EDDN/schemas/codexentry-README.md

EDDN CodexEntry Schema

Introduction

Here we document how to take data from an ED CodexEntry Journal Event and properly structure it for sending to EDDN.

Please consult EDDN Schemas README for general documentation for a schema such as this.

Senders

The primary data source for this schema is the ED Journal event CodexEntry.

Elisions

You MUST remove any key where the key name ends in _Localised.

You MUST remove the two keys IsNewEntry and NewTraitsDiscovered.

Augmentations

horizons flag

You SHOULD add this key/value pair, using the value from the LoadGame event.

odyssey flag

You SHOULD add this key/value pair, using the value from the LoadGame event.

StarPos

You MUST add a StarPos key with value of type array containing the galaxy co-ordinates of the system. You will need to have obtained these from prior event(s) upon the player arriving, or logging into, the system.

e.g. if the system is Alpha Centauri:

    "StarPos": [3.03125, -0.09375, 3.15625]

BodyID and BodyName

You SHOULD attempt to track the BodyName and BodyID where the player is and add keys/values for these.

You MUST track BodyName both from Status.json and also from some Journal events in order to cross-check it before using the BodyID from Journal events.

The following is correct as of game version 4.0.0.801 (Odyssey initial release, Update 7, plus one patch).

1. Record journal_body_name and journal_body_id from the BodyName and BodyID values in ApproachBody events.

   This will occur when the player flies below Orbital Cruise altitude around a body.

2. Also record these from Location events to cover logging in already there.

3. Unset both journal_body_name and journal_body_id on LeaveBody and FSDJump events. Do NOT do so for SupercruiseEntry, because a player can enter supercruise below max Orbital Cruise altitude and then come back down without a new ApproachBody event occurring.

4. If Status.json has BodyName present, record that as status_body_name.

   This key and its value will be present whenever the player comes close enough to a body for the Orbital Cruise/Glide HUD elements to appear. It will disappear again when they fly back above that altitude, or jump away.

5. If Status.json does not have BodyName then clear status_body_name.

6. For a CodexEntry event:

   1. Only if status_body_name is set:
      1. Set the EDDN codexentry schema message BodyName to this value.
      2. Check if it matches the journal_body_name value, and ONLY if they match, set BodyID in the EDDN codexentry schema message to the value of journal_body_id.

   If status_body_name is not set then you MUST NOT include BodyName or BodyID keys/values in the EDDN message.

   If status_body_name is set, but does not match with journal_body_name then you MUST NOT include a BodyID key+value in the EDDN message.

   For emphasis, in both of these cases you MUST NOT include the keys with a null, '', or otherwise 'empty' value. Do not include the key(s) at all.

One possible issue is binary bodies where you might get an ApproachBody for one before descending towards the other, without an additional ApproachBody to correct things.

An example of this is Baliscii 7 a and Baliscii 7 b. Approaching one and going below Orbital Cruise altitude will set journal_body_name and journal_body_id to it, but you can then turn and approach the other without a new ApproachBody event, but status_body_name will change to the other when you are close enough.

In this case due to status_body_name and journal_body_name not matching the codexentry message MUST be sent without BodyID, but SHOULD be sent with the status_body_name value on the BodyName key.

e.g. for Bestia A 2 a

    "BodyName": "Bestia A 2 a",
    "BodyID": 15,

If you cannot properly obtain the values for BodyName or BodyID then you MUST NOT include them.

Receivers

As per 'BodyID and BodyName' above be aware that you are not guaranteed to receive these values for any given event. Some codex entries will be in space, and thus they aren't even relevant. In other cases it may not have been possible to properly determine both of them.

So you might receive any of:

1. Neither BodyName nor BodyID present in the message, not even the key names. This SHOULD indicate a codex entry object which is not on a body surface.
2. BodyName key present with a value, but no BodyID key. This SHOULD indicate a codex entry object which is on a body surface, but probably where there is a close-orbiting binary companion which has confused things.
3. Both BodyName and BodyID keys present, with values. This SHOULD indicate a codex entry object which is on a body surface.

Adjust your local processing accordingly.