At last an ACMI for Lock-On!

This powerful tool will enable you to record any flight... To review, analyze and understand what really happened!

ACMI is an acronym which stands for: Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation. It is a modern tool used for air combat training in simulations as well as in real life.

This is a system which enables you to follow - in real time - aircraft manoeuvres during air combat engagements. This tool is very effective in helping you understand your errors and rapidly improve your flight and combat skills.

Here are some examples: ACMI inc. Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag

How to install Tacview?

Before using Tacview, ensure that you own at least the following minimal configuration:
(Tacview can still work, but is not supported on lower PC configurations)

• DCS: Black Shark 1.0, Lock-On: Flaming Cliffs 1.1, Digital Fighters 0.2.0
• Windows 2000, XP or Vista
• 2.0 GHz processor
• 1 GB of RAM
• DirectX 9.0 compatible graphic card with 256 MB of RAM

The current version must be installed manually (an automatic installer is planned for a future version). The manual procedure remains simple:

• Download the latest version in ZIP format
• Unpack it to any folder you want
• Launch Tacview then select [Record Flaming Cliffs/Black Shark Flights] command from the main toolbar to install the export script
• You can now close Tacview
• Do a mission in your flight simulator
• Each flight will be recorder into the \Lock On\Temp\ folder
• Then exit the flight simulator and open the flight recording in Tacview to analyze it

If for any reason the export script automatic installation does not work, you can try the manual procedure.

NOTICE: Tacview will *NEVER* work with Lock-On: Modern Air Combat 1.0.
This is a Lock-On limitation.

How it works?

During each flight, Tacview logger take note of each unit position and each associated event. There is no noticeable frame-rate decrease during flight recording.

When the flight ends, exit Lock-On, launch Tacview, then open one of the flight records saved in \Lock On\Temp\ folder. You will recognize your flight mission and all participating units. Some events are guessed by Tacview because Lock-On does not tell it everything... This can lead to some imprecision. This is normal and this does not alter the flight analysis experience.

NOTICE: In network games, the Host must set [EnableExportScript=true] in [config.lua] in order to allow Tacview recording on clients computers.

What are the main controls?

Since most of the features are obvious, are a list of the most important controls:

• Flight Log: [Double Click] on an event go to the event in space and time
• Objects Lists: [Shift] + [Click] Select the object and also go to its spawn time if it does not exist yet (click on a missile for example)
• 3D View: [Space] Pause / Play (only when the 3D view is active)
• 3D View: [Cursor Left/Right] Forward/Backward in time (only when the 3D view is active)
• 3D View: [Mouse Wheel] Zoom (only when the 3D view is active)
• 3D View: [Left Click] + Drag Rotate around selected object / Turn head in cockpit view
• 3D View: [Right Click] + Drag Zoom
• 3D View: [Center Click] + Drag Travel in time (very useful)
• 3D View: [Ctrl] + [Left/Right Click] Select primary/secondary object directly in 3D view
• Free Camera: [Right Click] + Drag Orient camera
• Free Camera: [Right Click] + [AWSD or Cursor or Mouse Wheel] Move camera
• Free Camera: [Shift] + [Move] Move camera faster
• Info: [+ Button] Center the camera between the two selected objects (useful for dog-fights and others combat)
• Info: [Info Button] Swap the two selected objects

What are the planned improvements?

Here a list of the main coming improvements. They are sorted in planned order. Since I develop the Tacview during my spare time and when I'm inspired, I cannot give you any release dates.

• Add support for Falcon 4 (AF/OF) and Fighter Ops
• Fix units positions / orientation (e.g. units going through the mountains)
• Improve object orientation emulation and filter network lag
• Automatic installer
• Filter to customize displayed events in the flight log and also something to add bookmarks
• Displaying pseudo radar/IR locks
• Be able to export a debriefing in XHTML
• Something to enable a network debriefing
• Be able to customize displayed information in the 3D view (IDs, altitude, speed, ...)
• Be able to display trails from the mission start (which can give some sort of tactical view of the battle)
• Something to display curves about speed, altitude, ... (to analyse, compare, arbitrate)
• Be able to analyse flight in real-time using network connection