Difference between revisions of "DataFiles"
m (Created page with "VRtool needs data to perform calculations. Those have to be loaded in the program before you can use the track designer or the weather routing module, for example. These data fil...") |
m |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
VRtool needs data to perform calculations. Those have to be loaded in the program before you can use the track designer or the weather routing module, for example. These data files are charts, wind forecasts and polars. | VRtool needs data to perform calculations. Those have to be loaded in the program before you can use the track designer or the weather routing module, for example. These data files are charts, wind forecasts and polars. | ||
| − | '''Charts''' - vrtool uses a custom vector chart format files, with extension .CHT. The program comes with a simple world map (world3.cht). You can find more detailed files in [[http://vrtoutoulz.fr/ vrtoutoulz] or in the [http://www.tecepe.com.br/nav/ | + | '''Charts''' - vrtool uses a custom vector chart format files, with extension .CHT. The program comes with a simple world map (world3.cht). You can find more detailed files in [[http://vrtoutoulz.fr/ '''vrtoutoulz'''] or in the [http://www.tecepe.com.br/nav/chartlib.htm chart lib]. Download and save files to the vrtool directory. To load a chart, use menu option '''File > Load''' vector chart.. |
tip: A good world chart is c_gshhs_i.cht (from '''vrtoutoulz'''). This is the one used by VORG 11/12 | tip: A good world chart is c_gshhs_i.cht (from '''vrtoutoulz'''). This is the one used by VORG 11/12 | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
'''Wind forecasts''' - Those can be obtained from a number of sources. Ultimately, all wind forecasts come from the GFS ( Global Forecast System, a world weather model run by NOAA a couple times a day) but regatta game providers do some processing in NOAA data. Vrtool can use winds from: | '''Wind forecasts''' - Those can be obtained from a number of sources. Ultimately, all wind forecasts come from the GFS ( Global Forecast System, a world weather model run by NOAA a couple times a day) but regatta game providers do some processing in NOAA data. Vrtool can use winds from: | ||
| Line 16: | Line 18: | ||
After loading the wind forecasts , you may use buttons to select a given forecast . Use buttons Ctrl-1 to Ctrl-7 or the buttons in the toolbar to display successive wind forecast periods. | After loading the wind forecasts , you may use buttons to select a given forecast . Use buttons Ctrl-1 to Ctrl-7 or the buttons in the toolbar to display successive wind forecast periods. | ||
| + | |||
'''Polars''' - Polars allow the calculation of the boat speed for a given wind speed and wind angle. | '''Polars''' - Polars allow the calculation of the boat speed for a given wind speed and wind angle. | ||
Revision as of 16:17, 14 May 2012
VRtool needs data to perform calculations. Those have to be loaded in the program before you can use the track designer or the weather routing module, for example. These data files are charts, wind forecasts and polars.
Charts - vrtool uses a custom vector chart format files, with extension .CHT. The program comes with a simple world map (world3.cht). You can find more detailed files in [vrtoutoulz or in the chart lib. Download and save files to the vrtool directory. To load a chart, use menu option File > Load vector chart..
tip: A good world chart is c_gshhs_i.cht (from vrtoutoulz). This is the one used by VORG 11/12
Wind forecasts - Those can be obtained from a number of sources. Ultimately, all wind forecasts come from the GFS ( Global Forecast System, a world weather model run by NOAA a couple times a day) but regatta game providers do some processing in NOAA data. Vrtool can use winds from:
- Downloaded directly from NOAA - Using the vrtool NOAA import module.
- From vrtoutoulz website - Set regatta server host to www.vrtoutoulz.fr/winds, point any location with the mouse and press F2. This will load a 10x10 degree wind grid.
- Load a grid 2 format file ( from UGrib or ZGrib ).
- From Virtual Regatta game files.
- For VR, you can use game winds (imported by vrtool from Firefox cache) or winds from - VORG 11/12 - Import winds directly from NOAA server (using vrtool NOAA import module) or vrtoutoulz winds.
After loading the wind forecasts , you may use buttons to select a given forecast . Use buttons Ctrl-1 to Ctrl-7 or the buttons in the toolbar to display successive wind forecast periods.
Polars - Polars allow the calculation of the boat speed for a given wind speed and wind angle.
Vrtool can use two kinds of polar chart databases.
- Multi-sail polars - This is a new format with a set of polar data for each sail. This is the preferred format. Multi-sail polar database files have extension XML, and can be produced, imported and edited using the vrtool polar studio.
- Merged sail polars - This compact polar database format is available from sources like vrtoutoulz. Extension .CSV.
Select the file and click load. Also select which database type you are using in the Winds > Polars tab.
Importing game winds and boat data
You can keep boat positions and winds updated by using the Firefox cache importer for Virtual Regatta and VORG. Read more about that in this tutorial.
