Tacview – Understand what happened during your last flight! (alternative ACMI viewer)
-
[plz, delete this post]
-
Hi Vyrtuoz!
Please help me solve a problem with Static Objects in EMF theater and the 1.3.1 pro version.
Is there an easy way to convert emf coondinates viewed in Recon or WeaponDeliveryPlanner’s Map into TacView?
I’d like to make some static objects xml, but coordinates are offsetting…(unless I do it wrong).
I also looked uri_ba’s DTC conversion tool, but an emf updated version is still awaited there.Thank you in advance!
-
Hi Cannon,
I think Uri is going to update its tool soon. Here is the formula I just gave him to convert Falcon coordinates in Tacview coordinates using the values you can find in Data-Falcon4Theaters.xml.
mWidth=4096 by default or the value specified in the XML file (typically 8192 for EMF) mHeight=4096 by default or the value specified in the XML file (typically 8192 for EMF) mFeetPerSample=819.995 (Falcon 4.0 constant, could be specified in the XML file) mXBegin=CMath::Rad(mWest); mXEnd=CMath::Rad(mEast); mYBegin=CMath::Rad(mSouth); mYEnd=CMath::Rad(mNorth); ExtendX=mXEnd-mXBegin; ExtendY=mYEnd-mYBegin; mFactorX=ExtendX/(mWidth*mFeetPerSample); mFactorY=ExtendY/(mHeight*mFeetPerSample); Longitude=mXBegin+x*mFactorX; // x is the falcon 4 coordinate Latitude =mYBegin+y*mFactorY; // y is the falcon 4 coordinate
Hi Vyrtuoz!
Please help me solve a problem with Static Objects in EMF theater and the 1.3.1 pro version.
Is there an easy way to convert emf coondinates viewed in Recon or WeaponDeliveryPlanner’s Map into TacView?
I’d like to make some static objects xml, but coordinates are offsetting…(unless I do it wrong).
I also looked uri_ba’s DTC conversion tool, but an emf updated version is still awaited there.Thank you in advance!
-
Thank you for your reply!
Since I’m not a programmer, can you please explain a little further the lines:
CMath::Rad(mWest);
CMath::Rad(mEast);
CMath::Rad(mSouth);
CMath::Rad(mNorth);
EDIT #1:
I understand where to find W,E,S,N variables, but what mathematical function is```
CMath::Rad**EDIT #2**: Hmmm, could it be the Radian angle conversion described [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radian) ? Let's see… :rolleyes:
-
Yes, this is just to convert degrees from the XML file to radian for my program. But you can just ignore these calls and do all of your calculations in degrees.
mWidth =4096 by default or the value specified in the XML file (typically 8192 for EMF) mHeight=4096 by default or the value specified in the XML file (typically 8192 for EMF) mFeetPerSample=819.995 (Falcon 4.0 constant, could be specified in the XML file) ExtendX=mEast-mWest; ExtendY=mNorth-mSouth; mFactorX=ExtendX/(mWidth*mFeetPerSample); mFactorY=ExtendY/(mHeight*mFeetPerSample); Longitude=mWest +x*mFactorX; // x is the falcon 4 coordinate Latitude =mSouth+y*mFactorY; // y is the falcon 4 coordinate
-
Hi Vyrtuoz!
I used and tested all the info you posted, and if you wish please enlighten me a little more about the following…
When you said:
// x is the falcon 4 coordinate
// y is the falcon 4 coordinateby the term ‘coordinate’ I found out (by try’n’error ) that you meant the format that is written in the callsign.ini (or mission.ini) file.
Am I correct?Like:
lineSTPT_0=2269252.000000, 2016132.375000, 0.000000
where
x is 2269252.000000
y is 2016132.375000
(and z as elevation is 0.000000)This is useful so far.
Another info I need is:
- How can I transform DD°MM.SSS’ (or DD.DDDDDD) seen in BMS’ recon window into TacView BMS Terrain Coordinates to enter them inside StaticObjects.xml?
- How can I transform DD°MM.SSS’ (or DD.DDDDDD) of Real Terrain into TacView BMS Terrain Coordinates to enter them inside StaticObjects.xml?
The first is needed in situations like putting a small cylinder in TacView, at the exact point a barrel at the center of a ground Firing Range circle is shown in BMS’ recon.
The second is needed in situations like transforming some areas of real life (eg. shown in SkyVector.com) into TacView, shown in Terrain->BMS mode.And an overall (maybe the most important) question about StaticObjects.xml:
In http://lomac.strasoftware.com/tacview-static-objects.php you state thatPosition: Object position on earth. Altitude is in meters.
and in the example XML files, coordinates are written in many ways (?) DMS, DD etc.
What coordinates should I write inside XML? Real Terrain’s? in this case I need only an algorithm that converts between BMS Terrain -> Real Terrain, and vice versa.I feel a bit confused…
Thank you (again) in advance!
-
Hi Cannon,
You don’t know it but you got it! Yes, you have to write real terrain coordinates in static objects XML files. Tacview is always working with real life terrain coordinates. So you can directly enter real life latitude/longitude coordinates in static objects XML files.
Here is an example for an object which is 34.xxx degrees of latitude and 131.xxx degrees of longitude at an altitude of 32 meters: (D.DDDD format)
<position><latitude>34.595590</latitude> <longitude>131.218970</longitude> <altitude>32</altitude></position>
Now if you want to do the same for Falcon 4.0 object, then you will have to convert their coordinates from falcon values (which are in feet) to latitude/longitude using the formula I just gave you.
For example:x is 2269252.000000 y is 2016132.375000
you should do the following: (obviously, the mWest/mSouth/mFactor variables have to be replaced with your Falcon terrain parameters)
Longitude=mWest +2269252.000000*mFactorX; // to get real terrain longitude in D.DDDD Latitude =mSouth+2016132.375000*mFactorY; // to get real terrain latitude in D.DDDD
-
Got it!
Thanks! -
Hi Vyrtuoz!
I’ve got a feature request:
- It would be most handy to have a window with check-boxes to enable/disable the visibility of static objects, grouped by xml files.
For example:
If I have 3 xml files:
-> Airport Charts.xml
-> Target Ranges.xml
-> Misc Areas.xml
it would be nice to have a window that will display 3 checkboxes with the filenames beside them, to display (checked) or hide (unchecked) the static objects each file has written in it.Furthermore, a grouping feature would also be nice inside the xml structure which would help a possible display of sub-trees (according to the grouping).
To give an example of this, imagine the following:–-------STATIC OBJECTS SHOW/HIDE WINDOW–-------
Airport Charts // The 1st XML file
- HELLAS // Group
- LGSA // 1st level Sub-Group
- SID 1 // 2nd level Sub-Group
- SID 2 // 2nd level Sub-Group
- STAR 1 // 2nd level Sub-Group
- STAR 2 // 2nd level Sub-Group
Target Ranges // The 2nd XML file
- HELLAS // Group
- KRANEA // 1st level Sub-Group
- SCHIZA // 1st level Sub-Group
Misc Areas // The 3rd XML file
- HELLAS // Group
- HIGH VALUE // 1st level Sub-Group
- LOW NAVIGATION // 1st level Sub-Group
- AIR-to-AIR // 1st level Sub-Group
…and so on…Thank you, again for all your efforts!
-
Absolutely! I’ve planned to completely rewrite my static objects system. I will create, in coming releases, a better format and will also provide a tool a bit like what you are describing. So you can easily add objects, debug them and display the ones you want.
-
Absolutely! I’ve planned to completely rewrite my static objects system. I will create, in coming releases, a better format and will also provide a tool a bit like what you are describing. So you can easily add objects, debug them and display the ones you want.
AWESOME!!! :bowd::headb:
-
This post is deleted! -
Tacview 1.3.3 beta 1 is available to registered users!
In this version, I’m experimenting with some ways to reduce clutter and to make the battlefield easier to read than ever. This is just a small preview on what I’m currently working on for Tacview 2.0.
-
Thanks to the help of Uri_ba, I was able to quickly add native support for DTC files in Tacview 1.3.3. This is currently in the testing phase. Stay tuned!
-
Thanks Vyrtuoz, downloading
-
It is the time to come back to the old thread: The accuracy of VHS playback in Tacview.
Before beginning, please note that we are not talking about the terrain here. I’m aware that sometimes, the terrain does not perfectly match the one visible in Falcon. And this investigation is for a later time. For now, the goal is to improve aircraft telemetry so we get a replay as accurate as the one we get using Falcon native ACMI viewer.
Now I’m working on Tacview 2.0 prototyping, I need your help to investigate any issues you can notice.
How can you help?
I need you to report here any inaccuracies you can notice compared to the official VHS file player in BMS 4.32. But please do not say “IAS is not accurate”. This is not helpful because I already know that there are telemetry inaccuracies.
We all need constructive data:
- Specify clearly what is not accurate: which data, which aircraft, and the exact time. List what value is displayed in Falcon 4.0 ACMI player and which value is visible in Tacview.
- Share me the corresponding original .VHS file (compressed in 7z if you want, but not saved as an .ACMI file from Tacview or that will void test). Specify which battlefield the VHS file is taking place in.
- Add any other relevant information to your feedback.
- It may be also interesting to compare the values visible in the cockpit while flying to the values visible in the official VHS file player.
I’m confident that eventually we’ll get the accurate replay we are all looking for! And, who knows, maybe we are going to help improving BMS too?
So, this is your turn now: call all your friends and shoot here!
-
Hey Vrytruoz.
You might wanna contact Mav-Jp regards this. He can explain you in detail how the acmi data for BMS is produced.
The interpolation* lacks accuracy as far as i understand and needs improvement and as Tacview only converts BMS .vhs …the lack in accuracy is inherited.The data in the jet is the only true accurate data (AoA, Gs, speeds, etc etc), hence, an accurate source to get really good data would be to get the in-cockpit data via “shared memory” access, but the problem here is to get this data from all clients in multiplayer and to combine the telemetry to one result shown in every clients amci in the same way.
-
I must be doing something wrong , since I cannot get the TrackIR working in the latest version and the latest beta. Anyone with same problem ?
Have tried hud view and other views, but for some reason it just does not worky -
Hey Vyrtuoz,
With Tacview 1.3.x, sadly, performance on my laptop is slideshow-bad (even with just 1 aircraft in the TE) and as ACMI’s saved in 1.3.x are not compatible with 1.2.x, I can’t really review our squadron flights anymore.
Would it be possible to look into this? My personal best guess would be that the problem lies with the rendering of the entire globe instead of just the mission theater, though I could obviously be very wrong.
-
Hey Vyrtuoz,
With Tacview 1.3.x, sadly, performance on my laptop is slideshow-bad (even with just 1 aircraft in the TE) and as ACMI’s saved in 1.3.x are not compatible with 1.2.x, I can’t really review our squadron flights anymore.
Would it be possible to look into this? My personal best guess would be that the problem lies with the rendering of the entire globe instead of just the mission theater, though I could obviously be very wrong.
Have you tried enabling “Flat Terrain” option?
It improves framerate, but of course in cost of no ground volumes display.