Export telemetry in X,Y,Z coordinates?

[xvii-Dietrich]

I am using Tacview Advanced and DCS Open Beta.

What I want to do, is export the cartesian coordinates (in metres) for the aircraft for each time. However, if I export the telemetry .csv file, I get:

ISO time	Unix time	Id	Longitude	Latitude	Altitude
2016-06-21T08:00:00Z	1466496000	101	-0.0781783	49.4864229	12997.95
2016-06-21T08:00:00.1Z	1466496000.1	101	-0.0783399	49.4864262	12997.89
2016-06-21T08:00:00.2Z	1466496000.2	101	-0.0785001	49.4864296	12997.79

... with Longitude, Latitude in degrees and altitude in metres.

What I want, is X,Y,Z completely in metres.

The reason for this, is so I can import those X,Y,Z into a separate analysis programme and do my own calculations. However, I need it to be completely cartesian (so Long/Lat is not good enough).

I have tried setting the position menu to MGRS and the units to metres, but it doesn't help. I have also tried exporting all telemetry, raw and calculated. Again, nothing worked.

So, please, how do I do this?

Thanks!

[BuzyBee]

Hi, by default you will see that there are values U and V in the telemetry export. Use U for X, V for Y and Altitude for Z. Let me know how it goes.

[xvii-Dietrich]

Hello, and thank you for the prompt response. I have enabled the UV output and it it seems to work, but only for aircraft (and not ordnance or components).

For example, I can get the UV (=XZ) coordinates, and the altitude (=Y) for the aircraft, but if I bail out, these data do not exist for the parachuting pilot (thus, I can't figure out where he lands). The same thing applies for bombs/rockets/etc..

Here's a sample...

ISO time	Unix time	Id	Longitude	Latitude	Altitude	Roll	Pitch	Yaw	U	V	Heading	Type	Name	TAS	ASL	VS

{ ... }

2016-06-21T08:00:01.099999Z	1466496001.1	101	-0.0800454	49.4864775	12994.8	23.6	9.9	258.2	15944.9	822.78	256	Air+FixedWing	FW-190D9	123.76451750291	12994.7998046875	-3.087890625
2016-06-21T08:00:01.199999Z	1466496001.2	101	-0.0802165	49.4864846	12994.43	25.9	11.5	256.5	15932.48	823.1	254.3	Air+FixedWing	FW-190D9	124.581240204904	12994.4326171875	-3.35546875
2016-06-21T08:00:01.199999Z	1466496001.2	3000101	-0.0802006	49.4864857	12994.55							Misc+Shrapnel		114.079298028107	12994.548828125	
2016-06-21T08:00:01.299999Z	1466496001.3	101	-0.0803887	49.4864922	12994.07	27.8	13.2	255.1	15919.97	823.46	252.9	Air+FixedWing	FW-190D9	125.152128002558	12994.07421875	-3.5322265625
2016-06-21T08:00:01.299999Z	1466496001.3	3000101	-0.0803617	49.4864953	12994.33							Misc+Shrapnel		113.397023819861	12994.3310546875	
2016-06-21T08:00:01.399999Z	1466496001.4	101	-0.0805573	49.4865	12993.73	29.2	14.9	253.8	15907.73	823.86	251.6	Air+FixedWing	FW-190D9	124.483208629674	12993.734375	-3.6171875
2016-06-21T08:00:01.399999Z	1466496001.4	3000101	-0.0805228	49.4865049	12994.11							Misc+Shrapnel		112.718133178335	12994.11328125	
2016-06-21T08:00:01.499999Z	1466496001.5	3000101	-0.0806839	49.4865145	12993.89							Misc+Shrapnel		112.042687583161	12993.89453125	
2016-06-21T08:00:01.499999Z	1466496001.5	201	-0.0807193	49.4865122	12993.31							Misc+Shrapnel	PILOT_FW190	126.226800111554	12993.3056640625	
2016-06-21T08:00:01.599999Z	1466496001.6	3000101	-0.080845	49.4865241	12993.68							Misc+Shrapnel		111.370749740326	12993.6767578125	
2016-06-21T08:00:01.599999Z	1466496001.6	201	-0.0808934	49.486522	12992.98							Misc+Shrapnel	PILOT_FW190	126.06924058609	12992.9814453125	

Any suggestions on how to get UV output for all objects? Thanks again.

[BuzyBee]

Originally posted by xvii-Dietrich:

Any suggestions on how to get UV output for all objects? Thanks again.

I am not sure why U and V wouldn't be available for all objects. Can you please share your ACMI file with me?

[xvii-Dietrich]

Originally posted by BuzyBee:

Originally posted by xvii-Dietrich:

Any suggestions on how to get UV output for all objects? Thanks again.

I am not sure why U and V wouldn't be available for all objects. Can you please share your ACMI file with me?

Thanks. I have re-run the test very carefully with a minimum-working-example. This involves a simple mission, with a single aircraft where I drop a single bomb and then bail out.

Then, using Tacview Advanced, I generate a CSV file, where I export everything (I selected the "All" options, and 10 Hz rate, during the export).

The bomb is now showing U,V data, so I suspect that this was user error on my part from earlier. However, the ejected pilot is definitely not showing in the CSV.

I cannot post attachments on Steam, but if you wish to download the files, I have put them here.

DCS track file :
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/server-20210824-221719.trk

The Tacview ACMI file :
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/Tacview-20210824-221735-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.zip.acmi

Exported CSV file from Tactview advanced :
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/Tacview-20210824-221735-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.csv

Any suggestions? Thanks for the support.

[BuzyBee]

Originally posted by xvii-Dietrich:

Thanks. I have re-run the test very carefully with a minimum-working-example. This involves a simple mission, with a single aircraft where I drop a single bomb and then bail out.

Then, using Tacview Advanced, I generate a CSV file, where I export everything (I selected the "All" options, and 10 Hz rate, during the export).

The bomb is now showing U,V data, so I suspect that this was user error on my part from earlier. However, the ejected pilot is definitely not showing in the CSV.

I cannot post attachments on Steam, but if you wish to download the files, I have put them here.

DCS track file :
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/server-20210824-221719.trk

The Tacview ACMI file :
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/Tacview-20210824-221735-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.zip.acmi

Exported CSV file from Tactview advanced :
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/Tacview-20210824-221735-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.csv

Any suggestions? Thanks for the support.

Thanks for simplifying the file to make it so easy for me to see the problem!

In this example, the ejected pilot has been mistakenly typed Misc+Shrapnel by the exporter.

302,T=4.7251738|4.5549325|749.43,Type=Misc+Shrapnel,Name=PILOT_FW190,Color=Blue,Coalition=Enemies,Country=de

To save memory, U,V is not included for such simple objects as shrapnel. But if the exporter had properly typed the ejected pilot as a Parachutist, the U,V would be there.

It is complicated for the exporter to understand which objects are Parachutists. We have to manually add certain information for each aircraft.

Could you reproduce this with Debug set to Minimal in the Tacview Options in DCS? That will give me the information I need to update the exporter.

[xvii-Dietrich]

Thanks again for the reply.

I have set "Debug Mode = Minimal" in the DCS->Options->Special->Tacview section.

I then ran the exact same mission as last time. Here are the same files, but for this new run...

http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/Tacview-20210825-232049-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.zip.acmi
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/Tacview-20210825-232049-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.csv
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/server-20210825-232005.trk

[BuzyBee]

Originally posted by xvii-Dietrich:

Thanks again for the reply.

I have set "Debug Mode = Minimal" in the DCS->Options->Special->Tacview section.

I then ran the exact same mission as last time. Here are the same files, but for this new run...

http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/Tacview-20210825-232049-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.zip.acmi
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/Tacview-20210825-232049-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.csv
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/server-20210825-232005.trk

Awesome! We added the information in the beta I just published so now pilots ejected from FW-190D9 should show as parachutists and have U,V included. Let me know how it goes! And don't hesitate to let me know about any other incorrectly typed objects, you'd be doing me a favour!

[BuzyBee]

Tacview 1.8.7 beta 11

[xvii-Dietrich]

Originally posted by BuzyBee:

Tacview 1.8.7 beta 11

At the moment, I am still unable to get it to work, but I'm not convinced I have the correct version. If I open Tacview, and then go to the "About" menu option, it causes a little window to appear in the centre of the screen which says I have "Tacview 1.8.7 64-bit-advanced". But there is no mention of "beta 11". Is that correct?

I have the "beta - Beta builds for Standard and Advanced users" selected in Steam -> Tacview -> Properties -> Betas.

Is there something else I need to do to pick up the new version? Thanks!

[BuzyBee]

Originally posted by xvii-Dietrich:

Originally posted by BuzyBee:

Tacview 1.8.7 beta 11

At the moment, I am still unable to get it to work, but I'm not convinced I have the correct version. If I open Tacview, and then go to the "About" menu option, it causes a little window to appear in the centre of the screen which says I have "Tacview 1.8.7 64-bit-advanced". But there is no mention of "beta 11". Is that correct?

I have the "beta - Beta builds for Standard and Advanced users" selected in Steam -> Tacview -> Properties -> Betas.

Is there something else I need to do to pick up the new version? Thanks!

Sounds like you definitely have some beta of Tacview 1.8.7 at least. In the top left corner of the Tacview window, in the menu bar, it should say something like "Tacview Advanced 1.8.7 beta 11".

You might have to close and re-launch Steam entirely to get the new beta.

You will have to do a whole new flight recorded by the new beta in order to see the improvements.

If none of that helps can you share just your DCS log and ACMI file from the new flight?

[xvii-Dietrich]

Originally posted by BuzyBee:

Sounds like you definitely have some beta of Tacview 1.8.7 at least. In the top left corner of the Tacview window, in the menu bar, it should say something like "Tacview Advanced 1.8.7 beta 11".

Yes, I can confirm I have the Beta 11. I have restarted Steam, restarted DCS, and flown the mission again.

I still have the same problem.

Here are the ACMI and CSV files.

http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/Tacview-20210904-131929-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.zip.acmi
http://stormofwar.info/temp_docs/tvt/Tacview-20210904-131929-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.csv

At first, when I ran this test, I looked into the DCS log and have noticed that BOTH 1.8.7 and 1.8.6 get mentioned. Updating TacView and running it again, I still get:

=== Log opened UTC 2021-09-04 10:12:33
2021-09-04 10:12:33.047 INFO    DCS: Command line: C:\Steam\steamapps\common\DCSWorld\bin\DCS.exe
2021-09-04 10:12:33.047 INFO    DCS: DCS/2.7.5.10869 (x86_64; Windows NT 10.0.19043)
2021-09-04 10:12:33.047 INFO    DCS: DCS revision: 190855
2021-09-04 10:12:33.047 INFO    DCS: Renderer revision: 22081
2021-09-04 10:12:33.047 INFO    DCS: Terrain revision: 22031
2021-09-04 10:12:33.047 INFO    DCS: Build number: 627
{...}
2021-09-04 10:19:17.884 INFO    TACVIEW.EXPORT.LUA: Loading C++ flight data recorder from [C:\Users\Dietrich\Saved Games\DCS\Mods\tech\Tacview\bin\]
2021-09-04 10:19:17.884 INFO    TACVIEW.EXPORT.LUA: Tacview 1.8.7.111 C++ flight data recorder successfully loaded.
{...}
2021-09-04 10:19:19.174 INFO    VISUALIZER: Preload() finished
2021-09-04 10:19:19.177 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: Tacview Flight Data Recorder 1.8.6.201 Loaded.
2021-09-04 10:19:19.177 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: Config={tacviewModuleEnabled=1, tacviewFlightDataRecordingEnabled=1, tacviewSinglePlayerFlights=2, tacviewMultiplayerFlightsAsClient=1, tacviewMultiplayerFlightsAsHost=0, tacviewBookmarkShortcut=0, tacviewAutoDiscardFlights=10, tacviewDebugMode=1, tacviewTerrainExport=0, tacviewRealTimeTelemetryEnabled=0, tacviewRealTimeTelemetryPort=42674, tacviewRealTimeTelemetryPassword="", tacviewRemoteControlEnabled=0, tacviewRemoteControlPort=42675, tacviewRemoteControlPassword=""}
2021-09-04 10:19:19.177 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: Running in single player mode.
2021-09-04 10:19:19.177 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: Tacview is set to [Record All Available Data]
{...}
2021-09-04 10:19:28.508 INFO    Lua: Lua CPU usage: metric: average mission execution: 1.5908 %
2021-09-04 10:19:28.512 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: Reference Longitude=[-1.229425] Latitude=[49.554587]
2021-09-04 10:19:28.512 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: TimeZoneOffset=0.000000
2021-09-04 10:19:28.513 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: Recording flight data in [C:\Users\Dietrich\Documents\Tacview\Tacview-20210904-131929-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.zip.acmi]
2021-09-04 10:19:32.925 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: Export rights granted by the host: PlayerPlane=[1] PlayerSensors=[1] OtherObjects=[1]
2021-09-04 10:19:40.941 ERROR_ONCE DX11BACKEND: texture 'pilot_fw190_nm' not found. Asked from 'NGMODEL'
2021-09-04 10:20:07.319 INFO    Lua: Lua CPU usage: metric: average mission execution: 1.7058 %
2021-09-04 10:20:15.118 INFO    Dispatcher: Stop
2021-09-04 10:20:15.118 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: Closing current flight data recording...
2021-09-04 10:20:15.123 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: Successfully saved [C:\Users\Dietrich\Documents\Tacview\Tacview-20210904-131929-DCS-test-tacview-export-v01.zip.acmi]
2021-09-04 10:20:15.123 INFO    TACVIEW.DLL: End of flight data recorder.
2021-09-04 10:20:15.152 INFO    Config: netview stopped

I suspect I need to fix the

TACVIEW.DLL: Tacview Flight Data Recorder 1.8.6.201 Loaded.

line... but I don't know how to do that. Suggestions?

[BuzyBee]

Originally posted by xvii-Dietrich:

I suspect I need to fix the

TACVIEW.DLL: Tacview Flight Data Recorder 1.8.6.201 Loaded.

line... but I don't know how to do that. Suggestions?

Try this:

• Go to your Steam Library
  
• Right-click on Tacview [beta]
  
• Properties
  
• Local Files
  
• Verify integrity of software files

[xvii-Dietrich]

Originally posted by BuzyBee:

Originally posted by xvii-Dietrich:

I suspect I need to fix the

TACVIEW.DLL: Tacview Flight Data Recorder 1.8.6.201 Loaded.

line... but I don't know how to do that. Suggestions?

Try this:

• Go to your Steam Library
  
• Right-click on Tacview [beta]
  
• Properties
  
• Local Files
  
• Verify integrity of software files

I tried this, but it made no difference. It claimed all the files were okay and it verified without error.

HOWEVER . . .

What I then did, was to completely uninstall TacView. I also manually checked that the files were indeed removed, and I also re-installed the original Export.lua that I had saved from earlier (i.e. a default Export.lua for DCS).

I then re-installed TacView from scratch (full download, install dialogue, etc.).

Then, I checked TacView and it is now 1.8.7 beta 12.

I then ran the DCS test mission again from scratch, with the debug settings that you suggested earlier, then loaded the new ACMI file into TacView and exported all data. And...

. . . IT NOW WORKS !

So, in summary, a complete reinstall was needed to pick up the new version of the .dll. And, once that was done, the new version indeed tracks and outputs the telemetry for the pilot while he is parachuting down. I have since also re-installed SRS and, yes, Tacview is still working okay. So, this is where I wanted to be.

Problem solved.

Thank you very, very much for the support and help. This level of responsiveness from a developer is very refreshing and very welcome indeed. I am grateful for the time and effort you took to help get this resolved and I also appreciated the prompt action to the initial problem. Thanks again!!

[BuzyBee]

Thank you for all the files and tests allowing me to make Tacview more complete!