[Indi-]

Presenting XFVU, a datalogger for X-Plane.

This plugin originally created IGC files, a common "real" datalogger output format, used by things like StrePla(iirc). (Windows)

I ran into IGC format issues when trying a Mac-equiv of StrePla.
Because of this I made the plugin write KML for Google Earth instead.
(It's a pretty safe bet we've all got GE installed... relative to the other choices for IGC files anyway.)

The plugin is bare-bones and simple, but adequate and smart where it needs to be.

The main menu looks like this:


The main gui looks like this:


The Google Earth output looks something like this:




Features:

- Auto start data log at ~30 kts ground speed.

- Auto stop data log on hard crash.

- Auto write KML file on hard crash. Filenames contain HHMMSS so as to be automatically unique.

- Recording time limited by system memory, uses something like 300 kb RAM per day at 5 second recording interval.

- "Auto Rate" recording rate adjustment based on height AGL... it seems more useful to me to log more data as you get close to the edge of the air.

- Configurable "steady" rate also available.

- The flight data is signed with an MD5 hash key. If the flight log file is changed we can tell.
If you change a log file it can still display correctly in Google Earth, it just provides a means to verify flight logs, this is aimed at future use for things like race logs or soaring competitions, etc.

- Data log files can be verified online, at any time, by anyone, using this web page:
http://x-plugins.com/fvu.php



The plugin is a bit rough around the edges. It needs some upgrades before it can be put to use as a thorough scrutineer but it is very useful as it stands.
For now, data files are stored in x-plane/resources/plugins/XFVU.xpl/Contents/Resources/

This will change to a configurable path in future if the plugin proves to be popular.



Download:
Updated version here.
Hopefully fixes broken archive problems described below.

Original:

The only difference in these two versions it the program used to .zip them.
The update has a custom icon too.(as a side-effect) (Standard OS X white lego brick.)


Enjoy!


Edit:
XFVU for linux, tested and working on Ubuntu 7.1 Intel, 32bit.

File is a .tgz, I have tacked .zip on the end to comply with the forums upload rules. Rename as needed.
Extraction will yeild a folder named xfvu, place the contents of this folder in your x-plane plugins folder. (one .xpl file and one folder named "XFVU Resources")

[Sandy Barbour]

It was StrePla, they also have a version for the Pocket PC.
It is good to see you are still with us.

[snailpup]

Good job, Indi. May the snailforce be with you.

[MarsCraft]

Thank You Indi! This will be an incredible tool to use! I can tell that you put a lot of thought into this... and, the verification option will be great to have in races, most definitely.

[Ranger]

Outstanding, I've been waiting for something like this.

[brett s]

Very neat idea

[nicolas]

nice.

Is it the plugin that will be used for the org flights?

[Lemon]

I keep getting 'decompression failed'

[skipper]

Sounds great and I just wanted to test it, but I also get Error 22, when trying to unzip?

[Lemon]

No luck with stuffit either.