SC1MAP.TXT for SC1MAP Version 0.92 beta (Easter 1993) PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PROGRAM INCLUDED IN THIS .ZIP FILE IS A PRE- RELEASE. THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS A "DOCUMENTATION", AS THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS STILL IN ITS TESTING PHASE. What do you need? ================= - MS-DOS or PC-DOS operating system version 3.3 or later, try to use 5.0 though - Personal computer using 80286 or higher processor - 286 CPU with co-processor or 386 CPU recommended - 640K memory (try to have at least 600K free) - HD - EGA (EGA requires 256K display memory) or VGA graphics - Microsoft Flight Simulator version 4.0 - Microsoft Aircraft and Scenery Designer What does SC1MAP do? ==================== Or better... what it is supposed to do: - graphic display of sceneries and their names/boundaries so you can sort out which areas are covered - display of their contents such as NAV-aids, runways, polygons and other creatures found in the average SC1-file (including some SEE enhanced ones) - measurement of distances/headings - modification of scenery boundaries and their center, deletion of obsolete sceneries - creation of lables to comment and emphasize sceneries, as well as to document the SC1-file (author, version etc.) in .LBL files - mode file creation according to your position on the map - modification of (some) parameters in your MOD files and plane selection - scenery search - communication with FS4 via serial cable - output to EPSON/IBM or Hewlett Packard compatible printers, PostScript output to PostScript enabled printers, HPGL output to plotters or PCL5 compatible HP printers - output to DXF-files (readable by AutoCad, Intergraph etc.), layers included now - report generation (runways, nav-aids) - list of SC1-files in a given directory - mouse support - window zoom, left click/right click zoom What can I say that might help you before SC1MAP.DOC is finished? ================================================================= As I have stated in the beginning of the document, this version is just a simple test. It is aimed at the FS4 user community that is interested in beta-testing SC1MAP. Due to this circumstance, I have not bothered writing a real DOC- file ... YET. In order to let you meet the basic functions of SC1MAP, here are some hints: Starting up ----------- Just create an SC1MAP directory anywhere you want (try to use the harddisk). Unpack SC1MAP.ZIP and look what is in your directory: SC1MAP.ZIP obviously, if you have put it there (get rid of it) SC1MAP.EXE hmm SC1MAP.TXT this essay SC1MAP.HLP help file used by SC1MAP EUR.MAP Europe outline USA.MAP North America outline GB.MAP UK outline NL.MAP Alting scenery (NL) outline NO.MAP No outline (use command line option MAP=NO) EUR.LBL Europe lable file USA.LBL FS default scenery lable file SAMPLE.BAT a SAMPLE BATch file you (could) start SC1MAP with SC1MAP.MOD is created if you select [M]ODE [S]AVE SC1MAP.INI is created if you select [E]XIT [S]AVE Modify the batch file according to your needs (read the next point first) and start it. Command line ------------ You can copy SC1MAP into every FS4 directory you own, if you really have to. SC1MAP can also be started directly without any options, but I would advise you to use the ram-disk option (RD=) if you want to speed up the display of polygons for instance. You can have a list of the command line and environment options by typing at the dos prompt. To print the list just type ... SC1MAP /? > PRN You might say ... "so what?", but there is a hidden meaning in these options, you can create batch files: An example can be found in SAMPLE.BAT ... @ECHO OFF REM THIS IS A SAMPLE SC1MAP BATCH FILE REM PLEASE CHECK THE COMMAND LINE OPTIONS BY STARTING THE REM PROGRAM WITH REM SC1MAP /? call sc1map %1 SD=c:\FSUSA RD=D map=usa @ECHO ON This means that SC1MAP searches for your files in the directory C:\FSUSA, uses the ramdisk D: and loads the outline, nav-aids and cant of the USA for display. The "%1" is used when you want to view one or a certain group of sceneries by using wildcards. You then can type: SAMPLE ORD* to check the myriads of Chicago files in your directory. Using batch files, you can access all your SC1-directories such as \USA, \EUROPE, \TEST, \DOWNLOAD etc. This avoids unnecessary "vertical" installations, which I doubt have any sense for FS4. Environment variables SET XXX= ------------------------------ You will also find the environment options quite useful: SET SC1MAP=C:\SC1MAP or SET SC1MAP=C:\SC1MAP\ tells SC1MAP (when loaded) that it can find the needed files (HLP, MAP) in the directory C:\SC1MAP. You could create a path entry to C:\SC1MAP and then start SC1MAP anywhere you want (e.g. from the FS4-directory). The following commands are supported: SET SC1MAP SET OUTDXF SET OUTHPGL SET OUTEPS SET OUTREPORT SET LBL Printing with SC1MAP -------------------- Well, some time ago I was quite fond of my "mastering" the hardcopy for EPSON/IBM compatible printers... but. Hewlett Packard enthusiasts nearly killed me because I didn't support their standard... Well now it's done, and that damn PCL3 was sure bothering me. If you start SC1MAP with the +HP option, a magic function inside SC1MAP will send the hardcopy to the printer in PCL compatible commands. If your printer is compatible to PCL4/5 (HPGL emulation) then you should use the option +HP +HPGL (sic). The resolution is higher and the output resembles the one I create with PostScript. If you are the owner of a Laserjet 4M (the one I test things on) then you can start SC1MAP with: SC1MAP +hp +hpgl +ps Meaning that HP commands are used for the hardcopy, PostScript and HPGL are sent to the printer (if you omit these options, output will only go to the file, this is a security switch for curious users without a PostScript compatible printer ... as EPS and HPGL files are in ASCII and tend to be quite long). It's also possible to print a list of your SC1-files (sorted by name, position or unsorted), as well as to generate a report of each. These files may be included with scenery sets you distribute. General curiosities ------------------- The menus in the program, if you want to use them, can be accessed the simple way... by pressing the key in brackets ([]), and the hard way using ALT-followed by the key. If this hasn't been clear, then practice accessing the [D]ISPLAY menu: "D" or "ALT" and then "D" Once the menu has successfully covered part of the scenery, you can press the key in brackets to activate an option that challenges your curiosity. For example you can have fun slowing down your computer by activating the polygons, press "P". Some words about these things: The active scenery is displayed with a green circle and its name, size and radius can be found in the second line of the header. When a given scenery has been activated for the first time, its NAV-aids and runways are read from the SC1-file and loaded into memory. This will be done at any zoom factor. Scenery objects such as nav-aids, polygons, lines etc. are drawn at a zoom factor smaller than 10%. To bypass this limitation, activate "DETAIL" in the "DISPLAY" menu. All active objects in the "DISPLAY" menu will be drawn at any zoom factor now. Polygons, rivers, roads, lines and mountains (if activated in the display menu) are read from the SC1-file, which may take some time, and are loaded into memory (either zoom < 10% or DETAIL ON) for faster display. To select SC1 files in a certain area select the "SCENERY"/"AREA"- option. You will be asked to define a window (mouse). SC1MAP will then load only the SC1-files inside this area. This may be repeated as often as you want. To re-load all SC1-files, select "SCENERY" "ALL". Some users have asked for the possibility to view/print several SC1-files at the same time. For this option, select "SCENERY", "SHOW ALL". All selected objects in the SC1-files in view (scenery centre inside the four corners of the screen) will be drawn. Please note that it may take a while (understatement) to draw all scenery contents at a zoom of 100% when "DETAIL" and all "DISPLAY"-options are active. To save a given display configuration, select "SAVE" in the "EXIT/SAVE" menu. HELP? ----- Every menu has its own help text, activate it and press "H". If you are not inside a menu, pressing "H" unchains the general help screen. (For this you have to unpack SC1MAP.HLP too). Yellow items in a menu are functions. White/Black ones are toggle-settings. Gray ones are not yet available (such as HPGL in the output menu). SC1 modification ---------------- Some very beautiful scenery files have flaws which are quite difficult to be recognized by the designer (ther person, not the program). Either they are not well centered, the overlap disturbs the transition to a neighbouring scenery, or the radius is too small. SC1MAP will help you to take care of these things. In the SCENERY menu there are options which allow graphic radius modification and re-centering. It's also possible to delete files which you don't like or which are out of date. Soon a graphic scenery editor will be available which goes much further than that. About Mode files and their modification --------------------------------------- One thing I hate about FS4 are the .MOD files. They are useful but also annoying, especially when you have too many of them. SC1MAP can create mode files for you, so you don't need to have the directory full of stuff you will never use. Once in SC1MAP, having zoomed on an airport or anywhere else, you can go to the [M]ODE menu. Here you either just press [S]AVE or you modify the settings of the mode such as the altitude, the plane a.s.o. This feature will be enhanced some day... For the moment you are able to modify altitude, heading, in flight/ground setting, plane (which can be viewed first). You can now exit SC1MAP ... start FS4 (whereever it may be) ... et voil , monsieur ees in the selected location. It also works the other way 'round. Save a mode, any mode, and load SC1MAP using the mod= command line option. Just guess what happens. Label files ----------- One thing that often bugged me, that I always had to read the .DOCs found together with SC1-files. Hope these times are over and that some scenery designers pick up this habit: Select a scenery inside SC1MAP and go to the [S]CENERY-menu and select [M]AKE LABEL. You will be prompted to enter a label (any kind of text), and subsequently a position on the map. Once you have done this, SC1MAP generates a .LBL file: SCENERY: MILANO - I Milano - SIZE: 4598 bytes RADIUS: 161 KM VERSION: CREATED: AUTHOR : ADDRESS: @ N 15876.2225 E 16132.8094 = MILAN (MILANO) @ N 15868.4293 E 16181.2478 = LINATE @ N 15949.8835 E 16019.7346 = MALPENSA (HALF MADE) This is a completely readable and editable ASCII file which stores the labels generated by SC1MAP. Obviously, for the moment, you will have to use your editor to fill in information such as the version etc. You can also do it the other way round! Just take any .DOC file you have snoring around on your harddisk. Use the <@>, , and <=> characters to let SC1MAP figure out what is found where. The line should start with the at-sign (@), N and E may be swapped (I won't disclose their meaning), the label must be preceded by a "=". Some .LBL files are included (US and Europe), who can be enhanced with your own inputs. I encourage the exchange of .LBL-files (single or included within a SC1 collection). Any comments concerning the format and possible enhancements of LBL-files are welcome. Communication with FS4 ---------------------- Hello rich guys! You have two PCs? Ok, get a null modem cable and connect the 486 to the Pention using a golden null-modem cable (surprisingly, a 286 will do fine; the golden cable is mandatory). Once you have agreed with FS4 about your baudrate and figured out which is COM1 (or 2) on your computer, just activate the data exchange ([O]NLINE) and observe the (green) plane in SC1MAP if you must (a famous ATC program is politely invited to eat its heart out, if it works in mine). To top all ridiculous and unneccessary functions in this program, you can also exchange messages with a FS4 by using the [S]END command. Some options like FOLLOW and FIND SERIAL have been included... enjoy! Epilogue ======== As I have mentioned before, SC1MAP is a TEST! I have the intention to make it as bug-free, correct and useful as possible, so take some time to play around with it and let me know if you want. I will try to spread the newest version as far as my possibilities let me do it, and I invite "spreaders" to do their job. I would like to thank so many people, that even mentioning one of them whilst forgetting the other would be a crime, so I don't. Everyone who knows that I am grateful to... please feel thanked. Moreover, this file would be lengthened by several kilobytes (boast). The "ancestors" of this program have been tested throughout Europe by eccelent members of the FSFan Net, leading SC1 artists, very capable FS4-pilots and last not least patient BBS sysops. All adjectives may be mixed according to your own wishes. Last, not least, thanks to the developers of FS4 and FS4 related products who have really done a great job to take the time and money creating and enhancing such a fabulous program. As this (unfabulous) program is still in its testing phase, some problems will still arise. I suppose that they will be gone in about two month's time, the hour of the release of SC1MAP V1.0. Though this program is still "TestWare", it is supposed to be some kind of ShareWare. SC1MAP was not conceived out of the urge to earn money, but simply to satisfy some of my personal needs concerning the documentation and managing of SC1 files. As it seems that I share this problem with many other people, I decided to spread this stuff. Nevertheless, all kinds of contributions to compensate the extreme amounts of cigarettes and coffee consumed are welcome. Those who take the extreme decision and send 25 US$ to the address below (around April '93) will receive SC1MAP V1.0 together with a written documentation (I'll do my best to make it better than the one mailed in a program I do not dare to mention at this point.) Those who want to spend their money on more interesting things can download the same program in their favourite BBS. And I'm also happy about any letter that reaches me without means of payment. Independently of your "contributions", I will be glad to support you to my best, bug reports and suggested enhancements are essential for the improvement of this program. The sale of this program is theivery and will be treated as such. Ah, before I forget it... all mentioned trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners. Where can you get hold of me? ============================= For people who like to write letters, send faxes or others who have huge telephone budgets: Enrico Schiratti - K”lner Str. 198a - D-4150 Krefeld - Germany Tel. +49-2151-396234 (Office hours, GMT+1) Fax +49-2151-311247 You can also reach me via: - AIRBORNE, Germany, +49-2324-84384 - AIRTEL, UK, +44-342-714900 - COMPUSERVE, 100137,457 - TGD, Germany, +49-6131-582639 - FSFAN, Holland, +31-20-6958426 - NADESHDA, Germany, +49-211-212494 - SAM-LINK, Italy, +39-6-426128/423322 In: FSForum, FSFanNet, FlyNet. One last remark for chronic downloaders who have reached this point in the document: Hey! It's really great that you find all these interesting files on CIS or your local BBS which are just waiting and longing to be downloaded! But don't you think that you could make that ultimative download and get yourself an offline mail reader? I think that the Flight Simulator community throughout the world could and would profit from your written contributions. It's really great that some people take the time to exchange informations, tips and hints and lots of nonsense about FS5, so why don't you join us? Just check in the MESSAGE areas as well! If you do not know how to achieve this, which is quite possible, ask your local sysop, sure he'll be glad to help.