Oolite Bulletins

With the new zooming features on the galactic chart (F6) screen, we lost the ability of the BGS to show regions and spacelanes on the chart. After working on the Display Current Course oxp, it was a similar process to display regions and lanes on the chart. Here's a sample of what I have so far:



A couple of questions/issues:
1. Is there any interest in making this available? Do people actually want to see this information, even if it was selectable in some way?
2. There are some limitations to the display - for instance, I can't show text on the chart. All I can do is display a console message that details the region and spacelane names, and describes the color of each. I'd rather not use an overlay or background image, as I'd have to create images for every possible combination of region and spacelane, which would be a nightmare to maintain. Neither can I add text to the F6 screen using "addMessageText" due to an issue described here. So I'm left with a console message, which I'm leaving up for 10 seconds so the player has time to read it, but it's not ideal.
3. My process for deciding when to show a region/lane is very simple: Is the player on/in the area? Is this sufficient, or should it be a proximity thing, like within 1 jump of any part of region/lane?
4. Should this be retrofitted back into BGS, or made into it's own OXP?

Let me know what you think.

Interesting... where's Solans from? An extension of Sol, as in Santaari, Colesque, Lara'tan etc, from Archimedes Elite?

Solans comes from one of Wildeblood's OXP's I think. Can't remember the name of it at the moment- I'll post again when I have the exact name if someone doesn't do it beforehand.

OK, it's Wildebood's "Galaxy Names", from here.

Cody wrote:

Interesting... where's Solans from? An extension of Sol, as in Santaari, Colesque, Lara'tan etc, from Archimedes Elite?

Yes.

I've put together a new expansion pack that allows players to view regions, spacelanes, techlevels, government types, and economy types. I think screenshots work best for describing what's happening:











Download a copy of version 1.2 via the download manager or from Box.com here: GalCopGalacticRegistry.oxz

That thing is pretty neat. I hate to switch between F6 and F7 to find the next high TL world.

On a sitenote my thoughts are, it's too good to be a free giveaway. I know google maps is free of charge and Elite is set in the future, but what I like about Elite is, that if something is to your liking/ it's too good(like the Docking Computer), you have to pay for it.

Thanks ocz. I couldn't see the point of charging for something like this. GalCop should be in the business of helping pilots making better choices about travel destinations, so it made sense to keep it free.

The pack is now available via the download manager. Version 1.1 also fixes a tiny issue with integration with Smugglers, where all the illegal goods destinations marked on the chart were cluttering the image a bit, so now they get turned off while viewing the registry, and turned back on when you leave.

Well that kicks ass. Congratulations!

Thanks, ClymAngus!

Small update to correct a couple of display issues. Version 1.2 now available via the manager.

VERY useful - many thanks!

Well done, sir. This is a keeper.

Something is amiss. The Galactic Registry on the F4 screen is not always available. Usually there after startup but missing at the next system. No errors in the log.

Hmm, that's odd. Thanks for the report. I'll check it out.

OK, bug squashed and version 1.4 is available. I wasn't adding the interface when docking at a new station.