Pribluda User Guide

Screenshot showing default layout Creative Commons License

Introduction

Pribluda is an addon for Grand Prix Legends (GPL), that provides real-time telemetry information to the driver. Originally written by Denis Fedorov in 2003/4, it enables drivers to see at glance their sector times, tyre temperatures and the current race standings, and more.

The latest version (1.1.1.0 20080209) is written by Amir Kamal, and adds a dashboard display, and many more configuration options.

NOTE: All screenshots are taken under OpenGL. Things will appear slightly differently under D3D due to the different methods of drawing to the screen, most notably the background boxes will be flat black rather than translucent.


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Requirements

It also works on XP64, as long as GPL was installed using the GPLPS installer. It may work on Windows 95 but this has not been tested.

There is also a native Linux version by Petteri Pajunen.


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Installation

  1. Backup any existing pribluda.dll and pribluda.ini files
  2. Extract the contents of the zip to your GPL directory
  3. If you're already using a previous version of pribluda skip to step 4
    Otherwise, run patch.com, and enter Y when prompted
  4. [Optional] Edit pribluda.ini to configure things to your taste
  5. Start GPL

If you have been using Pribluda v0.97 and Steffen Weitzdoerfer's '65 patch so you can see the Pribluda display in the '65 mod, then you need to remove the patch files, delete your current gplc65.exe and allow GEM+ to create a new gplc65.exe file. You should then be able to use all the new features of v1.0 in the '65 mod.

For safety, I recommend moving priblc65.dll, priblc65.ini and (most importantly) \Mods\GEM+\GPL65\98-priblc65.xml to a backup directory in case something goes wrong and you need to revert back.


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Configuration

Pribluda has many configuration options that allows one to tailor the displays to your liking. These options are set using the pribluda.ini file included in the download. Each display has a seperate section within pribluda.ini that contains options specific to that display, these are described in the Featues section of this guide.

Additionally there is a Global section that contains option affecting all displays, and a Keys section where all the keyboard controls are define, these are outlined below.

Settings in the [global] section of pribluda.ini:
INI SettingDefaultDescription
version1.1.0.0Version number of pribluda the ini applies to, if this does not match the dll version the ini will not be loaded
blackBarRatio0.1041Ratio of the black bars at the top/bottom of the screen to the full height of the display. You almost certainly do not need to change this.
boldFont01 = bold text is used on all displays
0 = normal weight text is used
borderSize5The gap, in pixels, between the text and the edge of the background for all displays
defaultColour0xffffffColour to be used for text, unless overridden elsewhere. As a reverse RGB triplet.
fontFaceCourier NewFontface to use for all text, this must be a valid truetype font. Monospace fonts will work best.
fontSize12Size of all text
overlayBoards01 = Toggling any of the Player Board, Leader Board or TrackPosition Board on, cause the two to be toggled off. Useful if you position all three at the same coordinates.
0 = All boards toggle seperately
Settings in the [keys] section of pribluda.ini:
INI SettingDefaultDescription
clearTimesKey0x7bScan Code for the key to reset the Sector Times display (default:F5)
leaderBoardKey0x77Scan Code for the key to toggle the Leader Board (default:F7)
playerBoardKey0x76Scan Code for the key to toggle the Player Board (default: F6)
trackPositionBoardKey0x75Scan Code for the key to toggle the TrackPosition Board (default:F8)
sectorTimesKey0x74Scan Code for the key to toggle the Sector Times display (default:F5)
tyreTempsKey0x73Scan Code for the key to toggle the Tyre Temps display (default:F4)
fpsKey0x7aScan Code for the key to toggle the FPS display (default:F11)
dashkey0x2DScan Code for the key to toggle the Dashboard display (default:<INSERT>)

If there is no pribluda.ini in the GPL directory, or some settings are not defined in the ini file, then the missing settings will fall back to the default value.


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Features

Dashboard

Close up of dash board

A simple, single line, dashboard display that runs along the bottom of the display. This shows your current Oil Pressure, Oil Temperature, Fuel Pressure, Fuel Level, Speed, Gear and RPM. As with the other the displays the units of measurements are determined by whether GPL is configured to use Imperial or Metric units.

This offers very similar functionality to the GPL Digital Display Modifier. If you choose to use pribluda dashboard feature, you should probably disable GPL DDM as the two displays are likely to conflict.

Oil temperature and Fuel level can be configured to highlight if certain 'danger' values are reached.

Settings in the [dash] section of pribluda.ini:
INI SettingDefaultDescription
show 11 = display defaults to on
0 = display defaults to off
defaultColour0xffffffColour used for this display
warningColour0x0000ffColour used for danger warnings
fuelWarningLevel10Amount of fuel, in litres, below which the fuel readout should be highlighted
oilWarningTemp200Oil temperature, in fahrenheit, above which the oil temperature readout should be highlighted

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Tyre Temperatures (F4)

Close up of tyre temperatures

The tyre temperature displays show the current state of each tyre. Three numbers are shown for each tyre, giving temperature readings at the the inner and outer edges as well as the middle. The values will be shown in either centigrade or farenheit, depending depending on whether GPL is set to use metric or imperial units.

Each temperature reading is individually colour coded giving an indication of the level of grip offered by the tyre. When grip is below a minimum level (98.5% by default) with a cold tyre a dark blue is used, below that level of grip with a hot tyre bright red is used. When grip is above this level the colour will gradually transition from blue to red, with bright green indicating when maximum grip is reached.

The logic to determine the colour-coding is based on the current temperature and pressure of the tyre, in relation to the optimum values of these factors. The optimums are determined directly from GPL's physics engine, and so will always reflect the correct level of grip, regardless of the mod in use (67s, 65s, 66s, 69s or Cortinas).

This means that to begin with the colour may transition directly from blue to red, due to tyre pressure not being high enough to achieve maximum grip, regardless of temperature. If you're finding that your tyre temperatures never change from dark blue, even after several fast laps, this is almost certainly an indication that you need to increase your tyre pressures. IT IS NOT A BUG!

The display can be toggled betwen showing: average temperatures, contact patch temperatures, both or none using the F4 key.

Settings in the [tyres] section of pribluda.ini:
INI SettingDefaultDescription
show1;1 = Average temperature display defaults to on
0 = Average temperature display defaults to off
X0;Horizontal coordinate of the top left of the average temperature display. Positive values are relative to the left edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the right edge.
Y-50;Vertical coordinate of the top left of the average temperature display. Positive values are relative to the top edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the bottom edge.
showPatch0;1 = Contact patch temperature display defaults to on
0 = Contact patch temperature display defaults to off
patchX200;Horizontal coordinate of the top left of the contact patch temperature display. Positive values are relative to the left edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the right edge.
patchY-50;Vertical coordinate of the top left of the contact patch temperature display. Positive values are relative to the top edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the bottom edge.
brightness0.5Brightness value of colours used to represent grip. Valid values are between 0.0 and 1.0. If you find the default colours to hard to read try increasing this value
minimumGripFloor0.985The level of grip above which the colour transition occurs. Valid values are between 0.0 and 1.0. Lower values give a slower/wider transition, higher values give a more accurate indication of when maximum grip is reached.
defaultColour0xffffffColour used for the P/T label on the contact patch temperature display
useSteppedColours01 = Use stepped colour grip indication (similar to v0.97 behaviour).
0 = Use gradual transition colour grip indication.
lowTempLowGripColour
highTempLowGripColour
optimumGripColour
0xff0000
0x0000ff
0x00ff00
Colours used when useSteppedColours=1. All as reverse RGB triplets.

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Sector Times (F5)

Close up of sector times

A four line display shows sector times for the following laps:

  1. Ideal lap: The best individual sectors you have recorded in the current event, and the theoretical lap time possible if you acheived them all on the same lap.
  2. Best lap: The best lap time you have recorded in the current event, with the sector splits.
  3. Last lap: The laptime and sector splits for your previous lap.
  4. Current lap: The sector splits for your current lap so far.

Improved sector/lap times are highlighted making it easy to see when you have improved, and the times can be cleared using the ClearTimes function (F12 by default). There is also an option to revert to the old style sector time display of v0.97.

Settings in the [times] section of pribluda.ini:
INI SettingDefaultDescription
show11 = display defaults to on
0 = display defaults to off
X0Horizontal coordinate of the top left of the display. Positive values are relative to the left edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the right edge.
Y0Vertical coordinate of the top left of the display. Positive values are relative to the top edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the bottom edge.
defaultColour0xffffffColour used to display sector times
bestSectorColour0x00ff00Colour used to highlight new best sectors on the Ideal Lap line
bestCurrentSectorColour0xff8888Colour used to highlight new best sectors on the Last Lap line
showIdealLap11 = Show Ideal Lap Line, 0 = Hide Ideal Lap Line
showBestLap11 = Show Best Lap Line, 0 = Hide Best Lap Line
showLastLap11 = Show Last Lap Line, 0 = Hide Last Lap Line
showCurrentLap11 = Show Current Lap Line, 0 = Hide Current Lap Line
useOldSectorTimeFormat01 = Revert to old, v0.97 style, two line display format
0 = Use new four line display format

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Player Board (F6)

Close up of Player Board

Shows race or qualifying positions, with time gaps relative to the player the last time across the start/finish line (or compared to the qualifying time), and the number of laps completed. Drivers are highlighted to show whether they are a laps behind/ahead, have been passed, or have retired.

It also show the number of lap remaining during a race, the time left in a qualifying session, and the time elapsed during a training session.

Settings in the [playerboard] section of pribluda.ini:
INI SettingDefaultDescription
show11 = display defaults to on
0 = display defaults to off
X-624Horizontal coordinate of the top left of the display. Positive values are relative to the left edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the right edge.
Y0Vertical coordinate of the top left of the display. Positive values are relative to the top edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the bottom edge.
defaultColour0xffffffDefault Colour for this display
playerDriverColour0x00ffffColour used to highlight the player
lappedDriverColour0x228b22Colour used to highlight drivers you have lapped
lappingDriverColour0x3c14dcColour used to highlight drivers that have lapped you
retiredDriverColour0xbbbbbbColour used to highlight drivers that have retired
passedDriverColour0xface87Colour used to highlight drivers you have passed for position this lap
leaderDriverColour0x00ff00Colour used to highlight the leader
firstnamelength1Number of characters shown for each drivers firstname
lastnamelength8Number of characters shown for each drivers lastname
numDrivers10Number of drivers to show
precision2Decimal places time gaps are shown to
alwaysShowLeader01 = Force the lead driver to be shown
0 = Only show the leader if they would normally appear

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Leader Board (F7)

Close up of Leader Board

Shows race or qualifying positions, with time gaps relative to the leader the last time across the start/finish line (or compared to the qualifying time), and the number of laps completed. Drivers are highlighted to show whether they are a laps behind/ahead, have been passed, or have retired.

It also show the number of lap remaining during a race, the time left in a qualifying session, and the time elapsed during a training session.

Settings in the [leaderboard] section of pribluda.ini:
INI SettingDefaultDescription
show11 = display defaults to on
0 = display defaults to off
X-400Horizontal coordinate of the top left of the display. Positive values are relative to the left edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the right edge.
Y0Vertical coordinate of the top left of the display. Positive values are relative to the top edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the bottom edge.
defaultColour0xffffffDefault Colour for this display
playerDriverColour0x00ffffColour used to highlight the player
lappedDriverColour0x228b22Colour used to highlight drivers the leader has lapped
retiredDriverColour0xbbbbbbColour used to highlight drivers that have retired
passedDriverColour0xface87Colour used to highlight drivers you have passed for position this lap
leaderDriverColour0x00ff00Colour used to highlight the leader
firstnamelength1Number of characters shown for each drivers firstname
lastnamelength8Number of characters shown for each drivers lastname
numDrivers10Number of drivers to show
precision2Decimal places time gaps are shown to
alwaysShowPlayer01 = Force the player to be shown
0 = Only show the player if they would normally appear

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TrackPosition Board (F8)

Close up of TrackPosition Board

Shows relative track positions of all cars in relation to the player, with gaps displayed in metres/kilometres or yards/miles depending on whether GPL is set to use metric or imperial units. Drivers are highlighted to show whether they are a laps behind/ahead, have been passed. Retired or disconnected drivers are not shown.

It also show the number of lap remaining during a race, the time left in a qualifying session, and the time elapsed during a training session.

If you set the showSurroundGapsAsTime to 1 the gaps are shown as a theoretical time gap. This is based on your speed for cars ahead of you, and the on speed of the chasing car for cars behind you. This can be toggled in game by repeatedly pressing F8. No gaps are shown for stationary vehicles.

NOTE: Even when showing the gaps as time, the order of the list is still based on the distance between the cars. Therefore the time gaps may not be in order. For example: Imagine you are the lead car with two cars chasing, the first a 100m behind travelling at 100mph, the second at 150m travelling at 200mph. In this circumstance the time gap to the first car is greater than the time gap to the second car. This is not a bug.

Settings in the [trackpositionboard] section of pribluda.ini:
INI SettingDefaultDescription
show11 = display defaults to on
0 = display defaults to off
X-180Horizontal coordinate of the top left of the display. Positive values are relative to the left edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the right edge.
Y0Vertical coordinate of the top left of the display. Positive values are relative to the top edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the bottom edge.
defaultColour0xffffffDefault Colour for this display
playerDriverColour0x00ffffColour used to highlight the player
lappedDriverColour0x228b22Colour used to highlight drivers you have, or are about to, lap
lappingDriverColour0x3c14dcColour used to highlight drivers that have, or are about to, lap you
retiredDriverColour0xbbbbbbColour used to highlight drivers that have retired
passedDriverColour0xface87Colour used to highlight drivers you have passed for position this lap
leaderDriverColour0x00ff00Colour used to highlight the leader
firstnamelength1Number of characters shown for each drivers firstname
lastnamelength8Number of characters shown for each drivers lastname
numDrivers10Number of drivers to show
updateFrequency5Maximum number of times to update the display per second
showGapsAsTime01 = Gaps between drivers are shown as time
0 = Gaps between drivers are shown as distance

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FPS Display (F11)

A simple FPS counter, useful as the dashboard display can obscure GPL's built in FPS counter.

Settings in the [fps] section of pribluda.ini:
INI SettingDefaultDescription
show11 = display defaults to on
0 = display defaults to off
x-100Horizontal coordinate of the top left of the display. Positive values are relative to the left edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the right edge.
y-50Vertical coordinate of the top left of the display. Positive values are relative to the top edge of the screen, negative values are relative to the bottom edge.
defaultColour0xffffffColour used for this display

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Known Issues


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Troubleshooting

If you have problems with pribluda, first of all check that you meet all the criteria in the requirements section. If you still have problems try changing which rasteriser you are using. If that still does not work, some basic debug output is logged to a file called pribluda.log in the GPL folder: this file should provide some clues as to what is going wrong.

If you do find any bugs, please post them to Priluda thread in GPL forums at racesimcentral.com.


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Change Log


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Credits & Thanks

Pribluda v1.x was written by Amir 'akamal' Kamal. With assistance from:

Denis 'DenF1' Federov
For sharing the source code for Pribluda v0.97 - without which this would not be possible.
Alex Shurikus
For helping to contact Denis and getting the source code from him.
Nigel Pattinson
For his great insights into the internals of the GPL exe, and endless patience answering stupid questions.
Tom Demuer
For sharing the source code to GPLHod, which has been a great help.
Saiph
For the instructions on how safely removed the old prib65 patch
Patrick Teil
Author of GPL Motec, for help finding the number of laps remaining in the race
Petteri Pajunen
Linux Port
Beta-Testers
  • Ken
  • Border Reiver
  • WorthT
  • RichardCooke
  • BentCam
  • Steffen W
  • Petteri Pajunen
  • Uwe Herrling
  • Chris Bull
  • Stefan Sjöström

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Downloads

Pribluda v1.1.1.0 (20080209)
Pribluda native Linux port by Petteri Pajunen (20080209)
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Disclaimer & License

Pribluda v1.1.1 by Amir Kamal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. It is based on Pribluda 0.97 by Denis Fedorov.

This software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Use it at your own risk. Always remember to have a backup copy of your game (and computer).

THIS IS NOT A VIVENDI UNIVERSAL/SIERRA/PAPYRUS PRODUCT


back to top Screenshot showing example super-widescreen (3840x1280) layout