points.xml

The points.xml file is used define fixed point elements which can be used in maps instead of <point> elements based on latitude/longitude or cartesian x,y coordinates. These are especially useful when drawing airways or specific procedures based on waypoints (SID, STAR, LOA information, etc…)

The points.xml file is located in the fir/ directory.

Attribute	Format	Remarks
Element	point
id	string	Identification of the predefined point
lat	string	latitude value
lon	string	longitude value

Attribute	Format	Remarks
Element	point
id	string	Identification of the predefined point
x	float	cartesian X value in nautical mile
y	float	cartesian Y value in nautical mile

If cartesian X/Y attribute values are used, the point is calculated using the <origin> given in the FIR configuration file (config.fir). The format of the latitude/longitude values is Zdddmmsssss where:

Z = N or S for latitude, E or W for longitude
ddd = degrees (3 digits, zero padded)
mm = minutes (max 59)
sssss = seconds with maximum 3 decimal places (max 59.999)

Latitude / Longitude

lat=“N0543000000” → N054:30:00.000
lon=“W0033535000” → W003:35:35.000

The following is also valid: lon=“W0033535” → W003:35:35.000

Example

A point element needs to be defined in the points.xml file:

<points>
    <point id="COA"   lat="N0512053002" lon="E0032119001"/>
</points>

You can then reference that point in any map, replacing latitude/longitude or cartesian x/y pairs.

<symbol id="vor_symbol" text="COA" color="symbol_vor_color" lat="N0512053002" lon="E0032119001"/>

could be replaced by:

<symbol id="vor_symbol" text="COA" color="symbol_vor_color" ref="COA" />

Another example …

If you would like to draw a circle around a known VOR beacon …

<circle radius="10" segments="64" r="255" g="0" b="0">
      <point lat="N0512053002" lon="E0032119001"/>
</circle>

could be replaced by:

<circle radius="10" segments="64" r="255" g="0" b="0">
      <point ref="COA"/>
</circle>

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