FSX/FSX-SE Aircraft and Panel Design Forum - How To

I ran into this recently and found very little reference to this problem, but with my luck, everyone probably knows about this already.The problem:in GDI+, you can easily handle images saved in different formats (GIF, TIF, TGA, PNG) with alpha channels for interesting effects. It's very nice to have the images stored in your gauge as resources because you don't have to distribute a ton of files that can get lost along the way, nor write the code that will locate the files on disk after installation.The RC.EXE compiler included in Visual Studio doesn't support images with an alpha channel very well, and some images are not supported at all (PNG, TIF, etc...). Even the 32 …

I have slowly started going through the Gmax tutorials with some success-- but have encountered something that has stopped me in my tracks.The third page of the P38 tutorial involves setting up the VIEWPORT BACKGROUNDS. I can do this with no problems , and then set up the required calibration box. BUT - I am then required to SAVE my work which is then to be used in the next section of the tutorial.I am having trouble saving and then re-using the Gmax file -- it saves OK, but when I open it up in Gmax again, there is no work there. Zilch. Just a blank Gmax workspace.I believe that this tutorial has some errors in it -- but I can find no other that starts out at this basic …

Can a gauge be made, similar to the Simicons types,with an Icon to click on to send the command F9? I am not a gauge programmer. Thanks, regards, Bob.

There is a relatively new bushplane out called the Mountain Goat STOL. It looks really cool! Will someone looking for a challenge design this plane. The website is www.bushplanes.comThanks!

Official Announcement:Starting from today I will work on a Learjet 35 model including a panel.The recent planning process for version 1 resulted in the following to be created:- accurate exterior model (Gmax)- accurate flight dynamics- base/blank texture set- photorealistic panelIt is part of my universities final year project and therefore (funny enough) I already know a quite precise release date for version 1: January 25th 2004 (+ one or two weeks)I am still seeking the following reference materials:- detailed photos of the aircraft's exterior, interior, panel, undercarriage, blueprints, etc.- performance specifications- technical specifications (dimensions, weights, e…

Hi,Anyone know if its is possible to read a L-var in a xml gauge into a c-gauge?BgdsEugen

Hi....Having been a user here for the past year or so, I feel it's time that I attempt to give back a little, but I have a question of what may be considered acceptable ethics.I have for a long time been an admirer of the Boeing 707 and military KC135 variations, and have downloaded countless panels claiming to be 'definative' versions. Yet, none have really wrung true. I have found some that are very good, but still not right, and so had decided to modify and adapt a few of these panels until I came up with something that I was happy with.This I feel that I have done. I have, and use, a panel which, though cannot claim to be 'photo-realistic', looks very close to the act…

Hi,I am modelling a hovercraft, most of the model and flight dynamics are complete, but I would like to simulate the skirt of the hovercraft inflating, and raising the hovercraft.What I had in mind was using the spoiler animation to move the whole hovercraft, this would give the added effect of the body sitting on its hull when the skirt was deflated.One problem with doing things this way is that the virtual cockpit eyepoint will not move with the rest of the craft.Can anybody see a work around for this?Is it possible to read the distance from the eyepoint to the datum position and move the eyepoint dynamically?Thanks for any suggestions, David.

the wonderful SAAB J105 by FSquality does not have an autopilot. pressing the autopilot key ("Z") only activates a wing levelling function (similar to LVL on other A/C with autopilot). i

I have the Project Airbus A320 and have used a A319 Panel from elsewhere which I used. The PA 320 doesnt have a 2D side panel view(front 2D panel is default 737) but uses the VC view.Problem is when I look out the a/c I see the 2D 319 view but also the PA320 VC side view which is kinda annoying. So I want to remove it and have tried but to no avail. I've deleted all the VC textures and whatever else but it remains.So any help would be appreciated.

This works...%((A:Adf1 active frequency, KHz) )%!06.1f!<But this gives zeros....%((A:Adf2 active frequency, KHz) )%!06.1f!<Needless to say, these don't do anything...Nor do these...I do have ADF 2 enabled in the aircraft.cfg, and have disabled dsd sound. Me thinks I'm missing something syntax-wise or something even more basic about ADF 2?

Hi,I want to display various .bmp images within my 2D panel. What I would like is to be able to click on the image and have the next one in sequence load. I have about 10 .bmp images that I would like to be able to click thru.I am just learning XML and can do some basic stuff, but haven't figured out the coding to make the above happen.Anyone have a suggestion?Zoren

Instead of using predetermined variables to trigger an event, I need to use the actual postion of a gauge needle to trigger a warning light.Problem Im having is that I need a warning light to come on when a gauge variable reaches a specific setting ie.TOT of >950. Easy to do, except that, due to the that the needle uses, the warning light appears a second or two before the needle gets to the point where the warning should be on.So, can I use the actual position of the needle to trigger the warning light, or is there a better way of doing this that anyone can think of?Steve

Guys,Please help me with this one,Ive searched the Forum and banged my head against the wall too many times.In the default 747 VC,I want to add a new gauge where one of MFD sits ie....from PFD-MFD-EICAS-MFD-PFD to PFD-MFD-EICAS-(New WX gauge)-PFDDoes this make sense to you?Ive tried too place the gauge using FSPS,placing it on the VC1 Black bitmap,it just shows PFD-WX GAUGE-ECIAS-WX GAUGE-PFDIve tried messing around with the Panel cfg,but no luck.I hope Ive explained myself enough,any help would be great.Best wishes from rainy LondonChris

Brian Kolbuch Ultimate Wing Views Dreamwings ERJ and Bill Grabowski ERJ Panel --------------------------------------------------------------------------------I am trying to get the Ultimate Wing Views for the Dreamwings ERJ 145 XR to work with the ERJ Grabowski Panel. Any ideas?Current Panel.cfg (Unedited); Panel Configuration file for FS2004; Embraer ERJ-145/135/140; by Bill Grabowski; Medina, WA ; September 5, 2004window00=Main Panelwindow01=MFDwindow02=Yoke Panelwindow03=Overhead Panelwindow04=Thrust RatingWindow05=Garmin GPSWindow06=TCAS;window06=WiperFixed Window30=Forward RightFixed Window31=RightFixed Window38=Rear RightFixed Window33=RearFixed Window34=Rear LeftF…

Sorry.. answered my own question..mod please delete this topic :)

Hi all, anyone overcome the problem yet with the gauge planer showing up black with the lightmap applied (I'm using FSDS)?I know of the ways to work round this, but overcoming this problem will make things a lot easier.Nick.

I just had a browse through the forums how to draw a gauge using directx, but couldn't find much useful info. I'm an opengl pro, but haven't done anything in dx yet, so I'm a bit lost...It seems I can grab the device context using IDirect3DSurface9:GetDC() and then paint over that. I need to play around a bit to see how this works, but if anyone has a code example that would be greatly appreciated. I'd to use this to do some alpha blending and possible extend into shaders at a later stage. I read though that using IDirect3DSurface9 alpha channels won't be supported. If this is the case, what do I use instead then?There was some earlier discussion how using DX9 may be slow…

HI,I am building a fire training area for my Teesside Airport Scenery, www.fs9world.netfirms.com, and need some aircraft to place in it.I would be greatful if any aircraft designers, could donate Gmax or FSDS source code for the following aircraft, I can then adapt them to look old and broken.These are what I am looking for.Vickers Viscount 813http://www.airliners.net/open.file/310362/M/http://www.airliners.net/open.file/229164/L/Hawker Siddeley Tridenthttp://www.airliners.net/open.file/034871/M/ThanksStevo

Have a quick question. I am trying to build a very simple panel to be used around some of the busy airports during the landings. The reason for this is simple

I need to pass a unique filename to use to a file I/O gauge using the "Fifth Parameter," so that the same gaugecode may be used in any project without having to compile a new gauge for each one.In the panel.cfg the name will be entered thusly:gauge00=escj1fmc!escj1fmc, 0,0,220,288,do328fmc In the gauge itself, I need to be able to read the extra_data, assign it to a variable, and then use that variable to provide the filename...So, instead of this:case PANEL_SERVICE_CONNECT_TO_WINDOW:if((blackbox=fopen("ESDGblackbox.dat","r"))==NULL)I could have this:case PANEL_SERVICE_CONNECT_TO_WINDOW:if((blackbox=fopen(filename + ".dat","r"))==NULL)I've read Dai's tutorial & studi…

For those who downloaded Liberty Ship v2, you might have noticed that I forgot to mention that it included a separate AI version, along with related files. You can use the AI files to create aninated ships using the method pioneered by Holger Sandmann. (See his ai_ships file.)If you use the AI version, you will have some trouble getting the wake and smoke to work because there is an error in the cfg file. To correct this problem, go to the [effects] section of the aircaft.cfg file, and replace:concrete = fx_AI_ship_wake_lsn ;wake + black smokewith either:concrete = fx_AI_ship_wake_lsw ;wake + white smokeorconcrete = fx_AI_ship_wake_lsb ;wake + black smoke(The reason fo…

Hey i was wondering if any one was interested in do a repaint or even starting from start on The LifeSaver Rescue Helicopter Service "Lifesaver1"... the helicopter is a KawasakiBK117 B2 http://www.lifesaver.1earth.net/i have aded its home page it will tell u everything u need to know and it has a few good pics... Let us know if ur interested or not... thank u for ur time and reading my post i hope some one out there will be able to make this....

Hey i was wondering if any one was interested in do a repaint or even starting from start on The LifeSaver Rescue Helicopter Service "Lifesaver1"... the helicopter is a KawasakiBK117 B2 http://www.lifesaver.1earth.net/i have aded its home page it will tell u everything u need to know and it has a few good pics... Let us know if ur interested or not... thank u for ur time and reading my post i hope some one out there will be able to make this....

Does anyone know why a position - value will cause a gauge not to show on some systems.ThanksMitch