ACS 2D PANEL FOR FS2004 PROJECT AIRBUS A380 & VASFMC 2.1 Version: 1.01 / CopyRights Alain Capt /ACSoft Productions ********************************************************* FOREWORDS ********* Is is a long time I was looking, from time to time, for a nice Airbus A380. Normal, I am a "heavie's lover !!!. Some of you may remember my popular freeware creation: my MD-11 panel & tunings. I think I found it now !!! It is the wonderful A380 from Project Airbus. What has seduced me also a lot with this realisation, it is the integration of the incredible avionic system vasFMC. When you have stepped up, to fly Aircraft simulation like the PMDG aircrafts, you cannot anymore come back to the more simple "standard MSFS avionic". Even my own old lady MD-11, I did not fly her anymore !!! I had only one regret, when discovering the marvellous work of Project Airbus team, it is that the version with the Virtual cockpit, didn't also had a 2D cockpit. So, it wasn't very long before I started to investigate and see what I can do, even if I have stopped to develop for FS since the time of the FSX publication. But when you got the virus, you don't need much "push" to restart again !!! LOL !!! I started first with the meaning to add a 2D cockpit to the Virtual Cockpit version, so I can fly this hudge "monster", like I am accustomized with my PMDG MD-11 (all intense work in 2D cockpit, only going into the VC, during cruise, just for the pleasure to look around). But, while doing this, I hit big problems and came to the conclusion that IT IS, PROBABLY NOT POSSIBLE TO BUILD SUCH A VERSION WHICH WILL RUN WELL AND HAVE GOOD PERFORMANCES. Almost not on my actual PC For more details on this matter, please read the technical informations chapter in this document. This is why, finally, I started to build this panel for the version without VC (also call wingview version), but which include the great vasFMC Airbus like avionic system. To fly this pure jewel with the default MSFS 747_400 panel, would be just a crime !!! LOL !!! WHAT NEW IN VERSION 1.01 ************************ - Added point 4) in the installation chapter here after. - New version of "SD.xml" gauge which correct an indentation fault of the text code (no change in the code itself). INSTALLATION ************ 1) Before to proceed, be sure you have already a fully functionnal Project Airbus A380 installation, including the package vasFMS version 2.1. 2) Unzip the present package inside your FS2004 Aircraft folder. Depending of the tool you use to do this, ensure the unzip operation will use the included path informations, so that all files goes where they should. For example, with WinZip you must activate the option "use folder names". This operation will simply add into folder: FS2004\Aircraft\Project Airbus A380-800\ The new folder: "panel.acs" 3) You must now create new version of A380 aircraft wich use the new panel. Go into any of the following Aircraft folder: Project Airbus A380-841 Project Airbus A380-842 Project Airbus A380-861 And open the file "Aircraft.cfg" into a text editor like the Notepad, for example. But before to do that, BE SURE YOU HAVE A BACKUP OF THIS FILE (COPY IT TO SOME SAFE PLACE). In the bottom of this file, you will found several definition sections of your A380 aircrafts. For example in A380-841 you may found: [fltsim.0] title= Project Airbus A380-841 Singapore Airlines VC VASFMCgauges sim = air_a380 model = vc_rr panel = vas sound = texture = SIA atc_id = 9V-SKC atc_airline = Singapore atc_flight_number = 236 ui_manufacturer = Project Airbus ui_type = A380-841 ui_variation = Singapore Airlines description = atc_parking_types = GATE atc_parking_codes = SIA First, duplicate the definition you want, at the bottom of the file (select the section, do Ctrl-C to copy, place the cursor at the bottom of the file, do Ctrl-V to paste) Now, look at the previous definition (the one before your paste). Look at the title: [fltsim.X] The "X" is the last used rank index of your models So, simply edit now the title of the definition you have passed in this way : [fltsim.X+1] You replace the number "X+1" by the next rank number. Now, look at this line: "model = vc_rr" mean this aircraft use the Roll Royce engine model with the virtual cockpit. We must change this, because my panel DO NOT support actually model with virtual cockpit so please edit in this way: "model = wv_rr" This aircraft will now use the model WITHOUT VC. Now, look at this line: "panel = vas" mean this aircraft use actually the VC cockpit panel with the vasFMC system. We must change this in this way: "panel = acs" in order that this new definition use my panel. In order to identify easily this new model when we will load it, we should mention the new type of this new Aircaft in the following line: "ui_variation = Singapore Airlines" You can, for example modify it in this way: "ui_variation = Singapore Airlines (ACS panel)" Finally, IT IS MANDATORY to also change the title: "title= Project Airbus A380-841 Singapore Airlines VC VASFMCgauges" You may, for example call it: "title = Project Airbus A380-841 Singapore Airlines NOVC ACS VASFMCgauges" What is important is that each aircraft definitions HAS A DIFFERENT TITLE. Now you can save your modified "Aircraft.cfg" and run your Flight Simulator. You should now find in the "Project Aibus" category of aircraft, in the type "A380-841" a variation called: "Singapore Airlines (ACS panel)" If it is not the case, you have probably missed something here or miss-typed something. This is why it is important to backup you "Aircraft.cfg" file, before to start to edit it. 4) We still have a last step to do. In this aircraft implementation, "Project Airbus A380-800" directory has all datas for the different models of A380 you may decide to install. These models will be installed in separate directories like: Project Airbus A380-841 Project Airbus A380-842 Project Airbus A380-861 If you look in these directories, you will found indirection directories for panels & models, like "model.xxx" and "Panel.xxx" directories. These directories contain config files with just an "alias" item, to redirect on "Project Airbus A380-800" data. So, now we need to create our own indirection ! Therefore, create a directory named: "panel.acs" Inside this directory, create a file "panel.cfg" with the lines: [fltsim] alias=Project Airbus A380-800\panel.acs The easiest way to do this, is to copy one of the original "Panel.cfg" file and to modify it with a text editor. USAGE ***** This is, of course more a first experimental panel which left totally behind (for now) any esthetic considerations. Just a first draft which main purpose is the ease of use and a great visibility by the way, especially on the beautiful PA wings flex !!! Wing views command: Be sure to have the caps lock: Shift-Ctrl-7 forward left Shift-Ctrl-9 forward right Shift-Ctrl-1 behind left Shift-Ctrl-3 behind right On start, depending on the load type (flight creation or load of a flights save) you may have no power, and in this case, most of the buttons in the lower right part of the panel will be all hidden. Just click on the first button on the left of the autobrake gauge, under the start group of fuel levers. Notice that all buttons have help tool-tips, so I recommend you let this FS function activated. In any cases, buttons are quite logically grouped, so you should be very quickly familiar with the panel. If you save flight, try to remember to not save the flight with the EICAS window open. Because, on reloading, it will open desynchronized (a black FCTL page). But this not a big problem, because to resynchronize, just click "FCTL" button or even any other page buttons. Notice that, for now, you don't have yet bitmaps for the 2D cockpit lateral views. Therefore you have full visibility ! The 2 left & right behind views are just also smart wing views with a different angle. For the rest of the usage, all answers are into the manual of the great vasFMC system !!! TECHNICAL INFORMATIONS ********************** The investigation I made ------------------------ My investigations relatively to the vasFMC used in both a VC cockpit and a 2D cockpit where not very successful. Maybe I am unlucky, but from what I saw on the Project Airbus forum I should not be alone with this specific problem: vasFMC seem NOT to have been designed specifically to be able to run 2 sets of gauges in the same time. There is a popup feature implemented. which allow to pop a larger gauge window in the 2d cockpit, but in this case, you sill have only one gauge of the same type to run at once. On my system, when I was using the VC model while opening all vasFMC gauges in the 2D cockpit, with manual command "Shift-2" to "SHift-7", my FS9 started soon to have major problem: - Key command input saturation: This was typically revealed by the fact I wasn't anymore able to open the doors with multiple keys command, like "Shift-E" followed by a number key. - Erratic frame rate: Looking at the frame rate, the minimum / maximum rate excursion was much larger than usually. - Erratic hanging of vasFMC display refresh: Suddenly the gauge seem to be blocked and you have to wait even more than one second to see your input to be displayed on the concerned gauge. - A lot of stutters on tarmac of big airport sceneries: OK, on such airport you always have some, but in this case it became really bad. What convinced me that the main problem was the multiple usage of vasFMC gauges was the following test: I have simply DISABLED all the vasFMC gauges in the VC section of the "Panel.cfg" file and used the vasFMC system from the 2D cockpit. So, I still had an A380 with the hudge model with VC and pax cabin and all the large quantity of textures, but nevertheless, ALL SYMPTHOMS described before disappeared. OK, not the best frame rate I had (this model is really big), but something perfectly acceptable (maybe -1 frame rate in regard with my PMDG MD11). Now, the test I made with the version WITHOUT the VC were just fantastic. A real dream. Perfect smoothness! Almost no more stutters on big airports. I suspect also that these great performances greatly help with the "Fly by wire" system of vasFMC. It is at this point that I decided to start developing my panel for a version WITHOUT VC of these great airplanes. To give a comparative base for any reader who may be interested by these feedback's, here is my PC config: Motherboard: ASUS P5W DH DELUXE Proc: INTEL CORE DUO EXTREME (CONROE XE) 2.93GHZ Memory: DDR2 2GB [1GBX2] DDR800 (PC2-6400) CORSAIR TWINX HD: 2X SATA300 320GB - 7200 HITACHI DESKSTAR T7K500 (16MB) Graphic: Sapphire VaporX Radeon HD 5870 1024DDR5 OS: Windows XP version 2002 SP3 (french) Not the very last "race beast", but still a good machine to my view !!! Compatibility with other versions --------------------------------- I do not made any test of this panel with FSX, simply because I still don't use this version of the Flight Simulator and even don't own it. Nevertheless, it would be great if some users may try, assuming the vasFMC package is compatible with FSX which I don't know either. Now, if vasFMC is compatible with FSX, I don't see any reasons why this panel wouldn't work. To try this panel in a VC version, is something I do not recommend, because of the previous explanations. Moreover, it won't be easy, as it will require to add all the VC section into my "panel.cfg" file. But, if someone want to try, no problem ! Any feedback from your side are very welcome. My Email address is given in the bottom of this document. To update the EICAS of your other A380 -------------------------------------- The modifications I made so far in the SD.xml gauge are fully compatible with the other versions of the Project Airbus A380. To update simply replace the two files: "_sys\EICAS_LOWER4.bmp" "_sys\SD.xml" On the concerned "panel.XXX" in the main folder: "Project Airbus A380-800". With those you will find in my panel folder: "panel.acs". VERSION HISTORY *************** Version 1.00 (initial realease) ------------------------------- - First step consisted to build an experimental panel with the transposition of most of the gauges of the VC/VAS cockpit version. - Created 4 wing views. - Reworked "_lgip" buttons bitmap to suit 2d panel needs. Also a minor correction in DeIce.xml. - Created a new "buttonsradio.bmp" for rmp.xml radio gauge. - Several tweaks of several buttons gauge to tie them with "Master Battery". - Creation of several new buttons like Master Avionic, etc... Some of them needed to replace the direct control of the model.mdl on some of the functions. - Creation of an engines manual start set of gauges using the MS 747_400 material. - Creation of autobrake switch gauge using the MS 747_400 material. - Design and realization of a single EICAS gauge combining vas surface control gauge and SD.xml EICAS gauge. - Added a simple background bitmap. - Created 2x2 usual window toggle icons buttons. - Full rework of the "SD.xml" ACCESS page, so that the schema correspond to the an A380 and the doors commands correctly interpreted. - Normalization of the common foot print of the "SD.xml" so that it correspond to the information displayed by the 1st page belonging to vas gauge which obviously cannot be changed. This consisted to change the time display, to add the autobrake with the same vas format. - Correction of the FS9 "STANDARD ATM TEMPERATURE" which is apparently incorrect. Consisted to compute SAT from the TAT (True Air Temperature) with formula: SAT[K] = TAT[K] / (1 + (0.2 * (M^2))) This work great and now both vas and SD.xml gauges show the identical SAT temperature. - Corrected the feature "Fuel temperature" of SD.xml to use TAT instead of SAT. Seem to me more logical, as the fuel is obviously inside the aircraft. CREDITS ******* Thanks to Georg Aubele for his XML gauge for door control which I have integrated to this panel as is. Thanks to Ken Mitchell, the author of the initial writing of the SD.XML gauge (EICAS), I have started to tweak. But, apparently, from what I saw in the code, someone of PA started that also before me !!! Thanks to Alex Wemmer to have created the fantastic vasFMC. Without it, this panel would have probably never born ! And finally, thanks to all the Project Airbus team, who made all this possible, with this magnificent gift to the FS Community. To my view your A380 is simply the best of all existing (freeware or even payware) !!! COPYRIGHTS ********** THIS PACKAGE IS FREEWARE AND NO MONEY SHOULD EVER BE MADE WITH IT!!! WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR(S) IS NEEDED TO COPY THIS PACKAGE OR PART(S) OF IT, ON EVERY FORM OF MEDIA, LIKE CD-ROM, DVD, DISKETTE, BBS, INTERNET SITES, ETC…, IN THE CASE USERS MUST PAY TO ACCESS IT OR TO GET IT. NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT, WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHOR(S) WRITTEN PERMISSION, TO USE ANY PARTS OF THIS PRODUCTION, IN ORIGINAL STATE, OR MODIFIED WITH ANY SOFTWARES, INTO ANY OTHER APPLICATIONS INTENDED TO BE PUBLISHED, EVEN IF THIS PUBLICATION WILL BE A FREEWARE. PLEASE, REFER TO CREDIT CHAPTER FOR AUTHORS OF PARTS WHICH DO NOT BELONG EXCLUSIVELY TO ME. Alain Capt / ACSoft Productions Web: http://www.acsoft.ch Email: acapt@acsoft.ch June 2012