kmart494
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Posts posted by kmart494
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DNAB,
I uploaded a new version. please give it a try and let me know if it works.
I was not able to replicate the problem you are having. The only difference I noticed is your Customize Color window is slightly smaller than mine. I am uncertain if some kind of settings on your machine would cause that (system font size, for example). Anyway, I suspect the problem may be with the background paint event trying to paint a non-existent cell after the last one.
Kevin
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SimPlot 2.3 Beta for MacOS
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This is an experiment in using SimPlot on Intel 64 bit MacOS.
The dmg file will download but must be activated by clicking on it in the download pane of the browser or double-click on it using Finder (in the Downloads folder).
The dmg will open as an attached device (sorry--there is no installer yet for SimPlot). If a window pops up showing the SimPlot2.app file, please close it. Running SP2 from that window will only provide a temporary storage space for the application.
Using Finder, create a new sub-folder in your Applications folder (ex: SimPlot2). Drag and drop the SimPlot2.app file from the attached device to your new folder. Close the attached device (click the close button next to it in Finder).
You are now ready to use SimPlot by double-clicking the SimPlot2.app file. You may get a security warning, but allow it to continue opening the application.
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Submitter
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Submitted11/12/2021
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Category
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SimPlot 2.3 for Win10
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Introduction
SimPlot (short for Simple Plotter) is a utility program that supports Harpoon games by automating the movement process in a graphical environment. SimPlot uses a simplified X, Y coordinate system that makes range and bearing calculations easier. North is always at the top of the screen, and the 0, 0 coordinate is the center of the "game area". Each whole number of the coordinate system represents one nautical mile.
Presently, SimPlot supports the display and movement for many of the common unit types found in Harpoon: surface ships, subs, aircraft, helicopters, missiles, and torpedoes. Additional non-moving unit types that can be displayed are sonobuoys, reference points, and bases. Units can be displayed using the NTDS or Common Warfighting Symbology styles. All units are either red player, blue player, or referee-controlled neutral.
Games in progress can be saved and reloaded using simple JSON text files that SimPlot creates. There is even an option to replay the movement from a current or saved game, so the battle can be reviewed at a later time.
What SimPlot Does
SimPlot allows users to add, modify, and delete units from the screen via pop-up forms. The screen can be zoomed in or out using the keyboard or mouse wheel, and it can also be panned using the arrow keys or right-mouse clicks. Units are selectable and additional data can be displayed, such as the range and bearing to other units on screen.
Units can be given additional graphics such as sensor/weapon arcs, and ES/sonar bearings. The arcs are typically used for reference (e.g. when will another unit be in detection or weapons range), and the ES/sonar bearings are used to represent passive detections. These graphics can also be colored and labeled for easier reference.
Scenarios can be played on a blank screen or on maps created from bitmap images. The maps are just a background image that can give players a sense of location, but they do not by themselves enforce Harpoon rules regarding terrain.
SimPlot can be used for single or multiple player scenarios. In single-player games, the player implements his own orders and will see the results immediately. Multiplayer games will need a referee to carry out the player's orders. The referee will run the game turns until players need to interact with the situation, and then sends player-only versions of the game file. The players will then communicate orders to the referee (via email for example) so the units can be updated and the game continues.
Units can be assigned attributes of "perception" by the referee that denies an opposing player information about enemy units. The visible attributes of a newly detected unit can be restricted in items such as location, course, speed, class, or size. Even whose side it's on can be restricted until such time that additional information is available per Harpoon detection rules. Perception plays a great role in enforcing fog-of-war for multiplayer refereed games.
What SimPlot Doesn't Do
SimPlot simply uses computer graphics to track the location, course, speed, etc. of units in a scenario. It does not roll dice for you, neither does it implement specific Harpoon rules. SimPlot is therefore not an actual "game program". A copy of the Harpoon rules is required to use SimPlot to its fullest potential.
Harpoon is a registered trademark of Larry Bond and Chris Carlson.
Getting Started
System Requirements
SimPlot is available for Windows PC (64 bit). This app was tested with Win10.
The program will run in less than 100 MB of memory (depending on map size). There is no special video card or monitor requirement. A mouse or touchpad is needed for selecting and editing units. An Internet connection is necessary for downloading the program plus supporting scenarios, maps, and documentation.
Installation
Unzip the downloaded SimPlot file into its own folder. No other special installation is required. Just double-click the SimPlot.exe file to start the program.
Once SimPlot is started for the first time, it will automatically create "Scenarios" and "Maps" folders within the program's home folder if they do not already exist. Existing folders will not be overwritten. The Scenarios folder will hold scenario sub-folders and turn files. The Maps folder will contain the map image and configuration files.
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Submitter
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Submitted10/31/2021
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Category
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SimPlot MapMaker for Win10
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This is a utility program that creates maps for use in SimPlot 2.3+ Please see the included Release Notes.txt file to get started.
This is a Beta release. If you find any errors or bugs, let the author know either in the Harpoon forum or on the Discord Harpoon 5 Multiplayer channel.
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Submitter
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Submitted10/30/2021
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You must have one heck of a wide-screen monitor. 🤩
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Colonel,
A mapmaking utility is under development that would allow players to create their own maps to include depth polygons such as you see in the Baltic map. The depth data comes from NOAA bathymetric maps that were traced over using Affinity Designer. The file is then exported to SVG and converted to a SimPlot map using a special app I created. At present, this process is not 100% reliable and is not available to the public. I do not have a timetable for the completion of my mapmaking utility.
Kevin
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SimPlot version 2.2.3 is ready for download.
Fixed
- Exception at Load Move Orders menu item if you canceled the file chooser.
- Units without waypoints did not update correctly during replay.
- Reference Points/Datums did not display correctly at the Reduced symbol size.
Added
- Depth scale resizes with the change in Symbol Scale.
- Symbols now display the interior icon at the Reduced symbol size.
- Author contact info added to the About SimPlot window.
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SimPlot version 2.2.2 is ready for download. Sorry for the rapid-fire update, but a flaw in the unit copy/paste method prevented sensors and weapons from being copied.
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SimPlot 2.2.1 is now available in the downloads section.
Fixed
- Problems arising from international decimal separators prevented saving and reloading waypoints.
- The same problems prevented exchanging turn files between US and non-US players.
- Map zoom using the mouse wheel did not rescale the map correctly.
- Pasting some units caused an application crash.
- MacOS--the HTML help files were not displaying in the help window.
Added
- Using the Customize Display menu, players may now turn off weapon/sensor/cursor label background rectangles.
- Significantly increased the number of exception catches to prevent application crash.
- Most exceptions will now add a notation to the app_error_log file. The log is generic, but it will aid in troubleshooting.
- Some exceptions will display a message box to let you know a problem occurred.
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SimPlot 2.2 is now available in the downloads section.
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Version 2 of the scenario file includes the East and West German ships on the map. The maximum number of them are present, and players may delete any that are not needed for their scenario.
Note: The spacing of the ships is 1/4 nautical mile (500 yards). This is because the visibility is poor, and they must be more than 250 yards apart or there is a risk of collision.
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Bugout
This is the SimPlot setup file for the Harpoon V scenario "Bugout" that is featured in The Naval SITREP issue #60 (April 2021).
The installations are on the map, but the ships are not. This way, players may choose where to place them.
All the naval ships and missiles that may be used in the scenario are importable, and are located in the Units folder.
Civilian ships are an optional rule, but they are not included in the Units folder. They are very simple to create, with the only differences being the type and maximum speed (and size class, but that is not tracked in SimPlot).
This scenario is compatible with SimPlot version 2.1.1.
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Submitter
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Submitted06/14/2021
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Category
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Guardian (Harpoon V Jumpstart Guide)
Guardian is the scenario featured in the Harpoon V Jumpstart guide. The included map is a standard SimPlot version, unlike the Jumpstart version which was modified for printer-friendly colors.
All the units (ships, helicopter, and missiles) that could be used in the scenario are pre-built and ready to be imported when needed.
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Submitter
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Submitted05/31/2021
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Category
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The official release of 2.1 will be at the end of May.
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I hope you don't mind my asking, but why do you want to spend time changing formation within a scenario? Most scenarios are over before a formation could be effectively changed.
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Peter,
The Bugout scenario and map was created using the not-as-yet-released SP 2.1. The maps for all the High Tide 2 Baltic scenarios are made with a new process using polygons for land and depth. This is only supported by the new 2.1.
Also, you would need to fill in the exact ship positions for your scenario. The map for Bugout only has the flagship for each side. That was for clarity.
Kevin
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SHUK,
I sounds like the map file is loading correctly, but maybe something in the map.txt file is off (this error would occur in the background map drawing, or the city/country name drawing). The name of the .png file should match what is in the .txt file. If it is not too big, can you post the .txt file or send a copy to me?
Kevin
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Der_Bar, I have always had difficulty with International number values. Over the past few years I have solved many of the issues, but it is good to discover any that I am unable to find on my own.
- After you re enter the values, do the decimal values remain?
- Do you use a comma "," for decimal, or a period "."? This is according to your regional settings.
- Some values have a truncated decimal. Heading, for example, will only display one decimal place.
- Some values may be integer only. That is, they are whole numbers without decimals. ES and Sonar bearings, I think, are interger values only.
Kevin
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- A new reference point type, called a Datum, will be in 2.1. You can use it for a variety of purposes.
- I don't know when I can deal with formations. The problem revolves around where to keep the units in relation to each other. If a High Value Unit (HVU) turns from 090 to 360, does the frigate escort to its port (bearing 360) stay to the left to now become bearing 270? If so, then the frigate has to do more than just turn left.
- The upcoming addition of waypoints will apply to all movable units. Additionally, the altitude or depth can be specified for each waypoint (although they do not yet play a role in SimPlot)
- The only SimPlot group is right here at HarpGamer.com.
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When the referee saves a game, there should be four files saved at the same time. One game file for the referee, and one each for Red and Blue players. The last file is a player settings file that is for the referee (actually all players have their own that is specific to whatever the player has set in the way of graphics and display).
I wonder if the referee is sending the players his game file and not the Red or Blue files. Setting perception would only affect the Red and Blue files, not the referee file.
Look at the file you have. You can open it with a text editor. If it says something like File:"Referee" then you have the wrong file.
The next version of SimPlot will allow players to set movement waypoints that can be exported as a JSON file. The referee can then import those files and the unit movements will be automatically set.
Kevin
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Errata and more here: http://www.admiraltytrilogy.com/gamesupport.php
Kevin
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The diagram on the right is more accurate. The passive sensor is an array of smaller sensors that give a range of bearings to the source. This is also very similar to how ES bearings work. The rules do not specify the bearing angles because there are so many diffrent degrees for all the different systems. For example, a towed array has narrow angles when listening to the sides, but the angles increase towards the front or rear of the array. Strange stuff.
When playing H-V I believe the actual angles are not relevant. Someone, whether a single player or the referee, knows the actual bearing. As long as you get a good fire control solution, your torpedo will track true and have a good chance to hit.
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I uploaded a new version of the User Guide. I finally filled in the missing procedures, and made corrections to obsolete information. This guide is compatible with the current version of SimPlot 2.0.
It is still somewhat incomplete, but the section on creating and modifying units is complete. That is the area I get the most questions for, anyway.
The file is available in the Downloads section.
SimPlot - SimPlot 2.3 Beta for MacOS
in General
Posted
I uploaded a new version of beta 15 for MacOS. This one is code signed and notorized (I was able to iron out the problems with the Apple developer process). Please follow the instructions on the download page as I do not yet have an installer for the app.