Messages

1

Bridge Command General Support / Re: TerrainHeightMapSize

« on: April 23, 2024, 08:57:58 AM »

Hi, with a normal greyscale image, 0 represents -1*SeaMaxDepth, and 255 represents TerrainMaxHeight, with linear interpolation in between. This actually means that the 'half way' between max height and max depth is between 127 and 128 greyscale values.

I made a simple calculator at https://www.bridgecommand.co.uk/data/_uploaded/file/Height%20conversions_255.xlsx which might be useful.

The relatively small number of steps available in a greyscale image is why there is also the 'RGB' encoding (height in metres is set by (red * 256 + green + blue / 256) - 32768), or raw 32 bit floating point format available, which both allow a much finer elevation step.

2

Models / Re: Outboard Motors

« on: April 22, 2024, 10:25:17 PM »

Thanks for asking. I'll have a look into this, I think it would be relatively simple to change the way the azimuth drive is modelled to allow reverse propulsion direction as an option.

I think you could get the right turning effect from tuning the rudder parameters, but I'm not sure the lateral motion would be realistic.

3

Bridge Command General Support / Re: TerrainHeightMapSize

« on: April 22, 2024, 10:22:28 PM »

Hi, TerrainHeightMapSize is no longer required, so will now be ignored.

In earlier versions, it was previously required to specify the size of a square image defining the heightmap, but because this can be found directly from the image dimensions, it is not required any more.

If you are using a binary heightmap (a list of 32 bit floating point values), TerrainHeightMapRows and TerrainHeightMapColumns are now used instead, as non-square heightmaps are allowed.

4

Scenarios / Re: Buoys

« on: December 31, 2023, 02:44:42 PM »

Hello, can you check if the buoys load properly if you replace the ‘,’ as a decimal point with ‘.’
For example, replace Long(1)=-2,37586666666667 with Long(1)=-2.37586666666667

I will check how Bridge Command handles different local number formats, it may be defaulting to the UK format (‘.’ as decimal separator)

5

Bug reports / Re: Various missing files

« on: December 29, 2023, 08:02:12 AM »

Hi, apologies for the long delay, I missed this initially.

Yes, a PR along these lines would be useful. Bridge Command intentionally falls back to default settings if these ini files aren’t present, but adding them with default values would clean up the log a lot.

6

Scenarios / Re: share world models and scenarios

« on: April 16, 2023, 10:23:32 PM »

There isn't a central repository, but if people would like to email me copies of scenarios, I'd be very happy to make a page on thw website and host them.

Similarly with new world models, please let me know if there's anything that can be shared, and I would be very happy to host them, or integrate them with the installer (of course dependent on the use of copyright data sources.)

7

Feature requests & suggestions / Re: make it vr

« on: December 06, 2022, 10:43:32 PM »

Hi, thanks for the offer. At the moment there's no intention of rewriting to use Unity. I'm not sure of the current situation, but there certainly have been interfaces from Irrlicht (the 3d engine used) to Occulus in the past.

VR is something that I think could be great with Bridge Command, but I've been focussing on other aspects of Bridge Command, so if anyone wants to take this further, please do!

8

Scenarios / Re: Docking Scenarios?

« on: November 16, 2022, 11:16:38 PM »

That sounds great. I've now implemented azimuth stern drive modelling, and have it working with the VRinsight Azimuth Console 2. I need to build a full release for this, but get in touch if interested in testing it out.

9

Bridge Command General Support / Re: Reversing the joystick in ver 5.5.3

« on: October 21, 2022, 05:48:51 PM »

Hi, for the reversed throttles, in the settings editor try changing joystick_map(1,2)=-1 to joystick_map(1,2)=1, and changing joystick_map(2,2)=1 to joystick_map(2,2)=-1. This should swap the engine direction.

For the wheel, have you tried different settings for the channel?

10

Models / Re: .3DS or .X format confused

« on: October 16, 2022, 09:04:55 PM »

Hi, quite a few formats should work, as supported by the Irrlicht engine: Maya (.obj), 3DStudio (.3ds), COLLADA (.dae), Blitz3D (.b3d), Milkshape (.ms3d), Quake2 models (.md2), Microsoft DirectX (.X), as well as others.

11

Bridge Command General Support / Re: Reversing the joystick in ver 5.5.3

« on: October 07, 2022, 10:35:14 PM »

Hi, EVIDIM can I check which version of Bridge Command you are running? From your description, I think this is version 4.

If so, in this old version, Bridge Command will use the settings file in the installation directory. If this is in 'Program Files' or similar, Windows will probably be preventing the ini file editor from actually saving (to prevent users accidentally changing system wide settings). Assuming you have admin rights on your computer, you should be able to edit the file directly (bc4.ini in the installation directory), or by running the settings editor as admin.

12

Scenarios / Re: Spinning Uncontrollably

« on: October 06, 2022, 08:47:24 AM »

Hi, is it possible that your boat is starting substantially aground? This can cause what you describe. One way of checking is to choose the VIC56_360 own ship model. If this doesn't spin, then it's likely that this is the problem (own ship models using 360 pano photos use an old 'grounding'  model)

13

Bridge Command General Support / Re: Multi-Screen in a single computer

« on: October 02, 2022, 06:19:53 PM »

You can just type in 'localhost' (without the quote marks). This is a special name used by all computers to refer to themselves.

Alternatively, when you start Bridge Command in secondary mode, and it is waiting for the main session to start, it will tell you the computer's actual name on the network, which you can use instead if you want.

Let me know if this isn't clear!

14

Bridge Command General Support / Re: Charts

« on: September 21, 2022, 11:53:28 PM »

When you right click, the wording will depend on your internet browser, but will be 'Save link as...' in Firefox.

Alternatively, if you click and see the text file (which is actually the chart, encoded in a text based format, with a header like this:
"! 2011 imgkap 1.11 - at 02/12/2013 from SimpleEstuary.tif"), then you can just save the file, making sure you use the extension .kap

If you then put the chart file in the folder where OpenCPN is expecting to find the charts, you should see it in OpenCPN. You may have to select the correct chart/zoom level in order to see it. The 'real world' location used for this training chart is south of Ireland, and west of Cornwall (SW England), so you may well see a blank base map until you manually select the correct chart in OpenCPN.

I hope this helps, please let me know if you need any more guidance.

15

Bridge Command General Support / Re: Bridge command 4.7 map controller ctrl+ up/down not selecting controlable ships

« on: September 21, 2022, 11:39:00 PM »

Hi, can you move the map with the arrow keys?