How to add UI pages to a simulator
- Marc Lievin
Simulator User Interface
When the simulator is running, the Vortex Simulator user interface is shown on the touchscreen. It will show the UI specific to the user when operating the equipment.
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1 | Controls page(s) tab. Visible if at least one page is configured in this category. |
2 | Tools pages(s) tab. visible if at least one page is configured in this category. |
3 | Information page(s) tab . visible if at least one page is configured in this category. |
4 | Options page(s) tab. visible if at least one page is configured in this category. |
5 | Page names in current category. Visible if at least two pages are configured in current selected category and the parameter multiple page enabled is the setup. For details see https://cm-labs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VSD2401/pages/445674470/Creating+Content+to+Work+with+Vortex+Launcher#Setup-Document. |
6 | Pause/Resume. This button can be used to pause and resume the simulation. When simulation is paused all pages in control category will be disabled and greyed-out. |
7 | Stop exercise button. This button can be used to stop the exercise. |
8 | Current Page. Content of the currently selected UI Page. |
Simulator Window Extensions
A Vortex Simulator can present the above-mentioned information based on the user’s role. The simulator’s setup file (.vxc) must contain the appropriate Main Window to behave properly.
For example, the visibility of the pause/resume button and the stop exercise button is only available to the operator, so it will depend on which Main Window extension is used on a station node.
User role / Station | Main Window Extension | Description |
|---|---|---|
Main Operator / Host Station | Simulator Main Window | The main operator station. This operator is in charge of logging in, selecting the equipment and the exercise and can pause the simulation and/or stop the exercise. |
Tandem Operator / Joiner Station | Joiner Main Window | Optionnal Joiner Station in a tandem setup. For details about how to setup tandem, see https://vortexstudio.atlassian.net/wiki/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=TESS&title=How%20to%20Setup%20Tandem%20%28Crew%20Training%29 |
Instructor / Trainer Station | Trainer Station Main Window | Optional Trainer Station for the instructor. For details about the trainer station, see https://vortexstudio.atlassian.net/wiki/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=DOC&title=Intellia%20Drone%20View%202023%20Q2%20Documentation. |
Page Categories
All UI pages are extensions in the setup file or the exercise content that implements the IQtPage interface.
The QtDesignerPageExtension, which can be created in the Vortex Editor, can be used with a Qt .ui file created with the Qt Designer, to produce a custom UI page.
UI page will appear on the Vortex Simulator user interface depending on its category. Category can be one of the following values:
None: the page will not appear anywhere (the widget is disabled).
Debug: the page will appear in the debug pages tabs widgets. The Debug Pages are available to the local admin user using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-D.
Controls: the page will appear in the page tabs of the controls category of the user interface.
Tools: the page will appear in the pages tabs of the Tools category of the user interface.
Information: the page will appear in page tabs of the Information category of the user interface.
Options: the page will appear in page tabs of the Options category of the user interface.
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For additional details about IQtPage parameters, see https://cm-labs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VSD2401/pages/445657515/Adding+UI+Pages#IQt-Page-Properties
These categories have no effect using the Old Vortex Console.
Backward compatibility
For backward compatibility, the multi-page feature is disabled by default in the old setup files (.vxc). This new feature can be enabled with the new parameter multiple page enabled in extensions Simulator Main Window or Joiner Main Window. For details see Creating Content to Work with Vortex Launcher | Setup Document.
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