the following command:
     
     .. code-block:: bash

        export HDF5_PLUGIN_PATH=$(python -c "import hdf5plugin; print(hdf5plugin.PLUGIN_PATH)")

Panoply
------------------------------------------------

panoply (https://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/panoply/) can be used to quickly preview the contents of a Meso-NH file.

.. warning::

   If your netCDF files are compressed with the Zstandard compression library (by default since Meso-NH 6.0), you need to satisfy several conditions to be able to read them:

   * The minimum supported version of :file:`panoply` is the 5.7.0.

   * You need to change the preferences in :file:`panoply`: in the "Files" section, check "Use nj22Config.xml file to load netCDF-C library".

   * Next, you need to create the file ~/.unidata/nj22Config.xml with:

     .. code-block:: xml

        <nj22Config>
           <Netcdf4Clibrary>
              <libraryPath>$NETCDFC_LIB_PATH</libraryPath>
              <libraryName>netcdf</libraryName>
              <useForReading>true</useForReading>
           </Netcdf4Clibrary>
        </nj22Config>

   * Finally, set the :code:`NETCDFC_LIB_PATH` to point to the installation of the netCDF-C library from Meso-NH (e.g. :code:`export NETCDFC_LIB_PATH=MY_MESONH_DIRECTORY/src/dir_obj$XYZ/MASTER/NETCDF-4.6.1/lib/`).