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TSTool / Datastore Reference / Overview

This reference section of the documentation provides information about datastores:

  • databases - must be accessible via ODBC/JDBC connection
  • file databases - typically optimized for a use, such as HEC-DSS
  • files - simple files, including model files
  • web services - SOAP and REST web services

A "datastore" is where time series and other data are saved and can be accessed. TSTool originally used the term "input type" for some formats, For example, newer databases and web services are treated as "datastores", whereas older files are treated as "input types". The "input type" notation is retained in the software, pending migration to datastores - datastores and input types can be selected in the TSTool interface when browsing data. A software design goal is to move all input types to "file datastores" so that terminology is consistent.

Time series, tables, and other data objects can be read from datastores using Read commands. Some datastores can also be written to, using Write commands. Datastores containing time series have general characteristics that can be handled with general software features. For example time series identifier commands (TSIDs) are used to uniquely identify time series in a datastore and result in an automatic data read from the datastore. However, some datastores have specific characteristics that are difficult to support in a general way, in which case Read command parameters or datastore configuration properties are used to control software behavior.

The following datastores (and input types) are listed in alphabetical order by datastore name, with the following explanation:

Datastore (link to documentation) Technology Spatial Extent Contents Documentation Status
ColoradoHydroBaseRest Web service (REST) Colorado Historical and real-time data New - in process
Colorado SMS (legacy)
OBSOLETE
Database (SQL Server) Colorado Real-time data not yet migrated - no longer used
ColoradoWaterHBGuest
OBSOLETE
Web service (SOAP) Colorado Historical data Migrated
ColoradoWaterSMS
OBSOLETE
Web service (SOAP) Colorado Real-time data Migrated
DateValue File (text) No limit General time series format Migrated
Delft FEWS PI XML File (text) No limit Delft FEWS software file Migrated
GenericDatabase Database (any ODBC) No limit Any SQL database Migrated
HEC-DSS File File database (binary) No limit General time series database Migrated
HydroBase Database (SQL Server) Colorado Colorado water resources (datastore version) Migrated
HydroBase (legacy) Database (SQL Server) Colorado Colorado water resources (input type version) Use HydroBase datastore documentation.
HydroJSON File (text) No limit HydroJSON time series format Migrated
MODSIM File (text) No limit MODSIM modeling software data file Migrated
NRCS AWDB Web service (SOAP) USA Snow, reservoir, climate, other Migrated
NDFD File (text) No limit National Digital Forecast Database. not yet migrated (placeholder)
NWS Card
OBSOLETE
File (text) No limit General time series format (hour interval) not yet migrated - being phased out
NWSRFS ESP Ensemble
OBSOLETE
File (binary) No limit Ensembles of time series (hour interval) not yet migrated - being phased out
NWSRFS FS5Files
OBSOLETE
File database (binary) No limit National Weather Service River Forecast System not yet migrated - being phased out
RCC ACIS Web service (REST) USA Precipitation, temperature, other climate Migrated
Reclamation HDB Database (Oracle) USA Water resources Migrated
Reclamation Pisces Database (MySQL) USA Water resources Migrated
RiversideDB Database (SQL Server) No limit Hydrologic modeling database. not yet migrated (placeholder)
RiverWare File (text) No limit RiverWare modeling software data file Migrated
StateCU File (text) No limit StateCU modeling software data file Migrated
StateCUB - StateCU Output File (binary) No limit StateCU modeling software data file Migrated
StateMod File (text) No limit StateMod modeling software data file Migrated
StateModB - StateMod Output File (binary) No limit StateMod modeling software data file Migrated
USGS NWIS Daily Web service (REST) No limit Water and other data (day interval) Migrated
USGS NWIS Groundwater Web service (REST) No limit Groundwater and other data Migrated
USGS NWIS Instantaneous Web service (REST) No limit Water and other data (instantaneous interval) Migrated
USGS NWIS RDB File (text) No limit RDB format for USGS data (see USGS above) Migrated
WaterML File (text) No limit WaterML format for USGS data (see USGS above) not yet migrated (placeholder)
WaterML2 File (text) No limit WaterML format for USGS data (see USGS above) not yet migrated (placeholder)
WaterOneFlow Web service (SOAP) No limit Web service for CUAHSI not yet migrated