How to become an expert in template creation? tips

[zappadoc]

ok behind this weird subject I'm just going to give you in no particular order some tips and basic rules to help you to create your custom template

A template:
template at least is a simple json format file. a text description with a list of the object properties.

A template + image(s):
a template is usually associated with image(s)
the image object in VDASH-EMU doesn't contains the image data itself but a reference to the file path relative to "vdash_template" directory of your phone/tablet. This is very important when you share a template with images to explain in the installation where to put your images otherwise VDASH-EMU will fail to find the image when your template will be loaded.

the max image size must not exceed 940px width and 540 height
if you intend to create a dial gauge image I recommend to use a 540 x 540 size, PNG format 24bit, with transparency

zip archive and installation of your template:
a template alone can be shared as is but if you add an image and/or background image it's better to create a zip archive with all the elements in the same folder

here is an example, let say you create a Bugatti Veyron dashboard:

inside your vdash_template directory create a folder named:
Bugatti_Veyron

copy all images and background image inside the Bugatti_Veyron directory and start building your template, export the template when it is finished (you will find the exported template and its preview in vdash_template/exported/ directory)

you can create a zip archive which contains the Bugatti_Veyron folder with all your images, template and its preview inside the folder

the installation for the user is pretty simple,
extracting the zip archive
and copy the Bugatti_Veyron directory to its vdash_template directory
et voila!


The recommended MAX VALUE are:
Fuel Gauge(litters): capacity of tank is provided by the API you do not have to set a max value
RPM Gauge (rpm): max engine rpm is provided by the API you do not have to set the max value
Temp Gauge (celcius): default is 139
Volt Gauge(volt): default 20
Speed Gauge (kmh): depends the Speed Dial image used (default 360)
Turbo (psi or bar): default 30psi or 2bar

DO NOT USE SPACE in your path and in the name of your attachment

Image anti-aliasing:
The image object do his best to display the image using an anti-aliasing and other filter BUT you have to provide a good quality image,
I suggest to use Photoshop and export the the image with the integrated Web image export menu and choose the PNG24 format
Optionally, add to your image a 2 pixels black edge if the background is transparent like a DIAL image

REMINDER about images path:
Check the dependency of your images. The installation folder of your template MUST BE THE SAME as the initial directory used when you exported the template. So if you want to install your template pkg in
vdash_template/My_Super_Template/ 
then be sure all images on your template have been imported from this directory.

but don't worry if it is different for whatever reason,  you just have open the exported json file with Notepad++ text editor and replace the old path with the new.

for example if you edit the json and found:
vdash_template/pictures/my_logo.png

then just change to the correct path:
vdash_template/My_Super_Template/my_logo.png

Beware all images must not exceed 960 x 540 pixels, big images take a lot of memory and slowdown the EMU. check your images and resize them if they exceed the limit.

[zappadoc]

The arrow gauge calibration

The arrow calibration is fairly easy for linear move of the arrow like 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 .... but more complicated when the gap is not same from 0 (zero) to the end of the dial, the MATH EVAL field parameter must be used to change the linear behavior... I suggest to start with linear curve / dial.

Calibration of fuel gauge and temperature is also easy

Example For Fuel

if your front dial (background image) have some scale check if the SLIMax setup is on Metric / KPH or English/MPH so that it corresponds to your gauge which is in liters or gallons.

- run a simulation whose fuel level in the tank is adjustable

- BEFORE you enter the track, set the start (START) and end (END) parameters of the needle according to your dial / bkgnd image
(you must start with START because END is relative to the starting position)

- edit the game settings and completely fill the tank to 100%
- go on the circuit and adjust the STEP until you see the arrow at maximum
(the update is instantaneous to see the arrow move)

- then set to half 50% of the tank in the game settings

- and check again if the arrow is at 50% and possibly adjust the STEP value again


Example For RPM:

as for the fuel calibrate START and END of the needle BEFORE entering the circuit

You have 2 choices to calibrate:
1 you want to calibrate the arrow to match the HUD of the game or simulation

2 calibrate to match the actual value of RPM (recommended)

Warning! the HUD of the game sometimes does not match the actual engine rpm, it is better to take the corresponding telemetry value

Following your choice 1 or 2
1) adjust STEP with the HUD on the screen
or
2) create a DATA RPM object on your template which indicates the current value of the engine rpm and calibrate the STEP to match this value


Example For SPEED:

Set the SLIMax setup to the unit of your dial (gauge background image) either MPH or KPH (km / h)
and follow the same rules as for RPM calibration,

set the START and END speed value of the needle BEFORE entering the track

and of course you have to move the car to adjust the STEP value to the speed
A car with Pit Limiter activated or pause the game with a freezed speed on screen can help


Traduction en Fran�ais:

    L'�talonnage de la jauge de carburant et de la temp�rature est �galement facile

    Exemple pour le carburant

    (si votre cadran � une graduation v�rifier si le setup SLIMax est bien sur Metric/KPH pour que cela corresponde bien � votre jauge qui est en litres )

    - lancer une simulation dont le niveau de carburant dans le r�servoir est r�glable

    - AVANT d'entrer sur le circuit, r�gler les parametres de d�but (START) et de fin (END) de l'aiguille en fonction votre image de cadran/compteur
    (vous devez commencer par START car END est relative � la position de d�part)

    - editer les r�glages du jeu et remplir compl�tement le r�servoir � 100%
    - aller sur le circuit et ajuster le STEP jusqu' a voir la fl�che au maximum
    (la mise � jour est instantan�e pour voir la fl�che bouger)

    - puis r�gler � la moiti� 50% du r�servoir dans les parametres du jeu

    - et v�rifier � nouveau si la fl�che est bien � 50% et �ventuellement ajuster encore la valeur STEP


    Exemple pour le RPM:

    comme pour le carburant calibrer START et END de l'aiguille avant d'entrer sur le circuit

    Vous avez ici le choix de calibrer:
    1 vous souhaitez calibrer la fl�che pour faire correspondre le HUD du jeu ou de la simulation

    2 calibrer pour correspondre � la valeur r�elle de RPM (recommand�)

    Attention! le HUD du jeu ne correspond parfois pas au r�gime r�el du moteur, il vaut mieux prendre la valeur t�l�metrique correspondante

    suivant votre choix 1 ou 2
    1) ajustez STEP avec le HUD � l'�cran
    ou
    2) cr�er un objet de donn�es DATA RPM qui indique la valeur actuelle du r�gime moteur et �talonner le STEP pour correspondre � cette valeur


    Exemple pour la vitesse:

    r�gler le gestionnaire SLIMax sur l�unit� de votre cadran (image de fond de la jauge) soit  MPH ou KPH (km / h)
    et suivez les m�mes r�gles que l'�talonnage RPM, mais
    d�finir la valeur de vitesse START et END de l'aiguille avant d'entrer sur le circuit

    et �videmment vous devez d�placer la voiture pour ajuster la valeur STEP � la vitesse
    une voiture avec Pit Limiter actif ou mettre le jeu en pause avec une vitesse fig�e au compteur peut aider

[zappadoc]

Today a simple but useful tip for Car Signal Object:

Car Signal Object can be considered as LED and linked to one of the 6 MARSHAL or one of the 7 EXTERNAL and as such, they need to be configured from SLIMax Manager Pro in custom VDASH-EMU setup using the Advanced Options Panel  (see the FAQ and video tuto how to assign function to led).

This is a powerful assignment function and for example to let you lit up the FUEL Car Signal object when the low-fuel function is triggered...

okay but what about a SIMPLE ON/OFF STATE that doesn't require any computation and comes directly from telemetry?
like ABS/TRACTION CONTROL/HEADLIGHTS/ETC.

this state (named FLAG in VDASH-EMU) are directly available from VDASH-EMU editor and can be used in the MATH EVAL field to supersede any other led state.

Here is 2 straightforward examples using the ABSLEVEL and TCLEVEL telemetry flag (to illustrate the example I use the great GTI template from LoW_LIFE )

So what?
eh simple as that, just enter the corresponding telemetry flag in the EVAL field (see the getting started section to find all data and flag available)

Now the usual warnings: DATA and FLAG telemetry value must be supported by the API of the simulation or game to work...

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
z

[zappadoc]

Click the link below to learn how to make a SQUARE RPM LED like in Mercerdes GT3 or Audi GT/LM

https://www.eksimracing.org/forum/index.php?topic=3177.msg13364#msg13364