Data field: Flexirunner

I made a custom data field for myself, and then I found out I had to upload it to the store to be able to use settings in the Android GC app. So this thread is to support that, any questions/problems/comments, etc., let me know.

Flexirunner

https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/ce1e0b46-7c83-4ddb-9d48-c93edadabe3d

Flexirunner is (yet another) all-in-one data field, for use in a single field layout. It is designed for running, with a native look and feel.
It shows time, distance, number of laps, heart rate, pace, and cadence. It also measures running economy (http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Running_Economy), and records this and energy expenditure (https://www.firstbeat.com/en/science-and-physiology/energy-expenditure/) into the FIT file, for later display on Garmin Connect.

Please see the page in the Connect IQ app store (above) for the list of features and screenshots (to avoid re-posting the same thing here).

I have tested this field with my FR235, but it should perform identically on the FR230, FR630, FR735XT. Since version 5, Flexirunner is now also compatible with FR920XT, Fenix 3 & HR & Chronos, vivoactive & HR!
Since development is primarily focused on me having an FR235, the layout is currently most optimized for the semi-round watches.

Donations
If you use & like this data field and you're feeling generous, donations are gratefully accepted (but not obliged) here (give what you feel!): https://www.paypal.me/imgrant

Source code
The source code for Flexiruner is freely available on Github: https://github.com/imgrant/FlexiRunner
You can also raise issues there.

Acknowledgements
The Flexirunner icon incorporates elements by Freepik (http://www.freepik.com) from www.flaticon.com, which are licensed by Creative Commons BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

Former Member over 8 years ago

There is no way to choose the pace source in Connect IQ, but if you choose your foot pod as the source in your watch settings (e.g. 'Always use as pace source' or something similar to that), then that is where the pace will come from in Flexirunner (and the built-in 'Pace' field), or also if there is no GPS signal.
The centre field in Flexirunner shows instant pace.

I'm unlikely to do it myself, but the source code is freely available if anyone wants to adapt it.

OK perfect yes I do have the f3 set to use the Fp for speed always. Is the instant pace a small rolling average over a few seconds or exactly point and time?

I sent you a PM around the walking field - certainly worth exploring I don't see anything like it currently on the store.

Cheers

IMGrant over 8 years ago

Is the instant pace a small rolling average over a few seconds or exactly point and time?

It's directly as provided by the watch/Connect IQ, so this is ostensibly instantaneous, but I think that Garmin does do some processing or smoothing of some kind. The exact algorithm is unknown outside Garmin (as far as I know), but I believe it is reasonably advanced, and somewhat dynamic, in that the smoothing is lighter when a foot pod is used (as pace from a foot pod does not have as much random noise error), and, e.g. when you stop and start, you can see there is very little lag. Of course, it might also differ from watch to watch.

gvasilak over 8 years ago

Changing data fields

Hi,
thanks for this great app but I would like to ask how I can change the data displayed. I couldn't find any way to do it neither via watch nor via GC. I have a FR230. Sorry if this has been answered before but I couldn't find any relevant info in this thread or in app's page.
So any help is really appreciated by a newbie in Garmin watches :)

Thanks in advance
George

webvan over 8 years ago

You can do it via GC like all the other configurable CIQ apps, sometimes you need to restart your watch for the parameters to become available for some reason.

@IMGrant - thanks for the detailed reply on the "rounding", it doesn't sound like it should come into play for a very long time. It's hard to understand why it's taking so long to stabilize. It's too bad Garmin won't let you configure the 3rd screen on the FR235 anymore as I would have added their "Lap Pace" on there for some quick comparisons. I'm not sure I can add it to the first page without losing the accumulated data in RunnerWindowFR.

I can also confirm that the DF crashes when there is no HR data. This morning my FR235 was acting up when I got started with a ridiculously high HR, so I stopped and rebooted it, only to be stuck with no HR for 1+ minute so I got started again and Flexirunner kept crashing until HR became available.

jim_m_58 over 8 years ago

Here's a general "how to" for app settings and CIQ apps, including a recent change for how to do it with Garmin Express: https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?332843-How-to-App-Settings.

IMGrant over 8 years ago

Thanks for the link, jim_m_58, that will be useful to refer people to there in the future - gvasilak, that link should help you configure Flexirunner.

Thanks also WEBVAN for the confirmation of no HR data crash, I will fix this issue as soon as I can (hopefully quickly cos people leaving me 1-star reviews because of it... :()

IMGrant over 8 years ago

I can also confirm that the DF crashes when there is no HR data. This morning my FR235 was acting up when I got started with a ridiculously high HR, so I stopped and rebooted it, only to be stuck with no HR for 1+ minute so I got started again and Flexirunner kept crashing until HR became available.

I can reproduce the Crash of Flexirunner which JohnChristof reportet yesterday, on a VAHR: Start the app with the datafield and start the run before the OHR-Sensor gets data.[/COLOR]
If i wait until HR is ready, its ok, but when i start the run too early, it crashes.
It was easy to reproduce this many times during a walk with my dog :-)

I'm unable to reproduce this issue with the simulator and even after some testing with my own FR235, I am just not seeing it. I tried starting the run quickly before a HR lock; I tried disabling the optical HR, so that there is no HR data; I tried restarting the watch and starting a run straight away. Every time, the run starts fine, the HR field shows '--' (and sometimes the economy field shows a negative number). :confused:

What watches, firmware versions, HRMs etc. is everyone using?
I have an FR235 on FW 6.30, and Flexirunner 5.2.3. I did notice earlier that my watch had got a bit confused, and I had two .prg files for the same data field on the watch. This is possibly why Garmin Express kept telling me they needed updating. I cleared it out and put them back one by one. I wonder if people are perhaps running an older version of Flexirunner than they think. It's so frustrating that it's difficult to pin down what version is actually installed.

jim_m_58 over 8 years ago

Thanks for the link, jim_m_58, that will be useful to refer people to there in the future - gvasilak, that link should help you configure Flexirunner.

Thanks also WEBVAN for the confirmation of no HR data crash, I will fix this issue as soon as I can (hopefully quickly cos people leaving me 1-star reviews because of it... :()

The thread I linked to is actually a sticky at the very top of this forum that was done back when app settings was first introduced (and was updated for a recent change in Garmin Express)... Last I looked, it's been viewed 170,000+ times!

For the hr thing, are you checking for a null HR? That's what you'll see if there is no HRM.. You "might" be able to see this on a watch with a OHRM by going to Sensors and turning off WHR. In the sim, you'll likely see it if you play back a .fit file with no HR data. (simulated data has HR data so use a fit file)

IMGrant over 8 years ago

For the hr thing, are you checking for a null HR? That's what you'll see if there is no HRM.. You "might" be able to see this on a watch with a OHRM by going to Sensors and turning off WHR. In the sim, you'll likely see it if you play back a .fit file with no HR data. (simulated data has HR data so use a fit file)

Yes, everywhere! (it's so tedious) Accidentally creating a divide by zero situation was the other thing I often hit during testing.
I double checked though, I can't see where it could slip through, and, as I say, I am not seeing it (I also tested in the simulator with a FIT file that I'd stripped HR from, as you point out, the simulated data always has HR).
Perhaps it is not HR, but something else.
I need a debug version running on the watch to find out, I think, but again, I don't seem to be able to reproduce it myself. If anyone who can reliably reproduce it is willing to try a debug version, please contact me.

Former Member over 8 years ago

ImgGrant were you able to see if adding calories as a optional field put it over the memory limit?

Ran a few times with this field and it's awesome. Very happy with it.