vPAR QuadRadar - New Interface
March 1, 2005
Michael Oxner

(Full screen images at the bottom, for introduction)

The old program was typical of my earlier style of programming: I always wrote small programs for myself or others and attempted to keep all the information on one screen with limited or no use of dialog boxes or menus and such. I rewrote the old program to be the new vPAR QuadRadar Analog, and it maintains the same interface as the original program. If it is possible, I still prefer the simple interface, personally. Trying to maximize radar information on the screen, this was no longer a practical method of operation. Also, the example I was working from appeared to have the lines of what they call MDI, or Multiple Document Interface. This has the advantage of allowing the user to display multiple forms simultaneously, as well as move and resize windows independently of one another. Nice thought. So it was done.

The PAR, Traffic and ASDE screens are now in independent windows within the main program's form allowing the features mentioned above. For example, you can minimize the ASDE display and just look at Traffic and PAR. Put them one over the top of the other, or side-by-side, if you like. Or just display the Traffic screen, since you may not be looking at anyone on final just yet. Then maximize the PAR screen when your next aircraft gets in close. When he lands, restore the screens so you can see all three, if you like.

This interface demanded separate screens for the setup information, too. Not difficult, but necessary. Menus also appeared to be required, so they were built. This brings a more familiar "Windows" look to the program, a look people are used to seeing. Each screen has certain features that can be customized, including the long awaited colors sector files can contain. Two separate sector files can be loaded, too: One on the Traffic display and one on the ASDE screen. Each can be configured separately to display different details and even different colors with the exception of the GEOGRAPHY information.

I figured folks would likely find a window arrangement they like and run with it, so I built in presets. Hitting <HOME> will set the default window arrangement seen in the Screen Shots page: Traffic at the top left, ASDE at bottom left, and PAR taking up the full height on the right hand side of the screen. <F2>, <F6> and <F10> will activate full-screen PAR, ASDE and Traffic modes respectively. There is also support for three user-defined presets. To save a preset, simply set the windows up as desired, then use the menu entry under DISPLAY, or use <SHIFT>+<CTRL>+<F1>, for the first preset, <SHIFT>+<CTRL>+<F2> for the second or <SHIFT>+<CTRL>+<F3> for the third. Simply use <SHIFT>+<F1> to recall the first preset, or <SHIFT>+<F2> for the second or <SHIFT>+<F3> for the third. Note that this will only save the window layout, not the options within the windows, like colors, map options and such. All of that is saved when the program closes normally and will be recalled when you start the program then next time. There is no current method to save map display setup with a preset.

In the old version of my QuadRadar program, you couldn't "de-center" your display to look off to one side or another. Both the Traffic and ASDE displays can be "panned" in this version. To do this, simply right-drag with the mouse on the screen you wish to adjust. When you're done panning around and want to reset, you can either right-drag again, or hit the <F5> key to reset the ASDE screen to center, or <F9> to reset the center on the Traffic screen. Both of these keyboard shortcuts are also found in the Display menu.

Range changes are accomplished separately, now, too. In the old version, if you changed range on one mode, it affected the other mode. Now, PAR, Traffic and ASDE modes all have separate range controls, defined as keyboard shortcuts in addition to menu items. See the individual sections to determine which keys affect which options and screens.

The Connection Manager has had a significant increase in data availability. Now, the pilot's data (latitude and longitude, altitude, range and bearing from the radar antenna and even how long the pilot has been connected and how many positions reports have been received can be determined by clicking on his ident in the list of connected aircraft. You may want to make more use of this feature, too, with ASDE available. You may want to tell pilots not to disconnect and that you will do that for them so you have the ability to track them on the ASDE feature to make sure they clear the active runway after landing. This may also help with trouble shooting if you see the pilot is connected but you don't see him on the screen.


Full screen shot of vPAR with PAR in standard logarithmic mode.


Full screen image of vPAR, with PAR showing new linear mode.