NotamView can draw a task onto the map to allow you to assess the likely impact on your flight of the various hazards. The Task will consist of between two and seven points chosen from a database. There are two databases currently supplied to the user as part of the package. These are chosen in the Options menu.
The turnpoints in the ICAO database are the 245 airfields in the UK with ICAO designators. These are listed in the file 'ICAO-airfields.txt' found in the program directory. If new ICAO codes for UK airports become available, the user can add entries to the end this file. The format is fairly obvious. It is recommended that a copy is taken before any changes are made. The filename of the active file must not be changed for continued operation.
The BGA turnpoints are those in the BGA Turnpoint list maintained by Tim Newport-Peace. As these tend to change on a year by year basis, the program allows the user to specify the name of the file from which they are to be read in the Options dialogue. The program expects the file to be in the TaskNav(tm) format and will display an error if it is unable to read the file correctly. Updates to the turnpoint database in a suitable format may be obtained from the Worldwide Soaring Turnpoint Exchange
The program allows the user to create up to 256 additional turnpoints which are displayed in addition to the
supplied sets above. Selecting the User Waypoints under the
Task manu brings up a dialogue that lists, in a table, the existing user waypoints and allows the user to
manipulate those waypoints. The waypoints are stored in the file usertp.txt. This file may be hand edited if desired.
It should be noted that the format of this file is currently quite rigid so, if you get problems after editing,
check that the format of each new turnpoint is correct. Please also ensure that the turnpoint names
and short codes do not clash with any other codes in the supplied sets. If the file is not found the program will
continue without user turnpoints.
Note that the total number of turnpoints (user + supplied) must not exceed 1024.