agmission/Development/server/docs/QT_File_Format_Documentation.md

File Format Documentation: QT Files

Overview

QT files (q*.t*) are text-based summary files that store flight/spray application information in Navigate. They use a key-value format with labels followed by colons.

File Location

• Path: Mission directory
• Naming: q<identifier>.t<number> (e.g., q2024.t1)
• Format: Plain text with Windows-style line endings (\r\n)

File Structure

Header Information

CLIENT    : <Client/Farmer name>
OPERATOR  : <Operator/Pilot name>
NAV/REMARK: <Remark>
AIRCRAFT  : <Aircraft name>
FLIGHT    : <Flight number>
JOB       : <Job name>
PRODUCT   : <Product name>

System Information

GUIA INFO : <software_version>\t<serial_number>\t<mac_address>
FC TYPE   : <flow_controller_type_name>

Application Details

APP. RATE : <application_rate> <unit>
DATE      : <date>
GPS TIME  : <hh:mm:ss>
AREA/ZONE : <area_name>
SPRAY COVERAGE <Sprayed Total Swath>: <sprayed_area> <total_area> <swath_width>

Flow Controller Section (Optional)

[FLOWCONTROLLER]
PulsesPerLiter=<pulses_per_liter>

Spray Settings

AutoSpray(0: GuideLine, 1: Inside): <auto_spray_mode>
SprayOnLag: <spray_on_lag>
SprayOffLag: <spray_off_lag>
SprayLag Calibration: <spray_lag_calibration>

Field Specifications

Field	Type	Format	Description	Notes
CLIENT	String	Text	Client name	From ApplicationInfo
OPERATOR	String	Text	Operator name	From ApplicationInfo
NAV/REMARK	String	Text	Navigation remarks	From ApplicationInfo
AIRCRAFT	String	Text	Aircraft identifier	From ApplicationInfo
FLIGHT	String	Text	Flight number/identifier	From ApplicationInfo
JOB	String	Text	Job identifier	From ApplicationInfo
PRODUCT	String	Text	Product being applied	From ApplicationInfo
GUIA INFO	String	Tab-separated	<version>\t<serial>\t<MAC>	Software metadata
FC TYPE	String	Text	Flow controller type name	From ApplicationInfo
APP. RATE	Double + String	<rate> <unit>	Application rate with unit	2 decimal places
DATE	String	Date format	Date of application	From ApplicationInfo
GPS TIME	Time	HH:mm:ss	GPS time	From ApplicationInfo
AREA/ZONE	String	Text	Area or zone name	Current area name
SPRAY COVERAGE	3 Doubles	Space-separated	<sprayed> <total> <swath>	All in m² (3 decimals)
PulsesPerLiter	Integer	Number	Flow controller PPL	Only if fcPPL >= 0
AutoSpray	Integer	0 or 1	Auto spray mode	0=GuideLine, 1=Inside
SprayOnLag	Double	Decimal	Spray on lag time (seconds)	From ApplicationInfo
SprayOffLag	Double	Decimal	Spray off lag time (seconds)	From ApplicationInfo
SprayLag Calibration	Integer	Number	Spray lag calibration value	From ApplicationInfo

Example File

CLIENT    : ABC Farms
OPERATOR  : John Smith
NAV/REMARK: Field 12 north section
AIRCRAFT  : N12345
FLIGHT    : 2024-001
JOB       : CORN-2024
PRODUCT   : Herbicide XYZ
GUIA INFO : 2.9.2	SN123456	00:11:22:33:44:55
FC TYPE   : Raven 440
APP. RATE : 15.50 L/HA
DATE      : 11/06/2025
GPS TIME  : 14:30:25
AREA/ZONE : Field 12
SPRAY COVERAGE <Sprayed Total Swath>: 45.230 50.000 15.000

[FLOWCONTROLLER]
PulsesPerLiter=1200

AutoSpray(0: GuideLine, 1: Inside): 1
SprayOnLag: 0.5
SprayOffLag: 0.3
SprayLag Calibration: 100

Operations

Creating QT Files

• Function: FileController::saveQT()
• Location: filecontroller.cpp
• Called when: Saving mission/application data
• Writes all fields from ApplicationInfo and current area state

Updating QT Files

• Function: FileController::updateQT()
• Location: filecontroller.cpp
• Called when: Updating spray coverage or application rate
• Only updates:
  • APP. RATE: Application rate and unit
  • SPRAY COVERAGE: Sprayed area, total area, and swath width
• All other fields remain unchanged

Related Files

• Source: /branches/mission-structure/navigate/src/appnavigate/filecontroller.cpp
• Related classes: ApplicationInfo, Area, FlowController

Notes

• All area measurements are in square meters (m²)
• Application rate units depend on system settings (metric vs US)
• Flow controller section is optional and only written if valid PPL exists
• The file uses consistent formatting with specific decimal precision for numeric values
• GUIA INFO fields are tab-separated (not space-separated)