Welcome to the Galactic Star Map! 🚀

← Back to Map

This guide provides everything you need to know about using this collaborative tool to help your faction chart the vast universe of TextSpaced.

Getting Started

Registration

To create an account, you'll need a username, a password, and a Game API Key from your TextSpaced profile.

  • API Key: This key is essential. It allows the map application to securely read your in-game location data and update your faction's shared map.

Logging In

Once registered, simply use your username and password to sign in and access your faction's map.



The Main Map View

The main view is composed of the interactive map canvas and the control panel on the left.

The Map Canvas

  • Pan (Move): Click and drag anywhere on the map to move your view.
  • Zoom: Use your mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out, revealing more or less detail.
  • Reset View: If you get lost, the Reset View button in the control panel will center the map and reset the zoom level.


The Control Panel

Sync Map Data

This is the most important feature of the application. Clicking the Sync Map Data button connects to the game via your API key and performs several actions:

  1. It reads your current location and nearby systems.
  2. It discovers stable wormholes and structures (like Null Space Catapults) in your vicinity.
  3. It adds all this new information to your faction's shared map for everyone in your faction to see.

Sync often to keep your map accurate!



Route Planner

The route planner calculates the most efficient path between any two systems your faction has discovered.

  1. Enter Systems: Type the start and end system names in the input boxes. The fields will autocomplete with known system names.
  2. Click to Select: Alternatively, click on a system on the map to automatically populate the currently active input box.
  3. Understanding the Path: The results will show a step-by-step guide and highlight the path on the map. Travel methods are color-coded:
    • Orange: Sublight travel along the galaxy's spiral arm.
    • Red: Instantaneous wormhole jump.
    • Lime Green: Instantaneous catapult jump.

Display Options

  • Show All Catapult Ranges: Toggles the visibility of all known catapult ranges on the map.
  • Show Unclaimed Names: Toggles the labels for systems with default names.


User Controls (Profile & Logout)

  • Profile: Allows you to update your Game API Key or change your password.
  • Logout: Securely logs you out of the application.


Advanced Map Features

System Naming

Systems are labeled in one of two ways:

  • Unique Names: Systems with player-given names (e.g., "Marketplace") are displayed with that name.
  • Coordinate Names: Unclaimed systems discovered via syncing are labeled with their spiral coordinate, like #543.21, to match the in-game display and help with navigation.

Catapult Ranges

Catapult ranges are drawn to follow the curve of the galactic spiral, giving you an accurate sense of their reach.

  • Global Toggle: Use the "Show All Catapult Ranges" checkbox to turn them all on or off.
  • Individual Toggle: Shift+Click on a system to permanently toggle the display of its specific range.
  • Highlighting: Click on a single system to highlight its range in a brighter color while dimming all others. This makes it easy to analyze a specific jump path. Click anywhere else on the map canvas to clear the selection.