Strange behaviour with panel gauge

I have edited the panel.cfg file for the default B737-800 by adding a few extra gauges such as the Jelair V Speed gauge the the Friendly Panels FMC.

I have both set to be visible (eg VISIBLE=1) and the position for display to top centre and top left respectively (POSITION=1 and POSITION=0).

When I start up (ie select the B737-800) and go to the 2D panel the V Speed gauge is displayed top centre on screen) but the FMC is NOT displayed. If I 'reselect' the aircraft (from the drop down menu Aircraft > Select Aircraft) the FMC is then displayed ALTHOUGH it is displayed bottom right of screen as if the POSITION=9).

Very strange behaviour.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Here is the code for the FMC from my panel.cfg

[Window08]

Background_color=0,0,0

size_mm=331,512

window_size_ratio=1.000

position=0

visible=1

ident=FMC_PANEL

window_size= 0.265, 0.547

window_pos= 0.737, 0.458

gauge00=fp_fmcfsx!fmc737_X, 0,0,331,512

I had the SDK still open, so I had a look in there and found:

position Specifies the relative position of a panel window to the main window. A number from 0 to 8 (as shown below) designates the position of the panel window. If nothing is specified, 7 is the default, otherwise, one of:

0 = upper-left corner

1 = upper-middle side

2 = upper-right corner

3 = middle-left side

4 = middle

5 = middle-right side

6 = lower-left corner

7 = lower-middle side

8 = lower-right corner. Panel( position=7 )

Aircreation_582SL( position=8 )

B737_800( position=0 )

b747_400( position=2 )

visible Set to 0 if the panel is not visible by default. The default is 1 (visible). Panel( visible=1 )

Aircreation_582SL( visible=0 )

B737_800( VISIBLE=0 )

ident Specifies a unique identifier to define the panel window. You must have an ident for each panel window. Valid entries are the following:

But a little below that:

window_pos -- Overrides the position and windowsize_ratio variables. Provide at least an x value, the y value is optional.

b747_400( window_pos=0.05, 0.25 )

beech_baron_58( window_pos=0.0,0.0 )

C172( window_pos=0.0,0.15 )

Extra300( window_pos= 0.000, 0.000 )

--------------

So, "window_pos=" overrides "position="

I suspect you need to remove one of the two.

(use // perhaps, to be on the safe side.)

Perfect.

I removed "POSITION=0" modified "WINDOW_POS" BUT left VISIBLE=1.

Now the gauge is displayed in the position I want and also displays by default,

So it would seem that the position was also preventing it from being displayed by default.

Thanks for your help.

Nice one.:)

I forgot to much about editing textures to help with the other thread further.:(

Cheers,

il88pp

Not quite right.

Since my previous 'reply' I find that the gauge still refuses to display by default.

I have tried leaving VISIBLE=1 out and also leaving it in but the gauge still will not display by default.

I can display it using SHIFT 9 or selecting it from the pull down menu VIEWS > INSTRUMENT PANEL (where it is shown but 'unticked' as it should be).

I did a small test.

I worked on the the 737_800 panel.cfg a bit.

I changed the GPS.

--changed to: visible=1

Then laoded a flight, no GPS.

But, I awas in VC, as usual.

Then I changed settings. In options-settings-display-'aircraft Tab'.

I changed "default view" to "2D instrument panel"

Then ended the flight and started a new flight.

Now the GPS panel appeared.

So make sure "default view" is set to "2D Instrument Panel".

-------

Then I had another look at the GPS entry in the panel.cfg file, it is:

[Window02]

size_mm=456,378

window_size=0.5

position=8

BACKGROUND_COLOR=0,0,0

VISIBLE=1

ident=GPS_PANEL

gauge00=fs9gps!gps_500, 0,0

As you see, there is no 'window_size=" or "window_pos=" line.

Only 'position=8'

--

If selecting "2D instrument Panel' as default startup view is not enough, then try changing your FMC to match that perhaps. By leaving only "position=" in.

I hope that does not cause some unwanted resizing.

If you want a gauge to appear in the VC cockpit, you have to either place it in [VCockpit01], or make a new [VCockpitXX] entry in the pane.cfg. If you make a whole new [VcockpitXX] section, though, you need a $texture.bmp file for it, I believe.

Does this help?

Pat☺

No my problem is NOT trying to get the gauge to appear in the VC cockpit.

I am trying to make it appear by default (as a pop-up gauge) in the 2D panel (so that I don't have to press SHIFT 9). I have 2 other 'gauges' appear by default in the 2D panel but the Friendly Panels FMS will NOT even though I have VISIBLE=1.

I realise that I can have the default view set to the 2D panel HOWEVER it appears odd that 2 other gauges (which I also have set as VISIBLE=1) appear by default when selecting the 2D panel (F10) after the 3D panel appears first.

If you find that modifying panels is something you do on any kind of regular basis I suggest purchasing FSPanel studio.

Makes things so much easier.

No my problem is NOT trying to get the gauge to appear in the VC cockpit.

I am trying to make it appear by default (as a pop-up gauge) in the 2D panel (so that I don't have to press SHIFT 9).

Your statement sounds a bit contradictory. Would it be better to say you want the FMC panel to be a permanent addition to your 2D panel never to disappear when changing views and then going back to the 2D panel? I would have added it under [Window00] using gauge35=referencing the FMC, Position , and size

Thanks Mr Zippy for that suggestion.

I wonder though if the gauge will then not be able to be repositioned by dragging it with the mouse amd also that it won't be removable if I want to remove it during a flight. I suspect not to both.

I still find it most unusual that I have TWO other gauges which BOTH are displayed in the 2D panel (and can be dragged etc) yet this (Friendly Panel FMS) just refuses to display by default (like the others do).

I think that I would prefer to have to manually select it to display using SHIFT 9 (as I have it set up) - damned annoying though.

Also (to another reply) I don't usually want to modify panels. Only when I find a nice addon gauge like the FMS, or Jelair V Speed or Groundhandling (pushback) and want to add it to an existing panel.

It's more amazing the other two do appear. A popup is normally not always there. That's why it's called a popup...

Maybe the other two are already open in your default flight?

il88pp

You've got it!

I started from my default flight, made the FMS display (SHIFT 9 in my case), pressed the ; key to save the flight then started again and selected the saved flight and voila the FMS appears.

Well I guess I should have known that BUT why then is their a 'command' VISIBLE=1 to make the gauge visible?