Olan For Experts only!

The Language - some thoughts

I've thought about the following issues and would welcome feedback:

1. not using f, s & u for roll indicators. this free-up more letters for base figures, as well as reduce readability problems with "idf" or "sirp". The most likely candidates are "!" for snaproll, "!!" for outside snap, "$" for spin, "$$" for inverted spin, and "#" and "##" for gyro/raude in/outside.

2. allowing free spaces and requiring every figure to terminate with ";". Obviously for this, the colon ":" would replace the semicolon as the "same direction roll" indicator.

3. removing the "++" and "--" option for increased entry/exit length and instead placing these as numbers inside brackets [] before the figure, so "++o2---" would become [,,2,1] o2-   where the first two missing elements in the bracket indicate position (not given in this case). These would allow the actual language/figures to be more clearly visible, with drawing instructions within brackets.

4. the above could be extended further: the % indicator could be moved into the brackets, as well as the gaps between rolls on the line. However, with gaps (d.f.) there could be more than 3 gaps per line, so the brackets would need a seperation of lines indicator. A complete brackets would be

 [ x-pos, y-pos, zoom, entry, exit, gap1,gap2,gap3 .../2ndline gap1,gap2,.../3rd line]

this still leaves the comments outside the scope ...

Usage

Q: How can I make the drawing larger?

Use "5%m2" to increase the immelman by 50%. If you enter "5%" with a space after it before the first figure, everything gets 50% larger. Otherwise, it applies only to the next figure.

Q: Where is the figures catalog?

look for the file figures.txt in the installation directory. It is a language all by itself which actually describes the flying of each figure.

Q: Can I re-enter the box?

Yes, the "eu" (or "ed" for downwind) before a figure means it is to be entered upwind, regardless of the exit from the previous figure. Combined with "/" which means position on a new line, multiple practice sequences can be drawn on a single page, e.g. a snaproll practice session

eu vf ivf v,3f' eu /^ df 6f -idif,2 eu / frp(1) 24rp(f)

You can also use this "feature" for the unknown figures drawing (all figures drawn left-to-right).

Q: Can I make my own figures?

Yes, either edit the figures.txt file or directly enter that figure.txt language preceded by underscore and with spaces replaced by underscore, e.g.

_~~~d~d~a1~m`a1`D~D~

Q: How does Olan verify the free program?

look for the file allow.txt in the installation directory. Once again, this is a language that describe roll kinds and set rules that must be met. You can make up your own rules or change existing ones.

Miscellaneous

Q: Can I print with my own logo (British Aero Club, etc)?

Yes. When you select "my logo" in printing, Olan replaces the standard civa logo with a .jpg picture you choose via the "..." button (which is copied as mylogo.jpg into Olan installation dir).

Q: How do I add a break symbol?

Enter a ^Break comment for the figure you need the break beofre. The ^ (caret, shift-6)  makes the comment text be drawn vertically.

Q: Can I stop the panels from opening and closing all the time?

Yes. From the Edit menu, chose "extend all panels"

Q: Can I check catalog numbers?

Yes, enter the catalog number directly e.g. 8.60.1  and use form A to display information. The figure is displayed with optional half & full rolls, and a 4 quarter roll on vertical lines

Q: Can I enter roll comments?

Yes. enter "spin left" etc before the roll element e.g. iv"spin left"6is,2

Q: Can Olan be used for drawing a 4-minute freestyle program?

Yes! First, make sure in Tools->Options that "Allow non-FAI figures" is turn on, then use the language itself (not the panel) and you can place multiple roll combinations on the same line, even in the same direction. You can also place the spin indicator on any line (e.g., for a Mulleroid). Use the extended "th" figure (topless hammer") to indicate an up-down line with a flat top, and the "vv" figure for a vertical up-then-down line. Finally, like "f" for a flick roll, a "u" symbol can be used to draw a parallelogram to indicate a tumble(Raude). The convention is that the tip direction indicates which wing is tipped into the flying direction. You can also use "iu" for outside tumble (red parallelogram) which is really the norm, and indicate the number of rolls. Finally, you can place comments before any figure and replace the roll indicator with a comment too. Try the menu Demo->4 Min freestyle to see this:

9iu"left"9iuth9f9f,2 "mulleriod" ,9is"up"9isvv(.),"flat"9s9s "Torque" 99,99ita9;9,"back"2

Yes, you have to be an expert to use this. But that's also true for flying it!