kmart494

The TV images of target sites appear to show buildings or bunkers that are substantial concrete structures. I can only imagine it might take multiple hits to guarantee complete or "mission kill" destruction.

Range Circle Problem: I think I understand what is going on. After everything is loaded, the map is redrawn. When bearing or circle labels are to be drawn, there is a routine to check for overlapping labels. If, for example, a range circle label overlaps another bearing or circle label, then the angle at which the label is drawn will be adjusted until a non-overlapping angle is found.

All new or loaded scenarios have the map zoom set to minimum. This would cause small ranges to be drawn as very small circles, and the labels will compete for a place to be drawn that does not overlap each other. At such a small size, multiple circle labels may not find a place to be drawn. My debug testing reveals the program is stuck in the label draw routine.

Even loading the scenario with the range circles set to off will produce the same program hang up if you turn on the circles at minimum zoom.

I will work on an exit logic for the labels such that an overlap cannot always be avoided. This will at least allow the program to continue.

Kevin

JimSB,

I am glad you solved the problem. I should make it more clear that the lib folder must be in the same folder as the exe file.

darthvader,

Range circles are Integer value only. I did not anticipate the need for decimal values.

I will start working on the other problems.

Kevin

Yes, there is a delay in the speed leader/heading change when selecting a nav target. I ran out of time for the last update since I wanted it done before the next Naval Sitrep is published (I have an article in it announcing SimPlot 2). I will add changing that to the ToDo list.

I thought that changing the turn time should automatically change the speed leaders. I found myself doing it manually, so maybe others did, too? I do like your suggestion, though.

For now, I recommend using F9 (Customize Display) to change the speed leader to a longer time while using a 15 second turn. The leader will change back when you change the turn time, but if you don't change the time often then the leader should stay put.

Updated the Quickstart scenarios to work with SimPlot version 0.4.

Updated CaS Plan Alpha to work with version 0.4 of SimPlot.

Version 0.4 is uploaded.

Fixed:

• Now all display customization controls are saved.
• Deleted units are no longer "cloaked" but still selectable.
• All references to deleted units are eliminated from the remaining units. That will prevent Nil Object errors.

Added:

• Navigation Targets. Selecting a Nav Target for a unit will cause it to follow the target. The following unit will stay as close to the target as possible upon reaching it.

NOTE: Any scenario created before v0.4 will not work with v0.4. However, if you are playing a scenario and don't want to scrap it, then try the following:

• In the Player Data and Referee files, delete any line that begins with "DISPLAY=". For all movable unit types (air, surface, sub) add the following to the end of the "UNIT=" line: "|-1|None". Depending on which version you are using, the "-1" or other integer representing the unit range may be there. If so, then just add "|None".

Version 0.3.2 is uploaded.

Fixed:

• Map zoom going haywire.
• Unit creation/modification windows not saving the right data.

Added:

• You can now change the background map colors. Please note the map is a single layer bitmap, so the color changes are based on the existing color and not any actual layer (color replacement routine). So, if you make the land and ocean colors the same, they become as one. The only way to separate them after that is to delete the colors.txt file and restart SimPlot. This only applies to the Land, Ocean, and Border colors.

Known Issues:

• Many! Including deleting units, which does not yet work as intended (I don't get rid of them completely, as I want it to form the basis of a turn replay feature).

It seems I broke the map zoom routines in the last update, but I have fixed that and I will issue a new update this weekend.

Kevin

I need to test my file routine that (I hope) allows players to exchange files regardless of regional settings (especially for decimal separator). Below are three files: a US file with period separators, an international file with comma separators, and a mixed file with both. Tests on my US computer worked well, but I need someone from outside the US/Canada to load these files as a test. The files have three units (Red, Blue, Neutral). If you can see them plus the movement tracks, then the test is a success.

Kevin

EDIT: The files should be loaded as a Single Player/Referee scenario.

US_turn.txt

Intl_turn.txt

Mixed_turn.txt

I downloaded the Win version and it ran fine (also Win10). How far into the program did you get before the crash? How many dll files are in the Lib folder? (Should be 5 files)

I recompiled the Windows version and uploaded it. Please try this version and let me know.

I think I have found the problem. Because the .app distribution is not "code signed" in a .dmg file, macOS will put the application in a kind of quarantine that prevents writing additional files. The easy way around it is to download and unzip the SimPlot folder, then (using Finder) drag the SimPlot2.app file to a convenient place like the Desktop, then drag it back. You can then drop the SimPlot folder in Applications to have easy access to it. It is important to not execute the .app file until you have moved it around per above.

The macOS version is 0.3.1 which sports a few changes (better looking Customization windows, and fixed the ESM/Sonar bearing issue with multiplayer files). I will update the Windows version tonight as well.

Kevin

As a test, I tried to download the Mac version and run it on my MacBook but it crashed with an IOException error. The program works fine in my Xojo Builds folder. Maybe it is a permissions thing. I will work on it while getting 0.4 ready.

Kevin

I uploaded version 0.3 of SimPlot 2. This is a duplicate topic because I accidentally deleted the existing downloads entry instead of just the files.

Anyway, this version fixed some bugs (I can't remember which ones). A known issue remains for now. ESM and Sonar bearings cannot be used with multiplayer turn files as the reference information is wrong. You can still run a multiplayer game, just don't use the bearings.

Some improvements made are:

• Colors can be adjusted to your liking. The map colors and some screen colors are not implemented yet, but everything else can be changed and will automatically save and reload.
• If changes are made to the scenario within the program, you will be prompted to save your work when you exit the scenario/program.
• You can now exit the current scenario much more cleanly than previously. Some residual data had hung around that caused problems. There is now an option to exit the scenario in addition to exiting the program.

I am in the process of creating a User Guide from the old readme file. It is included with the zip files, but it is still a work in progress. Still, I hope it is useful at this stage.

Kevin

Version 0.2 of SimPlot 2 is uploaded. I added a few things:

• Offset positioning. When creating a new unit, you can now specify the bearing and range from an existing unit for the new unit start position. This will help with creating formations.
• Ranges. All movable units can have an optional range set for running distance or flight time (expressed in nm). When the unit runs out of range during a movement phase, it stops and the speed is set to zero. Leaving the Range field blank means the unit has no range limitation. However, subtracting range for afterburner or adding range for refueling will have to be done manually.

A new version of the Readme document is in the works. It will explain the process of creating and modifying units in more detail.

Short answer: http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?/topic/28076-simplot-simplot-2/

If anyone has any questions about how to run a multiplayer H4 game using SimPlot, please feel free to ask. I will also make myself available for technical support to anyone that wants to give refereeing an H4 game a try.

File Name: SimPlot Multiplayer Process Notes

File Submitter: kmart494

File Submitted: 21 Jan 2018

File Category: Application/Tools/Mods/Docs

This document outlines the process of using SimPlot to run a refereed multiplayer Harpoon4 game.

Click here to download this file

Certainly. I will create a pdf document and upload it to the downloads section. Gimme a week.

A new version is ready in the download section. I added player-data file support so anything a player in a multiplayer game adds to the screen (such as range circles and suspected unit locations) will be saved. Some of the CWS symbols are now included. I also fixed a few bugs.

File Name: SimPlot 2

File Submitter: kmart494

File Submitted: 26 Dec 2017

File Category: Application/Tools/Mods/Docs

SimPlot 2 (short for simple plotter) provides Harpoon4 paper rules players an opportunity to accurately track the location of units in a graphical environment. Specially made background maps can be used to create a sense of location for the battle. Additional unit graphics can be utilized to enhance game play such as range circles, ESM/Sonar bearing lines, limited unit perception and unit text tags.

Multi-player games are possible using a referee to control the movement of units, and to determine the outcome of detection and combat. Player-oriented files are sent from the referee to the players so they can only see whichever enemy units the H4 detection rules (and the referee) allow. Players can issue orders back to the referee via email, chat, etc.

This release is an Alpha version, so everything is not quite ready yet. However, at this stage you can play single and multiplayer games using the existing functionality. More stuff will be added later such as weapon arcs, Common Warfighting Symbology graphics, and navigation targets.

A readme file is included to get you started.

There are two version of SimPlot available: Windows and Mac OS X.

Please post comments and feedback in the H4 Paper Rules forum.

Click here to download this file