[REL] SH4 Patrol Map 1.2 for Google Earth/Maps (now with map plots)

[aergistal]

SH4 Patrol Map 1.3 for Google Earth/Maps

The software is similar to the SH5 online log's google maps widget and allows you to create a kill map out of a patrol save. The map is saved in KML format and can be viewed in Google Earth or shared online with Google Maps.

Features
- New in 1.3 - Animation / Interactive Time Slider (Google Earth only)
- custom marker icons
- markers based on ship classes
- downed aircraft
- SH map plots (in-game map tools to real map) export
- convoy radio reports export

The shipwreck icon is (c)Ubisoft. No pun intended
Original symbols source: Tom Mouat's http://www.mapsymbs.com/





<< Online demo | Map Plot Demo | Full Map Demo >>

<< Download link >>

<< Required: .NET Framework 3.5 (get it here) >>

Tips:
- in Google Earth you can turn on/off each individual marker and/or groups.
- in Google Maps you can go to Edit mode and add your own stuff to the map.


Future features (suggestions welcome!):
- screenshots, photo recon images


Limitations:
- Due to the fact that I didn't manage to find out how or if the coordinates for each kill are saved at all in the career log, the program will work only with saved games of ongoing patrols (that is save games where you have not ended the patrol)
- Some distortion expected for map tools since SH uses unrealistic projections


Tested on:
Windows Vista, 7
SH4 1.5 Gold
requires .NET Framework 3.5 (get it here)

Note! This is only a few hours work and it may contain a few bugs. The save game detection is experimental so let me know if you see any weirdness.
It's a good ideea to backup your saves just to be sure, altough the program just reads patrol data.


Usage info

The interface is straight-forward:



The program will look for ongoing patrol saves in the default location (My Documents/SH4). If it cannot find the folder it will ask you to manually locate it.


Custom markers

To use custom markers edit the SH4PatrolMap.exe.config file with Notepad or similar.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
  <appSettings>
    <!--Generic-->
    <add key="SHIPWRECK_ICON" value="http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/7804/shipwreck.png" />
    <add key="AIRCRAFT_ICON" value="http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/277/aircraft.png" />
    <add key="MARK_ICON" value="" />
    <!--Ship classes-->
    <add key="BB_ICON" value="http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9945/74902362.png" />
    <add key="CC_ICON" value="http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7141/34780173.png" />
    <add key="CV_ICON" value="http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/7987/37075664.png" />
    <add key="DD_ICON" value="http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/866/87655333.png" />
    <add key="FF_ICON" value="http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/3971/63233056.png" />
    <add key="ML_ICON" value="http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1747/31922791.png" />
    <add key="MS_ICON" value="http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9645/15263192.png" />
    <add key="AS_ICON" value="http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1274/57346269.png" />    
    <!--Convoy / Task Force-->
    <add key="CONVOY_ICON" value="http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5846/46773839.png" />
    <add key="TASKFORCE_ICON" value="http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8343/29125931.png" />
  </appSettings>
</configuration>

Replace value="..." with your own image url for each icon.


Google Earth

If you have GE installed you can double click the resulting KML file to see it.




Google Maps Import

Go to http://maps.google.com/ and sign in.

1. Click My Maps (left), then Get Started or Create new map



2. Click Import (left). You will be prompted to select the KML file you created.

3. Use the Link button after import (right-top) to share your link. Make sure the map is public.

[Sailor Steve]

That's pretty cool! I'll be trying it out.

Thanks!

[Rockin Robbins]

Awesome! This is one great "mod." I don't think it's a mod, but it seems fun like a mod. What should we call this thing? I don't think it's a mod! Is this a mod?

[aergistal]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

Awesome! This is one great "mod." I don't think it's a mod, but it seems fun like a mod. What should we call this thing? I don't think it's a mod! Is this a mod?

Well if you know any Tools & Utilities subforum please link me

edit: yes it's a mod for Google Maps! Btw Google MyMaps is buggy too as I found out when trying to do the export. Is there a pattern here

[aergistal]

News update!


Just managed to export map plots
<< See the demo >>

[tomoose]

....this has definite potential. The neat thing is that you can (in Edit mode) in Google maps, put in your own notes at each icon etc. So for all intents and purposes this is a handy ship's log.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the next step is including screenshots which I don't believe will be a big problem.

Kudos.