pro read_forecast,date,pv_arr,t_arr,m_arr,lats,lons,theta,err=err,source=source,$
  nmc=nmc,dir=dir,trop_hgt=trop_hgt,badvals=badvals,standard=standard
 
;+
; read the forecast data
; there are three types of files
; the fa file is the augmented file
; the f file is the standard file
; the fNMC file is the NMC only file
;-
err=1
source='No Data'

if n_elements(dir) eq 0 then dir='Macintosh HD:Applications:RSI:IDL 5.2:my idl stuff:'
if strmid(date,0,2) eq '99' then datex='19'+strmid(date,0,2)+'-'+strmid(date,2,2)+'-'+strmid(date,4,2) else $
datex='20'+strmid(date,0,2)+'-'+strmid(date,2,2)+'-'+strmid(date,4,2)
seq='a'
luke:
if keyword_set(nmc) then seq='NMC'
if keyword_set(standard) then seq=''
if seq ne 'a' then on_ioerror,skipp else on_ioerror,retryit
file=dir+'f'+seq+datex+'T12.xdr'
openr,unit,/xdr,/get_lun,file
i1=long(0) & i2=long(0)
readu,unit,i1,i2
theta=0.
source='xxx'
pv_arr=fltarr(i1,i2) & lons=fltarr(i1) & lats=fltarr(i2) & m_arr=pv_arr & t_arr=pv_arr
rdf=pv_arr & trop_hgt=pv_arr
readu,unit,pv_arr,t_arr,m_arr,lats,lons,theta,source
if seq ne 'a' then goto,bb
readu,unit,trop_hgt
readu,unit,badvals

bb:

pv_arr=pv_arr*1.0e5
free_lun,unit
lat00=90
lon00=0

err=0
return

retryit:    ; try a standard file
seq=''
goto,luke

skipp:
print,'Unable to find file for: '+file
return
end