Test Polauto by using OpenCpn w/o instruments

[rgleason]

Patrick I have been trying to import this Opencpn Polar, which I created by hand from the attached Maxsea.xls file.

The Opencpn polar loads in weather_routing_pi and I am able to do routing, but I am not able to load it into Polauto and transform it to another format. I wonder why.

Please take the doc off to use them.
I am also having difficulty saving pl files.
I do not have access to my ProgramFiles(x86) directory and have pointed the "import" and "save" directory to C:/ProgramData/polauto with directories for Ocpn Maxs and qtV and XML should I have a polauto directory?

There does not seem to be any file in c:/ProgramFiles(x86)/Polauto/Polaires directory.
I have windows 7 x 64 bit.


The third file "Shannon38-opencpn.XML" is a second file the weather_routing_pi uses to store boat data and the appropriate path to the opencpn.csv polar file. If you have set this file up properly, and stored the polar pathname, you can load this file from weatherr_routing_pi "Configure""Edit" Boat "Edit" "Polar Details" Tab and if the polar file exists in the path, that will be loaded too.

[rgleason]

Save and load polars files with Polauto :

Polauto's native format .pl ( it’s not very différent than OpenCPN, but it’s not the same )
These files are auto-saved in the directory : .....\polauto\polaires\ <boat>.pi with the name of the polar + .pl
Example: c:\program files\polauto\polaires\monboat.pl

I do have some .pl files from before, but I don't seem to be able to find new ones now. Perhaps I am not looking in the right place?

I've checked c:/programfiles(x86)/polauto/polaries/ and similar under c:/ProgramData/Polauto/

[rgleason]

For Everyone's information regarding polar formats:


Opencpn weather_routing_pi and the required polar format

The weather_routing_pi plugin references several files located in c:/ProgramData/opencpn.

To see where these files are set in the plugin, select a route or make a new one. Pick Configuration --> Edit.
Then pick Boat "Edit" a tabbed dialogue box will open.

"Plot Details" Tab has Open, Save and Save as buttons. This is the pointer to the <boat>.xml file which contains the boat characteristics, it is initially set to "boat.xml". After you have gone through all the tabs and set the boat's Lwl, Loa, Displacement, etc. you should "Save as" using your boat's name. Then "open" that file each time weather_routing needs those settings..

Initially under <Configuration > Edit > Boat Edit > Plot Details [tab] the file referenced is "boat.xml".
Make sure you have a file "boat.xml" in your opencpn data directory, if you are having troubles, download a boat.xml file and "load" it.


The second file is under <Configuration > Edit > Boat Edit > Polar [tab] and this is an optional polar file "<boat>.csv"
"Polar File" Tab shows the path of the Polar file being used, if one exists, otherwise the program has builtin VPP calculation using the boats characteristics which have been entered, which is in effect when the path shows as "<computed>".

If you have prepared a polar file in the Opencpn format for your boat, you can load it into the plugin from this tab, and after you "Save" from the "Plot Details" tab, the pathname willl be remembered [note the pathname in the sample <boat>.XML file below].

Sometimes the plugin is picky about these files. If it is close the plugin and opencpn and reopen, to reset it. Then try again.
The two sample files are shown below. They are paired. If you load the XML file the referenced polar file will be loaded if it is in the path and the correct format.

Shannon38-opencpn-roundtrip.XML [This is the <boat>.XML file]
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<OCPNWeatherRoutingBoat version="0.9" creator="Opencpn Weather Routing plugin">
<BoatCharacteristics displacement_tons="21" lwl_ft="34" loa_ft="38" beam_ft="11" />
<BoatDrag frictional_drag="0.0170" wake_drag="0.9500" />
<Plan Name="Initial Plan" computed="0" csvFileName="C:\ProgramData\opencpn\Shannon38-opencpn.CSV" />
</OCPNWeatherRoutingBoat>

Shannon38-opencpn.CSV [This is the <boat polar>.csv file.]
twa/tws;6;8;10;12;14;16;20
0;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.00
30;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.00;0.00
40;2.80;4.10;4.40;4.70;4.90;5.00;5.10
45;4.00;4.90;5.20;5.50;5.70;5.80;5.90
52;4.50;5.40;6.10;6.40;6.60;6.70;6.80
60;5.00;6.00;6.50;6.70;6.80;6.90;7.00
75;5.50;6.40;6.80;7.00;7.20;7.30;7.40
90;5.70;6.60;7.00;7.30;7.50;7.60;7.70
110;5.80;6.70;7.10;7.40;7.60;7.70;7.90
120;5.50;6.50;7.00;7.30;7.60;7.90;8.20
135;4.80;6.00;6.60;7.00;7.40;7.70;8.30
150;4.00;5.00;5.90;6.50;6.90;7.30;7.90
165;3.70;4.80;5.20;6.20;6.60;6.90;7.50
180;3.30;4.20;4.70;5.90;6.30;6.60;7.20


qtVLM Polar Format
QtVlm Polar Diagram - VlmWiki
Extension of the file name. Csv
Separator ';' (semicolon)
Double-entry table
The first cell always contains 'TWA \ TWS'
The first line lists the wind forces. Vlm does not go beyond 60 knots of wind.

Beginning of each line ** gives the look, then each value corresponding to the shape and strength of the wind (column heading)

The digital data of the polar use a decimal point, 'that is the point.' An integer (no point ended) is valid.
Whites are valid (value = 0.0) but discouraged. Thank you for being explicit
Text file format is UNIX ie lines that are terminated by LF (Line Feed) and not CR (Carriage Return) and LF. A good text editor windows (PsPad or Notepad + +) knows rerecord this format.

TWA\TWS;0;2;4;6;8;10;12;14;16;18;20;22;24;26;28;30 ;32;34;36;38;40;42;44;46;48;50;52;54;56;58;60
0;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000; 0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0. 000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.00 0;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000
5;0.000;0.210;0.420;0.630;0.800;0.860;0.920;0.940; 0.950;0.970;0.980;0.980;0.990;0.950;0.880;0.810;0. 740;0.670;0.600;0.530;0.460;0.370;0.280;0.190;0.09 0;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000;0.000

=====

Maxsea Polar Format (same as Adrena, or SailGrib WR)
WR user guide

The first row defines the True Wind Speed.
The first column defines the True Wind Angle
In the example, the theoretical hull speed for various wind velocities and wind angles is in the cells.
Modify the True Wind Speed values in the first row. The example below uses 10 and 30 Kts.
Enter these values in the first row and delete the other columns.
In an Excel spreadsheet
TWA 10 15 20 25
30 2.0 5.4 7.2 7.9
90 4.7 9.5 11.5 12.8
150 2.9 7.4 10.5 13.0


SailingPerformance - Products
Expedition Expedition
Isler Expedition Software
BLUR Boats and Polars Boats & Polars | BLUR


Bluewater Racing, and Expedition Polar file format
http://www.bluewaterracing.com/bluew...#_Toc343740589

Quote:
A polar file is a sequence of lines. Each line describes the curve for one windspeed, ws. Optionally, the first line may begin with the string "pol", in which case it is treated as a comment line. This klunky format is not my idea; it is for compatibility with Expedition and other software tools, and because it loads easily into spreadsheet tools such as Excel.

Each curve is described on one line of the text file by a windspeed, followed by a sequence of pairs of True Wind Angle and boatspeed. (TWA in degrees, BSP in knots)
eg:

10 30 0 45 6 90 8.1 160 7 180 5
15 30 0 40 8 90 12 150 10 165 9 170 5

This gives two curves, one for windspeed 10, one for windspeed 15. Different curves may have different TWA points, and different numbers of points. The line for windspeed 10 specifies a boatspeed of zero knots at a true wind angle of 30 degrees, a boatspeed of six knots at TWA 45, 8.1 knots at 90, seven knots at 160 degrees, and five knots at 180 degrees.

There can be a zero windspeed curve with non-zero boatspeed, i.e., “when the wind is gone, the motor's on.”

Rules for the data in polar files:
1) One windspeed curve per line.
2) There must be a least 3 points per curve.
3) There must be at least one non-zero windspeed curve.
4) The minimum TWA is zero, and the maximum is 180.
5) The 2nd smallest TWA in a line is the best VMG upwind angle for that windspeed. The 2nd largest TWA is the best VMG downwind angle for that windspeed
6) The first TWA should be less than any 2nd TWA in any curve. Ideally, zero.
7) The last TWA should be greater than any 2nd-to-last TWA in any curve. Ideally, 180

If these rules are broken, the behavior of the program is undetermined.

Example
2 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
4 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
6 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 4.5 56 60 5 64 68 72 76 5.5 80 84 88 92 5.7 96 100 104 108 112 5.8 116 120 5.5 124 128 132 136 4.8 140 144 148 152 4 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
8 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 5.4 56 60 6 64 68 72 76 6.4 80 84 88 92 6.6 96 100 104 108 112 6.7 116 120 6.5 124 128 132 136 6 140 144 148 152 5 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
10 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 6.1 56 60 6.5 64 68 72 76 6.8 80 84 88 92 7 96 100 104 108 112 7.1 116 120 7 124 128 132 136 6.6 140 144 148 152 5.9 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
12 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 6.4 56 60 6.7 64 68 72 76 7 80 84 88 92 7.3 96 100 104 108 112 7.4 116 120 7.3 124 128 132 136 7 140 144 148 152 6.5 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
14 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 6.8 56 60 6.8 64 68 72 76 7.2 80 84 88 92 7.5 96 100 104 108 112 7.6 116 120 7.6 124 128 132 136 7.4 140 144 148 152 6.9 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
16 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 6.7 56 60 6.9 64 68 72 76 7.3 80 84 88 92 7.6 96 100 104 108 112 7.7 116 120 7.9 124 128 132 136 7.7 140 144 148 152 7.3 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
18 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 6.7 56 60 7 64 68 72 76 7.4 80 84 88 92 7.7 96 100 104 108 112 7.9 116 120 8.2 124 128 132 136 8.3 140 144 148 152 7.9 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
22 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
24 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
26 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
28 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
30 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
32 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
34 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180
36 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180

[rgleason]

Patrick,
I have found that the BlueWater / Expedition Polar format is not anywhere near the same as the Opencpn Weather_Routing_pi Polar format. Please refer to the formats above.

The weather_routing_pi plugin requires a CSV file that is formatted the same as
Shannon38-opencpn.CSV above. It almost looks like qtVlm format.

Therefore the Opcpn-Bluewater button in the translator will need to be changed.

Thanks, Rick

[IndigoJon]

Originally Posted by rgleason

In the current version of Polauto, I am having some trouble understanding and determining the following:
1. How to save a particular type of file: qtVLM, Opencpn, MaxSea in Polauto.
2. How to load and convert a particular file: qtVLM, Opencpn, MaxSea into Polauto.
3. What format Polauto uses natively? --I think it is using Opencpn.
5. Is the XML format only for the program Sailtimer?
6. What format each type of polar has such that it can be loaded and used properly in the respective program.
7. Is a .pol file always the same format, or does it vary in format? (It appears to be the latter.
8. The final question I have is, how can Polauto menu's be adjusted to make import and translation, and export more intuitive to users?

The XML format that I asked Patrick to support is the format for polars in the navigation program "SailCruiser", by NavSim Technologies. They have licensed the SailTimer algorithms from Sailtimer, Inc (Dr Craig Summers), and made use of that functionality in the SailCruiser program. I don't know if other programs use the .xml polar format, but it is very helpful to have that capability for use of Polauto alongside SailCruiser, and I look forward to posting results when Indigo is back on the water.

Can Patrick please reference where the most-recent English version of Polauto can be downloaded, and thanks to him for all of the changes and improvements.

[NEVERMIND]

The most recent version is here:

Pratiques et Techniques de la Plaisance

[IndigoJon]

I am having trouble unzipping the file...

[NEVERMIND]

You can try on this site:

http://patricktiercelin.wix.com/logiciels-tiercelin

Jp

[IndigoJon]

I only saw the French version, and it does not have the corrections he made recently in the English version...

[tiersp]

Hello,
I am working on Polauto to improve the différents formats of the polars.
So wait somes days, and i will make a new version , and you can test it.
Actualy i try to import Blue water Racing format in Polauto, and it's not easy !
Thank you Rick for the precisions on the différents format of polars.
For the english version you can look here :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwR...it?usp=sharing

[tiersp]

Helo,
Can some one tell me if the Shannon38-OpenCPN.csv file can be open with Qtvlm .
If it's yes i can purhaps Make only one button for OpenCPN and Qtvlm.

[rgleason]

patrick, I am away and using andriod tablet, but will be back in one week and can test shsnnon38 polar in new qtVLM which I 'd like to do anyway. Good idea!!!! Perhaps others could test earlier?

[IndigoJon]

Originally Posted by tiersp

Hello,
I am working on Polauto to improve the différents formats of the polars.
So wait somes days, and i will make a new version , and you can test it.
Actualy i try to import Blue water Racing format in Polauto, and it's not easy !
Thank you Rick for the precisions on the différents format of polars.
For the english version you can look here :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwR...it?usp=sharing

Thanks, Patrick, I have already downloaded that file. When you make the new version, hopefully you received my comments and can work with those suggestions.

[tiersp]

Hello,
You can test the new 5.3 version on drive .google (see above )
Thank you Indigojon for testing.
Patrick

[tiersp]

Hello,
I have also change the install default directory, it's now C:\Polauto.