OHM MultiStar Orbiter

[OrbitHangar]

Author: albinon

This is a set of programs that create and modify single star solar systems.  It is based on a MS ACCESS 2000 database and driven by MS VB 2010 express.

It wil create up to 1000 solar systems and set up a star system file with associated config files.  Browse the database after you create systems and pick on to explore. 

It is a random generator.  The semi-major axis are fudged for larger and smaller stars.  I don't have the math to do a really scientific study. 

With the larger planets, you get up to @65 or so moons.  You can get super earths, mega-jupiters, etc.

You can even include your own textures for planets if you have a favorite or three.  If not, it uses the standard Orbiter texture files for the planets.

I have tested it for both 100830 and 100606 versions of orbiter.

This is a BETA.  It may have some CTD (Crash to Desktop) lurking so please let me know.

It works on Windows XP Pro (x86), Win 7 (x86). 

Updates as of September 18, 2012
 
Fixed:  Deleting textures and CFG files of default objects like Planets and Moons.  Now the program tests the new texture file name against the one in the database and if it is the same, it does not delete it because it is a default or user created texture.  If the object is a default Planet or Moon, it does not over-write the existing CFG file.
 
Fixed:  Creating a bad System and Star name in the system CFG file.  Typo’d the field names in the program by swapping their position.
 
Fixed:  The Sol system can now be used.

Fixed:  Removed Su from the system.CFG file. Without the proper addon, it causes a fault in the way Orbiter runs its gravity calculations.  For those with the proper addon, Su.cfg is there, just add it to the system file as the next planet.

Fixed:  Abort while pressing Next or Previous Star when the star has no planets.  Did not trap for a null character.

Update as of July 23, 2013

Added: Utility to create a scenario, Utility to Navigate the created "Galaxy"

Changed: Consolidated everything into 2 separate programs
 
Update as of August 26, 2013

Fixed the way I handled multiple objects in the scenario.
Fixed flawed logic in interpreting the source scenario.
added LAN and Inclination to orbit calculations.Stuff to Do
 
Not Fixed:  This application is configured for the en-US culture and the US locale.  I’m working on a way to fix this.
Calculate Agp into the orbits.
Fine tune Galaxy navigation



DOWNLOAD

 

[PeterRoss]

Is it any better than [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4942"]Orbiter Galaxy 0.6.2 ALPHA[/ame] ?

 

[NightWing]

Hi Albinon

This is a very promising project. Adding Multi-Star system support to Orbiter is something great.

I have a little trouble with it. When I try to add some solar systems, I have the following error message:



Regards.

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

Is it any better than Orbiter Galaxy 0.6.2 ALPHA ?

Probably slightly better in terms of stability if the solar systems arent linked, except for starting an individual scenario in that given system. If we could get a intermediate program that could plot spacecraft trajectory in Galactic reference after passing, say jupiter, carry the numbers until the ship passes the destination systems oort cloud, then generate a scenario file with the ship at the proper position & velocity, that would work quite nicely. It would also allow for better stability & accuracy (traj could be bent by other stars, unlike in OrbiterGalaxy)

 

[jedidia]

If we could get a intermediate program that could plot spacecraft trajectory in Galactic reference after passing, say jupiter, carry the numbers until the ship passes the destination systems oort cloud, then generate a scenario file with the ship at the proper position & velocity, that would work quite nicely.

Well, if somebody does the math, I could integrate it easily enough... What's the stability problem, anyways?

 

[Albinon]

Hi Albinon
I have a little trouble with it.
http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=19&u=16633664

Regards.

The project is a random generator. It does not let you create your own systems. Once you create one, you can modify it using SearchStars.

The page in MultistarOrbiter allows VB2010 express to auto format the fields so I don't have to do it programatically. I should have set read only to those fields and will do so in my next release (which will be shortly as there is another error I have to fix as well)

 

[orb]

I looked closer at the attached image. The exception is caused by a dot and not comma present in the number to separate its decimal part.

The program most likely uses current country settings selected for the system/user for number formatting, at least for displaying numbers in its interface. I haven't checked the program, but this can also cause problems in other areas, like files, if appropriate number format wasn't selected for functions handling them.

 

[Albinon]

generate a scenario file with the ship at the proper position & velocity, that would work quite nicely.

Its on my wish list. The math is daunting and way past my ability. The ship, when it "Jumps", has the orbital parameters set up for the current system. When it enters the next one, the delta is incredible. You'd have to pick an arbitray point and calaculate an orbit for that. Then there is the shape of the orbit. Figure in the ship's current Delta V, the difference from the old system orbital math and the new system (remember, the star's gravity has changed) the calculus get way out there. Oh, yeah, are you also flying pro or retro grade? And if you get close to a planet, the math goes even further out there. The easiest solution is to place the vessel in a circular orbit around either the star or a specific object (planet or moon). Not realistic, but easier to calculate. Something I don't yet know how to do let alone figuring a realistic simulation.

---------- Post added at 09:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:21 AM ----------

The program most likely uses current country settings selected for the system/user for number formatting

The embedded MS Access database was originally set for US style numbering which uses the comman (,) as the thousands seperator and the dot (.) for the decimal position. For scientific notation it uses E+nn

 

[orb]

The embedded MS Access database was originally set for US style numbering which uses the comman (,) as the thousands seperator and the dot (.) for the decimal position. For scientific notation it uses E+nn

But if you look at the image in the error report, numbers in fields are using comma (,) for decimal position and the error is related to a field where a dot (.) was used for it instead of a comma, so that's where my concern is, because if file functions are also using current locale instead of en_US permanently set, then there can be more problems. Anyway, I can check it when I will be in Windows again.

 

[Albinon]

Is it any better than Orbiter Galaxy 0.6.2 ALPHA ?

I can't say. I haven't tried it. I read about it in the forums. Mine differs greatly as mine is a random system generator loosely based on orbital science.

I believe Orbiter Galaxy is based on real stars in our galaxy and more accurate in the terms of orbital science.

---------- Post added at 09:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 AM ----------

because if file functions are also using current locale instead of en_US permanently set

You may be right. I'll have to figure out how to set that encoding feature in my program. I didn't think ahead and allow for other national encoding standards. My apologies.

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

Well, if somebody does the math, I could integrate it easily enough... What's the stability problem, anyways?

Well, Im not saying its really unstable, just the only time I tried it it did seem to glitch, but still got me to where I was going. What I think would make more sense would be to create an application that simulates the portion of an interstellar trip past any major gravity sources. OrbiterGalaxy is impressive, and relatively stable, considering what its being asked to do, but it doesnt accurately take into account the effect of say, other stars on the interstellar trajectory, and Orbiter itself isnt really the best choice to simulate at that time dilation and velocity.

Its on my wish list. The math is daunting and way past my ability. The ship, when it "Jumps", has the orbital parameters set up for the current system. When it enters the next one, the delta is incredible. You'd have to pick an arbitray point and calaculate an orbit for that. Then there is the shape of the orbit. Figure in the ship's current Delta V, the difference from the old system orbital math and the new system (remember, the star's gravity has changed) the calculus get way out there. Oh, yeah, are you also flNotying pro or retro grade? And if you get close to a planet, the math goes even further out there. The easiest solution is to place the vessel in a circular orbit around either the star or a specific object (planet or moon). Not realistic, but easier to calculate. Something I don't yet know how to do let alone figuring a realistic simulation.

---------- Post added at 09:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:21 AM ----------



The embedded MS Access database was originally set for US style numbering which uses the comman (,) as the thousands seperator and the dot (.) for the decimal position. For scientific notation it uses E+nn

Not sure if I follow your point, but with the appropriate conversion, we can in theory use orbital elements for a ship orbiting a star in orbiter, compare it against the known galactic orbital elements of that star & simulate its motion in that system. If youre confused about the ejection direction of a ship, there should be some way to compare it against the celestial sphere in Orbiter.

Obviously possible, but might be hard in practice

 

[Albinon]

Obviously possible, but might be hard in practice

I agree. It would take a math whiz quite versed in orbital mechanics and very familiar with Orbiter's methodology. I just don't have the needed math skills or the familiarity with Orbiter's mechanics.