How does DCS know where to put the caret on the kneeboard map?

[skypickle]

There is an interesting feature of the kneeboard where you can bind a keypress or joystick button press to a function that puts a little purple caret on a map in the kneeboard. Since kneeboard images are just png files, how does dcs 'know' where on the map to put the caret? For that matter, how does DCS know that a png file is even a map that it can put a caret on? Why does it not put a caret on every png file in the kneeboard folder?

[MAXsenna]

You're reffering to the map marker?

I guess the maps/pngs are calibrated with correct co-ordinates, and the sim know where you are always of course.
Even this app does the same, thoug a little different.

 

 

[buur]

It is not so easy. It is not a simple png but it is a kind of "georeferenced" picture. 

The calculation for the caret should be done in one of the lua files in this folder:  D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\DCSWorld\Scripts\Aircrafts\_Common\Cockpit\KNEEBOARD\indicator

The Map itself is in this folder: D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\DCSWorld\Mods\terrains\Caucasus\RasterCharts

The function of the lua files is a little pain in the ass because you don't know what's happening in the background.

[sthompson]

15 hours ago, skypickle said:

There is an interesting feature of the kneeboard where you can bind a keypress or joystick button press to a function that puts a little purple caret on a map in the kneeboard. Since kneeboard images are just png files, how does dcs 'know' where on the map to put the caret? For that matter, how does DCS know that a png file is even a map that it can put a caret on? Why does it not put a caret on every png file in the kneeboard folder?

Kneeboard pages are not "just png files." Some have dynamic content. I don't know how these are implemented, but there are many examples.