Lap Plotter Ver 1.1 by George (flatout1) Brown copyright Oct.2000

  This is a little program I wrote to chart laps while doing a test in N3. I couldn't remember from day to day when working on a setup what the lap speeds or lap times were and decided that I would be better off letting the computer keep track of it for me.  What this program will do is read in a replay done in the testing mode (NOTE: this program only works for N3 replays done in the TESTING MODE), and allow you to visually see how the setup performed.  You also have the ability to make a change to the setup without leaving the program. 

  To utilize the program, first you must run some laps at a track in the testing mode within N3, save the replay, then import it into Lap Plotter, see the laps plotted, save the lap data file generated by Lap Plotter, make a change to the setup, run another testing session, save that replay, run Lap Plotter and load the previously generated lap data file then import the new test replay, plot those laps and compare the two setups. (cool huh!). You can load up to ten testing sessions so that you can compare lap speeds for each change you make to the a particular setup, or you could compare lap speeds between different setups AS LONG AS THEY ARE DONE AT THE SAME TRACK!!!.  

  Say that you have a favorite setup at Atlanta and you happen to get one that someone says is really great, well just go to a testing session with your favorite setup and run say 40 - 50 laps and save the replay. Run Lap Plotter and import the replay into Lap plotter, plot the laps and save the lap data file.  Then take the new setup, do a testing session with that setup, save the replay, and import that replay into Lap Plotter.  The results will be shown and you will know which setup is faster and which one is faster over the whole run!!.  

  Another use (and the one that I really designed it for) is say you have a setup that you think is really great.  Now you run a fuel run with it and save the replay, import it into Lap Plotter, plot the laps, and save the lap data file.  You can pass along the setup to a teammate along with the lap data file. They can run some laps with the setup, load the lap data file with your run into Lap Plotter, import their replay and see how it works for them compared to your run.  They can in turn pass along the setup and lap data file to the next teammate who does the same.  Eventually up to ten teammates can add to the lap data file, it can be returned to everyone else when full and evey teammate can see how the setup compares by Driver Name.

  There is nothing special that Lap Plotter needs. It assumes that the path to the N3 replays folder is C:\papyrus\nascar3\replays and that the path to the individual tracks is C:\\papyrus\nascar3\tracks.  That's it, no registry entries.  There is a file called Directry.TXT that has two entries in it that can be changed if you don't have a default installation path. Just open Directry.TXT with Notepad, change the entries to reflect your path to Nascar3 replays and tracks folders and then save the file.

  To install Lap Plotter, just create a new folder on the root of the C drive called LapPlot, then unzip the zipfile into that folder, then select start->run->browse to the lapplot folder and click on the Wheel icon and you are off and running. (make sure you have a testing session replay saved first).  When the program first starts, click on "Import Replay", select the replay from the File Open dialog, then when the "Import Replay" button comes back, click on Plot Laps if the plot is not already showing, and you will see the results.  To save the results, click on Save Lap File, and give it a file name in the File Save dialog box.  To add a replay to the lap data file, start the program, click on Open Lap File to load a lap data file, then PLOT the laps, then click on the Import Replay button, select the replay in the dialog box and when the Import Replay Button returns, click on Plot Laps if not already plotted, and you will see the two replays plotted.

  Lap Plotter only works for car tracks at the present time as I do not have the truck expansion pack.  If you would like a track added then email me and I will email you back specific instructions to obtain the data necessary to add a track.  To see what tracks are supported, open the TRACKDAT.DAT file in the LapPlot folder with Notepad.  DO NOT CHANGE THIS FILE IN ANY WAY!!

  By using Lap Plotter you agree to be responsible for any damage, loss of data, etc. by the use of Lap Plotter.  I feel it is stable and easy to use, but I cannot be responsible for things I cannot control.  You assume all risks by using Lap Plotter.

  If you experience any problems with Lap Plotter , or have any suggestions for improvement, feel free to email me at gunner1@charter.net.  Enjoy!!!


Version History:
Ver 1.1 Correct incorrect lap times computed when lap data file loaded.
Ver. 1.0 Original release   