SimAdapter
SimAdapter is the main application of Simtools. It is responsible for reading the data from the racing simulations and to distribute it. It runs in background and automatically detects if a supported simulation is started.
To keep SimAdapter expandable and independent, it has a plugin system, which allows to move data from every imaginable source to every imaginable target.
There are 2 types of plugins:
Data Input Plugins:
Data input plugins are responsible for reading the data from simulations, and to provide them in uniform format for SimAdapter. In future, plugins for other simulations will follow .
SimAdapter comes with data input plugins for GTL, GTR2, rFactor and Race07.
More data input plugins will follow soon!
Data Output Plugins:
Data output plugins sending the data to external software / hardware. For example, this allows you to use LCD's or 7segment display´s.
SimGauge is such a project, which is supported by such a plugin.
Another feature of SimAdapter is the network component. It sends the data over the network, so you can display them on a second computer. For example,
SimView such a tool!
If you want to create you own plugins or networkclients, visit the DevCorner. You will be surprised how easy it is, to expand SimAdapter.
Download the latest version here
Use of SimAdapter:
You can access all features over the tabs on the left side of the main window.
Common:
In this window you can see to what simulation SimAdapter is attached.
In the Dropdownbox you can set the interval in which the data gets readed .100ms is the default value. You can set it to a higher value, if you machine gets too slow.
Below is a log, which informs you about all the important events.
Among them, there are buttons for minimizing and closing the application. Important! If you click the red X on the upper left corner, you minimize SimAdapter! It then runs in the background. It is visible as trayicon in the taskbar next to the clock!
The button "trusted plugins" opens a window in which all plugins listed those you trust. This has the following reason:
If you install a plugin, which not belongs too SimTools, you get explicitly asked whether you really want to load the plugin.
Plugins from strangers can contain evil code, and so you know what code is running on your computer.
You then have the option to prevent loading the plugin, load it once, or to trust him permanently!
In the window "trusted plugins" you can see all plugins you permanently trust!
Network:
At left you can see the server configuration. Here you can set the port and the password of your server.
Also, you can decide whether the server automatically launches on SimAdapters start up.
Right next to it you can see the status of the server. Here you can also manually start, stop or restart him.
Down the left you can see what clients are connected to your server. You can kick clients, or ignore them. Once you have a client on your ignorlist, he appears in the list on the right.
Each connection attempt of an IP from this list will be ignored!
If you use a firewall, you need to unlock the necessary ports. For performance reasons SimAdapter uses the UDP protocol.
Because this protocol is connectionless, you need a separate client port for each client! You also need to unlock the appropriate port (UDP) in the firewall.
Input / Output plugins:
Here are listed all loaded input and output plugins.
If you select a plugin in the list, you cann see some informations about it on the right.
If you click on the "data" button can you see what data is supported by this inputplugin!
If the current plugin has a configuration , you can change it on the same button!
