Adding waypoints by way of csv

[gkkes]

Say I have an existing list of all waypoints in the UK (VAPID, NIGIT, PEPIS etc).
Would it be possible to create a UK_Waypoints.csv file from it?

If so, what would be the comma separated values convention for achieving this?

This would involve a lot of screen information, so maybe would require a further entry in "Map Settings" and possibly a search routine. Would this be achievable / desirable?

Thanks Tim

Kev

[jschall]

Would it be possible to create a UK_Waypoints.csv file?...
what would be the comma separated values convention for achieving this?

It's in Section  7.5 in the Manual. Here is more detail from Tim:

The format is:


Category: Text. Must be one of {Airstrip, Disused, Location, Obstacle, POI, VRP, IFR, Helipad}. (not case sensitive)

Name: Text. Max 50 characters

Identifier: Text. Max 10 characters

Latitude: Double. Decimal latitude. North is +ve; South is -ve

Longitude: Double. Decimal longitude. West is -ve; East is +ve

Elevation: Float. Elevation of item in feet AMSL

MagVar: Float. West is +ve, East is -ve (or 360 - angle. so 2 deg E can be -2 or 358)

Tag: Text. Max 20 characters

Notes: Text: Max 50 characters


- Jeff Schallenberg
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec

[tim arnot]

When you've built it, if you wish to share, we have The Reporting Point, designed for just that purpose.  :)

[gkkes]

Of course I will happily make it available.

My first thoughts though, are that Waypoints are a necessary aid when flying IFR.

My VA Home - EGNS (Ronaldsway, Isle of Man) uses KELLY and VANIN as Holds and SID's / STAR's and these are essential when route planning. My thought is that there are huge numbers of these worldwide and that this information may benefit from a "switch" within your menu strap under Navaids (currently just VOR's and NDB's) say "Fixes".

If a Category could be created for "waypoints" within the csv file, or whether the information is provided to you for inclusion in the mdb I believe this would provide a great advantage to all users in route planning within Plan-G.

As an example: EGBB - EGPH (Birmingham - Edinburgh)
I would initially visit http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/ for an example route. (There are many other methods).

This gives:
EGBB TNT POL RIBEL SHAPP MARGO EGPH

This would involve a SID from Runway to TNT and a STAR from MARGO to the ILS (if used) At present, there are only 2 of these waypoints currently available within Plan-G, TNT and POL as they are Radio Navaids, RIBEL SHAPP MARGO and others required would be in any UK_waypoint.csv but would appear with all other csv information downloaded and installed so far, (UK_Obstacles etc) in a now pretty crowded display.

I wonder, as mentioned above whether these waypoints might deserve a greater priority within your database structure?

Great work

best wishes

Kev

[tim arnot]

I have something in mind...  ;)

[gkkes]

Great - should I wait?

Kev

[tim arnot]

The next release is planned for around Christmas time, and I'm not 100% sure this will be in it (although if it isn't, I'll add an 'IFR waypoint' VRP type, which for you would just be a search and replace exercise)

[gkkes]

OK, are you saying I can go ahead and convert the data into a csv file using "IFR Waypoint" as the category ?

Thanks

Kev

[tim arnot]

If you want to use the data now, you'll need to use an existing category. But come Christmas, there will either be an IFR waypoint category or a different solution. From a flight plan perspective, the category of the waypoint doesn't matter (it mostly determines how it's displayed on the map), so any plans you make using your data will still work.

[gkkes]

Further to this end I have been experimenting!

Please bear with me!

I loaded an existing Flightplan, which I believe I created within FSX, as before EGBB - EGPH (IFR).
If I load this into Plan-G, it actually knows these waypoints (RIBEL SHAPP MARGO), and I am able to see them, correctly named in Edit mode.
The Lat/Lon readout on the Status bar shows standard, not WSG84 which is I believe what is required in the data.

I don't know if this is addative, but could there be an easy workaround?

Kev

[tim arnot]

I don't think so - waypoints derived from the flight plan are only temporary.

[gkkes]

I've added a Fixes.csv file for the UK in the interim.

This has been derived from bones' SBS-1 data package

Cheers

Kev

[gkkes]

Added one for Irish fixes today

Kev

[BASys]

Hi Folks

Tim -
For flingwing users,
any chance please of adding a category type of Helipad ?

Great to hear you're also implementing IFR.

PS
Love the bot traps.

Many thanks
ATB
Paul

[tim arnot]

Only if you make a rewards file for PNG...  ;)