cTab - Commander's Tablet - FBCB2, Bluforce Tracker, UAV, and Helmetcam Interface

[gundy 10]

cTab

Commander's Tablet - FBCB2, Blue Force Tracker, UAV, and Helmet Cam Interface

Thanks to

• SpectreRSG - Graphic Design
  
• Capt Drumheller / Jester814 - Technical advisor / Ideas / Media
  
• LCpl C. Johnston - Technical advisor
  
• LCpl Schwanke - Technical advisor
  
• Knobee - Documentation
  
• Raspu - TAD screen model
  
• Killzone_Kid - for his many excellent tutorials
  
• Everyone else in the 15th MEU SOC and C-L-F for help with support and testing.
  
• BI - for ArmA 3 and all the opportunities to mod for this game.
  

Features

• Commander's tablet
  
• Working FBCB2 Blue Force Tracker system
  
• User placed makers - place markers for enemy, medical and general purpose
  
• Tracks all crewed Bluefor Military vehicles
  
• Tracks any dismounted troops with the proper equipment
  
• Android based Blue Force Tracker
  
• Commanders Tablet can view live UAV streams
  
• Commanders Tablet can view live Helmet Cam streams
  
• Vehicle mounted FBCB2 interface, Blue Force Tracking
  
• Tactical Awareness Display (TAD) for air vehicles, Blue Force Tracking
  
• This system is available to only one side at a time, there is a mission configurable parameter to choose sides
  
• None of the markers or icons show on maps, need one of the devices to view
  

Known Issues

• Switching to or from the full screen views while in a vehicle can cause issues (fixed by exiting vehicle) BIS issue with command, please vote for a fix
  
• If your are viewing yourself from the UAV or Helmet Cam in PiP screen, your textures can bug on your unit
  
• Even though items go into the GPS and radio slot they are not required to be there for cTab to operate, they can go anywhere in your inventory, i.e. your vest or uniform
  
• Players that are experiencing conflicts with help screens (uses Has a key as well) are advised to rebind cTab IF_MAIN, for example to SHIFT+ H in the userconfig. This seems to only happen sometimes, sofar mostly for players playing Zeus.
  

Required

• CBA_A3
  

Media

Install

Place the @cTab and userconfig folders in your ArmA 3 folder (both on the server and the clients). Then start the game with @CBA_A3and @cTab. It can be done either by enabling the necessary mods in the game settings (Settings -> Expansions), or by adding the mod names to the game shortcut after the EXE file, i.e. ...\arma3.exe -mod=@CBA_A3;@cTab.

The keys folder is for the server key.

How to configure

Key Bindings

You can reconfigure the keys in the configuration file, which can be found in the ArmA 3 folder ...\Arma 3\userconfig\cTab\ctab_settings.hpp. The file can be edited in Notepad or any other text editor. These are the default key binding:

H                        This key is used to open and close whatever cTab device is available to you. It can also be used to close UAV and Helmet Cam views.                     
CTRL + H                 Opens and closes the secondary view mode of the cTab device available to you, currently only available when in one of the pilot seats of an aircraft.   
CTRL + SHIFT PAGE_UP     Zoom in on the "small" TAD.                                                                                                                             
CTRL + SHIFT PAGE_DOWN   Zoom out on the "small" TAD.                                                                                                                            
ESC                      Closes all interactive cTab devices (i.e. all but the "small" TAD) as well as the UAV and Helmet Cam views.                                             

Define vehicle types that have FBCB2 or TAD available

To configure the list of vehicle types that have FBCB2 or TAD available, edit the cTab_vehicleClass_has_FBCB2 and cTab_vehicleClass_has_TAD arrays in the configuration file on the server, wich can be found in the ArmA 3 folder ...\Arma 3\userconfig\cTab\ctab_settings.hpp.

class cTab_settings {
   cTab_vehicleClass_has_FBCB2[] = {"MRAP_01_base_F","MRAP_02_base_F","MRAP_03_base_F","Wheeled_APC_F","Tank","Truck_01_base_F","Truck_03_base_F"};
   cTab_vehicleClass_has_TAD[] = {"Helicopter","Plane"};
};

For mission Makers

Class Names

ItemcTab // Commander Tablet
ItemAndroid // Android based Blue Force Tracker
ItemcTabHCam // Helmet Cam

Add items to a box

Place this in the initialisation of an Ammo box to add 10 of each item:

this addItemCargo ["ItemcTab",10];this addItemCargo ["ItemcTabHCam",10];this addItemCargo ["ItemAndroid",10];

Add item to a player directly

Place this in the initialisation of a soldier:

this addItem "ItemcTab";

Set cTab side

If you wish to use cTab on a different side than Bluefore, put this at the TOP of your init.sqf:

cTabSide = east;

Change east to what ever side you wish to have cTab available on (i.e. guer). You can only have cTab available for one side. If you want cTab available on the west side or NATO then you do not need to include this.

Override vehicle types that have FBCB2 or TAD available

If you wish to override the list of vehicles that have FBCB2 or TAD available, put this at the TOP of your init.sqf:

// only make FBCB2 available to MRAPs, APCs and tanks
cTab_vehicleClass_has_FBCB2 = ["MRAP_01_base_F","MRAP_02_base_F","MRAP_03_base_F","Wheeled_APC_F","Tank"];

// make TAD available to all helicopters and planes with the exception of the MH-9 Hummingbird and AH-9 Pawnee
cTab_vehicleClass_has_TAD = ["Heli_Attack_01_base_F","Heli_Attack_02_base_F","Heli_Light_02_base_F","Heli_Transport_01_base_F","Heli_Transport_02_base_F","I_Heli_light_03_base_F","Plane"];

Changelog

2.0.0

• Reduced network traffic by moving the list generation of tracked elements from the server to the clients The server now sends an update pulse to all clients every 30 seconds (previous update interval was 20), instead of sending the whole list to every client. The clients then generate the list locally. This lessens the server load a little (shifting it to the clients), greatly reduces cTab related network traffic, while hopefully keeping the list content the same across clients since they update (almost) at the same time.
  
• Addition of messaging system (currently on Tablet only) Send text messages between team members equipped with tablets.
  
• Addition of cTab equipment box to be used in editor A simple box filled with your favourite cTab equipment. Includes 5 Tablets, 15 Android devices and 25 helmet cameras. The box is also available to Zeus.
  
• Tablet, Android and helmet camera are now available in Zeus when editing the contents of boxes
  
• Addition of TAD (Tactical Awareness Display) for use in air vehicles. There are two variants, one is small and can be kept visible while operating your aircraft, similar to the GPS but populated with information from your cTab network. The map will be kept centred on your current position. In the upper right hand corner of the screen you can see the current scale represented by the radius of the outer circle. The inner circle is exactly half of that. The other variant is a larger representation of the same TAD, but in an interactive mode and you will lose your vehicle controls while open. Overall the TAD has been modelled to have a similar look to the TAD found in the DCS A-10C module. All friendly aircraft icons are replaced with a little circle that has a small line attached to it, representing the current orientation of that vehicle. When in one of the pilot seats of an aircraft, press IF_Main to open or close the small TAD. Use the new Zoom_In and Zoom_Out keys to zoom the small TAD. IF_Secondary opens the large TAD.
  
• Addition of userconfig for key bindings This frees up the previously used UserAction12.
  
• Addition of vehicle arrays to userconfig (server side) to define vehicles equipped with on-board FBCB2 or TAD The lists will be read by the server and distributed to all clients. It can also be overridden by mission makers.
  
• cTab now closes when exiting a vehicle or when the player is killed
  
• Added Ifrit, Strider and Tempest to the default list of FBCB2 enabled vehicles.
  
• Players sitting in the cargo area of an FBCB2 enabled vehicle will no longer have access to the vehicle based FBCB2. The currently known exceptions are the trucks (HMTT and Tempest), they are working as before. We are waiting on a new command in ArmA3 release 1.26 to hopefully be able to address this.
  
• Fixed error appearing when helmet cam screen was selected on the tablet for the first time
  
• Added artillery and mortar symbols
  
• The increase / decrease font function now actually resizes the fonts (in addition to the symbols as before)
  
• General performance improvements and bug fixes
  

Download / Links

MegaFileUpload

MultiUpload

Armaholic (wait for confirmation)

GitHub

Edited August 24, 2014 by Gundy

[Guest]

Thanks for submiting the updated version :cool:

Release frontpaged on the Armaholic homepage.

cTab - Commander's Tablet v2.0.0



Community Base addons A3

================================================

We have also "connected" these pages to your account (Riouken) on Armaholic.

This means in the future you will be able to maintain these pages yourself if you wish to do so. Once this new feature is ready we will contact you about it and explain how things work and what options you have.

When you have any questions already feel free to PM or email me!

** Note:

since this is a project on which more people are working we will contact you in the future to discuss how you want this to be setup on Armaholic.

[Spoor 23]

@Gundy - Really great - thanks for all yr work

[hydrobull3t 13]

after the update the cTab Doesn't give our arma server to load (the server is from gameservers)

how can i fix it or when you can fix it?

thx

[riouken 15]

after the update the cTab Doesn't give our arma server to load (the server is from gameservers)

how can i fix it or when you can fix it?

thx

Did you put the userconfig folder in the server? It needs it as well. There are server defined arrays for cTab vehicles. We will make that more clear in our instructions for next release.

[hydrobull3t 13]

Did you put the userconfig folder in the server? It needs it as well. There are server defined arrays for cTab vehicles. We will make that more clear in our instructions for next release.

yes i did that..

but should i copy the whole folder or just the .hpp

[riouken 15]

yes i did that..

but should i copy the whole folder or just the .hpp

the file structure should look like this:

(arma 3 server folder with your server.exe) \Userconfig\ctab\ctab_settings.hpp

Also are you running CBA before ctab? CBA is required. CBA should always be your first to run mod.

Those are the only two things that I can think of that could cause the crash.

[hydrobull3t 13]

Thx, worked :)

[watarimono 0]

Nice work.

I can't seem to delete markers Ive put up using CTRL+RMB. "Delete last userplaced icon" button works fine.

Using default userconfig settings/keys.

Any ideas?

[gundy 10]

Nice work.

I can't seem to delete markers Ive put up using CTRL+RMB. "Delete last userplaced icon" button works fine.

Using default userconfig settings/keys.

Any ideas?

That function is part of the upcoming 2.1. I must have converted the wrong version of the Readme on GitHub to BBcode :/ Sorry about that.

[gundy 10]

We have released a patch to fix an issue that could appear with certain missions (mainly Zeus based).

Changelog

2.0.1

• Fixed "_chk_all_items" script error that could appear during Zeus (and probably other) missions
  

Until further notice, you can get the release from GitHub.

[Guest]

Release frontpaged on the Armaholic homepage.

cTab - Commander's Tablet v2.0.1



Community Base addons A3

================================================

We have also "connected" these pages to your account (Riouken) on Armaholic.

This means in the future you will be able to maintain these pages yourself if you wish to do so. Once this new feature is ready we will contact you about it and explain how things work and what options you have.

When you have any questions already feel free to PM or email me!

** Note:

since this is a project on which more people are working we will contact you in the future to discuss how you want this to be setup on Armaholic.

[gundy 10]

Release frontpaged on the Armaholic homepage.

Thanks Foxhound!

[kecharles28 197]

New update v2.0.1 available at withSIX. Download now by clicking:

[gundy 10]

New update v2.0.1 available at withSIX.

Thanks Kari!

[Barazin 10]

Addition of messaging system (currently on Tablet only) Send text messages between team members equipped with tablets.

Will this be added to the TAD later? If I use the Tablet as a pilot, I can't get to the big TAD display, I only get to the Tablet. Is it possible to select which one to open some way?

Thanks for a brilliant mod!

[gundy 10]

Addition of messaging system (currently on Tablet only) Send text messages between team members equipped with tablets.

Will this be added to the TAD later?

Well, yes, the plan is to add the messaging system to both Android and TAD. Android will make it into the next version, not sure about the TAD yet.

If I use the Tablet as a pilot, I can't get to the big TAD display, I only get to the Tablet. Is it possible to select which one to open some way?

Thanks for a brilliant mod!

Glad you like it :) Will have to think about a way to have access to both the large TAD and the Tablet. If you have any ideas, please voice them.

[vengeance1 50]

This is awesome work, love the convenience of it all. I did notice that while on Dedi Server if you are viewing another AI Head Cam while moving in a Helo Transport (ALive) when you quit your screen is Flashing/Blinking and appears to be stuck, I had to wait until I landed and got out to regain proper screen. Could be an SLI issue not sure.

Vengeance

[gundy 10]

This is awesome work, love the convenience of it all. I did notice that while on Dedi Server if you are viewing another AI Head Cam while moving in a Helo Transport (ALive) when you quit your screen is Flashing/Blinking and appears to be stuck, I had to wait until I landed and got out to regain proper screen. Could be an SLI issue not sure.

Thanks for the feedback. Is this with the head cam set to full screen? If you could lay out the steps to reproduce this, that might help. On the other hand, if it only happened with the full screen view of the helmet cam, the issue might go away since we are looking to rework that part to work slightly different.

[vengeance1 50]

Gundy,

Sorry let me be more detailed:

1. Board Helo as Passenger

2. Start Headcam of AI who is in Hunter driving to same destination

3. Go to Full View

4. Close CTab and your Screen is jumping around and seems to be stuck

5. Land Helo, use Get Out and Screen returns to Normal

I verified it again while riding in the same vehicle:

1. Player is Gunner, AI Head Cam Full Screen, then closed Ctab

2. Your screen jumps around and seems to be stuck

3. Change position to Passenger and Screen comes back to normal.

Hope this helps, again I am on Dedi Server and I have SLI GTX 780"s

Vengeance

[gundy 10]

Thanks. Can you PM me a link to the mission you have been using to recreate this? Will look into it.

[vengeance1 50]

Gundy,

I have a mission using a lot of Mods so let me cut one down and test again.

Vengeance

[Barazin 10]

If I use the Tablet as a pilot, I can't get to the big TAD display, I only get to the Tablet. Is it possible to select which one to open some way?

Thanks for a brilliant mod!

Well, yes, the plan is to add the messaging system to both Android and TAD. Android will make it into the next version, not sure about the TAD yet.

Glad you like it :) Will have to think about a way to have access to both the large TAD and the Tablet. If you have any ideas, please voice them.

Thanks for replying.

In helictopter with the tablet in my inventory, this happens.

- Press H: TAD small display

- Press CTRL+H: tablet

Could for example be solved with different key bind.

Maybe

CTRL+H: TAD big display

CTRL+2xH: tablet

[vengeance1 50]

Gundy,

I have a mission using a lot of Mods so let me cut one down and test again.

Vengeance

Gundy,

Just wanted to make sure you got my PM, all is good now.

Vengeance

[gundy 10]

Gundy,

Just wanted to make sure you got my PM, all is good now.

Vengeance

Hi Vengeance,

Yep, thanks for testing this! Sorry for not replying to your PM. Do you need the patch released, or would it be okay for you to wait for the next feature release? Shouldn't be *fingers crossed* too far off.

Thanks & Best Regards,

Gundy