Version 1.3.4

New Tacan Zone module

modules/cfxZones.lua

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 cfxZones = {}
-cfxZones.version = "3.1.2"
+cfxZones.version = "3.1.3"
 
 -- cf/x zone management module
 -- reads dcs zones and makes them accessible and mutable 
@@ -132,6 +132,11 @@ cfxZones.version = "3.1.2"
 - 3.1.1   - getRGBAVectorFromZoneProperty now supports #RRGGBBAA and #RRGGBB format 
           - owner for all, default 0 
 - 3.1.2   - getAllZoneProperties has numbersOnly option 
+- 3.1.3   - new numberArrayFromString()
+		  - new declutterZone()
+		  - new getZoneVolume()
+		  - offsetZone also updates zone bounds when moving zones 
+		  - corrected bug in calculateZoneBounds()
 
 --]]--
 cfxZones.verbose = false
@@ -340,7 +345,8 @@ function cfxZones.calculateZoneBounds(theZone)
 			if (vertex.x < ll.x) then ll.x = vertex.x; ul.x = vertex.x end 
 			if (vertex.x > lr.x) then lr.x = vertex.x; ur.x = vertex.x end 
 			if (vertex.z < ul.z) then ul.z = vertex.z; ur.z = vertex.z end
-			if (vertex.z > ll.z) then ll.z = vertex.z; lr.z = vertex.z end 
+			--if (vertex.z > ll.z) then ll.z = vertex.z; lr.z = vertex.z end
+			if (vertex.z > ur.z) then ur.z = vertex.z; ul.z = vertex.z end 			
 			local dp = dcsCommon.dist(theZone.point, vertex)
 			if dp > pRad then pRad = dp end -- find largst distance to vertex
 		end
@@ -351,6 +357,7 @@ function cfxZones.calculateZoneBounds(theZone)
 		bounds.lr = lr
 		bounds.ul = ul
 		bounds.ur = ur 
+		-- we may need to ascertain why we need ul, ur, ll, lr instead of just ll and ur 
 		-- store pRad 
 		theZone.pRad = pRad -- not sure we'll ever need that, but at least we have it
 --		trigger.action.outText("+++Zones: poly zone <" .. theZone.name .. "> has pRad = " .. pRad, 30) -- remember to remove me 
@@ -804,6 +811,66 @@ function cfxZones.getZonesWithAttributeNamed(attributeName, testZones)
 	return attributZones
 end
 
+--
+-- zone volume management
+--
+
+function cfxZones.getZoneVolume(theZone)
+	if not theZone then return nil end 
+	
+	if (theZone.isCircle) then 
+		-- create a sphere volume
+		local p = cfxZones.getPoint(theZone)
+		p.y = land.getHeight({x = p.x, y = p.z})
+		local r = theZone.radius
+		if r < 10 then r = 10 end 
+		local vol = {
+			id = world.VolumeType.SPHERE,
+			params = {
+				point = p,
+				radius = r
+			}
+		}
+		return vol 
+	elseif (theZone.isPoly) then 
+		--trigger.action.outText("zne: isPointInside: " .. theZone.name .. " is Polyzone!", 30)
+		-- build the box volume, using the zone's bounds ll and ur points 
+		local lowerLeft = {}
+		-- we build x = westerm y = southern, Z = alt 
+		local alt = land.getHeight({x=theZone.bounds.ll.x, y = theZone.bounds.ll.z}) - 10
+		lowerLeft.x = theZone.bounds.ll.x 
+		lowerLeft.z = theZone.bounds.ll.z 
+		lowerLeft.y = alt -- we go lower 
+		
+		local upperRight = {}
+		alt = land.getHeight({x=theZone.bounds.ur.x, y = theZone.bounds.ur.z}) + 10
+		upperRight.x = theZone.bounds.ur.x 
+		upperRight.z = theZone.bounds.ur.z 
+		upperRight.y = alt -- we go higher 
+		
+		-- construct volume 
+		local vol = {
+			id = world.VolumeType.BOX,
+			params = {
+				min = lowerLeft,
+				max = upperRight
+			}
+		}
+		return vol 
+	else 
+		trigger.action.outText("zne: unknown zone type for <" .. theZone.name .. ">", 30)
+	end
+end
+
+function cfxZones.declutterZone(theZone)
+	if not theZone then return end 
+	local theVol = cfxZones.getZoneVolume(theZone)
+	if theZone.verbose then 
+		dcsCommon.dumpVar2Str("vol", theVol)
+	end
+	world.removeJunk(theVol)
+end
+
 --
 -- units / groups in zone
 --
@@ -924,6 +991,18 @@ function cfxZones.offsetZone(theZone, dx, dz)
 		theZone.poly[v].x = theZone.poly[v].x + dx
 		theZone.poly[v].z = theZone.poly[v].z + dz 
 	end
+	
+	-- update zone bounds 
+	theZone.bounds.ll.x = theZone.bounds.ll.x + dx 
+	theZone.bounds.lr.x = theZone.bounds.lr.x + dx
+	theZone.bounds.ul.x = theZone.bounds.ul.x + dx 
+	theZone.bounds.ur.x = theZone.bounds.ur.x + dx
+
+	theZone.bounds.ll.z = theZone.bounds.ll.z + dz 
+	theZone.bounds.lr.z = theZone.bounds.lr.z + dz
+	theZone.bounds.ul.z = theZone.bounds.ul.z + dz 
+	theZone.bounds.ur.z = theZone.bounds.ur.z + dz
+	
 end
 
 function cfxZones.moveZoneTo(theZone, x, z)
@@ -1886,7 +1965,58 @@ function cfxZones.testZoneFlag(theZone, theFlagName, theMethod, latchName)
 	return testResult, currVal
 end
 
-
+function cfxZones.numberArrayFromString(inString, default)
+	if not default then default = 0 end 
+	if string.len(inString) < 1 then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++zne: empty numbers", 30)
+		return {default, } 
+	end
+	if cfxZones.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++zne: processing <" .. inString .. ">", 30)
+	end 
+	
+	local flags = {}
+	local rawElements = dcsCommon.splitString(inString, ",")
+	-- go over all elements 
+	for idx, anElement in pairs(rawElements) do 
+		anElement = dcsCommon.trim(anElement)
+		if dcsCommon.stringStartsWithDigit(anElement) and dcsCommon.containsString(anElement, "-") then 
+			-- interpret this as a range
+			local theRange = dcsCommon.splitString(anElement, "-")
+			local lowerBound = theRange[1]
+			lowerBound = tonumber(lowerBound)
+			local upperBound = theRange[2]
+			upperBound = tonumber(upperBound)
+			if lowerBound and upperBound then
+				-- swap if wrong order
+				if lowerBound > upperBound then 
+					local temp = upperBound
+					upperBound = lowerBound
+					lowerBound = temp 
+				end
+				-- now add add numbers to flags
+				for f=lowerBound, upperBound do 
+					table.insert(flags, tostring(f))
+				end
+			else
+				-- bounds illegal
+				trigger.action.outText("+++zne: ignored range <" .. anElement .. "> (range)", 30)
+			end
+		else
+			-- single number
+			f = dcsCommon.trim(anElement)
+			f = tonumber(f)
+			if f then 
+				table.insert(flags, f)
+			end
+		end
+	end
+	if #flags < 1 then flags = {default, } end 
+	if cfxZones.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++zne: <" .. #flags .. "> flags total", 30)
+	end 
+	return flags
+end 
 
 function cfxZones.flagArrayFromString(inString)
 -- original code from RND flag

modules/cloneZone.lua

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 cloneZones = {}
-cloneZones.version = "1.7.1"
+cloneZones.version = "1.7.3"
 cloneZones.verbose = false  
 cloneZones.requiredLibs = {
 	"dcsCommon", -- always
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ cloneZones.respawnOnGroupID = true
 	1.7.1 - useDelicates handOff for delicates 
 	      - forcedRespawn passes zone instead of verbose
 	1.7.2 - onPerimeter attribute 
+	1.7.3 - declutter option 
+	
 	
 --]]--
 
@@ -256,6 +258,9 @@ function cloneZones.createClonerWithZone(theZone) -- has "Cloner"
 		end
 	end
 	
+	-- declutter 
+	theZone.declutter = cfxZones.getBoolFromZoneProperty(theZone, "declutter", false)
+	
 	-- watchflags
 	theZone.cloneTriggerMethod = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "triggerMethod", "change")
 
@@ -1543,6 +1548,14 @@ function cloneZones.spawnWithCloner(theZone)
 		cloneZones.invokeCallbacks(theZone, "wiped", {})
 	end
 	
+	-- declutter?
+	if theZone.declutter then 
+		cfxZones.declutterZone(theZone)
+		if theZone.verbose then 
+			trigger.action.outText("+++clnZ: cloner <" .. theZone.name .. "> declutter complete.", 30)
+		end
+	end
+	
 	local theClones, theStatics = cloneZones.spawnWithTemplateForZone(templateZone, theZone)
 	-- reset hasClones so we know our spawns are full and we can 
 	-- detect complete destruction

modules/dcsCommon.lua

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 dcsCommon = {}
-dcsCommon.version = "2.8.9"
+dcsCommon.version = "2.8.10"
 --[[-- VERSION HISTORY
  2.2.6 - compassPositionOfARelativeToB
 	   - clockPositionOfARelativeToB
@@ -156,6 +156,13 @@ dcsCommon.version = "2.8.9"
  2.8.9 - vAdd supports xy and xyz 
        - vSub supports xy and xyz 
 	   - vMultScalar supports xy and xyz 
+2.8.10 - tacan2freq now integrated with module (blush) 
+       - array2string cosmetic default 
+	   - vMultScalar corrected bug in accessing b.z 
+	   - new randomLetter()
+	   - new getPlayerUnit()
+	   - new getMapName()
+	   - new getMagDeclForPoint()
 	   
 --]]--
 
@@ -2236,13 +2243,14 @@ end
 	end
 	
 	function dcsCommon.array2string(inArray, deli)
-		if not deli then deli = "," end
+		if not deli then deli = ", " end
 		if type(inArray) ~= "table" then return "<err in array2string: not an array>" end
 		local s = ""
 		local count = 0
 		for idx, ele in pairs(inArray) do
 			if count > 0 then s = s .. deli .. " " end
 			s = s .. ele
+			count = count + 1
 		end
 		return s
 	end
@@ -2475,6 +2483,7 @@ end
 	end
 	
 	function dcsCommon.dumpVar2Str(key, value, prefix, inrecursion)
+		-- dumps to screen, not string 
 		if not inrecursion then 
 			-- output a marker to find in the log / screen
 			trigger.action.outText("*** dcsCommon vardump START",30)
@@ -2599,7 +2608,7 @@ end
 	end
 
 -- based on buzzer1977's idea, channel is number, eg in 74X, channel is 74, mode is "X"
-	function tacan2freq(channel, mode)	
+	function dcsCommon.tacan2freq(channel, mode)	
 		if not mode then mode = "X" end 
 		if not channel then channel = 1 end 
 		if type(mode) ~= "string" then mode = "X" end 
@@ -2712,7 +2721,7 @@ function dcsCommon.vMultScalar(a, f)
 	if not f then f = 0 end
 	r.x = a.x * f 
 	r.y = a.y * f 
-	if a.z and b.z then 
+	if a.z then 
 		r.z = a.z * f
     end		
 	return r 
@@ -2812,15 +2821,6 @@ function dcsCommon.isTroopCarrier(theUnit, carriers)
 	return dcsCommon.isTroopCarrierType(uType, carriers) 
 end
 
-function dcsCommon.isPlayerUnit(theUnit)
-	-- new patch. simply check if getPlayerName returns something
-	if not theUnit then return false end 
-	if not Unit.isExist(theUnit) then return end 
-	if not theUnit.getPlayerName then return false end -- map/static object 
-	local pName = theUnit:getPlayerName()
-	if pName then return true end 
-	return false 
-end
 
 function dcsCommon.getAllExistingPlayerUnitsRaw()
 	local apu = {}
@@ -3360,6 +3360,14 @@ function dcsCommon.spellString(inString)
 	return res 
 end
 
+dcsCommon.letters = {"A", "B", "C", "D", "E", "F", "G", "H", "I", "J", "K", "L", "M", "N", 
+"O", "P", "Q", "R", "S", "T", "U", "V", "W", "X", "Y", "Z", }
+function dcsCommon.randomLetter(lowercase)
+	local theLetter = dcsCommon.pickRandom(dcsCommon.letters)
+	if lowercase then theLetter = string.lower(theLetter) end 
+	return theLetter
+end
+
 --
 -- RGBA from hex
 --
@@ -3401,6 +3409,55 @@ function dcsCommon.playerName2Coalition(playerName)
 	return 0
 end
 
+function dcsCommon.isPlayerUnit(theUnit)
+	-- new patch. simply check if getPlayerName returns something
+	if not theUnit then return false end 
+	if not Unit.isExist(theUnit) then return end 
+	if not theUnit.getPlayerName then return false end -- map/static object 
+	local pName = theUnit:getPlayerName()
+	if pName then return true end 
+	return false 
+end
+
+function dcsCommon.getPlayerUnit(name)
+	for coa = 1, 2 do 
+		local players = coalition.getPlayers(coa)
+		for idx, theUnit in pairs(players) do 
+			if theUnit:getPlayerName() == name then return theUnit end
+		end
+	end
+	return nil 
+end
+
+--
+-- theater and theater-related stuff 
+--
+function dcsCommon.getMapName()
+	return env.mission.theatre
+end
+
+dcsCommon.magDecls = {Caucasus = 6.5,
+					  MarianaIslands = 1,
+					  Nevada = 12,
+					  PersianGulf = 2,
+					  Syria = 4,
+					  Normandy = -12 -- 1944, -1 in 2016 
+					  -- SinaiMap still missing 
+					  -- Falklands still missing, big differences 
+					  }
+					  
+function dcsCommon.getMagDeclForPoint(point) 
+	-- WARNING! Approximations only, map-wide, not adjusted for year nor location!
+	-- serves as a stub for the day when DCS provides correct info 
+	local map = dcsCommon.getMapName()
+	local decl = dcsCommon.magDecls[map]
+	if not decl then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++dcsC: unknown map <" .. map .. ">, using dclenation 0", 30)
+		decl = 0
+	end
+	return decl 
+end 
+
 --
 -- iterators
 --

modules/tacan.lua

@@ -0,0 +1,430 @@
+tacan = {}
+tacan.version = "1.0.0"
+--[[--
+Version History
+ 1.0.0 - initial version 
+ 
+--]]--
+tacan.verbose = false  
+tacan.requiredLibs = {
+	"dcsCommon", -- always
+	"cfxZones", -- Zones, of course 
+}
+tacan.tacanZones = {}
+
+
+function tacan.createTacanZone(theZone)
+	theZone.onStart = cfxZones.getBoolFromZoneProperty(theZone, "onStart", true)
+	local channels = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "channel", "1")
+	theZone.channels = cfxZones.numberArrayFromString(channels, 1)
+	if theZone.verbose or tacan.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++tcn: new tacan <" .. theZone.name .. "> for channels [" .. dcsCommon.array2string(theZone.channels, ", ") .. "]", 30)
+	end
+	
+	local mode = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "mode", "X")
+	mode = string.upper(mode)
+	theZone.modes = cfxZones.flagArrayFromString(mode) 
+	if theZone.verbose or tacan.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++tcn: modes [" .. dcsCommon.array2string(theZone.modes, ", ") .. "]", 30)
+	end
+	
+	theZone.coa = cfxZones.getCoalitionFromZoneProperty(theZone, "tacan", 0)
+
+	theZone.heading = cfxZones.getNumberFromZoneProperty(theZone, "heading", 0) 
+	theZone.heading = theZone.heading * 0.0174533 -- convert to rads 
+	local callsign = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "callsign", "TXN")
+	callsign = string.upper(callsign)
+	theZone.callsigns = cfxZones.flagArrayFromString(callsign)
+	if theZone.verbose or tacan.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++tcn: callsigns [" .. dcsCommon.array2string(theZone.callsigns) .. "]", 30)
+	end
+	
+	theZone.rndLoc = cfxZones.getBoolFromZoneProperty(theZone, "rndLoc", false)
+--	theZone.method = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "method", "inc")
+	theZone.triggerMethod = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "triggerMethod", "change")
+	if cfxZones.hasProperty(theZone, "deploy?") then 
+		theZone.deployFlag = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "deploy?", "<none>")
+		theZone.lastDeployFlagValue = cfxZones.getFlagValue(theZone.deployFlag, theZone)
+	end
+	if (not theZone.deployFlag) and (not theZone.onStart) then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++tacan: WARNING: tacan zone <> is late activation and has no activation flag, will never activate.", 30)
+	end	
+	
+	theZone.spawnedTACANS = {} -- for GC and List
+	theZone.preWipe = cfxZones.getBoolFromZoneProperty(theZone, "preWipe", true)
+	
+	if cfxZones.hasProperty(theZone, "destroy?") then 
+		theZone.destroyFlag = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "destroy?", "<none>")
+		theZone.lastDestroyFlagValue = cfxZones.getFlagValue(theZone.destroyFlag, theZone)	
+	end
+	
+	if cfxZones.hasProperty(theZone, "c#") then 
+		theZone.channelOut = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "C#", "<none>")
+	end
+	
+	theZone.announcer = cfxZones.getBoolFromZoneProperty(theZone, "announcer", false)
+	
+	-- interface to groupTracker 
+	if cfxZones.hasProperty(theZone, "trackWith:") then 
+		theZone.trackWith = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "trackWith:", "<None>")
+	end
+	
+	-- see if we need to deploy now 
+	if theZone.onStart then 
+		tacan.TacanFromZone(theZone, true) -- true = silent
+	end 
+end
+
+-- hand off to tracker 
+-- from cloneZones
+function tacan.handoffTracking(theGroup, theZone)
+	if not groupTracker then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++tacan: <" .. theZone.name .. "> attribute 'trackWith:' requires groupTracker module", 30) 
+		return 
+	end
+	local trackerName = theZone.trackWith
+	-- now assemble a list of all trackers
+	if tacan.verbose or theZone.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++tacan: tacan tracked with: " .. trackerName, 30)
+	end 
+	
+	local trackerNames = {}
+	if dcsCommon.containsString(trackerName, ',') then
+		trackerNames = dcsCommon.splitString(trackerName, ',')
+	else 
+		table.insert(trackerNames, trackerName)
+	end
+	for idx, aTrk in pairs(trackerNames) do 
+		local theName = dcsCommon.trim(aTrk)
+		if theName == "*" then theName = theZone.name end 
+		local theTracker = groupTracker.getTrackerByName(theName)
+		if not theTracker then 
+			trigger.action.outText("+++tacan: <" .. theZone.name .. ">: cannot find tracker named <".. theName .. ">", 30) 
+		else 
+			groupTracker.addGroupToTracker(theGroup, theTracker)
+			 if tacan.verbose or theZone.verbose then 
+				trigger.action.outText("+++tacan: added " .. theGroup:getName() .. " to tracker " .. theName, 30)
+			 end
+		end 
+	end 
+end
+
+-- create a tacan
+function tacan.createTacanInZone(theZone, channel, mode, callsign)
+	local point = cfxZones.getPoint(theZone)
+	local name = theZone.name
+	local heading = theZone.heading 
+	local unitID = dcsCommon.numberUUID()
+	if theZone.rndLoc then 
+		point = cfxZones.createRandomPointInZone(theZone)
+	end
+	local data = tacan.buildTacanData(name, channel, mode, callsign, point, unitID, heading)
+	if theZone.verbose or tacan.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++tcn: new TACAN for <" .. theZone.name .. ">: ch<" .. channel .. ">, mode <" .. mode .. ">, call <" .. callsign .. ">", 30)
+	end
+	data.thePoint = point -- save location 
+	--local s = dcsCommon.dumpVar2Str("data", data)
+	local coa = theZone.coa -- neutral
+	local cty = dcsCommon.getACountryForCoalition(coa)
+	local theCopy = dcsCommon.clone(data)
+	local theGroup = coalition.addGroup(cty, Group.Category.GROUND, data)
+	
+	-- handoff for tracking
+	if theZone.trackWith then 
+		tacan.handoffTracking(theGroup, theZone) 
+	end
+	
+	-- add to my spawns for GC to watch over 
+	local t = {}
+	t.activeMode = mode 
+	t.activeCallsign = callsign
+	t.activeChan = channel 
+	t.theGroup = theGroup 
+	t.theData = theCopy 
+	table.insert(theZone.spawnedTACANS, t)
+	
+	-- run a GC cycle 
+	tacan.GC(true)
+	return theGroup, theCopy
+end
+
+function tacan.TacanFromZone(theZone, silent)
+	local channel = tonumber(dcsCommon.pickRandom(theZone.channels))
+	local mode = dcsCommon.pickRandom(theZone.modes)
+	local callsign = dcsCommon.pickRandom(theZone.callsigns)
+	
+	if theZone.preWipe and theZone.activeTacan then 
+		Group.destroy(theZone.activeTacan)
+		theZone.activeTacan = nil 
+	end
+	
+	local theGroup, data = tacan.createTacanInZone(theZone, channel, mode, callsign)
+	theZone.activeTacan = theGroup 
+	theZone.activeChan = channel 
+	if theZone.channelOut then 
+		trigger.action.setUserFlag(theZone.channelOut, channel)
+	end
+		
+	theZone.activeMode = mode 
+	theZone.activeCallsign = callsign
+	theZone.activeName = data.name 
+	if theGroup then 
+		if theZone.verbose or tacan.verbose then 
+			trigger.action.outText("+++tcn: created tacan <" .. data.name ..">", 30)
+		end
+	end
+	
+	if (not silent) and theZone.announcer then 
+		local str = "NOTAM: Deployed new TACAN " .. theZone.name .. " <" .. callsign .. ">, channel " .. channel .. mode .. ", active now"
+		if theZone.coa == 0 then 
+			trigger.action.outText(str, 30)
+		else 
+			trigger.action.outTextForCoalition(theZone.coa, str, 30)
+		end
+	end
+end
+
+function tacan.destroyTacan(theZone, announce)
+	if theZone.activeTacan then 
+		Group.destroy(theZone.activeTacan) -- only destroys last allocated
+		theZone.activeTacan = nil 
+		
+	if announce then 
+		local coa = theZone.coa 
+		local str = "NOTAM: TACAN " .. theZone.name .. " <" .. theZone.activeCallsign .. "> deactivated"
+		if coa == 0 then 
+			trigger.action.outText(str, 30)
+		else 
+			trigger.action.outTextForCoalition(coa, str, 30)
+		end
+	end
+		
+	end
+	if theZone.channelOut then 
+		trigger.action.setUserFlag(theZone.channelOut, 0)
+	end
+end
+
+-- create a TACAN group for the requested TACAN 
+function tacan.buildTacanData(name, channel, mode, callsign, point, unitID, heading) -- point = (xyz)!
+	if not heading then heading = 0 end 
+	if not mode then mode = "X" end 
+	mode = string.upper(mode)
+	local x = point.x 
+	local y = point.z 
+	local alt = land.getHeight({x = x, y = y})
+	local g = {} -- group 
+	g.name = name .. dcsCommon.numberUUID()
+	g.x = x 
+	g.y = y 
+	g.tasks = {}
+	g.task = "Ground Nothing"
+	local r = {} -- group.route 
+	g.route = r 
+	local p = {} -- group.route.points 
+	r.points = p -- 
+	local p1 = {} -- group.route.points[1] 
+	p[1] = p1
+	p1.alt = alt + 3 
+	p1.x = x 
+	p1.y = y 
+	local t = {} -- group.route.points[1].task 
+	p1.task = t 
+	t.id = "ComboTask"
+	local params = {} -- group.route.points[1].task.params 
+	t.params = params
+	local tasks = {} --  group.route.points[1].task.params.tasks
+	params.tasks = tasks
+	local t1 = {} --  group.route.points[1].task.params.tasks[1]
+	tasks[1] = t1
+	
+	t1.enabled = true 
+	t1.auto = false 
+	t1.id = "WrappedAction"
+	t1.number = 1 
+	local pm = {} --  group.route.points[1].task.params.tasks[1].params
+	t1.params  = pm 
+	local a = {} --  group.route.points[1].task.params.tasks[1].params.action 
+	pm.action = a 
+	a.id = "ActivateBeacon"
+	local ps = {} -- group.route.points[1].task.params.tasks[1].params.action.params 
+	a.params = ps 
+	ps.type = 4 
+	ps.AA = false 
+	ps.unitID = unitID
+	ps.modeChannel = mode 
+	ps.channel = channel
+	ps.system = 18 -- mysterious 
+	ps.callsign = callsign
+	ps.bearing = true 
+	ps.frequency = dcsCommon.tacan2freq(channel, mode)
+	if tacan.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("tacan channel <" .. channel .. "> = freq <" .. ps.frequency .. ">", 30)
+	end 
+	
+	-- now build unit 
+	local u = {}
+	g.units = u 
+	local u1 = {}
+	u[1] = u1 
+	u1.skill = "High" 
+	u1.type = "TACAN_beacon"
+	u1.x = x 
+	u1.y = y 
+	u1.name = "u_" .. g.name 
+	u1.unitId = unitID
+	
+	return g -- return data block 
+end
+
+--
+-- Update 
+--
+function tacan.update()
+	timer.scheduleFunction(tacan.update, {}, timer.getTime() + 1)
+
+	for tName, theZone in pairs(tacan.tacanZones) do 
+		-- was start called? 
+		if cfxZones.testZoneFlag(theZone, theZone.deployFlag, theZone.triggerMethod, "lastDeployFlagValue") then 
+			-- we want to deploy and start the tacan.
+			-- first test if one is still up and running 
+			if theZone.activeTacan and theZone.preWipe then 
+				tacan.destroyTacan(theZone, false)
+			end
+			tacan.TacanFromZone(theZone)
+		end
+		
+		if cfxZones.testZoneFlag(theZone, theZone.destroyFlag, theZone.triggerMethod, "lastDestroyFlagValue") then 
+			tacan.destroyTacan(theZone, theZone.announcer)
+		end
+	end
+	
+end
+
+
+function tacan.GC(singleCall)
+	if singleCall then
+		if tacan.verbose then 
+			trigger.action.outText("+++tacan: single-pass GC invoked", 30)
+		end
+	else 
+		timer.scheduleFunction(tacan.update, nil, timer.getTime() + 60) 
+	end 
+	for tName, theZone in pairs(tacan.tacanZones) do 
+		local filteredTACANS = {}
+		for idx, theActive in pairs(theZone.spawnedTACANS) do 
+			-- check if this tacan still exists 
+			local name = theActive.theData.name -- group name 
+			local theGroup = Group.getByName(name)
+			if theGroup and Group.isExist(theGroup) then 
+				table.insert(filteredTACANS, theActive)
+			else 
+				if tacan.verbose then 
+					trigger.action.outText("+++tacan: filtered <" .. name .. ">: no longer exist", 30)
+				end
+			end
+		end
+		theZone.spawnedTACANS = filteredTACANS 
+	end
+end
+
+--
+-- comms: List TACAN radio command 
+--
+function tacan.installComms()
+	tacan.redC = missionCommands.addCommandForCoalition(1, "Available TACAN stations", nil, tacan.listTacan, 1)
+	tacan.blueC = missionCommands.addCommandForCoalition(2, "Available TACAN stations", nil, tacan.listTacan, 2)
+	
+end
+
+function tacan.listTacan(side)
+	timer.scheduleFunction(tacan.doListTacan, side, timer.getTime() + 0.1)
+end
+
+function tacan.doListTacan(args) 
+	tacan.GC(true) -- force GC, once.
+	
+	-- collect all neutral and same (as in args)-side tacans 
+	local theTs = {}
+	for name, theZone in pairs(tacan.tacanZones) do 
+		if theZone.coa == 0 or theZone.coa == args then 
+			for idx, aTacan in pairs(theZone.spawnedTACANS) do  
+				table.insert(theTs, aTacan)
+			end 
+		end
+	end
+	
+	if #theTs < 1 then 
+		trigger.action.outTextForCoalition(args, "No active TACAN.", 30)
+		return 
+	end
+	
+	local msg = "\nActive TACAN:"
+
+	for idx, aTacan in pairs(theTs) do 
+		msg = msg .. "\n  - " .. aTacan.activeCallsign .. ": " .. aTacan.activeChan .. aTacan.activeMode
+	end
+	msg = msg .. "\n"
+	trigger.action.outTextForCoalition(args, msg, 30)
+end
+
+--
+-- Start up: config etc 
+--
+
+function tacan.readConfigZone()
+	local theZone = cfxZones.getZoneByName("tacanConfig") 
+	if not theZone then theZone = cfxZones.createSimpleZone("tacanConfig") end 
+	
+	tacan.verbose = theZone.verbose 
+	
+	tacan.list = cfxZones.getBoolFromZoneProperty(theZone, "list", false)
+	if cfxZones.hasProperty(theZone, "GUI") then 
+		tacan.list = cfxZones.getBoolFromZoneProperty(theZone, "GUI", false)
+	end
+	
+	if tacan.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++tcn: read config", 30)
+	end 
+end
+
+function tacan.start()
+	-- lib check
+	if not dcsCommon.libCheck then 
+		trigger.action.outText("cfx Tacan requires dcsCommon", 30)
+		return false 
+	end 
+	if not dcsCommon.libCheck("cfx TACAN", 
+		tacan.requiredLibs) then
+		return false 
+	end
+	
+	-- read config 
+	tacan.readConfigZone()
+	
+	-- set comms 
+	if tacan.list then tacan.installComms() end 
+	
+	-- collect tacan zones
+	local tZones = cfxZones.zonesWithProperty("tacan")
+	for k, aZone in pairs(tZones) do
+		tacan.createTacanZone(aZone)
+		tacan.tacanZones[aZone.name] = aZone
+	end
+	
+	-- start update 
+	tacan.update()
+	
+	-- start GC
+	tacan.GC() 
+	
+	-- say Hi!
+	trigger.action.outText("cfx Tacan v" .. tacan.version .. " started.",30)
+end
+
+tacan.start()
+
+--[[--
+	Ideas
+	- moving tacan, as in ndb 
+--]]--