Changes between Version 17 and Version 18 of FS Guide
- Timestamp:
- Feb 16, 2008, 8:29:27 AM (12 years ago)
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FS Guide
v17 v18 10 10 11 11 12 Download FS from here: CurrentVersion. You will get the file '''fssetup.exe''', run it. It will ask where you want to install FS. Make a folder somewhere on the disk and click OK. FS will then install itself in that folder you made.13 14 FS will not make any icons for now. In the FS folder you will find some useful programs that you can start directly.12 Download FS from here: '''CurrentVersion'''. You will get the file '''fssetup.exe''', run it. It will ask where you want to install FS. Make a folder somewhere on the disk and click OK. FS will then install itself in that folder you made. 13 14 FS will not make any icons on the desktop or start menu for now. Look in the FS folder where you will find the program files that you can start directly. 15 15 * FsComp.exe - The main program for setting up and scoring a competiton 16 16 * Participants.xlt - A MS Excel template for quick and easy registering of users. You need to have macros enabled in Excel. 17 17 * lc.xls - A MS Excel workbook for viewing Leading Coefficient graphs. You need to have macros enabled in Excel. 18 18 19 === About the database and data === 19 20 == General information == 21 22 Since FS is quite different than earlier scoring software the scorer should be aware of the general information and concepts. There are many details that are not described in full here, and we recommend the scorer play with the demo data and set up a few test competitions before trying to run a competition with FS for the first time. 23 24 === About the database and competition data === 20 25 21 26 A competition consists of a folder with a .fsdb file and then eventually a folder for each task containing tracklogs. 22 The FS database is the .fsdb file, this is a XML file that can be edited by hand if needed. The tracklogs are in GpsDump .kml format.27 The FS database is the .fsdb file, this is a text file with XML code that can be edited by hand if needed. The tracklogs are in GpsDump .kml format. 23 28 24 29 When using FsComp edits are not committed to the .fsdb file until you save the competition using the "File/..." menu. 25 If unsure of the edits you've done, use "File/Save As..." to save it with a new name. This way you can keep a backup in case the edits gave unexpected results. When opening a comp (Ctrl-O) !FsComp will remember the last .fsdb file saved and suggest to open this.30 If you are unsure of the edits you've done, use "File/Save As..." to save it with a new name. This way you can keep a backup in case the edits gave unexpected results. When opening a comp (Ctrl-O) !FsComp will remember the last .fsdb file saved and suggest to open this. 26 31 27 32 Also note that !FsComp '''will not alter the tracklog files''' in any way. … … 29 34 Always keep a backup of your .fsdb file and tracklogs, especially after finalizing scores for one day. The data folder can be stored on a USB key for easy backup and transportation between computers. 30 35 31 32 36 === About pilot IDs === 37 33 38 There is two IDs used in FS and GpsDump: 34 39 * COMPID: a number that identifies the pilot in a competition. This must be unique for the pilot in the competition. It will save you a lot of time to let the pilots in your club or organization have the same number over time, as it's written to the GPS, and eventually you will remember each pilot's number. For Cat 1 comps it is normal to use the WPRS ranking of the pilot as COMPID. … … 48 53 FS works well in combination with GpsDump when all communications with GPS devices is handled by !GpsDump. !FsComp and !FsFlight read the tracklog files saved by !GpsDump. !GpsDump can also convert a range of formats to KML, IGC files are for example very common and easily converted with !GpsDump. You are not locked to !GpsDump, and may use any software you like to get the tracklogs downloaded, just make sure it is stored in KML format and named correctly for !FsComp to read and process it. 49 54 55 You can run many instances of !GpsDump at the same time. We found the practical limit to be 4-5, typically you will have one instance of !GpsDump for each instrument type/cable. The USB downloads are so fast that you normally handle three serial and one to two USB ports at the same time, having pilot ID waypoints is very useful in this scenario. 56 50 57 !GpsDump have a competition mode, where it relates to the participant list from FS. This makes it possible to register pilots GPS units by uploading a special ID waypoint to identify the GPS units. This saves a lot of time and avoids human errors when downloading tracklogs during the heat of the scoring. 51 58 52 59 In competition mode !GpsDump will store tracklog files in the following format: '''[Pilot name].[Datetime].[CIVLID].[COMPID].kml''' This makes it possible for !FsComp to match the files to the participants, and automatically check the tracklogs. 53 60 54 !GpsDump also have the option of applying a filter when downloading a tracklog. This filter is very useful with Garmin GPS units that sends the whole tracklog, as the filter keeps the tracklog files clean, and only stores points that apply to the relevant task. The tracklog filter works in UTC time as most GPS devices store tracklog in UTC, and it it recommended to set it to filter anything before the start window open time. Flytec/Brauniger integrated instruments will send only relevant data.61 !GpsDump also have the option of applying a filter when downloading a tracklog. This filter is very useful with Garmin GPS units that sends the whole tracklog, as the filter keeps the tracklog files clean, and only stores tracklog points that apply to the relevant task. The tracklog filter works in UTC time as most GPS devices store tracklog in UTC, and it it recommended to set it to filter anything before the start window open time. Flytec/Brauniger integrated instruments will send only relevant data for the selected day, so the filter is not so relevant for these instruments. 55 62 56 63 … … 80 87 Select one or more rows by clicking and dragging, shift-click, or ctrl-click, and use the "Delete" key to remove participants (you're asked to confirm each deletion). 81 88 89 === Using Excel to enter participants === 90 82 91 Another option to get participants into a .fsdb file is to use "Participants.xlt" This is an Excel Template which you just double-click on to create a new spreadsheet, then add participants directly in Excel anyway you like. Follow the instructions written as comments in the spreadsheet. You will need to have macros enabled in Excel for the spreadsheet to work. 83 92 … … 106 115 See detailed TaskDistance description. 107 116 117 === Speed of a task in FS === 118 119 FS will calculate and interpolate the SS and ES times from the tracklog when the pilot cross the cylinder/line. The average speed in the reports will be calculated on the total shortest distance from the takeoff, and might then be a little too high depending on the start gate and task type. (This might be improved further in later versions) The average speed is not used for scoring, so this is only a cosmetic error. 120 108 121 === Task types === 122 109 123 ''See DefinitionList for an accurate description of the terms used below.'' 110 124 … … 118 132 1. Open distance via turnpoints: Select task type "Open distance" and add a two or more turnpoints. The pilot who get furthest away in any direction from the last turnpoint win the task. 119 133 1. Open distance on a heading: Same as open distance above, but check the "Heading" checkbox and add a "heading" point at the end which gives the heading to fly from the last turnpoint. 120 1. "Race to nowhere" example: turnpoint 1 a 400m radius circle around take off, turnpoint 2 a 2km radius circle around take off as SS, turnpoint 3 a 2km radius circle around take off as ES. First pilot to ES wins.134 1. "Race to nowhere" example: turnpoint 1 a 400m radius circle around take off, turnpoint 2 a 2km radius circle around take off as SS, turnpoint 3 a 50km radius circle around take off as ES. First pilot to ES wins. 121 135 122 136 Lots of other types of tasks is possible, turnpoints with big or small cylinders, turnpoints inside/outside each other, f.ex. one can fly from take off out the edge of a 50km circle then back to start again ("Race to nowhere and back"). 123 137 138 === Task definition === 139 140 The task definition window is where you set up tasks in the competition and define all parameters for each task. 141 142 First of all, set the name and date of the task. Normally one would use the name Task 1 for the first task, Task 2 for the next and so on. The UTC offset is copied from the competition setup, but you can change it for each task if you for example run a comp during the switch from daylight savings time. 143 144 Set the formula (GAP/PWC) parameters for the first task, and click "Set as default for the competition" so that you do not have to set it again for each new task. 145 146 Open the waypoint file (Need to be in !GpsDump format), and add all the relevant waypoints to the task. Each waypoint will have opening and closing times, normally the Takeoff, Start gates, and goal will have to be set to differing times for the task. 147 148 ''(More to come here)'' 124 149 125 150 == Waypoints ==
