Confused on "selecting" cameras

[Art Burke]

I apparently understand the very basics of the views in FSX. I generally fly with the 2D instrument panel and have several joystick buttons available so I can see "fixed spot" view (I'm right behind the aircraft and slightly above), of course the 2D instrument panel view and whatever other windows I need to see to see parts of the panel, etc.

 

When I look at the OPTIONS/SETTINGS/CONTROLS section (*and* make sure I've selected my joystick - I have a host of devices plugged in now!) I see all kinds of options about "select camera" and most of them are supposedly derived by:

 

CTRL + V + #

 

I don't seem to make any of those work!

 

I know there are also "A" "S" and "W" selections (as well as the SHIFT key to reverse the direction one is traveling in terms of looking at various views.

 

What are these seemingly mythical "cameras" and how does one get them?

 

I know enough about programming to be dangerous, but I have no qualms about delving into .air files, .cfg files or the like. Gotten dangerous enough already with FSUIPC and a keyboard encoder!

 

Thanks.

 

On a side note - I recently ordered two of those semi-fancy Saitek panels. I ordered one multi-panel and one radio-panel. They shipped me two multi-panels but we're now in the process of getting it all sorted out. I only wish there was a way to alter the sequence of your "choice" on which panel you want to display. Thus far it's been a fun experiment. Now that I've junked up the computer desk with all this flying stuff, the relationship with "the little woman" is getting somewhat stretched! LOL

 

Art - N4PJ

Leesburg, FL

[lorby-si]

Hi Art,

 

cameras are more a thing for virtual cockpits and external views. You can define cameras to use with 2D panels, but these will only change what/where you are looking at in the simulator world.

 

The easiest way to select them is to right-click into your view window and select one from the drop down list - all of the entries at the top are camera definitions. Another way is to select them from the "Views -> View Mode" menu.

 

If you want to design your own cameras, you can either do it manually in the aircraft.cfg or the "master" cameras.cfg. Most aircraft.cfgs have some CameraDefinitions in them, that you can use as reference. Or you use an external app to define camera definitions visually.

 

Here is a pretty good explanation:

 

http://www.fstipsandaddons.com/tutorials/understanding-fsx-cameras.html

[lnuss]

To word things a bit differently, cameras are views. The "S" key changes major views such as cockpit to spot view, etc. The "A" key changes to different cameras within a major view change. So in cockpit view the "A" would change from VC to 2D panel to radio view to whatever else the developer (or you, if you added some) chose to provide.

 

From the spot view, the "A" changes from a camera behind the aircraft to one behind the right wing to whatever else was provided.

 

Pretty much all the views are defined by a "camera" entry in either the aircraft.cfg file or in a cameras.cfg, located where your fsx.cfg file is.

 

There's more, but that's the basics.

[Art Burke]

Thanks Oliver. I had seen that site already. It would appear I need to look at it again - more closely this time!

 

Art

[Art Burke]

Thanks Larry. Along the way, I did see some definitions and suggestions that one use an existing one as an example to build your own. I guess my keystrokes of CTRL + V + # didn't work because there's nothing defined on my end?

 

Thanks for your input.

 

Art - N4PJ

Leesburg, FL

[StringBean]

...my keystrokes of CTRL + V + # didn't work because there's nothing defined on my end?

 

This must be a keystroke you assigned as it is not a default setting.

 

Did you assign it to "View Camera n (select)"?

 

If so, you need to go into the aircraft.cfg file and find a [CameraDefinition.nnn] section you like.

 

In that section add the following line...

 

HotKeySelect=n

 

You will then be able to call up that view, or camera, with that keystroke.

 

Hope this helps.

 

peace,

the Bean

[Art Burke]

Not assigned by me at all - that 's what shows up in OPTIONS/SETTINGS/CONTROLS - look under keyboard definitions.

 

Art - N4PJ

Leesburg, FL

[Art Burke]

When you first referenced that site, I bookmarked it and promised to take a closer look. Today, I looked at some camera definitions in various aircraft.cfg files. A lot of the stuff looked like some serious mumbo, jumbo. Then I went back to the site you referenced. Finally starting to make sense. I think I also see why there aren't a lot more definitions!

 

Seems like about every other time I go flying, I end up wearing a programmer's cap! LOL

 

Thanks again. Super information in that site - even if it'll take me forever to figure it all out!

 

Art - N4PJ

Leesburg, FL

[Art Burke]

Unless they're somehow assigned during my use of FSUIPC, I have no idea how they ended up there - I certainly never assigned them intentionally. Aside from keyboard definitions, the great bulk of the OPTIONS/SETTINGS/CONTROLS are empty. Almost everything I do that could be done there, is done with FSUIPC. The compound/conditional programming (plus the use of offsets) allows you to set up things you could never set up otherwise.

 

Between a 108-key keyboard encoder, a 4-pack rotary encoder board and a Saitek multi-autopilot panel, there's no longer much need to access anything in the "normal" controls area.

 

I'm gradually learning the process and technique of "assigning" different camera views. Not sure it's really worth the effort. Coming up with a good idea for video sounds like more fun.

 

Thanks for your help Bean.

 

Art - N4PJ

Leesburg, FL

[lorby-si]

When you first referenced that site, I bookmarked it and promised to take a closer look. Today, I looked at some camera definitions in various aircraft.cfg files. A lot of the stuff looked like some serious mumbo, jumbo. Then I went back to the site you referenced. Finally starting to make sense. I think I also see why there aren't a lot more definitions!

 

Seems like about every other time I go flying, I end up wearing a programmer's cap! LOL

 

Thanks again. Super information in that site - even if it'll take me forever to figure it all out!

 

Art - N4PJ

Leesburg, FL

 

Hello Art,

 

there are addons to help with camera definition too.

 

Word of advice: the simulator is very forgiving when it comes to those config files like the aircraft.cfg. You may find camera definitions (even in payware aircraft!) that are simply wrong (=against the spec) but they somehow work anyway.

[il88pp]

Don't know what viesw you want, here's what I did to an existing view of the b737-800

 

I added one line (see comment behind it).

 

[CameraDefinition.1]
Title = "Left Side Window"
Guid = {0ae3f864-da10-4e5a-977c-b9bba47d6f7a}
Description = View of the left wing from the passenger cabin
Origin = Center
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = FALSE
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = FALSE
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.8
ShowWeather = Yes
HotKeySelect=8                       //assigns view to "view camera 8" keyboard assignment key
InitialXyz = -3.2, 1.8, -5
InitialPbh = 5, 0, 260
XyzAdjust = TRUE
Category=Aircraft
MomentumEffect=TRUE
ClipMode=Minimum

 

Then in Options-Settings-Controls,

I assigned:

View Camera 8 ----to---- +

 

Now if I press + I get the left side passenger window view.

 

-----

I set it up like that for: [CameraDefinition.0] as well,

so when i press, +

I get the right side passenger window.

 

-------

This was just a small adaptation. The views were already defined, and all I did was add the:

HotKeySelect=8 //assigns view to "view camera 8" keyboard assignment key

 

If your views are not defined in the aircraft.cfg you may have to write a new view definition.

[dogdish]

To word things a bit differently, cameras are views. The "S" key changes major views such as cockpit to spot view, etc. The "A" key changes to different cameras within a major view change. So in cockpit view the "A" would change from VC to 2D panel to radio view to whatever else the developer (or you, if you added some) chose to provide.

 

From the spot view, the "A" changes from a camera behind the aircraft to one behind the right wing to whatever else was provided.

 

Pretty much all the views are defined by a "camera" entry in either the aircraft.cfg file or in a cameras.cfg, located where your fsx.cfg file is.

 

There's more, but that's the basics.

 

Thanks for that lnuss. Good information in this thread.

 

I use two buttons on a Flight Yoke to cycle Forward/Reverse but did the opposite though. WAAAAAY too many views when I'm scrambling to land the plane!!! :)

 

I removed everything (including Tower and Flyby) except the Virtual Cabin and outside Spot with 'CycleHidden=Yes' on everything. Then if I want to find a seat and be a passenger and go for a ride or look at panels or wings or landing gear, I right click the mouse.