Military symbology

The Military Symbology API provides generation of high-quality MIL-STD-2525D and APP-6D symbols. It is available as a C++ API and a C# API. It is part of the MapLink Core SDK and is included in Maplink64.lib. The symbols are generated from SVG files to create high quality raster sprites.

Using the C++ API

#include <tslmilitarysymbologygenerator.h>

...

    TSLMilitarySymbologyGenerator symbolGenerator;

    symbolGenerator.loadSymbols("path/to/config/symbols/MILSTD_2525D");

    auto sidc = TSLSidc2525d{ "10031000001211000000" };
    TSLSymbol* symbol = symbolGenerator.getSymbol(sidc, TSLSidc2525d::SymbolSet::Unknown);
    if (symbol)
    {
        symbol->move(TSLCoord{x, y}, {0,0});
        standard_data_layer->entitySet()->insert(symbol);
        standard_data_layer->notifyChanged(true);
    }

loadSymbols() needs a path to a directory containing the following directories, each containing SVGs. This will be shipped with the MapLink installation, but alternate sets can be used, providing they conform to the naming scheme. After loadSymbols() returns, the MS API has cached the location of all SVGs, but not loaded them.

getSymbol() takes an optional parameter for display options.

  • .scale How large should the symbols be rendered? Warning: be careful of scales less than 0.3, the resolution may be insufficient to communicate all symbol details!
  • .civilianFill Some entities and modifiers mark a symbol as civilian, for these symbols this controls the fill colour.
  • .ocaStyle There are different styles of Operational Condition Amplifiers, this controls which is used.

When calling getSymbol() the component SVGs will be loaded if they have not already and a symbol rendered. The caller is responsible for cleaning up the returned TSLSymbol object. Subsequent calls to getSymbol() with the same arguments will not re-render the symbol, but will provide new map objects that use the raster.