The Overlay Maker -military planning paint program

[PeterP]

Came across this while searching for a program that draws better arrows than MS-Paint.

 

Should be very useful for mission-builders and V.-squadrons to illustrate tactics and mission-goals.

 

Its free-ware:

http://www.theoverlaymaker.com/

 

 

The Overlay Maker is a networked drawing program with the ability to manipulate paint objects and add icons. It is designed to support military planning however can be used for a broad range of drawing requirements. The program replicates the creation of overlay graphics on maps or other background images. It supports multiple overlays and a range of graphic drawing controls. Graphic objects can be drawn with various line, transparency and antialiasing characteristics in a full range of colours. Icons graphics can be created, stacked and manipulated in many ways. Over a local area network multiple users can collaborate to work on a stack of overlays in real-time with ease.

[Spetz]

Good find..

 

Ever use the free version of PFPS Falconview? I use it alot for work and it's very helpful..

 

http://www.falconview.org/trac/FalconView

[Eddie]

Does it have the military map icons built in?

[PeterP]

are you asking me?

The "Overlay Maker" has many icons included - but most of them are ground-based but its not hard to add more.

 

Edit:

This is how I found it with google - I simply looked for the "best arrow"...

and just look what "Overlay Maker" says when you hover the mouse over the arrow tool....:megalol:

 

 

Next question:

Does someone know where I find the Texture-files for the moving map of the MFCD in DCS-A10?

I would like to extract them and post them for the use with Overlay-Maker.

 

(I grounded at home for the next 6 days - I have badly wrenched my left shoulder while playing squash...

And I would use this time to do something useful for the community. )

 

And can a Moderator please move this thread to "Missions and Campaigns" http://forums.eagle.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=143 I think its fitting better there.

Edited November 24, 2011 by PeterP

[HiJack]

Interesting! Can this app be made to read/write mission files???

[PeterP]

No! (-don't think so)

Its only intended to make plans -over a network - so other troops can instantly show the "commander" and everyone else that is linked over the network their position and so on .

But it Can also used for making nice and accurate mission planing images for DCS -that can be included into a mission file as a briefing.

 

And of course it can also be used simultaneously and combined with DCS to update the state of the mission (hint-hint ) when the upcoming "Combined Arms" is available...- and turn your pc over a network into a war-room...

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=81589

1- Combined Arms. This $19.99 add-on will allow A-10C, Black Shark 2, and Flaming Cliffs 3 owner to act as ground force commanders as the mission is running. Users can direct ground units, set fire missions for artillery/multiple rocket launchers, and take the role of a Joint Terminal Air Controller (JTAC). As the JTAC, players will have night vision goggles, IR pointer, laser designator, and Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR). Several other new items are still being considered. Combined Arms will work in both single player and multiplayer missions.

 

Edit- Once again:

Does someone know where I find the Texture-files for the moving map of the MFCD in DCS-A10?

I would like to extract them and post them for the use with Overlay-Maker.

 

(I grounded at home for the next 6 days - I have badly wrenched my left shoulder while playing squash...

And I would use this time to do something useful for the community. )

Edited November 24, 2011 by PeterP

[RIPTIDE]

wouldn't load TC-1.png official map.

[Moa]

Interesting! Can this app be made to read/write mission files???

 

Technically this is entirely possible since it is a Java application. You could embed it in another application (if the licensing permitted), or add enhanced class that can read igormk's excellent TC-1 map. I have done this to several Java programs in the past so this is entirely possible to enhance such software even without the source code.

 

The license conditions specifically prohibit do this though.

http://www.theoverlaymaker.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=34

 

From the license:

4. The General Software Licence Agreement specifically prohibits:b. Modifying, translating, reverse engineering, de-compiling, or creating derivative works based on The Overlay Maker, in whole or in part.

 

 

@RIPTIDE: I'm at work so can't put a screenshot up. Could you (or Presing) please put up a screenshot of the 104th moving map (even if you have an old version). This moving map is in development by 104th Phoenix and will be released soon (it's currently usable, but it does need a bit of polish for general use). It's not a map editor but it does show TC-1 in action.

Edited November 24, 2011 by Moa

[Moa]

Just had a look at how the program is started. The default command-line arguments are:

 

java -mx512m -cp .:overlay.jar overlay.OverlayFrame

 

Now Java has a safety mechanism that limits how much memory a program can use (very important for servers or programs downloaded from the Net - and Java is designed to be very safe in this regard). The -mx512m command line options tells the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that this program is allowed to use a maximum of 512 MB of RAM. If any more more memory than that is request the program will try and 'garbage-collect' to recycle unused RAM, but if that recycling of memory fails the program will fail.

 

From the 104th Phoenix moving map I see that the memory required for the (huge) unpacked map with antialiasing is around 1024MB in memory (plus some more for the rest of the program). So I tried running the program with the following command line and loading the TC-1 map:

 

java -mx1512m -cp .:overlay.jar overlay.OverlayFrame

 

which allows the program to have up to 1.5 GB. The map did not get displayed, but I also didn't see an out-of-memory exception either.

 

Some other things I should mention about the program (as a mostly-Java dev I couldn't help noticing). The developer has embedded directory paths of "\" which means the program can't find some resources on my Mac. He should have used File.separator instead (which works on Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris etc by sorting out what character it should be).

 

Also a simple 'manifest' file would have allowed you to double-click to run the program instead of having to specify overlay.OverlayFrame for the program entry point (Java programs can have an arbitrary number of entry points). It is surprising this wasn't done as it is very easy to do.

 

I hope anyone else developing Java programs learns these tidbits on how to improve your applications.

[Grimes]

Edit- Once again:[/b]

Does someone know where I find the Texture-files for the moving map of the MFCD in DCS-A10?

I would like to extract them and post them for the use with Overlay-Maker.

 

 

They will delete the thread if you post the results. :(

But the file location is

 

DCS A-10C\Bazar\Terrain\A-10C\Maps\ TAD_Collection.zip

[159th_Viper]

They will delete the thread if you post the results. :(

 

Quite so - nothing untoward in that if one takes into account that it is in direct contravention of the principles as stated in the E.U.L.A.

[PeterP]

Thanks!

Appears to be working.

They will delete the thread if you post the results.

Who is "They" - and Why it would deleted?...

Or If "You" are watching - please tell me here (or in a PM ) why this is a problem - so I could save myself the work.

 

ah - 159th_Viper norrised me...

-now reading the E.U.L.A. once again...

 

Edit:

 

- Done reading -

 

Now I understand that ED is using this maps in a agreement with someone else that holds the rights. And ED is responsible to protect the rights of this Third party.

 

So: If I would write a program that reads out the TAD_Collection.zip and use it in a second program to view/rearrange it without saving it anywhere -would this brake the E.U.L.A. ?

-to make it more clear: this program would have no use without DCS installed -

 

Edit 2:

- to make things clear : I just searched for a program that makes "the best arrows in the world"... and I just make my first steps into mean mission building....-

So i never intended to use the files of DCS in a way that would break the E.L.U.A.- but with the upcoming

"Combined Arms" this question how to use the TAD-Map will rise anyway.

And I see a lot of potential in a program like "Overlay Maker" to combine all DCS titles into one Networked War-room where everyone that is linked to it can interact or can receive the data that he needs.

Edited November 25, 2011 by PeterP

[kylania]

Why not just use the game map instead of the TAD maps?

[PeterP]

Of course that's the plan B.

 

But I think many would like to use the TAD-Map because of the authentic feel/accuracy of it. And It would be nice to get some definitive answer what we are allowed to do with this maps - so no one is surprised any more when releasing a tool that uses this contend and it gets prohibited by ED.

 

Whatever the answer will be - I think that if using contend A or B needs anyway permission from ED.

But as stated above - I see more problems with the TAD maps because this touches the rights of a third-party.

And its probably not so easy for ED to say that we can go ahead with this.

Edited November 25, 2011 by PeterP

[Grimes]

Game maps have a few limitations. It appears that roads, small rivers, and rail lines are rendered on-top of the texture files, so we lose some details if make a map out of it. Really the only decent way to get a map from in-game is to take screenshots in game, where all of the needed information is rendered.

 

Plus the maps used on the TADS are pretty and they "look the part"

[RIPTIDE]

@RIPTIDE: I'm at work so can't put a screenshot up. Could you (or Presing) please put up a screenshot of the 104th moving map (even if you have an old version). This moving map is in development by 104th Phoenix and will be released soon (it's currently usable, but it does need a bit of polish for general use). It's not a map editor but it does show TC-1 in action.

Completely missed this. Better late than never

 

[DixieITA]

Guys I have a problem .. I start with the server but my friends do not see the map I uploaded .. errrore and tells him the path that I have in my PC as it does for him to see the map? thanks