Completely Frustrated...

[skyhawk8]

I believe myself to be able to figure many things out. Taught myself PHP MYSQL and how to get data from 3 different type databases and provide a single output to a web based reporting system.

For the life of me I can't seem to grasp what I need to do with the scripting and CMC for the control center. I have the FS Yoke, Just picked up the Throttle Quadrant and have the ProPedals.

The only reason I purchased the TQ was for the A2A B-17 and soon to have the A2A B377.

Here's my problem. I'm not sure where to start. I've read through the Dummies guide and find it to be somewhat lacking for what I need. In FSX for example there is no singles command for the gear. In the sim there is a gear toggle for a single button. To make this work for two different buttons you have to edit the standard.xml file and use an assigned value to trick FSX to think there are two seperate commands. Can't just use the "g" key becasue that is just for the toggle.

I guess what I'm asking for is a more detailed description of what I need to do to set up for different plane types. Do I need to make a map for each type I want to fly? Do I need to write a CMC file for the specific commands for each airplane?

Right now I'm copying over two different versions of the standard.xml file or going into the FS axis assignment to disable the axis's on the yoke that overide the TQ.

If anyone has examples for FSX that I can review it would be great. FSX is the only sim I use the CH Products for.

Thanks,
Steve

[Bob Church]

Hi Steve,

You have to keep in mind that the CM (any programming software for that matter) can only push a button or change an axis value. It's up to the sim to interpret what that means, so it's not really that you're going to force the X-Axis to control the ailerons, you're programming it control the axis that the sim is watching to see what the current aileron axis value is. The map lets you move the axis or button you want to use to the place that FS is looking for it. If FS wants it on Joystick 3, Slider Axis 0, then the map will let you take the value from your sticks X axis over to CM Device 3, Slider 0 Axis.

So, if you want GEAR_UP and GEAR_DOWN (I think that's their name) you have to get FS to recognize a couple of buttons to do that, then you need to make the CM map to push those buttons. Unfortunately, of the 1140 or so commands that FS actually supports, Microsoft decided to only make about 400 of them available in their own Controls Assignment dialog. If you've got a registered copy Peter Dowson's FSUIPC utility, it will allow assignment of all the function but the FS dialog won't do it.

In FS, the key to the assignments is the master copy of standard.xml. There needs to be an entry for your particular controller exactly as FS names it in the file with the commands assigned. Open the master copy with NotePad (you'll probably need Admin mode if it's Vista and up) and have a look at the section for the CH YOKE USB. FS has always supported GEAR_UP, GEAR_DOWN, and GEAR_TOGGLE (check the names). Modify the section for your particular device to get rid of the GEAR_TOGGLE and then put the UP/DOWN commands on a couple of buttons. Then you can set the CM up to push those buttons and it should work.

If there is no section for your particular device, you can just create one in standard.xml. Look at the ones that are there already and copy and modify that. Remember you need to use the name that FS sees for the controller, so if you're running a map it's going to be "Control Manager Device 3" or something like that, not "CH Yoke USB". Also don't forget the slew section. Look at similar devices, find one that is, and use the settings it does. If in doubt, just leave it blank. At least it won't do anything untoward if you hit the Slew key by mistake.

Also, the standard.xml file that you modify has to be the master copy, usually in the main FS folder. FSX makes partial xml files when you make custom assignments down under Documents and Settings I think, but those can disappear. Changing the master lets you just do a "Reset Defaults" to get back you're preferred assignments.

Peter Dowson has a list of all the available commands posted on the page they host for him over at:

http://www.schiratti.com

You should get the copy for your particular version of FS, and then the one for FS2000 (or maybe FS2002, I can't recall for sure). Anyway, they had a lot of explanatory info in them about what you were doing, the later version only list the commands themselves. The "explanatory" ones were written when the defaults came from Device.cfg. The standard.xml file uses a different comand format, but the information is still basically correct, you have to do it in XML but since all you're going to do is change things like GEAR_UP, it's not like you need to be a great programmer. Things are placed a little differently but the operation is the same.

Hope this helps!

Best regards,

- Bob

The StickWorks
http://www.stickworks.com