Modifying the SOS Explorer® (SOSx) Configuration

SOS Explorer® has many options for customizing your exhibit, from the number of displays, to the timing of data syncs, to whether or not you want to show an exit button (for use in classrooms, for example). In order to change the configuration of your exhibit, we have created a “Configurator” program, which edits a file called config.json for SOS Explorer®.

When you first launch SOSx, the Configurator will automatically open. Any other time, open the SOSx Configurator program (Configurator.exe), located in the same folder as SOSx, to change the primary settings for SOSx.

With Configurator, you can choose which “Hot Buttons” appear on the lower left corner of SOSx, choose basemap / clouds options, link a kiosk tour (a tour that automatically plays after no one has touched the screen for a specified time: Kiosk Timeout Sec), various UI Features (for example, 2D/3D Button on the lower right of the screen can be hidden), and various display options (for example, enabling a second display monitor or an optional VR Oculus Rift).

If you choose all the default options during the installation, you will find the configuration file at: C:\Program Files\SOS Explorer\SOSx_Data\config\config.json

Allows users to switch between 2D map and 3D globe mode.

Allows users to probe and analyze datasets, and display graphs.

Displays camera controls which allow the user to tilt and rotate the camera (pitch and roll).

Allows users to open a window to draw lines and place icons on the globe.

Allows users to measure distances on the globe.

Allows users to display overlays on the globe such as country borders, cities, and grid lines.

Allows users to exit the application by pressing a quit button on the lower-right. Not recommended for exhibits.

Shows a menu with a variety of resources. Normally hidden.

When checked, displays country borders when the application is started, when unchecked shows the globe without borders. Default is unchecked.

The directory where the chosen Earth basemap is installed. This is typically either an 8K or 80K version of NASA’s Blue Marble.

The number of seconds before the automatic kiosk tour will run when there is no activity. Default is 420.

The dataset ID of the tour to run when there is no activity.

The language that should be used for display. Typically this should remain the default unless you want to override the system settings.

The location where the datasets are installed.

The directory where the chosen Earth night time lights dataset is installed. This is typically either an 8K or 80K version of NASA’s Black Marble.

The URL where the most recent version of clouds are located. This is typically either a 4K or 8K black and white equidistant projected cloud image.

How close to allow the view point to get to the Earth.

The amount of time to wait between checks for new realtime data on the SOS FTP.

The number of displays to show SOS Explorer® on. Checking the box means there are two displays, otherwise there is one.

A percentage to scale the UI elements on the main display. A value of 1 is the original size, but touch-screen users may prefer larger values such as 1.75. Default is 1.75.

A percentage to scale the UI elements on the secondary display. A value of 1 is the original size. Default is 1.75.

Check the box in most circumstances unless told otherwise.

Enable support for virtual reality using the Oculus Rift and Leap Motion. See Virtual Reality Support for additional details.

true to launch a full data synchronization process every time SOSx is started. This may impact system performance. The default is false.

true to synchronize the latest real-time datasets when there is no activity. The default is true. When set to false, the real-time datasets do not sync.

A string array of country names that should not appear in the corresponding overlay.

The number of seconds to wait between real-time datasets syncing when the machine is idle. The default is 1800.