SimPlot - SimPlot2

[kmart494]

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).

Edited June 9, 2019 by kmart494

[kmart494]

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

[JimSB]

I had trouble starting a scenario with the latest version (64-bit).  I downloaded all of the files and extracted them into one folder.  This resulted in separate folders for each of the .zip files.   I chose "new scenario" and entered "Test" as the scenario name.  I left the time as the default and went to "Scenario Map" to choose one of the quickstart scenario maps.  However, the only option for select files that I saw was for .txt files.  There was no option for .png files (which have the actual map graphics).  I chose one and received error messages such as "Error Running the GetMap" method.

Looking in the quickstart folder, I see that the maps have both .png files and .txt files.

I then went to open one of the quickstart scenarios tried to load the Baltic Brawl scenario.  I received "Error at JsonFile.Referee.LoadScenario", followed by "Error during the Game.Map.Draw method.  However, it then showed that the units had loaded.

What am I doing wrong.  I want to be able to:

a) Load existing scenarios

b) create a map using a .png file of my own creation.

All I get is errors.  Do the extracted maps and scenarios need to be extracted into the same directory as the Simplot executable?

 

 

[kmart494]

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.

Edited June 9, 2019 by kmart494

[kmart494]

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.

[kmart494]

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.

[davidwhitt]

I am trying to run SimPlot2 on my laptop, but I get an error message. Any suggestions?

[kmart494]

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

[davidwhitt]

I was trying to use The Falklands map to create a scenario. It won’t load a scenario either. No issues on my desktop. Heck I’ve even created maps using Global Mapper, but I digress and will save that for a different thread.

[kmart494]

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?

[davidwhitt]

13 hours ago, kmart494 said:

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?

 

Yes

Yes

8MB

I don't think so.

[kmart494]

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.)

[kmart494]

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

[JimSB]

I downloaded and installed 2.0.0, and have partial success, but I am unsure how to get the old quickstart scenarios to work.

The new installation comes with empty maps and scenario folders.

I copied the old maps from the old installation "maps" folder into the "maps" folder under Simplot_2_0_0, and was able to create a new scenario using an old map.  Note that these maps include those used for the Quickstart Scenarios.

However, when I copied the content of the "scenarios" folder from the old installation into Simplot_2_0_0 and tried to run the "Baltic_Brawl" , I get an error:
"LOADING MAP... An exception of class OutOfBoundsException was not handled.  The application must shut down."
I also tried extract the Quickstart_scenarios.zip file into SP2_0_0

What am I doing wrong?

 

[kmart494]

Jim, 

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