Bridge Command - Initialisation file format
Introduction:
This document sets out the common file format used by Bridge Command for its initialisation files (with the extension '.ini').
Assignment format:
The files use a NumericalVariableName=value format for numerical values (eg. StartTime=21.25), and TextVariable="contents" for textual values (eg. RadarImage="radar.jpg")
Individual and repeated variables:
While some settings are unique, and only one such value exists (eg. the start time of a scenario), others may need to be defined many times (eg. each buoy has a type, a latitude and a longitude value defined.) In this case, each object (in this case the buoy) is numbered, and the object the variable refers to is placed in brackets immediately after the variable name:
Example (from Buoy.ini, see World file specification):
Number=3 Type(1)="Port" Long(1)=-4.135 Lat(1)=52.407 Type(2)="RY" Long(2)=-4.299 Lat(2)=55.004 Type(3)="Mooring" Long(3)=-4.505 Lat(3)=52.702
This can be extended one step further, to two variable numbers. This is needed where there are a number of equivalent objects (eg. other ships in the simulation), each of which has a number similar definitions (track legs for other ships all have a bearing, speed and distance defined. In this case, the object number comes first, followed by the setting number (eg. '(ShipNo,LegNo)'). Note that no white spaces are permitted in the entire variable name, so 'Distance(1,1)' is acceptable, but 'Distance (1,1)', 'Distance(1, 1)' and 'Distance to run(1,1)' are all unacceptable. To clarify, an example is included below, with simple, singly enumerated and doubly enumerated variables, defining one ship with two course legs:
Example (from Othership.ini, see Scenario specification):
Number=1 Type(1)="Timbercarrier" InitialLong(1)=-5.0500 InitialLat(1)=50.1000 Legs(1)=2 Bearing(1,1)=060 Speed(1,1)=6 Distance(1,1)=8 Bearing(1,2)=135 Speed(1,2)=6 Distance(1,2)=100
File formatting
The file can be laid out with blank lines as required, and the order of settings is not significant.
Numerical conventions:
Latitude and longitude are defined in decimal degrees, with North and East being positive. Times are defined in 24 hour decimal hours (so 16.25 means 4:15 PM). Nautical miles and metres are both used as units of distance, as is appropriate. In general, heights and short distances are in metres, while long distances are in nautical miles. The unit of distance for variables will be given in the file specification.