6. Settings

6.1. Overview

Clicking on the bar symbol on the top left will open the main settings.

Project: add, remove and open projects Mission: select a mission from the active project GPS: select whether the coordinates are received by an external real GPS sensor (through SensorHandler) or the simulation mode is set Back to flying: go back to the main display for navigation Reset flight lines: reset the status (and thus the respective color) of entire flight lines, line sections or individual images. Capture mode: choose from three capture modes: trigger all images and lines, trigger only the images and lines sections that have not yet been triggered or clip to the remaining images and line sections Stored settings: Different configurations can be defined Map graphics: set colors and widths/sizes for map elements, the airplane symbol and of image centers (success/warning/error etc.) Graphics: change the colors of the user interface Units: choose the unit of values like altitude, speed, etc. Tolerances: change the settings of the navigation limits to different values (e.g. width of the corridor in which the images will be taken) Autozoom settings: define when to switch from multiple line display to single line display Display settings: set the pilot display to on or off and store its position Standard rate turn: define the standard right turn (usually 120 seconds for 360°) Licensing: get information on the current software license

6.2. Missions

TOPOFLIGHT’s Mission management feature enables the division of projects into individual missions. In releases from 2026 onward, users can open a selected mission instead of the complete flight plan to view only mission-specific lines. It is also possible to import and export .TFX files as well as to create reports for individual missions.

6.3. Selecting the GPS

In the main settings menu, select GPS.

The option GPS through SensorHandler uses the coordinates delivered by SensorHandler from the external GPS.

Simulation mode uses computed coordinates from the flight simulation instead of real GPS data (see simulation mode for more details).

6.4. Back to flying

In the main settings menu, select Back to flying to leave the settings and go back to the flight navigation.

6.5. Reset flight lines

6.5.1. Overview

The color of the flight lines and dots shown on the map indicates the status of the lines and images. These colors can be personalized in the map graphics settings.

Default line or dot color	Flight line or image status
	successful
	warning
	error
	marked for refly
	not flown

As images and LiDAR lines are acquired independently by separate sensors, the resulting dot and line color combinations depend on the collected data. The following example shows successfully captured images with an error in the LiDAR data acquisition:

It is possible to reset the status of an entire flight line, a section of a line or that of of individual images.

Hint

These adjustments can easily be made during a flight, see below.

6.5.2. Reset flight lines

Reset flight line status:

1. In the main settings menu, select Reset flight lines. The lines are sorted according to their status: not yet flown, partly flown and fully flown.

2. To display a line as to be reflown, selected that line in the fully flown list.

3. Click the button set as not flown at the bottom of the column.

4. The line is transferred to the list not yet flown and thus displayed gray in the flight plan.

5. Click set all as not flown at the bottom of the partly flown or fully flown column to reset the status of all lines listed in the respective column to not yet flown. They then will be moved to the first column and displayed gray in the flight plan.

   

6.5.3. Reset images

Reset image status:

1. In the main settings menu, select Reset flight lines. The lines are sorted according to their status: not yet flown, partly flown, and fully flown.

2. Selected a flight line from one of the lists by clicking on it.

3. In the column on the right, enter the numbers of the first and last images for which you would like to change the status.

4. In the box Set images as … select the new status:

   • not flown

   • flown

   • to be reflown

   • warning

   • error

5. The box underneath describes the action that will be taken.

6. Click Accept to apply the changes.

   

Hint

For changing the status of individual images during flight you can also use the button Mark next image as to be reflown on/off in the operator’s display.

6.5.4. Examples

Example of a flight plan with different flight line statuses

The graphic below shows a plan with fully flown, partially flown and not flown lines with the default coloring scheme: successful, warning, error, marked for refly, not flown.

Example of how to manually change the image status

Status changes can be made manually for individual (or all) images of a line.

The green color indicates that all images on the lines 9 to 12 were captured successfully. After a closer inspection it was found that the landscape was covered in snow on the first 6 images of line 10. These images will have to be retaken at a later date and, therefore, are to be marked.

Reset status of images 1 to 6 of line 10:

1. Open the dialog using the Reset flight lines button.

2. Select line 10 from the fully flown list by clicking on it.

3. In the column on the far right, set First image to 1.

4. Set Last image to 6.

5. Select the Set images… option set to be reflown.

6. Click the Accept button.

   

Result:

Images 1 to 6 of line 10 are now colored yellow.

6.6. Capture mode

In the main settings menu, select Capture mode. From the 2026 release onward, three capture modes are available:

1	Clip flight line to the remaining images and line sections. This enables an easier approach when the line is reflown. Select whether to consider the status of images and lines / only images / only lines. To ensure sufficient coverage extend the set of considered images/line sections by specifying either a fixed number of triggers or a fixed distance before and after the section. Optionally define a minimum line length.
2	Trigger all images and/or lines
3	Trigger only the images and/or lines sections that have not yet been triggered successfully

Hint

In edge cases, NAVIGATOR uses whichever extension is larger - either the one based on the number of triggers or the one based on the specified distance.

6.7. Stored settings

The default folder for the settings is ../ProgramData/TOPOFLIGHT/NAVIGATOR [version]/Settings/. Any adjustments made to the original settings will be stored here.

Changing the standard settings location:

1. In the main settings menu, select Stored settings.

2. Under the name of the current standard folder click Change folder and select the location of the new folder in the explorer window.

3. To reselect the system’s standard folder, click Default folder.

4. Restart NAVIGATOR and SensorHandler to apply the changes!

You can create individual profiles for different requirements and save those settings separately. For example, you might want separate profiles for flight duration, low- or high-altitude operations, the systems in use, or pilot preferences. These individual NAVIGATOR and SensorHandler settings are stored as distinct ini-files in a new folder within the default settings directory.

Hint

The possibility to save different settings has an advantage for companies operating different sensor systems. A separate set of ini-files can be saved for each configuration. E.g., if a company has a one system with a Riegl scanner and Phase One cameras, a second system with an UltraCam camera and a third system with an ITRES multispectral scanner, then separate settings can be saved and reloaded for each of these three systems.

Important

Previously, a new installation of NAVIGATOR overwrote the existing ini-files in the folder ../ProgramData/TOPOFLIGHT/NAVIGATOR [version]/Settings/ with the default values. Users were required to make a backup of the ini-file folder before a new installation and later copy it back into the corresponding folder. As of version 15, the settings are saved separately and are maintained for new installations.

Saving user defined settings:

1. In the main settings menu, select Stored settings.

2. Check the box Use user defined settings.

3. Select an existing user from the drop-down menu OR click Create new user settings and enter the name of the new user profile in the dialog box.

4. Click Save.

5. Restart NAVIGATOR and SensorHandler to apply the changes!

6. Define all devices in SensorHandler and all colors, fonts etc. in NAVIGATOR. All current settings and any changes made to them will now be saved in a folder with the user name located in the standard settings folder.

Loading existing settings:

1. In the main settings menu, select Stored settings.

2. Check the box Use user defined settings and select the desired profile from the drop-down list.

3. Restart NAVIGATOR and SensorHandler to apply the changes!

4. Any changes made during the use of the selected profile will be stored in the respective settings.

Important

When NAVIGATOR starts, it automatically applies the most recently used settings.

6.8. Map graphics

In the main settings menu, select Map graphics. Click on the individual colors to define a personalized color scheme for the map, the airplane and the image centers. It is also possible to adjust the size of the airplane symbol and that of the image dots. The default scheme uses the color definition and size shown in this manual.

Hint

All values associated with the aircraft (speed, altitude, azimuth and map icon) in the operator and pilot windows share the color assigned to the airplane symbol.

6.9. Graphics

6.9.1. Customizing font and UI colors

In the main settings menu, select Graphics. Set e.g. the UI color, symbol sizes and fonts for various user interface elements according to your preferences.

Red numbers in the graphic above mark different options. In the illustrations below, these numbers show the corresponding user interface elements that are affected by these settings.

Operator’s display:	Pilot’s display:

6.10. Units

In the main settings menu, select Units. The currently selected units are highlighted in light blue.

6.11. Tolerances

In the main settings menu, select Tolerances.

1	Horizontal distance from line: Images will be taken when the sensor is within the tolerated horizontal distance. This value has an effect on the line deviation indicator and the single line display.
2	Flying altitude tolerance: If the difference between the actual and planned altitude is within the defined tolerance, the altitude reference box and scale are shown in green. If the difference exceeds the tolerance, both are shown in red. Images will be taken regardless of the difference in color!
3	Line extension markers: Use the drop-down menu to select whether markers should be based on time [s] or distance [km] and enter the preferred value for the inner, the middle and the outer marker.
4	Visualization of mount accuracy: The levelling of the mount is visualized by color in the MNT status icon. Green, orange and coral color indicate how accurately the IMU is kept vertical.
5	Speed tolerance exceedance: Select the intended or defined speed, then specify the threshold for warnings when the actual speed is faster/slower than it and click Apply. The new settings will be applied after the next flight line has been selected.

6.12. Autozoom settings

In the main settings menu, select Autozoom settings.

1	Select Head-up or North-up mode for the orientation of the map. By default, the view will automatically switch to head-up mode when inside the flight corridor and will revert again once outside the corridor. This setting can be changed, see below (2).
2	Enter the conditions upon which the operator and the pilot display change to head-up mode when entering the corridor or select to always keep the north-up mode selected above (1). In this example, the display will change as soon as the airplane is less than 60 seconds from the start of the line and/or has reached an interception angle of less than 30 degrees between the track angle of the airplane and the selected line.
3	Specify the zoom level for when the aircraft is within the corridor. In this state, the display always switches from multiline to single-line view. Individual zoom percentages can be defined for different time intervals and for both the operator and pilot displays. By default, the corridor occupies 30% of the display window width.

6.13. Display settings

Important

To support this setup, the Windows operating system must be set to extend the desktop.

In the main settings menu, select Display settings to set up the operator and pilot display.

1	The pilot display (Pi) runs independently from the operator display (Op).
2	Toggle the switch at the top to hide the pilot display.
3	Select Right side to display the time and distance bar and the altitude on the right side only. Select Left side to display the time and distance bar on the left (the altitude remains on the right). On larger displays (typically the operator display), the information is usually shown on the right side only.
4	Click on the ellipses and then select a monitor from the dropdown menu to move the pilot or operator display from one screen to the other without a mouse. This is particularly convenient when you have a touch screen and manual positioning of the window is not suitable.
5	Full screen: clicking this button enlarges the operator or pilot display to cover the whole screen.
6	Save the actual position and size of the operator or pilot display. The next time the program is started the position of the operator/pilot display is positioned in the saved location.

6.14. Standard rate turn

In the main settings menu, select Standard rate turn.

1	Adjust the time [s] in the dialog box to define the display of the standard rate turn. The radius of the arc is calculated from the speed and the specified time to make a full turn. Important Use the moustache to quietly approach and intercept the selected flight line.
2	Adjust the visualization of the propagated track. Individual settings for multi line and single line displays are possible.

6.15. Helicopter specific settings

The default installation of NAVIGATOR includes some predefined settings that are optimized for use in an airplane. If NAVIGATOR is being used in a helicopter, certain adjustments may be necessary to enhance navigation and reduce pilot workload.

Here are some suggested settings for helicopter flights:

Auto zoom settings - Interception angle

The interception angle is set to 10 or 20 degrees by default. In a helicopter, set the interception angle in the auto zoom settings to 20 degrees. This helps minimize the frequent switching between single line and overall display modes.

Auto zoom settings - Aircraft in corridor

The default zoom level is set to 30%. However, you may find 20% to be more convenient in order to have a broader view when the helicopter is within the corridor. It is recommended to test this setting during flight and adjust the level in the auto zoom settings according to your preference.

Standard rate turn - Display

The standard rate turn is shown as “moustache” in the operator and pilot display. For an aircraft it is set to 120 seconds for a full 360° turn. Adjust the standard rate turn to a more convenient value for helicopter turns.

Standard rate turn - Propagated track

The propagated track is typically displayed as a curved line, calculated based on the last three points within the previous 300 milliseconds. However, in a helicopter, this often results in a jittery line due to the frequent changes in ground track. To improve readability, it recommended replace the curved line with a straight one in the standard rate turn settings.