Layouts

Using Layouts

NavSim's programs offers virtually an unlimited amount of combinations of Layouts. BoatCruiser (BC) and NavCruiser PRO (NC PRO) come equipped with five Layouts entitled Basic, EnRoute, Fuel, Planning and Quad. SailCruiser (SC) has an additional two layouts, Sail - On Water and Sail - Polars, and does not feature the Fuel Layout. These Layouts are described below, however a personalized Layout can be created including as many or as few information cells as desired.

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Default Layouts

• Basic: The Basic Layout is designed to give you a large viewing area with basic navigation information boxes on the right of the screen. The navigation tools included in the Basic Layout are Circular Compass, Tripometer, Position, Course Over Ground, Speed Over Ground and Cross Track Error.

• EnRoute: This Layout contains more than a dozen navigational tool options. The left of the screen contains status boxes including device status and Waypoint information. AIS targets can be viewed on the right side when AIS (Automatic Identification System) is enabled. Below AIS Targets, Properties of the Chart or Chart Objects can be viewed. The Selector Compass and Satellites can be viewed at the bottom right of the screen. Directly below the Chart View, the Time Slider can be used to go back in time to look at Tidal and Simulation data. Please see Time Management for more information.

• Fuel: The Fuel Layout is designed to calculate details based on Fuel Consumption. When planning a Route, the estimated speed can be entered in the Fuel Consumption Grid under Boat Properties. The Fuel cells can be monitored to show the cost of Fuel, amount of Fuel Consumption and other important details regarding Fuel Calculations.

• Planning: Planning mode contains a split screen that displays Chart or Object Properties while planning Routes or Creating Markers, Zones and Text Annotations.

• Quad: The Quad Layout features four viewing areas; Main Chart View, Navigational tools status boxes, Depth Sounder Status and Highway View. The size of the areas of the quad may be changed if you wish to have a larger viewing area of the Chart or other Layout cells. The original Layout can be restored in the Manage tab under the Layouts option in the Main Menu. If a depth sounder is connected, the data can be viewed on the bottom left corner of the screen. The Highway View allows viewing of Markers that lay before the Boat and the distance to those Markers will be displayed.

• Sail - On Water: (SailCruiser Only) This layout is designed for displaying navigational information such as Speed Over Ground (SOG), Position (POS) etc., as well as information specific to sailing such as Time To Go to Mark (TTG MARK), Distance to Mark (DIST MARK), etc.

• Sail - Polar: ( SailCruiser Only) This layout is designed for manipulating / viewing the polar plot(s) of the sailboat.

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• The programs allow you to create your own Layout. With over 60 navigation features, virtually an unlimited number of layouts can be created. The screen can also be divided several times horizontally or vertically to create the most functional Layouts. To create a new Layout, simply click on the Layouts button in the Main Menu and click New Layout. Once the New Layout screen appears a new Layout can be created by choosing the desired navigational tools from the drop down box within the cell.

• The tab at the bottom of the first Layout will be called New Layout 1. Right click on this tab to do several things:
  • Close: Closes the current Layout.
  • Close All Others: Closes all other Layouts. These can placed back on the main view by placing a check mark next to the layouts you wish to see under the Layouts option in the Main Menu.
  • Rename: The name of the Layout can be changed at any time.

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Managing Layouts

• Delete: Deletes Layouts that have been created. Default Layouts can not be deleted.

• Restore: When changes are made to the default Layouts, they can be brougt back to original Layout by pressing Restore.

• Import: Imports Layouts (.nsl files) from other locations on the computer. Highlight the Layout to be Imported and click on the Import button to choose the location to export from.

• Export: Exports the Layouts that have been created to other locations on the computer. Highlight the Layout that is to be exported and click on the Export button to choose the location to export to.

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Viewing Layouts

• Under the Layouts option in the MainMenu, all of the Layouts will be listed including the default Layouts and any Layouts that have been created. To choose which Layouts to have on the main view (seen as tabs along the bottom) put a check mark next to the chosen Layouts. At any time this setup may be changed by going to the Layouts option and checking or unchecking particular Layouts.

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Layout Display Cells

Display cells are what are used to create custom Layouts. NavSim programs provide an array of display cells for showing different navigational information. The following list describes these display cells.

• AIS Targets - Displays AIS targets in range. For more information on AIS, please click here.
  
• AlarmList - Any alarms due to entering proximity circles, crossing parallel index lines, etc., are listed here until dismissed.

• Altitude - Displays the current altitude, as read from the GPS. Displays sea level when no information is available.

• Bearing to Cursor - Shows the bearing from the Boat position to the cursor on the Chart View. Displays N/A when the cursor is not over the Chart View.

• Bearing To Mark - Bearing to the next mark, i.e., tacking point.
• Bearing To Next WP - Displays the bearing to the next Waypoint in the active Route. Displays 0° when no Route is active.
  
• Camera - Shows camera view when a unit is connected to the PC.

• Chart View Primary - Main Chart View. Displays Charts, allows the creation of Routes, Markers, etc.
  
• Chart View Secondary - (Note: NCPRO only)- Allows viewing of a second chart format.
  
• COG - Course Over Ground - Displays the current course in a digital readout.

• Compass-Circular - Displays the present heading in a circular compass and a digital readout. Shows Boat at centre. Displays the current Route and its Markers when navigating. Dragging the compass view affects the current boat heading when dead reckoning.

• Compass-Linear - Displays the current heading in a linear graded compass. Dragging the compass view affects the current boat heading when dead reckoning.
  
• Compass- Linear Selectable - Provides a single panel which may be switched from a circular to linear compass through the Context Menu. Right-click to display the Context Menu.

• Cursor Position - Displays the latitude and longititude of the mouse pointer when moving over the Chart View. Displays N/A when the mouse cursor is not over the Chart View.

• Date- Local - Gives the current date as read from the operating system.

• Date-Time Local - Gives a combination of date and time as read from the operating system.

• Dead Reckoning Control - Using heading and speed, this cell provides the captain with a positioning tool when GPS is not available. Enables the user to update the Boat position based on speed.

• Depth- Displays last depth value received.
  
• Depth View - Gives a profile of the ocean bottom using information from a depth sounder. Displays "Depth Sounder Not Connected" when no sounder is connected.

• Distance To Cursor - Displays the distance from the Boat to the cursor when moving over the Chart View. Displays N/A when the cursor is not over the Chart View.
  
• Distance to End- Gives distance to the end of an activated Route.

• Distance To Mark - Distance to the next mark, i.e., tacking point.
  
• Distance To Next WP - Gives the distance to the next Waypoint when navigating an active Route. Displays N/A when not navigating.
  
• DRBL- Dynamic Range Bearing Line - Displays information about the currently selected dynamic range bearing line including latitude, longitude, bearing, range, TTG, CPA and TCPA.
  
• ETA List - Estimated Time of Arrival to next Waypoint. Also lists Waypoint name, number, bearing, distance and arrival time.
  
• ETA to Dest - Displays Estimated Time of Arrival to end of activated Route.

• ETA To Mark - Estimated time of arrival of the next marker, i.e., tacking point.
  
• ETA To Next WP - Shows the estimated time to reach the next Waypoint when navigating an active Route. Displays N/A when not navigating a Route.
  
• Fuel Burn Rate - Determines the approximate amount of fuel being consumed at the currect speed over ground. The user must set up the fuel profile for this to work.
  
• Fuel Consumption Graph - Control used to edit the fuel profile for the vessel.
  
• Fuel Cost to WP - Displays fuel cost to next Waypoint on the activated Route.
  
• Fuel to Next WP - Displays fuel usage to next Waypoint on activated Route.
  
• Fuel Used- Displays amount of fuel used since activation of the current Route.
  
• Fuel Used Cost - Displays cost of fuel used since activation of the current Route.
  
• GPS- HDOP - Horizontal Dilution of Precision. Indicates signal strength of GPS.
  
• GPS- Satellite View - Shows the GPS satellite constellation and the signal strength for each compass. The centre cross hair represents satellites directly overhead while the outer circle represents the horizon. The bars below the display indicate the signal strength. Green satellites indicate stong signals, yellow satellites indicate degraded signals and red satellites show poor signal strength.
  
• Heading - Magnetic - Current heading, relative to magnetic north.
  
• Heading- True - Current Heading relative to True North.

• Highway View- Gives an elevated, course-up view of the currently active Route when navigating. The view is unpopulated when no Route is active.

• Magnetic Variation - Displays the magnetic variation at the current position.
  
• NMEA Logger - Diagnostic tool to check device connections. Can be saved to file for future reference.
  
• Object Summary - Displays properties of chart objects (Routes, Markers, Zones) inlcluding name, position, description etc. This information can be obtained by clicking once on the desired object.
  
• Optimal Sailing Heading (OSH) - (Note: SC only) Heading that should be taken that will result in the fastest time to the next waypoint.
  
• Optimal Sailing Speed (OSS) - (Note: SC only) Speed that will be realized using the optimal sailing heading and current wind speed and direction.
  
• Polar Plots - (Note: SC only) Allows the user to enter, view and manipulate boat-specific polar data to customize the program to reflect the boat’s unique performance on different points of sail.

• Position - Shows the latitude and longitude of the current boat/vessel position.

• Properties - The Properties display panel lists a host of Properties for different Objects. It has several tabs for user Object, attachment, Chart, and Chart Object Properties. Selecting a Chart or Object will show its properties in the Properties panel. For C-Map Charts, clicking on a region, city, light house, or other point of interest displays its Properties in the Chart Objects tab.
  
• Radar EBL- Electronic Bearing Line - (Note: NCPRO only) - Displays the value of Radar EBL 1
  
• Radar EBL2- Electronic Bearing Line - (Note: NCPRO only) - Displays the value of Radar EBL 2
  
• Radar Range- Primary - (Note: NCPRO only)- Displays the range of the Radar ring on the primary display
  
• Radar Range- Secondary - (Note: NCPRO only)- Displays the range of the Radar ring on the secondary display
  
• Radar VRM- Variable Range Marker - (Note: NCPRO only) Displays the value of Radar VRM 1
  
• Radar VRM- Variable Range Marker - (Note: NCPRO only) - Displays the value of Radar VRM 2
  
• ROT- Rate of Turn - Measures how fast the boat/vessel is turning.
  
• SOG- Speed Over Ground - Shows the current speed over ground when Dead Reckoning or navigating with GPS.
  
• Sailing Speed Performance (SSP) - (Note: SC only) Ratio (displayed as a percentage) of current SOG to the optimal speed determined via the polar plot using the current heading and wind speed and direction.
  
• Speed Control - Separate speed control than that provided through the Dead Reckoning panel. Provides the same functionallity.

• Status - Shows a quick view of present device settings, giving the status of GPS, AIS, ARPA, Depth Sounder, Autopilot, Dead Reckoning, and trajectory recording.
  
• Strip Chart - Used to view detailed information about the vessel after running a simulation, e.g., rudder position, engine rpm etc.
  
• Tack Distance to Dest (Note: SC only)- Distance to the destination waypoint if the all the optimal tacks are followed.
• Tack Distance to WP (Note: SC only)- Distance to the next waypoiont using the current tack
  
• Time- Local - Displays the current local time

• Time Machine - See Time Management for a detailed description of the Time Machine.

• Tripometer - Displays the distance travelled on the present trajectory when dead reckoning or navigating with the GPS.
  
• Tripometer A - Primary tripometer
  
• Tripometer B - Secondary tripometer whcih can be used independently of tripometer A
  
• TTG to Cursor - Time to go to the cursor, at the present speed computed as the distance to the cursor divided by current speed over ground. Note that course / heading is not used in this calculation. If the vessel is moving away from the cursor, then the TTG willl be incrasing.
  
• TTG to Dest - Time to go to the destination, i.e., last waypont of the active route
  
• TTG to Next WP - Gives the Estimated Time of Arrival to the next Waypoint on the activated Route
  
• TTG to Mark - Time to go to the next mark, i.e., tacking point

• Vector Chart Objects - Dispays information for Objects embedded in vector charts.
  
• Water Temperature - Displays the current water termperature
  
• Wind Control - (Note: SC only) Allows the user to manually enter the wind speed and direction
  
• Wind Direction - Relative - Displays the current relative wind direction
  
• Wind Direction - True - Displays the current ture wind direction
  
• Wind Speed - Relative - Displays the current relative wind speed
  
• Wind Speed - True- Displays the current true wind speed

• XTE- Cross Track Error - Displays the Cross Track Error for the current leg of the Route while navigating. Displays N/A when not navigating

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