VPP polar diagrams

[jehardiman]

Originally Posted by Eric W. Sponberg

Does anyone know if Microsoft Excel can create a polar diagram, such as from VPP output? I have looked into this somewhat in the past and have not come up with an answer, other than it may be possible to create a custom VPP polar diagram in Excel's custom chart function. Has anyone ever done this, and if so, be willing to offer the instructions on how to create one?

I ask this because I have a fairly good VPP program that runs in DOS, and the output can go to a text file which can then be read into Excel. But the chart does not come through, and the DOS version of the chart does not make a very good presentation. An Excel polar diagram would be much better.

I welcome anyone's input. Thanks.

Eric

Originally Posted by gggGuest

Yes, but you have to do a lot of fiddling in order to get the angles right.

Originally Posted by MalSmith

I have successfully used the Excel radar chart type in the past. I had to use even divisions for the angles to be plotted, even if there there was no data for any individual angle.

Mal.

Originally Posted by Pelle

There are a number of free scripts for doing polar plots in excel out on the net. Just google "excel polar plot" and you will find plenty to choose from.

Eric;

As the others have already said, yes, you can use the "radar" plot graph option, but there are some limitations. Right now in the office we use excel to polar plot current data over time to generate a rosette and then superimpose a fixed grid, heading dependent system limits, and real-time data over the top of that. It is on the fly scalable, and as Mal and ggg pointed out you ether have to use constant angles or fiddle with it.

Pelle alluded to scripts, but my guess some are just coordinate conversions like Gramp's example, as we do it directly from polar data without any need for scripting (though we use scripting to read data files into the spreadsheet). If you absolutely have to have some exact angle, it would most likey be better to do the polar to x-y conversion.

If you want, I can extract the mechanics of it and e-mail you.

PS: Didn't notice at first how old this thread was, happend while I was offline for Xmas travel. Anyway, the offer still stands if you still need it.

[Eric Sponberg]

Hi JE

Yes, I would like to see what you have, thank you. I tried Gramps example in post #6, and it works fine, although the ends of the concentric rings on the grid have a whoopie in them--not perfectly circular at the ends. I can make exact angles for the spokes of the grid with the correct coordinates, so that's not a problem. I'd like to see the boat speed rings displayed a little more accurately at the ends. Please email me through PM or through my website.

Thanks again,

Eric

[Massimo De Luca]

Ciao

I just founded this website...
Let me know what you think

http://www.polardesigner.com/PolarDesigner.html#

[wvw]

Would it be possible to come to a mathematical formulla from this so that I could give in the wind angle and wind speed to calculate what boat speed could be expected ? Say if I wanted to build some program like virtual schipper... or to check my sailtrim while sailing competition...

[Eric Sponberg]

Originally Posted by wvw

Would it be possible to come to a mathematical formulla from this so that I could give in the wind angle and wind speed to calculate what boat speed could be expected ? Say if I wanted to build some program like virtual schipper... or to check my sailtrim while sailing competition...

A simple formula is not possible. It takes many formulas to be solved simultaneously, and that is why we have VPPs.

Eric

[farjoe]

Originally Posted by Massimo De Luca

Ciao

I just founded this website...
Let me know what you think

http://www.polardesigner.com/PolarDesigner.html#

Massimo,

interesting website which I still have to test.

I use Firefox to browse. Your website only takes 50% of my screen but is not scalable to fill the page. the text is unnecessarily small but readable. In my opinion a lot of screen space is going to waste.

regards

[Windvang]

VPP polar in Excel, using IMS data or manual data as input. Can compare up to 6 boats. Unfortunately in Dutch, but probably understandable in English.

www.watersportverbond.nl/data/8F2_Sailspeed.xls

[tspeer]

Originally Posted by Eric W. Sponberg

Does anyone know if Microsoft Excel can create a polar diagram, such as from VPP output? ...

Yes, but it's a bit of a pain in the rear end. You have to plot the polar grid yourself.

1. Create a series of X,Y values to plot for the grid by x=Vb*sin(gamma*pi()/180), y=Vb*cos(gamma*pi()/180) for gamma=1 to 360. Constant Vb for the rings, constant gamma for the radial lines. You can plot all the rings and radial lines as one series by putting a blank line between the data for each ring or line - that will avoid Excel plotting the transition from one to the next.

2. Transform the polar data into Vmg and cross-wind components using the same relationships above.

3. Plot the grid data and the polar data as separate series on a scatter plot (with the plot's gridlines turned off). I usually locate the plot in a sheet of its own.

4. Size the scatter plot so the rings are circular. One way I've done this is to put a square drawing object on top of the plot (go to Format/Size and lock the aspect ratio). Format the scales to manual values so they won't change. Then size the square to match the plot in one direction, then size the plot to match the square in the other dimension. Delete the square.

Crude, I know. But it's the only way I know to get a true polar plot in Excel.

[Eric Sponberg]

Thanks Tom,

That is essentially what post #6 was about. I have tried that and it works. It is easy to manipulate the plot so that it looks right.

Eric

[Massimo De Luca]

Originally Posted by farjoe

Massimo,

interesting website which I still have to test.

I use Firefox to browse. Your website only takes 50% of my screen but is not scalable to fill the page. the text is unnecessarily small but readable. In my opinion a lot of screen space is going to waste.

regards

Hey Ciao

Don't ask me...i mean i didn't create the website ...i just founded and forward all of you, I usually open with internet explorer and i notice the same...but we must take care first of all of the results

regards

Massimo

[cloewe]

I am new to the forum, so first of all Hello to all!

I recently succeded with gnuplot after fighting a little bit with the data of the IMS cetificate. Still, I'd like to have a pick at DuncanG set, it looks quite good to see if I can get the code even better..

I am rather new into gnuplot also, but I'll share mine if someone is interested.

Do you know any free software that can make the polar chart of a yatch with some imput data?

Great forum, congrats.

[arne470]

Hi guys,

Does anybody know where I can get a polar diagram of the olym. 470? Or how I can make such a diagram?

Best wishes,
Arne

[SuperPiper]

Unlike DuncanG's plot in post #9, Cloewe's polars in post #26 don't achieve the optimum VMG. The boat speed curves end before they top out. Is this a limitation of the boat's sheeting angle? If the headsail could be sheeted inboard or if the shroud base could be narrower, would this boat point higher and improve its VMG?

[DIY sailor]

Exell 2010 can make excelent polar diagrams. There is however one big issue that I have not been able to solve yet: it seems to be impossible to smooth the curve.

I.e. if I have 15 degree intervals for the speeds straight lines will be shown connecting the data points.

Does anybody know how to smoothen this curve?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[fastwave]

Use xlXtrFun.dll to interpolate as many points as you want using a spline function. Then plot those. The curve should appear smooth. This dll library is a joy to work with and is a must.

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