Z1 Dashboard Software

[Russell Hodgson]

Z1 Software has partnered with AI Racing Tech, from the University of Hawaii - https://www.hawaiiavtech.com/home.  AI Racing Tech will be competing in the evGrandPrix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - http://evgrandprix.org/autonomous/.



The Z1 Software (Dashboard and Analyzer) are being used to hone the autonomous kart and its algorithms, allowing the team to be as competitive as possible in the event.

Make sure you check out both websites above. This is another example of how the Z1 Software works in both the sim world and the real world to improve lap times - in this case AI lap times!

[Russell Hodgson]

The Z1 Dashboard and Analyzer let you display the interface in multiple languages. This video explains how to select from the several options that come with the software, as well as how to create your own language packs so that you can display the software in any language.

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

Intro: 0:00
Some irony: 0:31
Choosing your language for the Z1 Dashboard 0:38
Choosing your language for the Z1 Analyzer 2:23
Creating language packs For the Z1 Analyzer: 3:34
Creating language packs For the Z1 Dashboard: 6:40
Final Thoughts: 9:48

[Russell Hodgson]

We've just released version 2021.1.2 of the Z1 Dashboard.  This fixes several bugs found in the previous version.



New users can get the demo here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Existing users can get the update here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/MyDashboard.cfm

Full list of release notes:
* Fixed a bug where web data streams would show up multiple times in the selection dialog.

* Fixed a bug where the new version dialog would show a blank window.

* Fixed a bug where the new version dialog would always appear even if the user had set Show Updates to 'Once' in the settings dialog.

* Fixed a bug where track names for Automobilista 2 and Project Cars 3 could show up incorrectly.

* Fixed a bug that could prevent the shift tone from playing.

* The new version dialog now only displays for the first instance.

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2021.2 of the Z1 Dashboard is now available!

This new version brings many exciting new features including:
Transparent background


Compatibility with Vocore screens


Competitor data for Assetto Corsa Competizione


Car names for RaceRoom


German Translation


and more...

New users can download the demo here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Existing users can download the update here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/MyDashboard.cfm

Here is the full list of release notes:
* Compatible with version 2021.2 of the Z1 Designer. Adds the Track Map, Friction Circle, Image and Standings objects to custom dashboards.

* RaceRoom: The names of the cars are now displayed in standings screens, etc.
* Added German as a language option.

* rFactor 1 & 2, ARCA Sim Racing, Automobilista, and Game Stock Car now support up to 64 competitors. Previously the maximum was 32.

* Competitor cars from Assetto Corsa Competizione are now displayed in all appropriate dashboards. To turn this feature on in ACC you will need to edit the file 'broadcasting.json' located in documents/Assetto Corsa Competizione/Config. Open the file in Notepad. It should look like the following:
{
"updListenerPort": 9000,
"connectionPassword": "asd",
"commandPassword": ""
}

* Transparent backgrounds are now supported. The best settings to enable this are as follows: in the settings Display tab, set 'Always On Top' to Yes, 'Transparent' to Yes, and 'Title Bar' to Racing. The Chroma Key color is what will be used to determine what is transparent. The default gray color works well for most dashboards. The dashboard's background is painted in this color, and Windows is told to make any pixels that are the chroma key color transparent. If you see pixelated edges on parts of the dashboard, then you can experiment with this color to get what works best for you. A restart will be required after changing these options. Note that the standard warnings, such as flags, fuel warnings, etc, that would normally flash on the background are still active with transparent backgrounds, unless you manually turn them off.

* Now Compatible with the Vocore USB screens. The Z1 Dashboard will auto-detect the presence of a screen and send the display to that screen by default. You can choose the orientation for the display on the screen. The four options are located in the Display setting's tab under 'LCD Orientation'. Changing a display orientation requires a restart of the Z1 Dashboard.

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

[Russell Hodgson]

We've started a Discord channel to discuss everything Z1. Everyone is invited: https://discord.gg/XXwhX6azxM

[Russell Hodgson]

We've just released version 2021.2.1 of the Z1 Dashboard.




Release notes:

* Fixed a bug that could cause custom dashboard LEDs defined as rectangles to incorrectly show as circles.

* Fixed an issue with ACC lap timing where undefined lap times could show as extremely high numbers.

* Fixed an issue with ACC where the driver's car could be incorrectly identified in the standings and track map displays.

* Fixed a bug where the Delta time in a custom standings dashboard would display incorrectly.

* Fixed a bug with the display on Vocore 5 inch screens.

* Fixed a bug with the iRating change display on custom standings dashboards.

* Added a Vocore Touch calibration tool. This is located in the Display tab of the settings dialog. If your touch screen Vocore is not responding correctly to your touch inputs, then you should run this tool. Click the 'Calibrate Vocore' button to run the tool. You'll see a screen with four white squares appear on your Vocore screen. Tap on each square on your vocore screen to turn it green. Once all the squares have turned green, click/tap the Done button. If you choose a different screen orientation you will need to rerun the calibration tool.


New users can get the demo here: https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm


Existing users can get the update here: https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/MyDashboard.cfm


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

[Russell Hodgson]

Transparent backgrounds have been implemented in version 2021.2 of the Z1 Dashboard. This video shows this great new feature in action, and details how you can turn it on and customize it to your liking.

Make sure you join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/XXwhX6azxM

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

Chapter Index
0:00 Intro
0:57 Transparency settings
2:14 Chroma Key details
2:50 Title bar options
4:07 Sim Settings
4:23 Transparency out of the car
4:44 Transparency in the car
5:43 Final thoughts

[Russell Hodgson]

The next version of the Z1 Dashboard and the Z1 Designer are just around the corner!  We've got some great new features, with the Dashboard Gallery, and an entirely new way to customize the Z1 Dashboard.  The Z1 Designer also gets many new features, such as conditional colors, images, and more!  Stayed tuned as it is less than a week away!

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2021.3 of the Z1 Dashboard is now available! This version introduces our new Dashboard Gallery, as well as an revamped settings dialog. In addition F1 2021 compatibility and support for the new Sim Lab Dash.

The new General settings tab


The new Car settings tab


The new Dashboard Gallery


The new Warning Lights tab


Existing users can get the update here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/MyDashboard.cfm

New users can download the demo here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Here is the full list of release notes:
* Compatible with the new Z1 Designer v2021.3 features. This includes the new warning options, conditional colors and conditional images.

* The Settings dialog has been completely redesigned to make it easier to understand and navigate. As the Dashboard has grown over the years more and more options have been included. It was time for a complete redo of the settings dialog to make all the settings easier to understand.

* The dashboard Gallery has been introduced. This is the new way to select dashboards for your car. The Car tab of the settings dialog will display a preview of each of the dashboards you currently have associated with the car. There can be up to 10 dashboards associated with a car. To change a dashboard, double click on it. This will display the Gallery. This shows all available dashboards. You can search for specific keywords, like F1, or GT3, or the name of the dashboard's designer, etc. You can also filter results by various categories or sims. This also allows us to place new dashboards online so they are immediately available to you for download. In addition you can upload your own dashboards through the Z1 Designer, making them available for other drivers in the Gallery.

* Support for the Sim Lab Race-X display and LEDs.

* Compatible with Codemasters F1 2021.

* Added a new setting called 'Auto Settings'. This is in the General settings tab. When this is selected the Dashboard will assign certain settings based on the currently active sim. These settings include Hertz targets, delta types and LED illumination options.

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

[Russell Hodgson]

We are finishing up the next version of the Z1 Analyzer. It should be ready shortly.

In the meantime here are some great pictures sent to us by one of our users. They are running the Z1 Dashboard on their rig using this really good 9" screen. They got it here: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/255128337595?var=555119818712

Note we are not endorsing the screen - just showing what they have because I'm sure there will be questions on where they got it.















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

And, yes, we do endorse the Z1 Software!

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2021.3.1 of the Z1 Dashboard is now available. It includes various bug fixes.



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

Existing users can get the update here: https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/MyDashboard.cfm

Full list of release notes:
* Fixed a bug which prevented the Telemetry menu option from being selected in the garage display.

* Fixed a bug which could prevent certain information from being displayed on some of the legacy dashboards.

* Fixed a bug that prevented the Fuel Per Lap setting in the Car tab from saving properly.

* Fixed a bug that could prevent the legacy dashboard default values from being read. (This could include things like proper fonts, background color, etc.)

* Fixed a bug that could cause the Category drop down in the Dashboard gallery to be too tall, so you would not be able to see the bottom of it.

* Fixed a bug where if you chose not to scroll the weather in the garage stats screen then the weather would not be displayed at all in that screen.

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

[Russell Hodgson]

The latest versions of the Z1 Dashboard and Z1 Designer introduced the Dashboard Gallery. This is where you can view and download all the available dashboards for use within the Z1 Dashboard. You can also upload your own to the Gallery, to share them with other users.

We've updated our website so that in addition to accessing the Gallery inside of the Z1 Dashboard or Z1 Designer, you can now also see the various dashboards available on our site.

You can view all the available dashboards here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/gallery.cfm

[Russell Hodgson]

We are in the process of upgrading our servers. It has been about 7 or 8 years since we last did this.  Moving to a new server will give us the latest server OS, more capacity on the server, and more bandwidth.  All necessary as we move forward with the Z1 software. A lot has gone on behind the scenes in preparation for the move.

The first public step will be happening tomorrow between 9 and 10 PM EST.  We will be moving the databases over to the new server.  During this time you will still be able to use your Z1 software.  However access to anything that requires our server will not be available. This would be uploading/downloading telemetry files or dashboards, using the Z1 Internet server, registering, or accessing the Z1 website.

Hopefully everything goes smoothly and the downtime will be minimal.

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2021.3.2 of the Z1 Dashboard is now available. This includes several fixes to bugs found in the previous version.



* Fixed a bug where the rFactor 2 car class vs car name option was reversed.

* Fixed a bug that prevented the Average Lap Time setting in the Car tab from saving properly.

* Fixed a bug where the Dashboard window would get slightly smaller every time you opened it if you were
using the 'Thin' or 'None' title bar options.

* Updated some of the descriptions in the settings dialog to be more precise.

* Added more debug output for Vocore screens.

New users can download the demo here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Existing users can get the update here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/MyDashboard.cfm

[Russell Hodgson]

Version 2021.4 of the Z1 Dashboard is now available! This new version implements the many new design features from the latest Z1 Designer (2021.4). It also introduces the support of keyboard input. We've also updated the rendering engine to provide crisper images at varying Windows scale levels.

New circular graphs and arc tools from the Designer allow for more dashboards.



New competitor tool from the Z1 Designer allow for more dashboard options.


The Title Bar options have been improved making them easier to use within the Dashboard.


Keyboard input is now supported.


Existing users can download the update here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/MyDashboard.cfm

New users can get the demo here:
https://z1simwheel.com/dashboard/demo.cfm

Full list of release notes:
* Keyboard input is now supported. To enable this make sure the 'Check Keyboard' option in the Buttons tab is selected. Then in the Select Button Dialog, type the key you want to control the specified function.

* Implements the new features from v2021.4 of the Z1 Designer.

* When running the Dashboard with the title bar set to 'None' or 'Thin' you can now resize and drag the Dashboard around as you would with a bordered window. To move it just click near the top of the Dashboard window where a title bar would normally be, and move it to the desired location. To resize you can click and drag any edge, or the resize area at the bottom right.

* When running the Dashboard with the title bar set to 'None' or 'Thin' you can now exit the Dashboard by clicking on the red X at the top right of the 'Waiting For Connection' screen. Note that this is only active when you are not connected to a sim.

* Rendering updates to improve overall clarity, especially when using Windows scaling other than 100%.

* Updates to various dialogs to bring them up to date with the latest look and feel of the Z1 software.

* Various tweaks to the settings dialog.

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