Insert STK Objects Tool

The Insert STK Objects tool provides an easy, convenient way to populate a scenario. The Insert STK Objects tool by default displays the most commonly-used scenario objects. You can customize the tool to display all the scenario objects or a user-defined subset of objects. To customize the Insert STK Objects tool, click Edit Preferences... in the lower left corner of the dialog box.

The Insert STK Objects tool automatically appears when you create a new scenario using the New Scenario Wizard. If it does not automatically appear, click Edit Preferences... and select the Use the "New Object" wizard to create new objects check box. You can also access the Insert STK Objects tool by clicking or selecting New... from the Insert menu.

When the tool opens, first select the object that you want to add from the the Scenario Objects list or Attached Objects list on the left. After selecting an object, you will see all the methods available for adding that particular object. Double-click one of the listed methods or select one and click Insert.... One of two things will happen:

  • STK will add the object immediately by the method selected.
  • A wizard or selection tool will appear and guide you in placing, defining, and designing the object before STK adds it.

You can also select a method first and then add an object by double-click the object.

The Insert STK Objects tool provides the following common methods for adding objects:

  • Define Properties. Adds the selected object and opens the newly added object's property browser so you can edit its properties.
  • Insert Default. Adds the selected object and applies the default property settings to the newly added object.
  • From <object> File (.xx). Creates the selected object from a saved file. You can only use this method if you already saved one or more of the same type of object. For example, if you want to insert a Ground Vehicle using the "From Ground Vehicle File (.gv)" method, you must first save a Ground Vehicle from an STK scenario. To save an object, select the object in the Object Browser of a scenario, click the File menu, select Save <Object Name>..., and have STK create the object file in the folder of your choosing. When you use this method, STK will only display object files matching the object you want to create; for example, for Ground Vehicle, STK will only show *.gv files. This method saves time when you want to reuse an object that you already created in a different scenario.
  • From STK Data Federate. Enables you to browse or search an STK Data Federate server that you are connected to and load the object from a file stored on it.
  • From Standard Object Database. Enables you to search a Standard Object Database that you are connected to and load the object from a file stored on it.
  • From Shapefile (.shp). Browse to and select a shapefile as the object.

In addition to providing some or all of these common methods for adding an object, STK provides one or more additional methods for certain objects, as listed in bold in the following table.

Object Additional Method(s)
Area Target

Area Target Wizard. Use this to define the target's perimeter and set its geographical properties. For more details, see the Area Target Wizard topic.

Select Countries and US States. Use this to add an area target by selecting a state or country.

Coverage Definition Coverage Tool. See the Coverage Tool Method topic.
Ground Vehicle Create From Existing Line Target. See the Create Ground Vehicle from Existing Line Target topic.
Place From City Database. See the Insert a City Using the Standard Object Database topic.
Satellite

Orbit Wizard. Assists you in creating a satellite with either a standard orbit type or a custom orbit. For details, see The Orbit Wizard topic.

Load GPS Constellation. Inserts a GPS Constellation object and creates Satellite objects for each satellite in the constellation. See the Load GPS Constellation topic for more details.

From GPS Almanac. Use this to insert a satellite using the GPS almanac files. See the Insert Satellite from GPS Almanac topic.

From SP3 File. Use the Insert From SP3 File tool to create one or more Satellite objects from an SP3 file. STK names them as sp3-gYY, where YY is the Satellite Vehicle Number from the catalog. For more details, see the topic Insert Satellite from SP3 File.

From External Ephemeris File (.e). Browse to and select a *.e file to seed your Satellite object.

From TLE File. Browse to and select a TLE file to seed your Satellite object.
Satellite Collection

From Orbit Definition File (.csv). Browse to and select a file. For information on the format and contents of this file, see Custom Orbit Definition File Format.

Walker Tool. Use the Walker Tool to populate a Satellite Collection object.
Target From City Database. See the Insert a City Using the Standard Object Database topic.