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FS2004 Breaking FS9's Grip on XML Gauges

Heretic

Resource contributor
Messages
6,830
Country
germany
Why do I have to switch planes before I can save the XML gauge I am working on?

Why can't I simply save and reload the current aircraft?

Is there a way around this?


It's annoying the living crap out of me...
 
Messages
440
Country
us-wisconsin
No.. You don't have to, in fact, it's easier than FSX.

Prior to "initially" (the very first time) saving a XML gauge file in FS9 use the following -

Code:
(>K:RELOAD_PANELS)

Once this happens the XML remains unlocked to the panel system. ( Until the aircraft is reloaded ) Then after the initial panel reload, use the same command to reload your saved XML after any modification / save.

_____________________________________

In FSX you must use -

Code:
(>K:RELOAD_USER_AIRCRAFT)

The only difference is that FSX gauges are "unlocked" most of the time and because of this it is not necessary to "unlock" them first. But because of this "broken" feature the whole "aircraft" must be reloaded every time after a gauge XML mod/save.

FS9 = < 1 second for a panel update
FSX = > 2 seconds + for a panel update. ( Even more on complex models )

Hope this helps,
Roman
 

n4gix

Resource contributor
Messages
11,674
Country
unitedstates
Here you go: Reload Gauges.zip

Just unzip to your FS9 ..\Gauges folder. It appears as a red "R" on a yellow background and may be placed anywhere convenient to use.
 

Attachments

  • Reload Gauges.zip
    1.8 KB · Views: 572

tgibson

Resource contributor
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11,327
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us-california
I dearly love that gauge, Bill. :) Been using it for years.
 

Heretic

Resource contributor
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6,830
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germany
It works marvelously! Thank you, Bill!



Gauge design for FS9 is almost fun now! :D
 

n4gix

Resource contributor
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11,674
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unitedstates
It works marvelously! Thank you, Bill!

Gauge design for FS9 is almost fun now! :D
I've found it quite handy myself. I keep FS open on my right-side monitor and my Visual Studio editor open on my main monitor.

It's delightful to make a new <Element> or adjust a value, save the .xml file and then instantly see the affect in the sim...
 

tgibson

Resource contributor
Messages
11,327
Country
us-california
Wow, even before FS2004. That gauge does have a long history.

Anyway, it does indeed make gauge editing a pleasure and I am in thus your debt (along with the Ramplight library).
 
Messages
258
Country
ireland
Three years of - editing an XML gauge, loading a new aircraft, saving the gauge and then reloading the original aircraft, and then doing the whole cycle again and again as my errors showed up - and then I read one thread here and download one gauge - and those years seem such a frustrating waste of time!

Why I didn't ask Heretic's question three years ago beats me! (By the way, well done, Heretic!).

Thanks for the gauge, Bill.

Walter
 

n4gix

Resource contributor
Messages
11,674
Country
unitedstates
Thanks for the gauge, Bill.

Walter

You are most welcome! Enjoy your new found "freedom from the chains of a locked XML script"... :coffee:

I must say that after the last decade+ of FS development, if anything can go wrong it has quite likely been reported, discussed and a solution found long since. That is why a good search using well-formed "key words" is essential when researching a problem. Between FS Developer and Freeflight Design, answers to probably 80% or more problems and issues may be found.
 
Last edited:
Messages
495
Country
austria
And i added to my Panel Reload -gauge a Key.

Code:
<!-- reload panels by pressing SHIFT plus CNTRL plus F10 -->
  <Keys>
    <On Key="889">
    (P:ACTIVE VIEW MODE,number) 1 ==
    if{
      (&gt;K:RELOAD_PANELS) 
      }
    </On>
  </Keys>

Hmmmh, i did at least 8 years ago... huch, time is sooo running:(
 
Messages
1,510
Country
unitedstates
I used to do this in the FS9.cfg with:

[KEYBOARD_MAIN]
RELOAD_PANELS=82,11

Ctrl+Shift+R would reload panels. That was on my old machine with XP, worked every time and on any aircraft without need to install a reload panels gauge temporarily.

Doesn't seem to work anymore though on the new machine running Win7, that line won't stick in the FS9.cfg for some reason. I have UAC off, the .cfg saves just fine. I can close & re-open it after the save and see the line there. Soon as I start the sim it removes it though, anybody have any ideas?

EDIT: Well that was a tough one, it seems CTRL+Shift+R is assigned to "AIRSPEED_BUG_SELECT" by default so the sim must have detected duplicate key assignments and threw one out. I must have unset that and assigned it to "RELOAD_PANELS" on the old machine and didn't remember doing it. Anyway just change "AIRSPEED_BUG_SELECT=82,11" to "RELOAD_PANELS=82,11" and you can reload panels with Ctrl+Shift+R.

Jim
 
Last edited:
Messages
1,564
Country
thailand
I must say that after the last decade+ of FS development, if anything can go wrong it has quite likely been reported, discussed and a solution found long since. That is why a good search using well-formed "key words" is essential when researching a problem. Between FS Developer and Freeflight Design, answers to probably 80% or more problems and issues may be found.

great advice!
 

taguilo

Resource contributor
Messages
1,585
Country
argentina
In FSX you must use -

Code:
(&gt;K:RELOAD_USER_AIRCRAFT)

The only difference is that FSX gauges are "unlocked" most of the time and because of this it is not necessary to "unlock" them first. But because of this "broken" feature the whole "aircraft" must be reloaded every time after a gauge XML mod/save.

FS9 = < 1 second for a panel update
FSX = > 2 seconds + for a panel update. ( Even more on complex models )

The main difference between RELOAD_PANELS and RELOAD_USER_AIRCRAFT lies in LVARs treatment. RP keeps LVar's current values after the command is issued, but RUA resets them to 0, which can be very undesirable in a testing scenario.
I guess FSX had to discard RELOAD_PANELS because of the way it handles the panelset -now linked with VC's separate model-.

Tom
 

Heretic

Resource contributor
Messages
6,830
Country
germany
Why I didn't ask Heretic's question three years ago beats me! (By the way, well done, Heretic!).

I am bewildered, amused and blushing - all at the same time. :D



And i added to my Panel Reload -gauge a Key.

...

:eek:



I used to do this in the FS9.cfg with:

[KEYBOARD_MAIN]
RELOAD_PANELS=82,11

...

:eek:



Dear lord, people, why aren't these so, so, SO VERY USEFULE TIPS in any tutorials and/or wiki articles yet?!? :eek:
 
Messages
258
Country
ireland
Hi,

since March 2013 I have been happily and successfully using this RELOAD_PANELS facility. Today however - it stopped working! I use Textpad to edit my gauges and this has worked since 2013. Wordpad won't save a changed gauge .xml file while FS2004 is open either - so it looks like it is the "0 (&gt;K:RELOAD_PANELS)" command that is not letting the editors save any more.

Nothing changed on the F: drive (to my knowledge!).

Anyone got any ideas what I have done to cause this to happen.

Please

Walter
 
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