Software Development Kit

The FalconView Software Development Kit

The FalconView Software Development Kit (SDK) provides developers with important information about the interface to key functional aspects of FalconView. The FalconView SDK is a collection of documentation and sample code to aid developers in writing tools that either run inside of FalconView, or use FalconView or its components in their application. The SDK does not contain the FalconView source code or the executable.

Installers for the complete SDK are less than 10 MB and can be sent through e-mail or DoD SAFE. Each SDK requires the installation of the corresponding version of FalconView. To obtain an SDK for a given release of the software use the same distribution mechanism used to obtain the software.

FalconView SDK documentation includes interface control documents (ICDs) for the following areas:

DocumentDescription
DAFIF ICDDigital Aeronautical Flight Information File (DAFIF) is a database of aeronautical data produced by the NGA on a 28-day cycle. FalconView imports the NGA datasets into a SQLite DAFIF database. The DAFIF SDK provides classes and documentation to access DAFIF data.
Drawing ICDThe FalconView Drawing Editor is a vector graphics editor that supports several types of geographically oriented graphical objects, such as, lines, polygons, rectangles, ellipses and bullseyes. These objects are stored in a drawing files that uses a Microsoft Access datasheet format. This ICD describes the Drawing File format.
Electronic CHUM ICDThe Electronic Chart Update Manual (ECHUM) ICD describes the format and structure for ECHUM and Chart Data files.
FalconView ICDThe FalconView ICD describes many automation interfaces introduced as far back as FalconView 3.2. FalconView releases are backwards compatible; however, later releases support additional interfaces not available in earlier releases.
FalconView Preferences ICDA set of interfaces involved in reading and writing overlay preferences.
Help Builder ICDHelpbuilder is a standalone application that integrates compiled HTML (*.chm) files into the FalconView merged-help environment. It allows third parties to modify help to meet their specific requirements.
Icon Addition ICDDocuments the procedures for adding custom icons for Local Points and the GPS ship symbol.
Local Points ICDThis document provides detailed information about the groups and fields in the FalconView 5.x Local Points file format (.lps).
Manual CHUM ICDFalconView supports the creation of Manual Chart Update Manual (CHUM) files. This ICD describes layout those files and the information within.
Point Export ICDPoint Export allows a user to define one or more geographic areas and save the desired overlay information from select data types into a file. These point types include Aimpoints, Airports, Drop Zones, Heliports, Local Points, Navaids, Threats and Waypoints. This ICD documents the Point Export file structure as well as the AWE Automation interface that provides third party control of Point Export functionality.
Security Label Manager ICDThis document describes how to implement security label extensions for custom classification labeling in the FalconView title bar and on printed materials.
Third Party Plugin Development ICDThis document provides information necessary for third-party developers to integrate their work with FalconView.
Threat File Format and Parametrics ICDThis document describes the COM-based programmers interface for automatically adding, moving, and querying threats to FalconView 3.3.1 or higher.
Threat Information File ICDThis document describes formats for the Threat Instance Database, Threat Parametrics Database and Threat Radar Database.
Topmost Overlay ICDThis document provides information necessary for third-party developers to create a topmost overlay in FalconView. There is also information included for the control of VPSes.
Warfighting Symbology Customization ICDLimited customization of some MIL-STD-2525B, Common Warfighting Symbology, graphics and symbols is available. This ICD describes customization procedures.

The complete SDK includes sample code and additional documentation not included in the previews. ZIP files containing the Compiled HTML Help file versions of the ICDs for select versions of the FalconView SDK are available for preview.

The FalconView SDK and FalconView have a unique distribution mechanism for each category of developer. Each SDK requires the installation of the corresponding version of FalconView. FalconView is freely distributed to all components of the U.S. Department of Defense and other U.S. Government Agencies. FalconView is available for license for commercial use. See U.S. Government Availability and FalconView Licensing Information for the appropriate POC.