onTrackTools – online help

This guide covers the currently published App Store version of onTrackTools. It explains how to import VBO and MoTeC LD telemetry, manage tracks and vehicles, compare laps, create calculated Math Channels, generate track sectors, use video, and troubleshoot common issues.


Table of Contents


What’s New Since The Previous Help Update

The previous online help described the 1.1.x feature set. The app has since added major import, track-management, analysis, and charting capabilities.


Overview

onTrackTools is a multi-platform telemetry analysis app for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. It imports telemetry sessions, detects laps from track start/finish lines, shows lap and sector timing, overlays telemetry traces, synchronizes video, and helps you manage tracks, configurations, vehicles, and setups.

The current app supports RaceBox/VBOX-style .vbo files and MoTeC .ld log files. Imported sessions can be analyzed locally and synced across devices with iCloud when CloudKit is available.


Quick Start

  1. Open onTrackTools and choose Import data from the toolbar or File > Import session data on macOS.
  2. Select a .vbo or .ld file. On macOS, double-clicking a supported telemetry file or dropping it on the Dock icon opens the import sheet with the file preselected.
  3. Wait for the track preview to load. If onTrackTools recognizes the session, it may automatically select a matching track from your database or the built-in track library.
  4. Add optional session notes and confirm the session date. Leave Load from file enabled when the telemetry file contains a valid timestamp.
  5. If the session has video, enable Session has video, then select video from Photos or Files. Set the video offset to the moment the car crosses the start line for the first timed lap.
  6. Choose or confirm the track and track configuration. If you create a new track/configuration, adjust the start/finish marker in the preview map.
  7. Optionally link the session to a Garage vehicle, vehicle configuration, and setup.
  8. Click Import. The session appears in the Sessions list.
  9. Select a session, then select one or two laps from the Laps Table.
  10. Use the charts, map, video panel, logged channels, and Math Channels to compare braking, corner speed, acceleration, sector deltas, and car position.
Quick start import sequence

Platform Navigation

macOS

On macOS, the main window uses a session sidebar and an analysis workspace. The Window menu includes Show Track Manager, Show Garage, and Show Math Channels. The app also provides separate windows for the Track Editor, Session Editor, Vehicle Configuration Editor, Vehicle Setup Editor, video playback, and Math Channels library.

iPadOS

On iPad, the regular-width layout adds a segmented navigation control for Analysis, Garage, Tracks, Math Channels, and Settings where available. The Analysis section uses the session list and analysis workspace. Garage, Tracks, and Math Channels can be managed from their own sections.

iPad section navigation

iPhone

On iPhone, the workflow is intentionally step-by-step. Select a session from the Sessions list, tap View Laps or Compare Sessions, select one or two laps, then tap Analyze Lap or Compare Laps. In portrait orientation the analysis view shows map or video above the charts. In landscape orientation, the toolbar lets you switch between charts and video. Math Channels are managed from the app navigation.

visionOS

On visionOS, session controls and analysis tools are presented as ornaments around the main window. Garage, Tracks Manager, Track Editor, Video, Math Channels, and the volumetric track map can open as separate spatial windows when available.


Main Window

onTrackTools main analysis window

The main window is where you select sessions, choose laps, and analyze selected data. With a session selected, the upper area shows lap and sector timing. The lower area is split between the map and chart panels. If video is available and enabled, the video panel appears above the lap table.

If no session is selected, the analysis workspace displays Select or import a session.

Sessions List

The Sessions list shows every session currently available in the app database. Each session is created from one imported telemetry file.

Select a session to load its laps into the Laps Table. You can select more than one session, but onTrackTools only keeps sessions that are compatible with the first selected session.

When you switch between session sets during the same app run, onTrackTools restores the analysis state for each set. This includes selected laps, selected traces, sector zoom, scrubber position, chart viewport, map region, map type, and follow-car mode.

Session Controls

The free version is limited to the import and/or analysis of a single session. The Sessions list shows an Unlock full version row when you need a subscription or lifetime purchase to manage more sessions.

iCloud Status

When iCloud sync is active, onTrackTools syncs sessions, tracks, configurations, settings, garage data, and Math Channels through CloudKit. If CloudKit is unavailable, a status bar shows iCloud Unavailable – Using Local Store and the app continues with local storage. While incoming CloudKit updates are being imported, a Syncing with iCloud… indicator may appear.

Large telemetry data is stored in a compressed onTrackTools container to improve CloudKit reliability, especially for large .ld sessions. Keep all your devices updated to the current app version so they can read newly compressed sessions.

Laps Table

The Laps Table shows the laps detected from the selected session or compatible session set. Select one lap for single-lap analysis or up to two laps for comparison. Selecting the same lap again deselects it.

The table includes these columns:

The best lap is shown in bold. The fastest sector among the visible laps is highlighted in purple text. A sector that is faster than the corresponding sector of the best lap is shown in green text. Clicking or tapping a sector header zooms the map and charts to that sector; clicking or tapping the same sector again returns to the full lap.

Entry and Exit Laps

The entry lap and exit lap are usually partial laps. Use the Hide in/out control or the View menu to hide or show them. Hiding them reduces clutter when you are focused on timed laps.

Best and Ideal Lap Summary

The summary table below the Laps Table compares the best lap against an ideal lap. The ideal lap is calculated by summing the best sector times available in the currently selected session set. The summary shows total lap time, delta improvement, VMax, and sector-level improvement opportunities.

Laps table detail

Charts Panel

Charts panel with selected telemetry traces

The Charts Panel shows the selected telemetry traces for the selected lap or lap comparison. The default traces are Speed and Time Delta. The time delta trace is most useful when two laps are selected.

Time-Based and Distance-Based Comparison

The chart x-axis can be time-based or distance-based. Time-based comparison aligns traces by elapsed lap time. Distance-based comparison aligns traces by distance along the lap, which is usually better for comparing braking points, apex speed, and acceleration zones. Set the startup default in App Settings, or switch during analysis from the View menu or visionOS ornament.

Data Playhead

The vertical dashed playhead marks the current analysis position. The chart legend shows the values at the playhead. The map car marker and video playback position stay synchronized with the playhead.

Available Traces

The trace selector only shows traces available for the selected session set. If you select multiple sessions, a trace must be available in all selected sessions before it appears as selectable.

Some files may contain different channel names or may omit optional channels. If an expected trace is missing, confirm that the original file contains a supported channel and that the same channel is present in every selected session.

Trace Selection

Traces toolbar button

Use the Traces control to open the trace selector. Enable or disable traces with the switches in the selector. Logged Channels include a search field so you can find a channel by name. On iPhone, the trace selector opens as a sheet with a Done button.


Math Channels

Math Channels let you define calculated telemetry traces and chart them alongside built-in and logged channels. A Math Channel is evaluated only when it is available for the selected session set and selected in the trace inspector.

Open Math Channels from Window > Show Math Channels on macOS, from the Math Channels navigation section on iOS/iPadOS, or from the Math Channels ornament/window on visionOS.

Creating a Math Channel

  1. Open the Math Channels library.
  2. Click or tap New Draft to start a new channel definition.
  3. Enter a Name and Output label.
  4. Enter a Unit label, or keep it unitless if the result is not a standard unit.
  5. Write an expression using input variable names, numbers, operators, comparisons, and functions.
  6. Add one or more inputs. Each input maps an expression variable to a built-in or logged channel label.
  7. Use Signal Labels to browse channels from the currently selected sessions and add them as inputs.
  8. Use Expression Reference when you need the supported operators and functions.
  9. Check Current Session Preview for resolution and evaluation diagnostics.
  10. Click Create Math Channel or Save Changes.

Expressions

Expressions support arithmetic operators, comparisons, parentheses, and common functions. Comparisons return 1 when true and 0 when false, which makes them useful with if(condition, trueValue, falseValue).

Examples:

Inputs, Units, Aliases, and Overrides

Each input defines the expression variable name, the required channel label, an optional expected unit, and optional aliases. When a compatible unit conversion is known, onTrackTools converts the input before evaluating the expression.

If automatic input matching is not enough for a specific session, use the preview/override flow to map an input to a different available trace for that session. This is useful when different loggers use different channel names for the same signal.

Using Math Channels In Charts

After a Math Channel is enabled and can be resolved for the selected session set, it appears in the Math Channels section of the trace selector. Select it like any other trace. The input traces do not need to be selected separately.


Map Panel

Map panel showing GPS trace, sector overlays, and car marker

The Map Panel shows the GPS trace of the selected lap or laps. It displays the start/finish marker, optional open-course finish marker, sector dividers, colored sector overlays, and synchronized car-position markers.

When two laps are selected, onTrackTools sorts the compared laps by lap time. The faster lap uses the green trace and marker; the slower lap uses the red trace and marker.

Map Controls

Map toolbar controls

Video Panel

Synchronized video panel

The Video Panel is hidden by default. Use the video-panel button, the View menu, or the platform toolbar/ornament to show it. If the selected session has no video, the video control is disabled.

Playback and scrubbing are synchronized with the chart playhead and map car position. When two laps are selected, the faster lap is shown on the left and the slower lap is shown on the right.

Videos can be linked from Photos or from Files. Photos-based videos are the best option for cross-device use because iCloud Photos can make the asset available on other devices. File-based videos depend on the original file location and security-scoped bookmark remaining available.

If a Photos video is stored in iCloud Photos and is not yet local, onTrackTools shows a loading state and retries the request. If Photos access is limited, the app may ask you to grant access to the selected video or open Settings.


Import Session Data

Import panel with track preview

The Import Session Data sheet creates a new session from a telemetry file. The sheet can be opened from Import data, File > Import session data on macOS, or by opening a supported telemetry file directly on macOS.

Import panel with video

Supported Data Files

For .ld files that do not contain GPS coordinates, onTrackTools may reconstruct and align the session path against a detected track using available simulator/world-position data. If no complete lap can be found, it may estimate GPS coordinates from the full session and warn that accuracy may be reduced.

Data File and Session Metadata

Automatic Track Detection

After a file is loaded, onTrackTools attempts to match the session to existing tracks and to the built-in track library. A successful match selects the detected track automatically and displays an Auto-detected message. You can also use Detect manually after changing the data file or track selection.

If a built-in track is detected, onTrackTools materializes it in your local database so the imported session can use it like any other track.

Video

Vehicle and Setup

If you use Garage, you can link the imported session to a vehicle, vehicle configuration, and setup. onTrackTools creates session-scoped copies of linked configurations and setups so the historical session remains stable even if the base Garage records are changed later.

Vehicle and setup pickers

Track and Configuration

When creating a new track or configuration, drag the start/finish marker in the preview map so it crosses the driven GPS path. Accurate marker placement is essential for accurate lap timing.

Closed course and open course markers

Import Validation

The Import button is enabled only when the required file, track, configuration, and video selections are valid. If the button is disabled, check for missing names, missing file selections, or an enabled video option without a selected video.


Session Editor

The Session Editor lets you update an existing session without re-importing it. Open it from the selected session’s Edit button, the Edit menu on macOS, or the session context menu.

Changing the track configuration can change lap detection and sector timing. Review the Laps Table after saving session edits.

Session Editor

Track Configuration Editor

Screenshot

The Track Configuration Editor is used to refine timing markers and sectors for a track configuration. It opens from Edit conf., Edit > Edit track configuration on macOS, the Tracks Manager, or the import flow when creating a new configuration.

From left to right:

Drag start/finish and sector markers on the map to refine timing. Apply the configuration after you finish editing. onTrackTools recalculates lap and sector data for the selected session after the configuration is applied.

Closed Courses and Open Courses

A closed-course configuration uses one start/finish separator. This is the normal mode for circuit laps. An open-course configuration uses separate start and finish separators and is intended for point-to-point data. Open-course configurations require at least two separators.

Closed course and open course examples

Automatic Sector Detection

Automatic Sector Detection helps you create sector dividers from a selected complete lap. The result is temporary until you use Apply config, so you can detect, review, drag markers manually, reset, or try a different algorithm before saving.

Open the Track Configuration Editor, then use Auto sectors. The panel appears as an inspector on macOS/iPadOS, a background-interactive sheet on iPhone, and a trailing ornament on visionOS.

Screenshot

Algorithms

Parameters

If required data is missing, onTrackTools shows an availability note and uses fallback signals where possible. Automatic sector detection needs position and speed data, and some methods work best with lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, or heading.

After detection, inspect the placed separators on the map. Drag any separator to refine it, then use Apply config to save or Reset config to discard.


Tracks Manager

Tracks Manager shows both user-created tracks and the built-in track library. You can browse tracks before importing telemetry, materialize a built-in track by selecting it, and manage configurations for tracks already in your database.

If a track is missing its reference lap or has a corrupted configuration, Tracks Manager shows a repair banner. Use the repair action to rebuild or reset what can be recovered.


Garage

Garage manages vehicles, vehicle configurations, and setups. It helps you keep a record of the car and setup used for each session, then link those records to imported telemetry.

Garage overview

Vehicles

A vehicle stores a name, make, model, color, year, vehicle type, description, and optional photo. Add a vehicle with New vehicle. The new vehicle starts with a base configuration and default configuration elements for its vehicle type.

Vehicle Configurations

A vehicle configuration describes the physical or build-level state of the vehicle, such as components, tires, brakes, suspension hardware, or other configurable metadata. The exact element list depends on the vehicle type and the Garage metadata bundled with the app.

Configuration elements may have units, numeric limits, steps, enum choices, and dependency rules. Disabled elements can be hidden or shown from the Garage toolbar.

Setups

A setup is tied to a vehicle configuration and describes adjustable values used for an event or session, such as setup ranges, values, or per-corner/per-axle entries. Setup elements are created from the Garage metadata and can be associated with enabled configuration elements.

Session-Linked Configurations and Setups

When you link a session to a Garage configuration or setup during import or session editing, onTrackTools creates a session-scoped copy. This protects the historical session from later changes to your base Garage configuration. Use Show session-linked in Garage to reveal or hide these session-specific copies in the Garage list.

Garage session-linked setups

App Settings

Settings are available from onTrackTools > Settings on macOS, the Settings section on iPad, and the Settings sheet on visionOS. On iOS, settings also include subscription management and a link to the online help.

Analysis Preferences

General settings

Units Preferences

Units settings

User Interface Preferences

User interface settings

Video Library

Enable Always save imported videos to Photos when you want file-selected videos to be copied into the Photos Library during import. Use Migrate to Photos to convert sessions that still use local file references. Migrating to Photos improves cross-device video resolution through iCloud Photos.

Video library settings

Subscriptions and Store

The free version is limited to the import and/or analysis of a single session. To import and manage multiple sessions, purchase a subscription or lifetime license from the onTrackTools Store.

On iOS and visionOS, the Store view includes links to the Apple standard license agreement and the LVSoftware.io privacy policy. If App Store products cannot be loaded, the Store shows a retry-later message.


visionOS Features

Analysis Ornaments

On visionOS, the session list and analysis controls are displayed as spatial ornaments. The analysis ornament includes controls for video, entry/exit laps, time/distance comparison, traces, Math Channels, and either the volumetric map or regular map controls depending on settings.

Volumetric Track Map

If Use Volumetric Map is enabled in Settings, the analysis ornament can open the Track map volume. The volumetric map shows the same synchronized trace/map data in a circular spatial presentation. Its ornament includes Fit map to volume and Follow car position.

visionOS main analysis window

Troubleshooting

The Import button is disabled

No laps were detected

Automatic track detection did not choose a track

Track detection requires enough valid movement samples and a candidate track that matches the imported path. Choose a track manually, then adjust the configuration if needed. For .ld files without GPS data, check that the file metadata or driven shape can be aligned to a known track.

A session cannot be selected with another session

onTrackTools filters multi-session selection to compatible sessions only. The sessions must use the same track and same direction. If a session is removed from the selection, check its assigned track and track configuration in the Session Editor.

Expected chart traces are missing

The trace selector only shows supported channels present in the selected session set. If multiple sessions are selected, each trace must be present in all selected sessions. Logged channel names may vary by logger or simulator export.

A Math Channel does not appear in the trace selector

A Math Channel evaluates but looks wrong

Automatic sectors did not find boundaries

Video is not available or does not load

Subscription is not recognized

Open the onTrackTools Store and use Restore Purchases. The app verifies entitlements at launch and may briefly show Verifying purchases… while StoreKit checks current transactions.

iCloud is unavailable

If CloudKit cannot be opened, onTrackTools shows iCloud Unavailable – Using Local Store and continues locally. Check that you are signed into iCloud, that iCloud Drive/CloudKit services are available, and that network access is working. Data created while using local storage may not appear on other devices until iCloud is available again.

A large session does not appear on another device

Large telemetry sessions use compressed storage in the current app. Make sure all devices are updated to the current App Store version. Then leave the source device open long enough for CloudKit to upload and the receiving device open long enough to import the update.

A track configuration cannot be deleted

A configuration cannot be deleted while sessions use it. Reassign or delete those sessions first. The Track Editor delete flow replaces affected sessions with a default configuration when possible, but the Tracks Manager delete button is disabled for configurations currently in use.

A vehicle cannot be deleted

A vehicle cannot be deleted while its configurations or setups are linked to sessions. Remove or edit the session links first.


For additional support, use the contact page at lvsoftware.io/contact-us/.