kmart494

The files are in your Google trash.

SimPlot 2.1 will be released when H5 is finished.  This is partly because of my work with ATG that prompted some changes to the program, mostly related to the turn replay feature and the turn/movement undo buttons.

I will consider adding a 1 second turn interval, but if you use it to play an entire scenario, the turn file might become too big to handle.

Kevin

I certainly would.  That will have to wait in line for a few things that are on my SimPlot plate now.  I imagine the units might be generic, though.  Such as AAA, SAM, armor, infantry, and a few others but without specifying the size of the unit (the Name field could be used for that?)  I have not put much thought into it, but I think it would be a good addition to the program.

Here is some additional information on map making for SimPlot.

1)  AEGIS display colors that I use: (RGB values)

• Deep Ocean: 70, 70, 70
• Territorial Water (or Shallow Water): 62, 62, 65
• Land: 85, 87, 71
• Coast: 136, 133, 112
• Text: 192, 192, 192

The colors are derived from the COMMON NAVY WARFIGHTING DISPLAY SYMBOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE, 2007.

2)  Here is the minimum data the map.txt config file needs to use a map image in SimPlot

MAP=GIUK1.png
SCALE=2.58

The "MAP" should be the name and type of image file.  The "SCALE" should be the number of pixels per Nautical Mile.  This can be measured in an image editor by using the image scale bar as a reference (such as a Google Map image).  The image scale is likely in miles, so convert that to NM.  Then divide the number of pixels across the scale by the NM.

You may need to splice together multiple image files in an image editor.  You must do this before moving on to the next step.

I always give the .txt config file the same name as the image file for clarity.

3)  Open SimPlot and create a new scenario with the .txt map file you just created.  To add country or city names, use the cursor to locate where the city dot or center of the country names will appear.  Add that information to the .txt config file using the following format:

COUNTRY=ICELAND|-150.50|283.50
COUNTRY=FAROE ISLANDS|194.00|84.50
CITY=LONDON|400.44|-502.02|AL
CITY=Liverpool|314.39|-407.83|AR

The country format is Name|X|Y

The city format is Name|X|Y|Position

The position dictates where the city name will appear in relation to the dot.  This is an attempt to conform to cartographic standards.

• AL - above left
• AR - above right
• BL - below left
• BR - below right

I capitalize countries and capital cities.  The city and country names will not appear on screen until you quit the scenario and either reload it or start a new one.

Please note the X, Y values are SimPlot's Cartesian coordinate system with 0, 0 at the center of the map.  If you change the map scale in the .txt config file, or you change the size of the image, then you will have to update all the X, Y values for the names.

If you intend to repaint the map image, it might be wise to first view the unpainted image in SimPlot so you can get the locations of cities or bases.  Cities are a part of the config file, but bases are technically units in the game, so noting their location first while you can see them will help you to create new base units in the scenario.

Darth,

Here is a quick repaint of the Santiago map using AEGIS colors.  I hope this helps you to see the units and tags better.

I included modified .jpg and .txt files.  The text file has the cities in it, so you will have to select the "Cities" button on the display bar in SimPlot to see them.

Kevin

Map Battle Santiago Cuba 1898.zip

I had to temporarily disable the color change feature.  The symbols were originally drawn in code, but I converted to using bitmaps instead.  This made at least some of the color changers not work (and crash the program).  For now, there is no way to change the colors.  I will reinstate that feature later, but I want to create a map making utility program first (in progress).

On 2/7/2020 at 4:57 AM, EnsCahalane said:

No luck with running the new macOS version of SimPlot2; I just get the following error message "The alias “SimPlot2” can’t be opened because the original item can’t be found."

After spending the morning fighting with the Apple Notarization process, I think I may have success.  I just uploaded a new .dmg file.  Please download it and let me know if it works.

NOTE:  It may open into a mounted drive in Finder.  You should create a new SimPlot2 folder in the Applications folder, then drag and drop the SimPlot2.app file there.  This way, you will not lose any saved scenarios when the mount disconnects (it will when you power down).

3 minutes ago, davidwhitt said:

I realize that is an option, and I do a separate save before actually starting. It would be nice to someday have the ability to essentially create a database of units. Perhaps that’s outside the direction you envision for your wonderful piece of software, but one can always hope.

I see what you are getting at.  A database of units is not out of the question, but it could not include anything from copyrighted Harpoon material.  As is, the only real difference between units is the domain (air, surface, etc), the affiliation (Red, Blue, Neutral), and a specific sub type (warship, civilian, etc).  Everything else, such as location, heading, speed, perception, name, circles, etc has to be created within the scenario as they are unique to the scenario.   A database would be useful if I could someday include things like rates of turn, climb, acceleration, max speeds, altitudes, and all the things in the Harpoon rules that would help automate unit movement (or even detection).

6 minutes ago, kmart494 said:

Do you know where the SimPlot2.app file is located?  Ideally, it should be in a folder in the Applications folder.  I was trying to create a unique folder the the .app so future versions will not overwrite the existing folder (in case you had maps and scenarios).

Well, I just downloaded it myself to discover it opens in a mounted drive folder.  It seems the .app file is just an "alias".  I will create another .dmg file.

On 2/7/2020 at 4:57 AM, EnsCahalane said:

No luck with running the new macOS version of SimPlot2; I just get the following error message "The alias “SimPlot2” can’t be opened because the original item can’t be found."

Do you know where the SimPlot2.app file is located?  Ideally, it should be in a folder in the Applications folder.  I was trying to create a unique folder the the .app so future versions will not overwrite the existing folder (in case you had maps and scenarios).

29 minutes ago, davidwhitt said:

It would be great to be able to save units, and load them when creating a new scenario. It would be a great time saver. Do you think that is something that might be doable one day?

If you were going to replay the same scenario, you can save a separate version just after creating the scenario.  For example, I always set up the units then save the file as "setup.json" before starting the scenario.  After starting, I use the default "Referee.json" to play.

The macOS version of SimPlot2 is uploaded.  I'm not sure if it works, because Apple Gatekeeper does weird things.  Mac users, please let me know if it doesn't work.

Scenarios created using any other version of SimPlot will not work with the newest version.  I am glad you are up and running now.

Jim, 

There is a newer version of the Quickstart Scenarios in the downloads section.  Are you using the old version, or the new version?

I uploaded version 2.0.0 of SimPlot2.  (it sounds redundant, but I am naming things the "Windows way".)

Check out the change log for a list of new features. 

You need to unzip the download into a different folder than the last SimPlot folder.  Future updates will always have their own main folder.  You can reuse the same maps (copy them into the new Maps folder), but you cannot use any existing turn files.

NOTE:  the macOS version is not yet ready.  I will post when it is.  I have additional hoops to jump through with Apple first.

Download HERE

The program update is ready.  Before I upload it, I am taking time to modify the Quickstart Scenarios to work with v2.0.0.  All current turn files will not work with the new version of SimPlot.

Kevin

Global Mapper looks to be very expensive.

Did you download or transfer the original SimPlot zip folder to the laptop?  There are several resource and library folders/files that go along with the executable.  Anything that is missing would produce an error.

Are the maps and scenarios located in the Maps and Scenarios folders on the laptop?  You could load a non-map scenario from another network location without a problem, but SimPlot checks the default Maps folder (located with the executable) for an associated map file.  (I think I might change this to allow the scenario map to be co-located with the scenario file.)

One other thing to consider is that SimPlot is "folder sensitive".  The map .txt and .png files must be in the Maps folder.  The Maps folder must be in the same folder as the SimPlot2.exe file.  

A few questions for you, please.

• Is your laptop Win10? 
• Is it 64 bit?
• How much memory do you have?
• Does your laptop hate you?

David,

Were you attempting to create a new scenario with a map?  The only other time I have seen this error is when I tried to use a map that was waaaayyy too large for the program to handle.

Kevin

The promised update is almost ready.  I want to do a little more testing, as I have discovered a bunch of small bugs.  My time lately has been focused on reviewing the upcoming H5 data annex volumes (USA/Russia ships and aircraft).  Work will resume on SimPlot this weekend.

Kevin

I posted a video of a SimPlot screenshot showing the new turn replay feature.  The game running in it is a re-creation of the Origins 2019 Dance of the Vampires scenario that was run by me and Larry Bond.  The original turn files are not compatible with the SP2 update, so I had to run the game all over again using the original turn files as guides.  The end result looks just like it happened at the convention.

The Undo Turn and Undo Move buttons at the bottom right looked fine in the Win version, but as you can see they aren't right in the Mac version.  I will have to fix that.  They do, however, work very good.

The update is nearing completion.  I want to spend this coming week doing some testing, especially with multiplayer files.  

https://youtu.be/TSb8AA1-5P0

My next project is an experiment with using polygons to render land areas vs. using a bitmap image.  If it works, then I will be creating a stand-alone application to make SimPlot maps.

A new update for SimPlot2 is in the works.  I was waiting since May to hear back from the folks at Xojo about a problem I was having with container controls not working properly.  I sent them my entire SimPlot project for analysis.  They have recently released a new version of the IDE/Compiler, which fixed the issues I was having.  They also fixed so much other stuff that I had to make 2,400 changes to my project (mostly depricated Xojo.Core method name changes).

Anyway, here are the things I am working on:

• Implemented Container Controls for the various unit windows.  This allows the sharing of common controls so I only need to make one change to a container and it will automatically update any unit window using it.
• Instead of tracking everything (unit positions, perceptions, bearings, circles, etc.) as an update-able singular state (using arrays),  I am now saving the entire state in a separate object that essentially "archives" the turn state.  When the Move button is pressed, the current state is copied to a new object and the game continues using the new one (effectively cutting off the old one).  This way, the last turn state is a reflection of the game state at the plotting phase.  This important change paves the way for...
• Turn replay!  Yes, I can now view the previous turns by cycling each saved turn object through the graphics routine.  It is still a bit rudimentary, but for now I can view the game progress at 1 second intervals for each previous turn.  I will add a pause function.  One important point is that no previous turn can be modified, only the "current" turn object can be changed.
• All scenario information will be contained in a single file that encompasses the entire turn data/structure.  For multiplayer games, that means three files will be saved (referee, blue and red).  No more individual turn files cluttering up the folders.  Map files will work the same for now.
• I am going to bring back the original SimPlot Range/Bearing button.  When a unit is selected, and the RNG/BRG button is active, the ranges and bearings to all other units will be displayed on screen below the symbols.

So far, the replay function is working well, even when displaying Red only or Blue only (using unit perceptions).  There are a few niggles, but I am working them out.  Also, I have not yet implemented the new turn save/load routines.  Because I am already using JSON for turn files now, I think it will be relatively easy to do (except for the time--heh).  I am hoping this may also be a way to implement live network play.