************************************************************** * ACS LOADEDIT / a Payload Editor for FS200X / November 2003 * ************************************************************** VERSION: 2.4.0.6 Alain Capt / acapt@worldcom.ch / Switzerland URL: http://www.acsoft.ch DESCRIPTION *********** This program is a fully customizable payload editor with graphic interface, to be used with any FS2000, FS2002 and FS2004 aircafts. To be compatible, the aircraft design must simply implement into "aircraft.cfg" file, 6 "stations load" which must be respectively: station_load.0 = Crew station_load.1 = Baggage payload station_load.2 = Cargo payload station_load.3 = First class passenger seats station_load.4 = Business class passenger seats station_load.5 = Economy class passenger seats A configuration file "LoadEdit.ini" will define the particular configuration by specifying which of these stations load are used. The program will adapt itself to the particular configuration, by disabling load setting(s) eventually not in use. The graphic interface is built with a diagram picture of the aircraft, where the program will draw all weight datas. Diagram picture (BMP file) and locations where the program must draw weight datas, are under the control of the user. These features made the program usable with virtually any aircraft. Program has an auto computation feature for baggage load and can display all weights in both [KG] or [LBS] units. HOW IT'S WORK IN DETAILS ************************ STEP ONE -------- The aircraft designer will simply specify the required parameters wich cannot be found into "Aircraft.cfg" into a configuration file called "loadedit.ini" they are: "WindowSubTitle" This parameter allow to specify a string which will be added to the ACS LoadEdit Window title. "DiagramConfigName" This parameter specify the name of either the bitmap and the diagram configuration file. This must be a valid Windows file name, without name extension. "FuelCapacity" This parameter specify the total capacity of all fuel tanks in "gallons" unit. "Crew" This parameter specify the number of crew members. "FirstClass_seats" These parameters allow to specify the number of sits "Business_seats" for each of these passenger classes. Equal to zero "Economy_seats" mean that the class does not exist. "Cargo_Capacity" This parameter allow to specify the maximum number of 100 lb units of goods, the aircraft can load. Equal to zero mean that aircraft has no cargo capacity. "Baggage_Capacity" This parameter allow to specify the maximum number of 60 lb units of baggage, the aircraft can load. This number must not be less than the total number of seats of the three passenger classes. It is recommended to set it 10 to 20% higher. Equal to zero mean that aircraft has no baggage capacity, but this will be accepted only if aircraft has also all passenger classes set to zero. STEP TWO -------- Then, the aircraft designer should draw a diagram bitmap. The easyest way to do it, is to take one of the sample diagram bitmap included with the package and to modify it. While doing this, the rules to be respected are: Boxes where numeric values of ACS LoadEdit will be drawed, shoud not be smaller than those into the sample diagram and filled in with white color. This bitmap must be named like specified into "DiagramConfigName" parameter of "loadedit.ini" file, with the "bmp" extension name. Bitmap must be sized 602x202 pixels. STEP THREE ---------- The last task the aircraft designer should do, is to create the diagram configuration file. The easyest way to do this, is to take a copy of the sample diagram configuration file included with the package and to modify it. This file specify the coordinates of used numeric values which are displayed by ACS LoadEdit onto diagram bitmap, in pixels units. Note that each coordinates are in pixels, RELATIVE TO THE PROGRAM WINDOW ORIGIN. This mean you must add 10 pixels to both axis, relatively to the coordinates you may measure on the bitmap. Coordinates for unactivated items don't need to be specified. Coordinates specify the upper left corner of the text rectangle which will be drawed by ACS LoadEdit. This file must be named like specified into "DiagramConfigName" parameter of "loadedit.ini" file, with the "ini" extension name. STEP FOUR --------- Finally, the aircraft designer will add into his aircaft directory, where is located the "aircraft.cfg" file, ACS LoadEdit program, both "INI" files and the diagram bitmap file. ACS LOADEDIT BEHAVIORS ********************** ACS LoadEdit will automatically adapt itself to any valid aircraft configuration, with just appropriate settings of parameters into "loadedit.ini" (Payload station(s) settings with capacity set to zero will be disabled). ACS LoadEdit will not rewrite all the [weight_and_balance] section of the file "aircraft.cfg". Just the weight of the 6 required "station_load.x" parameters will be updated, with even a preservation of all other parameters into the line. In other words, this mean that this section [weight_and_balance] remain fully under the user control, including station load parameters other than the weight. All formats used in FS2000, FS2002 and FS2004, for station load parameters specification, are supported (quoted parameters, unquoted parameter without station load name, etc...). The only "aircraft.cfg" constraint for ACS LoadEdit to successfully work is that the "empty_weight", "max_gross_weight", then the group of all 6 "station_load.x" with "x" in the consecutive order 0 to 5, are found into the file in this order, into the section [weight_and_balance]. No matter if they are some other parameters line(s) in between, except, of course, in between "station_load.x" lines, which must be all contiguous. Configuration with less or more than 6 "station_load.x" parameters will not be accepted by ACS LoadEdit. ACS LoadEdit will always consider these six "station_load.x" to be: #0 = Crew #1 = Baggage #2 = Cargo #3 = First #4 = Business #5 = Economy And this, even if the eventually specified station load name is different. If ACS LoadEdit program is closed with the standard "cross" close icon, the program will not write back to "aircraft.cfg", even if payload configuration was modified. If ACS LoadEdit program is closed with the "Save config" button, program will write back to "aircraft.cfg", only if payload configuration was modified. You will know when a new payload configuration was written back, because, in this case, the program will produce the standard sound "OK" on exit. FS BEHAVIORS ************ To be taken in account, modifications of "station_load" parameters with the ACS LoadEdit, must be done BEFORE the aircraft is loaded. The FS2004 internal "payload editor" DO NOT modify "station_load" settings into "aircraft.cfg". New settings you may set here will only affect your current flight. COPYRIGHTS ********** THIS PACKAGE IS FREEWARE AND NO MONEY SHOULD EVER BE MADE WITH IT !!! WRITTEN PERMISSION OF AUTHOR'S IS NEEDED TO COPY THIS PACKAGE OR PART(S) OF IT, ON EVERY MEDIA LIKE CD-ROM, DISKETTE, BBS, INTERNET SITES ETC..., IN THE CASE USERS MUST PAY TO ACCESS THIS MEDIA OR HAVE TO BUY IT. WRITTEN PERMISSION OF AUTHOR'S IS ALSO NEEDED TO INCLUDE ACS LOADEDIT PROGRAM INTO PRODUCTIONS WHICH ARE NOT FREEWARE. PACKAGES WHICH INCLUDE ACS LOADEDIT PROGRAM MUST ALSO INCLUDE THIS README FILE UNMODIFIED. ANY REQUEST OR QUESTION CAN BE ADRESSED TO FOLLOWING ADDRESS: Alain Capt 35 ch. des Passiaux CH-1008 PRILLY SWITZERLAND Tel + Fax: +41 21 648 38 37 E-Mail: acapt@worldcom.ch URL: http://www.acsoft.ch