diff --git a/doc/usage.md b/doc/usage.md index 13ff102..8dc4d63 100644 --- a/doc/usage.md +++ b/doc/usage.md @@ -1,50 +1,113 @@ +This is FlightGear VFR flight helper add-on. It helps with VFR flights by +offering simplified map, route manager interface and helpers to get quickly to +most common settings. + +Normally I use it after planning the route in the external route planners (e.g. +LittleNavMap or VfrFlight). Then export the data in gpx/fgfs format and import +it on the start or during the simulation in the route manager window. Then it +is used for navigation helper and to check how the planned route is performing. + # Add-on usage +Addon creates quickaccess toolbar to access most used functions during the VFR +flight. When enabled and configured the add-on places several additional windows +on top of the simulator window. From it you can track current progress with the +route, which can be imported with the Qt Launcher interface or via the route +manager interface in the simulator. + ![alt quickmenu](screens/vfr_overview2.png "Overview") +On this window, add-on places two windows - smallmap with additional route +information and route plan. + +**TIP:** After importing flight plan do not forget to activate it in the route manager +window. Without it, Flightgear won't be able to automatically switch between +waypoints. + +**NOTE:** At the Overview window in the right lower corner, there is a control +visualization from FGCamera addon (I mostly fly with the double mouse configuration +and it is handy to see current yoke position when using mouse control) + # General interface +Addon creates it's `VFR Starter` menu in the Add-On main menu (the last menu in +the interface). If you can't see the main menu try pressing `F10` to reveal hidden +menu. + ![alt quickmenu](screens/vfr_mainmenu.png "Main menu ") -![alt quickmenu](screens/vfr_quickmenu.png "Quick Menu") +When selecting `VFR Starter` from the menu, the quick view appears. It is a launcher +to most common used items needed for the flight. -* **MP** - Small Map -* **PL** - Flight Plan -* **SW** - Stopwatch -* **R** - Radio interface -* **A** - ATC in range -* **RM** - Route Manager -* **X** - +![alt quickmenu](screens/vfr_quickmenu.png "Quick Menu") -* MP - map - small map in lower left corner with route navigation, access to configuration (config button), zoom settings (buttons +/-) and quick action center on the aircraft (C button). On the bottom you can see information about current waypoint name, bearing (B), distance (D), ETA and wind direction/speed (W). -* PL - flightplan - in upper left corner -* SW - stopwatch -* R - radio panel -* A - ATC in ranges search -* RM - route manager activation +* **MP** - Small Map - shows small map in the lower left corner. +* **PL** - Flight Plan - displays flight plan route with information about current route leg +* **SW** - Stopwatch - shows default stopwatch +* **R** - Radio interface - shows default radio interface +* **A** - ATC in range - displays ATC Stations in current aircraft range +* **RM** - Route Manager - displays Route Manager interface +* **X** - closes the quick access menu +Addon remembers the state of the quick access menu. When you close the simulator +with the quick start open, it opens on the next start. # Small map +Small map is a variation of the normal map available in the main menu (Equipment -> Map). +It does not contain setting on the same screen, but has additional information +about current route leg and environment. It can be resized to smaller area than +normal map especially useful for lower resolution screens during the simulation. + +**INFO:** This map shares its settings with the main map, so setting visibility in one +view affects the other. + ![alt quickmenu](screens/vfr_smallmap.png "Small map") +On the top of the map the buttons have following meaning: + +* **CONFIG** - access to the map configuration window +* **-/+** - zoom in/out of the current map view +* **C** - center view on the aircraft +* **X** - close the map window + +Below the map there are several labels with the information lined in the +following order: -**Waypoint | Bearing | Distance | ETA | Wind DIRECTION/STRENGHT** +**Waypoint | Bearing | Distance | ETA | Wind DIRECTION/STRENGTH** +* **Waypoint** - current active waypoint +* **Bearing** - bearing from current position the current waypoint +* **Distance** - distance (in nm) to the current waypoint +* **ETA** - Estimated Time of Arrival to the current waypoint +* **Wind Direction/Strength** - current wind situation (120/13 -> wind from direction 120 with speed 13 knots) -* **CONFIG** - -* **-/+** - -* **C** - -* **X** - +After clicking `CONFIG` the standard configuration for the map view appears, +in which you can configure visibility and window behaviour. ![alt quickmenu](screens/vfr_smallmap_settings.png "Small map - settings") # Flightplan +After clicking `PL` on the main quick access menu, the flightplan window appears. +It is a window with the current loaded flightplan list (via the `Route Manager`). + ![alt quickmenu](screens/vfr_flightplan.png "Flight plan") +On the top line, there is a place for information about: Current waypoint name, +distance and ETA to this waypoint. If the time is not possible to calculate, the +place is empty. + # Stopwatch/Radio Interface/ATC in Range/Route Manager +These are standard instruments/devices/windows available in the flightgear +simulator. It is only a quick access window to this data. + +# Support/Development + +Look on the github page https://github.com/slawekmikula/fg-addon-vfrnavigator. +Post there issues, requests for new features and by all means fork it, modify and +provide pull requests :) -# Support/Development \ No newline at end of file +Have fun. \ No newline at end of file