kmart494

The maps I make for SimPlot are just repainted screenshots from Google Maps.  I draw the shorelines and border in one color, and fill the land in another (I don't have the actual colors at hand, but using a color dropper on an existing map will show them).

The scale is represented by "pixels per Nautical Mile".  This is how SimPlot scales the maps in game.

First, choose an area for your scenario.  If the area is large, such as hundreds of miles, then the scale is likely to be very low as making the maps will be excessively time consuming.  Even a high resolution small map can take time to create.  Check out my Falkland Islands Detail Map.  That took a long time to do (and involved multiple screenshots "stitched" together).

The scale is determined before you repaint the image.  First convert the scale bar distance from Miles to NM.  Then measure how many pixels are in the bar and divide the number of pixels by the NM.

Repaint the image.  If you want to confine the map to just the depicted area, then draw a border all around the map (i just use the shoreline color).  If you want an "open ocean" map, then you can leave out the border.  Generally speaking, if there is a land mass that extends beyond the map, then it is best to use a border to truncate the land mass.

The map background should be the ocean color (RGB 70, 70, 70 I think).  I recommend using a separate layer for drawing the land masses and border.

You need a text file that defines the map.  Please look at an existing .txt map files for the format.  The format will change in the future, as I will eventually migrate to using JSON files.

The best way to add country and city names is to create the map, then make a new scenario in SimPlot using that map (I think the map scale definition is the only data you need in the map .txt file).  Mouse click places that you want to name to get the coordinates.  You will have to add that data to the .txt file manually.  Country names are centered at the coordinate.  City dots are drawn at the coordinate, with the name placed Upper Left (UL), Lower Right (LR), etc.  Please refer to an existing map to see the format.

Also, please be aware that my technique does not produce accurately scaled maps when you have a large change in latitude.  A conic projection would work best, but I do not have the ability to use them in SimPlot for now.  So, maps that stretch horizontally, rather than vertically, work best.

I am contemplating a map making utility app for SimPlot.  It seems doable, but I also have to work on improving turn files and a true turn replay capability.

Please let me know if I can be of further help.

I forgot to mention how Range Arcs work.  I will explain it here until I get around to updating the documentation.

Most of it is intuitive, but the Start and Angle features need explaining.  For now, the arcs are limited to a graphic that will follow the unit's heading.  The Start value will be a whole number representing the starting angle of the arc, expressed in degrees of a compass with the unit's heading being 0 (or 360) deg.  The Angle value will be a whole number representing the number of degrees clockwise the arc should go.

Example 1: For an aircraft with a 60 deg-wide radar arc (centered on the nose), the Start value would be 330 deg (360 - (60/2)).  The Angle value would be 60.  Set Range to the detection range in Nautical Miles.

Example 2: For weapons on a ship that launch in the Port (P) and Starboard (S) arcs, you would create two arcs with Start and Angle values like these: 30, 120 for Starboard and 210, 120 for Port.  The arcs will rotate on screen as the ship changes course, keeping the arcs relative to the ship's new heading.

As a test, I downloaded the SimPlot app to my Win7 64-bit laptop.  I ran the program first, which created the Scenarios and Maps folders.  Then I downloaded the Quickstart scenarios and maps, placing them in their respective folders.  SimPlot continued to run in the background while I did this (it's not necessary, but I wanted to see if it would work).  I was able to load the scenarios, even those with maps.  All seems to work well.

For a fresh SimPlot install, two of the required directories may not be present (Maps and Scenarios).  I may have accidentally left those out of the recent build.  Please create those folders in the same folder as the .exe, then drop all the scenario folders (each one represents a single game) into the Scenarios folder.  Drop the maps into the Maps folder (.png and .txt--no separate folder for them).

New scenarios will not have their own folder until you save it.  Please create a new folder for each game under the Scenarios folder when you save for the first time.  When specifying a map for a new scenario, the program is looking for the .txt file, which has all the data the program needs to render the .png correctly.

EDIT:  As an alternative, the program should create the folders the first time it is run.  So, you could run it, then transfer the scenarios and maps into their respective folders.

I just completed the new signing and notarizing steps that Apple demands for all new software.  I was able to download the file from HarpGamer, but I could not run the installer.  However, you can instead right-click the downloaded .dmg file and select "Open".  This will open the .app file as a mounted drive.  You can then move the .app file over to the Applications folder (I recommend creating a "SimPlot 2" sub-folder first).  Also, you need to create Scenarios and Maps folders in the same folder as the .app (I forgot to add it to the .dmg)

If anyone made this work, or even if you didn't, please post here or send me a message.

Kevin

I uploaded version 0.9.0.

• All scenario files will now save in JSON format.
• Multiplayer files will save in separate folders automatically when the scenario is saved.
• You can now reload past turns without exiting and reloading the entire scenario.
• CWS icons are available for some air and surface units.
• Added Range Arcs to the unit windows.
• Added a button bar to the bottom of the window for controlling graphical overlays.

Scenario files created with previous versions of SimPlot 2 will not work with v0.9.0.  All the scenarios in the download section have been updated to the new JSON scenario file standard.

NOTE: I am having trouble with the MacOS version.  I signed the dmg file with my Apple Developer ID but the file will still not load onto my Mac.  I will keep working on this problem.

EDIT: I just realized the must-have Scenarios and Maps folders were left out of the builds.  Please create these in the same folder as the application (Mac and Win).

It has been a while since I worked on an update due to life and diversions, but I have a new inspiration so a new update will be out in a few weeks at most.

The big inspiration moving this forward is Larry Bond's acceptance of my offer to use SimPlot to referee a scenario at the Origins Game Fair in June.  Each of the sides (USSR and NATO) will have a paper planning map made from my new SimPlot GIUK map (not yet uploaded to Harpgamer).  Larry and I will then take orders from the players and run the turns in SimPlot.  Players will update their paper maps accordingly and make decisions.  This is a "hybrid" game idea, which blends a computer with a live convention setting.  Even miniatures will be used to depict aircraft and ship formations.

The scenario will be Dance of the Vampires (Abridged) just like at Cold Wars.  The scenario is slightly different this time, but the objective is the same--to test new air defense rules.

Some of the changes coming to SimPlot include:

• Using JSON files for saving turn data.  I tried XML but the files grew too much in size due to data tags.
• Adding exception capturing in many places to prevent the program from crashing when something doesn't go right.  Now a message box will pop up instead of closing the program.
• More CWS symbols will be added.  Chris Carlson and I talked about using professional symbols at Cold Wars.
• Range Arcs will be added to compliment Range Circles.  They can be used to show the arcs and distances of weapon mounts, directors, radar cones, or threat sectors.
• A button bar at the bottom of the map will allow players to turn on/off map display options instead constantly hitting F9.
• MacOS versions will be uploaded in a signed .dmg format.

Kevin

I think Coventry had an aft Radar 909 that could control just Sea Dart.  The forward Radar 909 could control either the gun or Sea Dart.  So, just two Radar 909s.

No timeline yet, and the rules are still "close hold" at this point.

At the last minute I was able to get time off from work and drive down to Lancaster, PA for the Cold Wars 2019 convention.  There I met Larry Bond, Chris Carlson, Mike Harris, et al.  I played Dawn of the Battleship with them on Friday, and Dance of the Vampires (abridged) on Saturday.  Saturday they also gave a presentation on the Chinese navy and a closer look at the proposed air defense rule changes for H4.2.

Larry and Chris said they would do a writeup on the DotV game, but I don't know in what publication/web page that will appear.  When I find out I will let you guys know.  I can tell you that the new rules will greatly reduce the complexity of a mass missile raid without sacrificing a realistic outcome.

BTW, the Soviets dished out tons of damage to the NATO task force while only taking minimal losses.  Sound familiar?

Merry Christmas to all!  

It started snowing last night, so I will get a White Christmas after all. 😄

I uploaded version 0.7.0.

• Fixed the issue with the colors.xml file. The existing file needs to be deleted. The app will create a new one the next time it is started.
• Fixed the problem of some unit perceptions not saving correctly.
• Fixed a problem with sonar bearings not saving in a multiplayer file.
• Added a Sonobuoy unit type to the app. You can select what type of buoy it is. The NDTS symbol set will show active or passive symbols.
• Added additional turn times to the Turn Time drop down menu. You now have 30 second, 1 minute, and 10 minute turn times. This will help players to "catch up" to the longer H4 turns after using Engagement Turns.
• Units that reach their Nav Target will now continue to "burn up" range even though the unit appears to not move. For example, if you send an aircraft to a holding point, it will not move away from it but will still consume range per its speed. You can increase the unit duration by reducing its speed when it reaches the hold point. Regardless, range is used up at a rate of 1 NM per 1 NM traveled (the throttle and altitude modifiers in H4 are not implemented).
• You can now use decimal numbers with range circles. The app will display circles with one decimal place precision.

Kevin

I just discovered a problem with the colors.xml file routine. The program is not correctly reloading the colors. For now, just delete the colors.xml file every time before starting SimPlot2.

EDIT: I also discovered some problems with the multiplayer turn files not saving the correct perception information. This could cause a program crash when trying to load them.

I uploaded version 0.6.0.

• Unit symbols are now derived from a sprite sheet instead of "hand drawn" in code. The NTDS symbol set is complete for the unit types currently available in the program. The CWS symbols are functional, but the interior icons are not yet implemented. This also means a player cannot change the colors of the icons using the Customize Colors window. Changing those color settings will still modify the movement track color, however.
• I am beginning a transition to using XML files for storing data. Presently, just the color file has been modified. You can delete the existing "colors.txt" file as the program will create a "colors.xml" file automatically. Later, the scenario turn files will use XML. I think this will eliminate any future need to upgrade scenario files when new features are added to the program.
• I fixed a bug related to map file loading for international players.

Kevin

I uploaded version 0.5.2

International players were having trouble with loading scenario files and losing the decimal part of numbers such as unit coordinates. I made some changes to the loading routine that I hope will solve this problem. Please let me know either way.

Kevin

It looks like one of those gotta pay to play games.

I uploaded version 0.5.1.

I made a few changes to better support internationalization. I hope the problem of decimal coordinates will be fixed with these changes. Please let me know if it does not.

I also started to implement Bases as a unit type. There are just two bases for now: military and civilian. I will add more soon.

I uploaded version 0.5.0.

• I added a Number field to the Unit Windows that allow a player to use one icon to represent multiple vessels. If there is more than one of a given type, then the text tag and the Selected Unit panel (on the right side of the screen) will include a number x class format. For example, if the Air Unit icon represents 4 F-15 fighters, then the text tag/Selected Unit will display "4x F-15".
• I added a Class field to the Unit Windows that allow a player to show the specific class of the unit instead of using the Name field (that's what I had been doing all along). The Class can also be selected as a text tag separate from the unit name.
• I changed the way X and Y values are displayed in the Selected Unit panel. They will show at least one decimal place even if the values are integers. I am hoping this will solve the occasional problem of decimal-truncated values.
• More CWS symbols are now available. Some symbols only have text placeholders, but they are more descriptive than a plain symbol. The Unknown symbols are not implemented yet as I am still having trouble drawing them in code.

Please note that scenario files created under previous versions of SimPlot2 will not load into this version. Please use the SimPlot File Converter program to convert any existing scenario files that you wish to continue using. The program is available in the downloads section.

You're welcome, David.

I have a "customer survey question" for you. How did you find out about SimPlot? I wrote several articles for the Naval SITREP magazine, and Larry Bond will occasionally ask me if anyone responded based on the articles.

Kevin

David,

Thank you for the report. I see a potential problem with the txt file. The country names that need to be deleted have an error in them. There appears to be an extra "-" in place of a decimal point.

Try to substitute the following:

There will be a delay in the next release of SimPlot2. I am going to add "Numbers" to the unit attributes so players can specify how many of a given type the symbol represents. I was using the Name field for that (e.g. add "2x" to the name). Also, a unit Class field will be added for additional clarity. I have already modified air units.

There will be more icons for the CWS symbol set. Some icons are just text placeholders until I create the proper graphic. Unknown units are still not generating right so they will come later.

I modified the unit display (on the right side of the screen) to include at least one decimal point in the hopes it solves the above mentioned problems. Currently, a decimal will be displayed only if there is one, and then it is truncated to 3 places (Xojo uses 6 decimal places for Double values).

I am hoping to have these changes ready by next weekend.

DV,

I was not able to replicate the problem of the missing decimal in the Selected Unit display. When I load the file, the decimal is correct.

The problem of the axis number only showing an Integer value (after clicking the screen) is correct. The scale is in pixels per nautical mile. So, a scale of 1x will show 1 pixel as 1 nm. There will be no decimals displayed until you increase the scale factor. You can still have units exist at decimal locations, but they will be displayed to the nearest scaled nautical mile.

I am using a new Xojo release version. Some program behaviors have changed (some good and some bad). I am on the verge of a program update anyway (to include more CWS graphics) so I will compile and release that this week. Hopefully, the new program will help. If not, let me know and I will have to try something else.

Kevin

I uploaded version 0.4.1.

• Fixed--Range circle and ESM/Sonar bearing labels cause program crash at low zoom levels.
• Fixed--Unit heading is updated when selecting a navigation target (in the Modify Unit window).
• Added--"Heading Leaders". Unit heading will be displayed when Speed Leaders are enabled (using F9). The Heading Leader will show the direction of the unit when the Speed Leader is too small. The Heading Leader will draw underneath the Speed Leader. There is no separate display option for the Heading Leader.

Please let me know if there are any problems.