TiM — Timed control map Maker

A simple tool for preparing timed control maps from SVG/XML files exported from OCAD. The tool creates SVG files with cover sheets, competition and solution maps, optionally converting them to other graphic formats and printing. TiM can also prepare maps for using directly on tablets with the ANT application.

An excellent User Guide with OCAD sample files have been prepared by Ari Tertsunen. Thanx!

[Preparation] [Samples] [Notes] [FAQ] [Competitions] [References] [Releases]

New! 8 stations per solution page! Purple and green color adjustments.


4.2

OCAD versions supported:

Of course, you don't need a full map making version of OCAD, you can use any map (OOmapper tested) as a backgroung for the Course Setting version of OCAD 12, which is much cheaper and supports the SVG exports.

Or, if you want to use TiM just for a single event, you can try to use the Trial version. It has limited number of courses and objects per course, so you have to make one OCAD file for each station and one TiM configuration file as well. If you want to make solution maps, you cannot use letter markers there. However, it still works...

Environment preparation:

Originally, TiM was written as a UNIX script.

Now, the version 4 of TiM is a Windows program. You can simply download it and run it. In TiM, you choose the File / New menu item and select your directory with OCAD exports. TiM tries to prepare a configuration file with parameters for you and you need just to tune them a bit (if you want) and add some more information (like contour interval, event title, logo etc.) in TiM's GUI.

If you want TiM to make not only SVG maps, but also PDF, PNG, PS or EPS, you will need a software for it. I use Inkscape even though it (like many other programs) sometimes has problems with some types of raster map symbols (marsh, undergrowth, semiopen...). This software must be also installed and you will have to configure path to the executable (using the System.WINPATH option).

Another way to produce PDF is any on-line converter. I tested this and the results are very good.

Event preparation:

The preparation differs a bit according to whether you wan to measure rotation angles manually or let TiM to calculate them by himself, and if you want to make also the Solution maps.

The last alternative is well described in the User Guide prepared by Ari Tertsunen.

Step Configured angles Automatic rotation Solution maps
1 Check the View mode of the background map (save the map OCAD file as "Normal").
2 Create a course map with controls and control descriptions. You can also cut the control circles if you want/need but do not make too short arcs and check the result very carefully in this case!
Using a file name with only ASCII characters (no national alphabet characters) is recommended.
3 Add a single start symbol (same for all stations) and place it next to the control clusters.
4 Make a single course for each station, name them properly (e.g. St1, St2, even if they are in separate files needed for the trial version of OCAD) and assign the start symbol and all tasks in correct order to each course.
Using course names with only ASCII characters (no national alphabet characters) is recommended.
5 Not needed Create OCAD symbols for the decision point ("chair"), correct flag, false flag and zero position. Correct flag means a flag correct for at least one task at the station, however, if you prefer not to distinguish between correct and false flags in the solution map, you can use just one type of symbol. All these symbols must be of the Course setting symbol/Finish type. Use OCAD symbol major numbers (before the dot) higher than 20 since the lower numbers are reserved for control description symbols.
You can use a sample OCAD file and copy'n'paste (and modify if you want) the symbols. There are two sets of special symbols, use the set with a "T" in the icon. Do not rotate the chair symbol, TiM will do it by himself!
6 Not needed Place all the above symbols to proper positions in the map and assign them to the particular course (behind the real controls!).
7 N/A N/A Optional step; if you want the flag letters in the solution maps:
Create OCAD symbols for flag position letter tags ("A" to "F") and follow the instructions in step 4.
They are also included in the sample OCAD file.
8 N/A N/A For each station, go to the Preview mode, move the numbers for "faked" controls (chair, flags, letters) somewhere aside and then place real task numbers properly.
Another possibility is to switch off the task numbers in solution maps in the configuration (Solutions→Task numbers). Task numbers are not absolutely necessary, especially when making maps for the TempO Simulator (WEB mode).
9 Add a control description placeholder somewhere close to the clusters in the map (don't worry about covering clusters – TiM will remove the control descriptions from maps). Check that the area you will export contains all (entire) lines with control descriptions of real tasks!
10 Export all course maps to SVG files. Use menu File→Export, select SVG format, check Partial map and mark a region that covers both the station surroundings and the control description field, uncheck Compress file and then choose all courses (e.g. using the button Select all – do not use <All controls>).
11 Export the course list into an XML file — menu Course→Export→Courses (XML, IOF Version 2.0.3 or 3.0).
12 Measure the angles toward the Alpha flag and the rightmost flag. N/A N/A

Warning! Do not use layouts in OCAD. OCAD cannot generate SVG output in this case.

Input samples:

Output samples:

Additional notes:

Frequently asked questions:

Open problems:

Selected competitions with maps prepared by TiM:

Aug 2023HUN Hungarian TrailO Weekend (WRE), Zoltán Miháczi
Aug 2023USA Philadelphia's Navy Yard TrailO (WRE), Russ Myer, Daniel Heimgartner
Jul 2023CZE WTOC 2023, Libor Forst
May 2023FIN Stadi TrailO (WRE), Ari Tertsunen
Oct 2022HUN Hungarian Autumn TrailO Weekend (WRE), Zoltán Miháczi
Jun 2022CZE PreWTOC 2022 (WRE), Libor Forst
May 2022FIN European Trail Orienteering Championships, Anna Jacobson
Whole 2021HUN Hungarian TORUS TempO Trophy, Zoltán Miháczi
Oct 2021SVK Slovak TrailO Weekend 2021 (WRE), Ján Furucz
Aug 2021FIN FinTrailO 2021 (WRE), Petteri Hakala
May 2021FIN TORUS Turus Tournament + Play-offs, Juha Hiirsalmi
Mar 2021GER Kurpark Warmbad 2021 (TORUS Cup), Anna+Hanka Straube
Mar 2021RUS Vyborg 2021 (TORUS Cup), Sergei Rusakov
Feb 2021SWE Swedish Forest Cup (TORUS Cup), Christian Enberg
Oct 2020SWE Morstorp 2020 (TORUS Cup), Christian Enberg
Oct 2020USA Marie Kerr Park (TORUS Cup), Clare Durand
Oct 2020COL Colombia 2020 (TORUS Cup), Wilder Andres Guerrero Hurtado
May 2020FIN Mäntsälä (TORUS Cup), Lauri Mäkinen
May 2020SVK Virtual-O (TORUS Cup), Ján Furucz
May 2020FIN Suikkila 2020 (TORUS Cup), Juha Hiirsalmi
Apr 2020POR From my Window, Juan Pedro Valente
Nov 2019FIN Finnish TempO Training Weekend, Ari Tertsunen
Nov 2019CZE Mšenské TempO, Jiří Kalousek
Jul 2019FIN Fin5 Trail (WRE) – long/TC + TempO, Sami Hyvönen
Jun 2019POR WTOC – long/TC + Relay + TempO, Nuno Pires
Jun 2019POR PIOM (ECTO/WRE) – long/TC + TempO, Inês Domingues
Mar 2019CZE Mrazivé TempO Prague, Pavel Kurfürst
Mar 2019POR TempO NAOM Castelo Vide, Luis Gonçalves
Feb 2019SVK Slovak Nomination #3+#4 – long/TC + TempO, Ján Furucz
Feb 2019ESP Madrid Trail-o Cup – TempO, Hector Lorenzo
Feb 2019ESP Spanish Championship – long/TC, Joao P. Valente
Oct 2018ESP Iberian Championship – long/TC, Joao P. Valente
Oct 2018CZE ECTO #9+#10 – long/TC + TempO Prague, Pavel Kurfürst
Jul 2018ITA ECTO #5+#6 – long/TC + TempO Friuli, Remo Madella
Jun 2018CRO CRO-HUN-ITA-SLO League – Varaždin TempO, Jasminka Cindrić Perković
Apr/May 2018SVK ETOC – long/TC + Relay + TempO, Ján Furucz
Apr 2018ITA Italian Championship – TempO, Renato Bettin
Mar 2018ITA Italian Cup – TempO Monza, Remo Madella
Mar 2018CZE Czech Cup – TempO Malešice, Jana Kosťová
Nov 2017CZE Czech Cup – TempO Mělník, Miroslav Šimek
Oct 2017SVK ECTO #9+#10, Ján Furucz
Sep 2017NOR Norwegian TempO Championship, Martin Jullum

References:

Ari Tertsunen, 16.11.2019
I found extreme power and efficiency in TiM when creating all documents for a two leg TempO event in early November.
A total of 14 stations with 5 tasks each was generated in minutes. Naturally after a proper setup in OCAD.
Specially I enjoyed the "Solution map" feature of TiM. The solution maps were fluent to specify and the outlook of the solution maps is just perfect.
Batch processing of PDF files work fluently.
What a great experience!!
Luis Gonçalves, 2. 4. 2019
This tool is a huge step ahead for TrailO...
Fully customizable, easy to understand and easy to use. Previously timed controls meant some hours of painful and risky work. Now in 15 minutes we are able to do all the work (cut, rotation, north arrows, numbering, control description) and if we miss something with 3 or 4 "clicks" everything is fixed.
Jasminka Cindrić Perković, 31. 5. 2018
I'm really happy and satisfied with TIM. Saving time and making it easier to create almost 50 minimaps for TempO, it also allows me to incorporate map corrections in the last moment. And the saved time I can spend on other organizational stuff :P
I have almost no comment on producing maps. That part is awesome :)
It helped me a great deal.
Remo Madella, 21. 11. 2017
Finally I had the chance to learn how to use ANT and TiM and I can say they are awesome!
Libor you are a genius!
TempO organizers... please use TiM, you will save countless hours and a lot of mistakes.
This is some light in the darkness of TrailO
Ján Furucz, 21. 8. 2017
I have to compliment Libor Forst and his automatic TrailO tool for creating sheets for time controls or tempo controls from OCAD source. 4 competitions, 2 categories, 2 stations and 3 or 4 tasks = 72 sheets about 20 minutes is miracle. Just print and laminate ... Many thanks

Releases:

Current version is 4.2.0(4).
Previous builds: 4.2.0(3), 4.2.0(2), 4.2(1), 4.2(0), 4.1.12(2), 4.1.11(8), 4.1.11(7), 4.1.11(4), 4.1.11(2), 4.1.11(1)

Release changes: