[worldKit-dev] Worldkit time-related extensions complete

[Ian Mayo]

Hi all,
after 2 1/2 months, my contracted coder has finished his development
package providing the following:

    * My data-file contains points too "close-together" to be plotted
correctly in WorldKit's normal plotting mode. WorldKit has an
"accuplot" configuration option that allows more accurate plotting,
but straight line plotting is broken in this mode. Repair straight
line-plotting between the points so it works correctly when in
"accuplot" mode
    * when plottng time-data, allow provision of a "period" value, to
indicate the time period for which past data should be plotted - as a
"back-trace". So, a "period" of 10 minutes would indicate that the
current point, plus the past 10 minutes of data be plotted. Value of
period to be specified in Seconds
    * provide a "fade to background" setting <showBackTrace>. When
this is true, and when plotting time data, the "back-history" points
fade from solid at time-now, to transparent at last-point in history.
    * provide a "set time now" interface (called JTimeComm) that
allows the current displayed time to be controlled from JavaScript.
    * a configuration option <hideEmptyTitle> that hides the tooltip
box when the relevant datapoint does not include a text-descriprion.

All but the "set time now" items are satisfactorily completed, though
managing the bargain-basement developer has been a hard slog I
wouldn't choose to go through again.

The sources have been developed against a snapshot of WorldKit from
back in July, but the few worldkit changes produced since then don't
clash with these.

You can see a demo of the updated component at:
http://debrief.sourceforge.net/worldKit/worldkit.html

- you'll need to zoom right into Africa to view the RSS data-file
being displayed.  It's got several thousand points - so you may well
get a "script not responding, do you wish to abort?". If you do see
this you don't need to abort, it loads a second or so later.
- experiment with the new features by typing a value in seconds into
the first box - you will see the length of the "backtrack" adjust next
time you move the slider.
- also try entering "true" into showBackTrace: you will see the
backtrack fade to background color
- the hideTitle parameter (true/false) decides whether RSS entries
without a description field should popup or not.
- ignore the final box - he couldn't get that functionality to work.

Find a copy of the updated sources and compiled movie available at:
http://debrief.sourceforge.net/worldKit_enhancedTime.zip

When I started this undertaking, I expected to find developer effort
more readily available.  I've struggled, though that may be down to
the size of my pockets.  I also hoped to learn more Flash myself - but
still haven't managed...

Will post another message shortly with an update on my potential
contract regarding an architecture document for the switch to Flex.

Ian