Z1 Designer

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2022.1 of the Z1 Designer is now available. The Z1 Designer lets you create or modify dashboards for use with the Z1 Dashboard. This new version includes a massive amount of updates and new features.

Some highlights are:
* A completely redesigned open dashboard dialog, making it easier to find and select the desired dash.


* The new Conditional text tool


* The new LED Group tool


* Objects can now be 'pinned' to the left, right or bottom of the dashboard.


* Warning objects can be animated to flash on and off.


* Flat track maps can now be created.


* Many new widgets including: Session state, session type, position/total cars.

* Multiple new data channels including various ERS options, push to pass, and incident counts.

The Z1 Designer is a free application and can be downloaded here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Here is the full list of release notes:
* The Open Dashboard dialog has been completely reworked. It now is similar to the Dashboard Gallery.  It displays a preview of the dashboard along with its name, folder path, and creation date. You can sort the display by name or creation date. To open the dashboard just double click on the desired preview.

* New Tool: LED Group Tool. This tool lets you create multiple LEDs at once.  You drag out a rectangle using the tool.  This rectangle will then be filled with evenly spaced LEDs.  You can choose the number of LEDs, the type of LEDs (circular or rectangular) and their color. When they are arranged as you want them click the 'Create LEDs' button in the LED Group's object properties window.  This will create the LEDs assigning them to shift lights, starting with Shift Light 1 and going up to the total number of LEDs you selected.  Note you must create the LEDs for them to be saved.

* New Tool: Conditional Text tool.  This tool lets you tie the display of text to a data channel.  You can then set the text to be displayed based on the values of that data channel.

* Objects can now be 'pinned' to the left edge, right edge or bottom edge of the dashboard window.  If an object has one or more of its sides pinned, then as the user adjusts the size of their dashboard window, that edge of the object that is pinned will always stay connected with the edge of the window.  If an object can be pinned you will see three 'Pin' checkboxes in the object properties window.

* Objects that are copy/pasted are now pasted into the layer that the original oject was in.  So if the original object was in the foreground then the newly pasted object will also be in the foreground. Previously the object was pasted into the currentrly active layer. Thhis could cause problems with objects not being displayed properly if you pasted a foreground object into the background.

* Pasted objects are now not locked regardless of the locked status of the original object. Previously if the copied object was locked then the pasted object would also be locked. But this made it so you could not move the pasted object without first unlocking it.

* There is now an option to show/hide all current guides. This is Edit->Show Guides, or Control-G.  Note that objects will still snap to hidden guides.

* The detection for whether or not you clicked within a multi-line shape has been improved. If that shaped is a closed polygon (so the first and last points are the same) then you will have to click inside the object, and not its bounding box to select it. If the shape is an open polygon then clicking within its bounding box will select it.

* The Z1 Designer will now automatically open the dashboard you were working on when you last exited the application.  If you do not want the Designer to do this, you can uncheck the Reopen Dashboard option in the General settings tab. With this option unchecked the Z1 Designer will always open to a blank dashboard, as was the case in previous versions.

* Added the following Widgets: Session State; Session Type; Position After Stop; Position/Total Cars; Laps Number of Total Laps.

* Added the following data channels: ERS level percentage; ERS Lap Level Percentage; DRS Uses; Brake Bias Fine; MGUK Deploy Mode; Energy ERS Battery Percentage; Incident Count - Team; Incident Count - Me; Incident Count - Driver; Joker Laps Remaining, Push to Pash Count. Note not all sims support all channels.

* When opening a dashboard if an item is specified as being selected, then its properties will display in the Object Properties window.

* The display names of Conditional Images now include the targeted data channel name.

* You can now specify the background color for the units tool.

* There is now an option in the units tool to display the units in upper or lower case.

* You can now specify a flash speed for any warning. To do so enter the number of milliseconds for each flash in the warning properties window. A value of zero will display the warning consistently without flashing.

* You can preview the warning flashing (animation) by clicking the 'Animate' checkbox in the warning tool's properties window. There is a setting in the General settings tab that determines if newly created objects that have animations will have that checkbox clicked by default or not. Currently only warnings have animations.

* Added car class and class position as options in the Standings tool.

* There is a new option in the standings tool for 'Show Your Class Only'. When this is selected the standings display will only show cars that are in your class in the race.

* There is a new option in the standings tool for 'Display No Change As'. This lets you set what will be displayed in the iRating change and Position change column when there has been no change from the original value. The default is a zero (0).

* When the dashboard needs to be saved an asterisk (*) will appear to the right of the dashboard's name in the Dashboard window.

* There is now an option to turn off the save confirmation message. If you do not want this message to appear after you save your design, uncheck the 'Save Confirmation' option in the General settings tab.

* The Designer will now ask if you'd like to save any changes that have been made when you exit the application if you have not already saved your dashboard design.

* There is a new option in the General settings tab called 'Change Dash Confirmation'.  This option is on by default. With this option selected opening or creating a new dashboard when there is an existing dashboard open will result in a prompt asking if you would like to proceed. Note: an unsaved dashboard will always result in a prompt regardless of this option's status.

* There is a new option in the General settings tab called 'Create Preview When Saving'.  This option is on by default. When selected a new preview image of your dashboard will be created when you save the dashboard.

* You can now specify the background color of the header row in the standings object.

* Added the following warning options: Engine Stalled, P2P (Push to Pass) Engaged, On Joker Lap

* New options for columns within the Standings tool: Driver Incidents; Team Incidents.  Currently only iRacing supports these options.

* You can now choose the style of a track map. They can either be 'normal', which shows the full track map in either static or moving form (as selected by the Dashboard user); or they can be 'flat'. A flat track map is a single straight line going from left to right. This allows for track maps that take up less space than the full track map.

* Added a new widget - Track Map Settings.  This will place the track map setting icon, allowing you to display the options for rotating the track map.  Note this will not be displayed for flat track maps or moving track maps.

The Z1 Designer is a free application and can be downloaded here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2022.1 of the Z1 Designer has many new features and updates. As the application used to create your dashboards for the Z1 Dashboard software, this video explains how this latest version makes that even easier.

You can download the Z1 software here: https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

And don't forget to join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/XXwhX6azxM

Chapter Index:
0:00 Intro
0:44 New Open Dashboard Dialog
1:46 Conditional Text Tool
3:03 LED Group Tool
4:43 Object Pinning
5:33 Pinning A Rectangle
6:03 Flat Track Maps
6:47 Track Map Widget
7:38 New Widget Options
9:00 New Data Channels
10:29 Flashing Warnings
11:31 New Warning Options
11:50 New Standings Options
13:27 New Settings Options
14:45 Showing and Hiding Guides
15:06 Final Thoughts

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2022.2 of the Z1 Designer is now available. This free application lets you create your own dashboards for use with the Z1 Dashboard.

The big addition to version 2022.2 is the Gauge tool. You can now create your own analogue gauges for use within the Z1 Dashboard!


The Needle Editor lets you create your own needles for use within the gauges.


Text, rectangles, rounded rectangles and units can now be rotated:


The Tool Bar will now display a scrollbar if all the tools are unable to be displayed.


The Z1 Designer can be downloaded here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Here is the full list of release notes:
* Added new tool: Gauge tool. This lets you create analogue gauges. There are tons of features on this tool. Stay tuned for the video explaining them all.

* New Needle Editor. This is where you can create needles that will be used with your gauges. A single needle can be used multiple times in as many different gauges as you like. The Z1 Designer comes with 11 example needles. You can use these in your own designs as is, or you can use them to create your own needles. Or you can create needle designs from scratch.

* The Needle Editor is located under Edit->New Needle.

* To see the list of existing needles look under Edit->Edit Needles.

* You can now rotate the following items: text, conditional text, rectangles, rounded rectangles, and units. To do so you can enter the desired rotation into the Rotation Angle text field in the object properties window. Alternatively you can select the item in the Dashboard window and then drag the handle for the rotation.

* You can now specify an outline for units, text and conditional text objects.

* Added unit specific data channels for Speed, Oil Pressure, Oil Temperature, Water Pressure, Water Temperature and Fuel Pressure. These are intended to be used when creating gauges. But of course you can use them in any object that used data channels. For example there is now 'Speed', 'Speed KPH' and 'Speed MPH'. The 'Speed' data channel will display speed in whatever units the end user has selected. 'Speed KPH' will always display speed in KPH. And 'Speed MPH' will always display speed in MPH.

* There is now a scrollbar that will appear in the Tool Bar window if the window is not big enough to display all tools.

Download the Z1 Designer here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

[Russell Hodgson]

New as of version 2022.2 of the Z1 Designer - the Gauge tool lets you create analogue gauges for use in your Z1 Dashboards. This video helps you create the best possible analogue gauges.

Download the Z1 Software today: https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Contents:
0:00 Into
1:03 Gauge Basics
1:46 Name and channel
2:22 Dimensions
2:36 Background Design
3:45 Dial Configuration
6:29 Dial Zones
8:46 Font Options
8:57 Needle
10:56 Tick Marks
13:59 Final Thoughts

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2022.2 of the Z1 Designer lets you create analogue gauges for use in your Z1 Dashboards. And creating a gauge would not be complete without being able to customize the needle.  Watch this video to see how to customize the needles used in your gauges.

Download the Z1 Designer here: https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Contents:
0:00 Intro
0:33 Selecting a Needle
0:59 Opening the Needle Designer
1:22 Needle Designer Overview
2:11 Needle Preview
3:31 Needle Dimensions
4:43 Needle Outline and Color
5:45 Needle Styles
6:27 Cap Styles
7:39 Adding Your Needle to a Gauge
7:59 Final Thoughts

[Russell Hodgson]

The Z1 Designer makes it easy to create analogue gauges for the Z1 Dashboard. This video walks you through creating a gauge, and includes some tricks on combining multiple gauges onto a single dial.

Download the Z1 Designer today: https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Contents:
0:00 Intro
0:38 Getting Started
1:00 Needles and Gauges
1:23 Setting up Your Gauge
3:29 Adding a Second Needle
5:31 Adding Text
6:03 Adding a Transparent Gauge
8:33 Final Thoughts

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2022.4 of the Z1 Designer is now available! This is the application that lets you create or edit dashboards for use in the Z1 Dashboard. Highlights of this update include:

Undo/Redo functionality:


Optionally specify the sim you are designing for to see the available data channels:


Ability to set data channel values or 'play' them between a minimum and maximum value:


Don't forget the current year end sale for the Z1 Software. Enter the code GOFASTER22 at checkout.

The Z1 Designer can be downloaded here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Full list of release notes:
* You can now adjust the values of the data channels in the Designer. This lets you see how changing the values effects the display of you design. To do so select Windows->Data Channel Values. This displays a new window showing all the current values for each data channel. You can use the slider to adjust the current value of the data channel. Each data channel has a minimum and maximum value. These can be adjusted using the the two text fields.

* Data channel values can now be 'played' in the Designer. There are several buttons in the Data Channel Values window that allow this to happen. The 'Play' button will start the process. When playing, the values of each data channel will move between their minimum and maximum values. To stop playing, click the 'Stop' button. You can choose which data channels get played by ticking the checkbox next to their name. By default all channels are included. There are two buttons that allow you to select all or none of the data channels.

* There is now a Sim drop down in the Dashboard Properties window (Windows->Dashboard Properties). Selecting a sim from this drop down will tell the Designer which sim you are designing your dashboard for. Based on the selected sim, any data channel drop downs will grey out channels that are not supported by that sim. For example, if you selected iRacing as your sim then when you are looking at data channels to assign to an object certain channels, such as Boost Pressure, will be greyed out. Note that this is only a guide. Just because a channel is greyed out does not mean you can't select it and use it in your design. It just means that there is no data associated with it in the selected sim.

* There is a Data Channel Playing Hertz option in the settings dialog. This lets you choose the speed at which the data channel values change when being played. Higher numbers equate to faster change.

* The data channel minimum and maximum values, and their current playback status, will be saved when you exit the Designer.

* There is a Reset button at the bottom of the Data Channel Values window which will reset the data channels to their default minimum, maximum and current values, as well as including them all in playback.

* Undo/Redo. The Designer now supports undo and redo. You can use the menus options under the Edit menu, or the standard Windows Ctrl-Z for undo and Shift-Ctrl-Z for redo. Undo/redo is supported for up to 20 changes. After that older changes will be discarded.

* Competitors Tool: Added Car Number options.

* Widgets: Added Class Position, Class Position/Total Cars and Distance To Pit options.

* Warnings: Added In Pit Lane option, Traction Control Engaged, Headlight Flash.

* Data Channels: ERS Deployment Mode

Download the Z1 Designer here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Out end of year sale continues with 50% off the Z1 Software: Enter the code GOFASTER22 at checkout.

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2023.1 of the Z1 Designer is now available. This application lets you create your own dashboards or edit existing ones for use with the Z1 Dashboard.

Some of the highlights of this release include:
Open Dialog Keyword Search


Custom Colors Now Saved


Counter-Clockwise Gauges


Graphs Include Zones


Class Specific Competitors


Many New Widgets


You can download the Z1 Designer here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Here is the full list of release notes:
* There is now a Keywords text field in the Open Dashboard dialog. This will check the entered text against the names of the dashboards on your local computer. This will filter the results, showing only those dashboards whose names are an exact or partial match.

* Warnings: Water Pressure is now available as a warning.

* You can now assign a background color and stroke color to the bounding box of a data channel object.

* Widgets: Previous Lap Time has been added as widget. Unlike Last Lap Time which show the time of the lap just completed, this shows the time of the lap prior to the last one.  So if you are on lap 10 this will show the lap time from lap 8.

* Widgets: Added 'My iRating Change'. This will display your iRating change based on your current position if you are in an iRacing race.

* Widgets: Added 'Current Sector', 'Current Sector Time', 'Sector Time'. The 'Sector Time' option lets you choose a specific sector to display (1-20). The time will be the last time recorded for that sector.

* Custom colors are now saved by default when you exit the Designer. You can turn this functionality off by going to the Colors tab in the settings dialog and unchecking the Save Custom Colors option.

* You can now remove a color from the list of custom colors, by right clicking on the custom colors in the Color Chooser Dialog, and selecting the 'Delete Color' option from the popup menu.

* Standings Tool: New options have been added: Delta gap to the overall leader; Class position change.

* Competitors Tool: There is now an option to have the object apply to only cars in your class. Check the 'Show Your Class Only' option to enable this.  If this is not checked then the behavior is the same as in previous versions, where the entire field is used.

* Gauge Tool: Gauges can now rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as well as the standard clockwise direction. This option is set in the Dial Configuration section drop down using the Direction drop down.

* Widgets: The iRating SOF widget no longer includes the text 'SOF'.  This brings it inline with the other widgets, all of which only show values.

* Graph Tool: Zones are now available for use with this tool.  By default all graphs have one zone.  You can add up to 4 zones to a graph.  Zones allow you to have the graph fill up in an uneven manner.  For example if the graph displayed RPM from 1,000 to 8,000, you could have two zones, with the first showing RPM under 4,000 in the first 25% of the graph, then the second zone could show RPM above 4,000 using the remaining 75% of the graph.

Download the Z1 Designer for free today:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm