Creating Simulator Files

The Tracking Simulator is a utility that allows you to transmit data to Tracking Server for simulation and testing. The Tracking Simulator reads from input XML simulator files in order to generate data messages to transmit to Tracking Server. The following procedure shows you how to convert features from a personal geodatabase feature class containing a date/time field into simulator files for use with the Tracking Simulator.

Note:

File geodatabases are not supported in this procedure. If the data you want to use is a file geodatabse, you must convert it to a personal geodatabase before following this procedure.

Creating Simulator Files for the Tracking Simulator

Steps:

1. Open the Tracking Simulator by navigating to Start > Programs > ArcGIS Tracking Server > Utilities > Tracking Simulator.
2. In the Tracking Simulator, click Tools and select Create Simulator File.
3. The XML and DSD Generator dialog box opens. Click Browse and select the personal geodatabase you want to use.
4. Click Open GeoDB. The button label will toggle to Close GeoDB if the geodatabase is successfully opened.
5. Click the feature class in the geodatabase that contains the data you want to create simulator files for.
6. Select a Sort Field to sort the data on.

   The Sort Field determines the order in which the data messages will be listed in the .xml file. When the simulator file is run, this is the order in which data messages will be transmitted to Tracking Server.

7. Select the appropriate fields in the DSDF Information area.

   The feature class must contain a valid Time Field, but the Tracking Field is optional. If your data contains an appropriate field and you want to sort the data into tracks, select a Tracking Field.

8. Enter the output directory where you want the .xml and .dsd files to be created.
9. Click Export Data and New DSDF.

   A new .xml and .dsd file is created in the output directory specified.

Your data has now been converted for use with the Tracking Simulator and Tracking Server. The .dsd file is the message definition file for the data, which can be imported into Tracking Server. The .xml file contains the simulator data for use with the Tracking Simulator.

Learn how to transmit your data using the Tracking Simulator