MFC AI TAXIPARK FILE HELPER V 1.0

ROTW - MAI 2003

This tool can prepare TaxiPark files (aircrafts taxiing and parking in airports) for TAXIPARK compiler and AI_TRAFFIC DLL.
The tool takes advantage of Padraic Morgan's BGROPS.exe program : thank you Padraic for your precious help.

Installation :

-Place AI_TP_H.exe and BGROPS.exe in a brand new folder.
-Ensure you have MFC42.dll in your C:\WINDOWS\system32 folder (or your brand new folder).
(NB : This tool is made from Microsoft Foundation Classes and uses a common shared dll you shoud have yet)

Quick step usage (Follow the steps below) :

- unpod both TMS and BGR airport files (i.e. in your .../taxiways/taxiusa.pod)
- place both of them in the AI_TP_H.exe folder
- launch AI_TP_H and file/open the TMS or the BGR file (the tool will open both of them)

- Start a path :
(a path has both arrival and departure legs)
- Proc/Start_Taxi_Path/Landing
- first point = landing contact point : right mouse click Arrival_Flag/Landing_Point (label = 200)
- second point should be a brake point (right mouse click) but unused (label 400) like 'pause' points. Beetween first and second point you have 'high' speed. From second point you have 'slow speed'.
- third and other points just left mouse click (label 000).

.../...

Parking with pivot :
(NB : If you place a pivot "before your last parking point" you can add other prking points to that pivot and hence create more paths that follow the generic scheme)
- in a strategic place right mouse click and select a Arrival_Fligh/Parking_Pivot (label 001)
- then next point(s) has(have) to be (a) stop point(s) : right mouse click Arrival_Flag/Stop_Point
- place as many stop points relative to the pivot as you want (label 800)

Now departure section :
- Proc/Start_Taxi_Path/Departure
- just left mouse click as many time you want to go to the runway (remember you have not more than 15' to be airborne!)
- on the runway right mouse click for Departure_Flag/Acceleration_Point (label 1600)
- and finally right mouse click for the Departure_Flag/TakeOff_Point (label 3200)

When you are finished (or you need a pause during the points placement) Proc/Stop_Taxi_Path.

HOW TO's AND TRICKS =
How to correct or modify points :
Since I didn't installed a mouse error manager (drag points, erase points, insert points) you shoud stop the path (Proc/Stop_Taxi_Path) then save the file (see below) , modify, erase or even add lines (with the mouse pointer you'll find the decimal points) then, drag the file again in the main window in a new document (load before the tms and bgr to have a ground reference).
How to modify a path to create a new one :
Save first your file (see below) then copy it and rename it as your next path project ; erase the points you don't need ; drag it in the main window (made first : new, load tms/bgr to have the airport) then continue to place points Proc/Start_Taxi_Path/Landing or ...departure ; save again when you're done.
With the same procedure you can get series of 3-4 points to cut and paste in saved files ; just remeber to start with Proc/Start_Taxi_Path/Landing or ... departure.


TOOLS :
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- Save the path : File/SaveAs ... i.e. try.txt . This file can be dropped and dragged in a new document (New menu) or dragged upon the AI_TP_H.exe icon in the explorer page (without airport data).
If you want both airport data and path see final note.
You can modify this file by hand ( flags are the same ) : 

<vloc> (0) 0.0 0.0 0.0

ICAO SFO
ORGN 135428.00000 855451.00000
# 02 02 00 00 0005225.00000 0003050.00000 0
# 02 04 00 00 0004700.00000 0001725.00000 0
# 02 00 00 00 0004225.00000 0000600.00000 0
# 02 00 00 01 0003150.00000 0000325.00000 0
# 02 08 00 00 0002550.00000 0000725.00000 1
# 02 08 00 00 0003325.00000 0001075.00000 2
# 02 08 00 00 0002475.00000 -000500.00000 3
# 04 00 00 00 0005675.00000 -001175.00000 0
# 04 00 00 00 0005400.00000 -002900.00000 0
# 04 00 00 00 0006725.00000 -003175.00000 0
# 04 00 00 00 0007700.00000 -000275.00000 0
# 04 16 00 00 0007925.00000 0000825.00000 0
# 04 32 00 00 0007575.00000 0001750.00000 0

First row
02 = arrival 04 = departure
Second row
02 = landing 04 = breaking (unused) 08 = parking 16 = acceleration 32 = takeoff
Third row
00 = free node 01 = linked node (see below)
Fouth row
00 = null 01 = pivot point

Fifth and sixth rows are X-Y positions in feet from ORGN
Last row is a stop point counter

You can also save the file with Menu/Proc/SaveTaxiPath : it will creat a file called __AI_TP_H_project.txt in the windows current folder. Not really useful (was needed during development).

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MOVING AND ZOOM :
Double click for moving / Use menu Zoom / Use Center menu to go back to the airport center
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Precision :
If you place points by hand (!) you need to have a hight zoom level because one pixel can vary from 25 (Z=25) to 1(Z=1).
If you prefer, you can link your points to airport nodes : before you place a point, right mouse click and select Enable_Factory_Nodes. This will remain until you desect it again.
Points are linked (label n...1...n) if they remain within 75 feet from a node, or they keep not linked.
When you're done select menu Proc/ProcessData1.
You can see which points are linked because in your "try.txt" saved file, linked points have digits after the comma, while free points don't.
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TAXIPATH FILE :
- Menu/ TaxiPathFile
- Select if you want rounded angles and angle degrees limit : all the angles except stop angles will be divided if they are low than the targetted limit ; as an example I use 90.
- Select path type Light or Heavy aircrafts
- them mode (just one by now).
(NB : the modifications are saved in the taxipark file but not in the displayed one : if you save your 'try.txt' file and drag it again you won't see the modification too)

Finally you'll have a taxipark file ready to be used with TRAFFIC TOOLS (included in the AI_TRAFFIC.dll zip file)
You just need to modify nn00...nnNN with your FlighPlans BGR file
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PATH WITHOUT PIVOT :
Follow the same steps but instead of a pivot point, place the stop point and trace the departure path from that point (not the pivot point !)
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FINAL NOTES :
You can load first the airport TMS and BGR files then drag and drop your 'try.txt' saved file upon it.
In the MBS example the taxipark file will get 'MBS' as ICAO name while TTOOL need KMBS. If you want right ICAO names, just modify TMS and BGR names or modify your try.txt file accondingly.
Keep in mind this is just a tool to help you with taxipark files. Is not intended as a coding masterpiece, eh, eh ! And far it is, I know !  
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The program is freeware and you use it at your own risk. No responsability nor warranty is granted for any problem or damage you shoud have.
You're free to modify it, share it, or throw it in the recycler bin without any previous written autorisation...
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