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Slack Tracker (Beta 1)

Windows users click here. to download (~1MB)

You must have the .NET framework version 1.1 installed.  http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/downloads/updates/default.aspx

Slack Tracker is a tool to search for specific tidal events at specific times of day across a range of dates.
For example, lets say you know you can dive (or fish, or boat, or beach-comb) only during certain times of day like before (or after) work.  And lets say you only want to do that at certain places and when the tide is high (or low or the current is slack).  You create a "tracker" with the location, the tidal event type, and the time of day.  You can create several of these and then search a date range for matching events.

Here are some example trackers:
 I can dive in the mornings after dropping off kids and before work and want high or low tide
    Seattle, Washington: When the tide is High or Low from 9:00 AM to 10:00
I like to dive Alki in the evenings and want low current
    Alki Point, 0.3 miles W of, Washington Current: When the current is Slack from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
I can dive mornings at Edmonds, but only want high tides to avoid the long entry/exit walk
    Edmonds, Washington: When the tide is High from 8:00 AM to 12:PM
I can beach-comb with my kids at Edmunds when the tide is low after school
    Edmonds, Washington: When the tide is Low from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Then I pick a date range (maybe the next month, or just next weekend) and click "Search".
Out pops a list of matching events.  Double click one and see a two-day chart centered on the event.  

Special Thanks to David Flater for providing the Tidal Constituent Database and for his help in understanding how to convert it to predictions.
Special Thanks to Dean Pentcheff for creating the Web interface (based on David Flater's XTide program) that this tool uses to display charts.

I hope you enjoy this tool, I enjoyed making it and would love to hear any comments from you.

Gershon Parent (support@redetech.com)

 

 

Instructions:

Install

  1. Download the .zip file to you computer by clicking here.
  2. Extract the files to a folder of your choice (you should see 3 files: slacktrack.exe, tcdlib.dll, and harmonics-2004-04-16.tcd)

Run

  1. Start SlackTrack.exe
  2. Click the "Add" button
  3. Configure a "tracker". Use the "Filter" button to limit the (very long list) of stations to ones that contain the specified text (like "Seattle", or "Boston", or "Washington", or "Washington Current"
  4. Click Add to add the tracker to the list.
  5. Choose a date range in the "From" and "To" fields
  6. Click Search

Any tidal events that match your tracker criteria and the date range will appear in the results list.
Double click on the Station Name of the event to open a web browser that will show you a two-day chart centered on that event.  (Internet connection required)

Known Issues

  1. The tool requires the .NET Framework Version 1.1.  You can get this by visiting http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/downloads/updates/default.aspx  
  2. Discrepancies of 1-2 minutes are normal. Please let me know if you see any greater than that.
  3. Times are rendered in your timezone, so if you search for events for stations another timezone the web-chart will not correspond.  Working on a fix.
  4. The tool only recognizes one constituent database file now.  To use a different one you can rename it to harmonics-2004-04-16.tcd.  The 2005 file does not contain any stations with current (i.e. knots) data.
  5. The File Open and Save options do nothing.  In the future I want to add saving and loading of trackers.
  6. The chart feature only uses one web site.  If it is not working then there are no charts.  I intend to add the ability to configure the tool to use other sites or charting programs.

Enjoy.  Send questions/comments/concerns to support@redetech.com

NOT FOR USE IN NAVIGATION OR ANY POTENTIALLY HARMFUL ACTIVITY.

This program is provided free of charge in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY implied or otherwise; even without the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Do not use this program as a basis for any decisions that could result in harm to people or property.
It is your responsibility to check these predictions against official tables provided by Agencies like NOAA. The results of this tool are not guaranteed in any way.
Weather conditions, changing costal topography, temperatures and numerous other unpredictable and uncontrollable factors cause tidal ranges and current speeds to change dramatically.
This tool uses simplified algorithms for calculating tidal events compared to some other available tools. This tool uses tidal constituent data that is subject to errors and is not verified. It also makes assumptions that may not always be correct. Your mileage may vary.

-Gershon

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