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Old 19-08-2017, 07:41   #16
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Quote:
Originally Posted by conachair View Post
Isn't it just as easy to "insert waypoint" and drag to the boat, still just takes a couple of seconds...

Sure, but what if I don't want to change the route? If I'm using the route again and/or sharing it with the main nav system?
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Old 19-08-2017, 08:24   #17
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

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Originally Posted by Dockhead View Post
Sure, but what if I don't want to change the route? If I'm using the route again and/or sharing it with the main nav system?
Virtually never happens but any useful routes I really want to keep get exported before use, more often than not the actual track taken will change along the way even if the planned route doesn't get tweaked along the way. Tracks are all saved as well after afterwards, with a macro to automate it all on a Pi.

If I read correctly you would like a button to change the route automatically anyway?

Quote:
1. Is there anyway to restart an active route, so that a new leg is created from your position to the next waypoint?
Though these threads are interesting, never even knew about the zero xte option til now, there's so much in OpenCPN
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Old 19-08-2017, 08:45   #18
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

So I looked into the Zero XTE for "Navigate to here". This is what I found.

1) if you right click in an empty spot then Zero XTE is added to the context menu only if there is some XTE. If zero XTE it does not show that option. This may be a bit of premature optimization but not a true bug.

2) if you right click on the actual route then Zero XTE is not added to the route context menu. My view is this is a bug. I will fix it and submit a pull request.

Bottom line, the feature you want is there. Just don't try to right click on the route arrow.
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Old 21-08-2017, 07:16   #19
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dockhead
2. I would like to be able to draw simple lines on the chart and see the length of the line and bearing. A kind of virtual Portland Plotter. The Drawing Tools plugin seems to only do EBL's and VRM's. Is there any way to do it? Or if not, could it be added?
Quote Thomas
Use the Drawing tool and create a boundary consisting of only two points.
Why not use ODraw 1.4_pi EBL? They show bearing and distance, and when you right click you can unattach them from the boat, or reattach, etc. Very powerful.
Also PIL are useful.

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...index_line_pil
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Old 21-08-2017, 07:37   #20
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Dockhead

Quote:
OK, thanks. Yes, you understood my question exactly. I'll try that when I'm at sea. I presume this command ("Zero XTE") just doesn't appear in any menu unless I'm navigating a route and an XTE exists? I can't find it anywhere here at anchor; doesn't work for a "Navigate to Here" temporary route. I can't get this option right-clicking either on the route or the waypoint. Does it appear only after XTE exists, or am I looking in the wrong place? Might be nice to mention this in the manual.
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do..._route_console

Dockhead, I'm not going to get worked up about that. It is an interesting discussion and discovery process in this thread. If you would volunteer to improve and clarify our User Manual with these more precise details and summary, it would be much appreciated. I think they are important clarifications.

PM me and I can make you an Editor! Or summarize your findings after digesting:
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do..._route_console
and
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...e_mark_manager

and tell me where to make the changes (add/delete) so we have a better manual. Thanks.

There are some valuable points made below. Lets capture them.

Dockhead: Also are you going to make a Tracker Feature Requests for these?

Quote:
A second and related one: when you're navigating towards the first waypoint on a route, to show the track to there! Give an option to reckon the whole route from your current position at the time of activating the route, rather than from the first waypoint. Many users will prefer this since it's the way commercial plotters work.
Quote:
I have studied the manual, but can't find any answer to these questions:

1. Is there anyway to restart an active route, so that a new leg is created from your position to the next waypoint? This would be the analogue of "Navigation" > "Restart" in Raymarine and Navico plotters, and is very useful for checking a new leg for possible obstacles, and seeing XTE, after you have deviated from the planned track for some reason. Would be nice if it could also be done from a "Navigate To Here" route. If there is no such feature, could we request it?
- Modified by your discoveries and dialogue of course.

I think Conachair's animated gif is an instructive technique that should be in the manual. Are there other such animated gifs that are needed?
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Old 21-08-2017, 08:39   #21
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Quote:
Originally Posted by rgleason View Post
D
I think Conachair's animated gif is an instructive technique that should be in the manual. Are there other such animated gifs that are needed?
More than happy to create some gifs if anyone thinks they may be useful in any way..
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Old 21-08-2017, 10:17   #22
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Awesome Conachair!
I've added and reorganized the entire Create a Route page, and have deleted it from Marks and Routes and left links there. It should be better. https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...s:create_route

How about a couple of short animated gifs, I think it would really help. ?
  • Create a Route (just 3 points)
  • Insert a waypoint to continue on a route (Done)
  • Append a waypoint
  • Delete a waypoint
  • Activate a Route & open a Console Window & Change the console from The Leg to Full Route.
That would be great. Are there some I have missed?
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Old 21-08-2017, 11:58   #23
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Has anyone done an in depth walk through video of O? Different videos for different parts of program use?
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Old 21-08-2017, 19:16   #24
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Yes, but they get out of date eventually.
https://www.google.com/search?q=open...utf-8&oe=utf-8
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Old 03-09-2017, 03:50   #25
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Quote:
Originally Posted by rgleason View Post
Dockhead

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do..._route_console

Dockhead, I'm not going to get worked up about that. It is an interesting discussion and discovery process in this thread. If you would volunteer to improve and clarify our User Manual with these more precise details and summary, it would be much appreciated. I think they are important clarifications.

PM me and I can make you an Editor! Or summarize your findings after digesting:
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do..._route_console
and
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...e_mark_manager

and tell me where to make the changes (add/delete) so we have a better manual. Thanks.

There are some valuable points made below. Lets capture them.

Dockhead: Also are you going to make a Tracker Feature Requests for these?

- Modified by your discoveries and dialogue of course.

I think Conachair's animated gif is an instructive technique that should be in the manual. Are there other such animated gifs that are needed?
OK, I'll go through the manual, and will be glad to try to write something. I've gotten so much out of O over the years -- seems right to try to contribute some small something.
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I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers,
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We must have a turn together . . . . I undress . . . . hurry me out of sight of the land,
Cushion me soft . . . . rock me in billowy drowse,
Dash me with amorous wet . . . . I can repay you."
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Old 03-09-2017, 04:00   #26
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

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Originally Posted by rgleason View Post
Yes, but they get out of date eventually.
https://www.google.com/search?q=open...utf-8&oe=utf-8
Yeah Rick, ive been thinking of updating that!
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Old 04-09-2017, 03:17   #27
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Quote:
Zero XTE only shows in the right click menu if there is a cross track error. When selected it resets the present XTE (Cross Track Error) back to zero. “Zero XTE” is useful if you are offset from the route and want the autopilot to follow a direct course adjusted for your current position, rather than the position of the last route waypoint.
From the manual.

The last part
Quote:
“Zero XTE” is useful if you are offset from the route and want the autopilot to follow a direct course adjusted for your current position, rather than the position of the last route waypoint.
is wrong I believe. The autopilot functionality and course steered is not affected, or should not be affected. The autopilot will be steering towards the next waypoint from the vessels current position, if it is in route following mode, rather than just steering a heading. So zeroing cross track should not affect the autopilot course steered at all.
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Old 04-09-2017, 03:32   #28
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

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Originally Posted by Moo View Post
From the manual.

The last part is wrong I believe. The autopilot functionality and course steered is not affected, or should not be affected. The autopilot will be steering towards the next waypoint from the vessels current position, if it is in route following mode, rather than just steering a heading. So zeroing cross track should not affect the autopilot course steered at all.
I have never used the autopilot functions on O, but with commercial plotters, invoking nav mode when there is XTE will cause the pilot to steer towards the track, not towards the next waypoint, in order to get back onto the track before proceeding towards the waypoint.

So being able to zero the XTE is essential for using the pilot functions.

I have not been able to invoke the "Zero XTE" under any circumstances. This item simply does not appear in any menu, right click or otherwise.
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I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers,
I believe you refuse to go back without feeling of me;
We must have a turn together . . . . I undress . . . . hurry me out of sight of the land,
Cushion me soft . . . . rock me in billowy drowse,
Dash me with amorous wet . . . . I can repay you."
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Old 04-09-2017, 03:45   #29
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dockhead View Post
I have never used the autopilot functions on O, but with commercial plotters, invoking nav mode when there is XTE will cause the pilot to steer towards the track, not towards the next waypoint, in order to get back onto the track before proceeding towards the waypoint.

So being able to zero the XTE is essential for using the pilot functions.
Yes, but not if you are already in nav mode, and depending on the XTE limits set in your system. Some do, some don't, some make a gradual course change the maximum can often be user set. Others make a drastic and dangerous swing considering some of those that do are specifically designed for sailing vessels.

Anyway the commands from any software never seem to get to my Aries.. I think I have the plug in backwards or something!

I agree that being able to reset XTE is essential. It works for me on W10 with OCPN 4.8. Easy test:
Right click a point and chose "navigate to here"
Right click anywhere on the chart but NOT on the route "Zero XTE" should be there.

However the sentence still doesn't make sense to me.
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Old 04-09-2017, 04:57   #30
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Re: Couple of Practical OpenCPN Questions or Possibly Feature Requests

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dockhead View Post
I have not been able to invoke the "Zero XTE" under any circumstances. This item simply does not appear in any menu, right click or otherwise.
Works fine on a win10 laptop and a raspberry pi this end....



Sample of a transmitted APB message.. (not the same as the gif above but similar method)

1,2,3 ,4,5,6,7 ,8, 9 ,10, , 11 ,12,13 ,14
$ECAPB,A,A,0.715,L,N,V,V,125.195,T,003,72.992,T,72 .992,T*38
$ECAPB,A,A,0.000,L,N,V,V,73.076,T,003,73.007,T,73. 007,T*05




( And Rick, will get round to making a few more gifs soon )
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