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Get simulated date/season

L

Lennart Vedin

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2
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sweden
Hello !
I need to know the simulated DateTime to calculate an estimated daylight factor.
I have found the time via SimConnect_AddToDataDefinition(hSimConnect, DEFINITION_1, "ZULU TIME", "Seconds");

But I ask for help how to get any data to calculate the day of year (season) ?
 
Hi Lennart,

The time/date variables are documented but in a "strange" place, where are are called "Environment Variables":
<https://docs.flightsimulator.com/ht...erse_Polish_Notation.htm#EnvironmentVariables>

From here you can see that "ZULU TIME" is only seconds from start of current day.

"ABSOLUTE TIME" could be used as a base for calculations of actual current time (eg. `Date("1/1/1") + absolute time seconds`). Or use one of the other available variables, perhaps "ZULU DAY OF YEAR" is all you need.

HTH,
-Max
 
MaxPaperno said:
Hi Lennart,

The time/date variables are documented but in a "strange" place, where are are called "Environment Variables":
<https://docs.flightsimulator.com/ht...erse_Polish_Notation.htm#EnvironmentVariables>

From here you can see that "ZULU TIME" is only seconds from start of current day.

"ABSOLUTE TIME" could be used as a base for calculations of actual current time (eg. `Date("1/1/1") + absolute time seconds`). Or use one of the other available variables, perhaps "ZULU DAY OF YEAR" is all you need.

HTH,
-Max
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot, the "strange" place did the trick, since it has ZULU SUNRISE TIME and ZULU SUNSET TIME, I can very easy together with just ZULU TIME calculate a sunlight factor.
 
MaxPaperno said:
Hi Lennart,

The time/date variables are documented but in a "strange" place, where are are called "Environment Variables":
<https://docs.flightsimulator.com/ht...erse_Polish_Notation.htm#EnvironmentVariables>

From here you can see that "ZULU TIME" is only seconds from start of current day.

"ABSOLUTE TIME" could be used as a base for calculations of actual current time (eg. `Date("1/1/1") + absolute time seconds`). Or use one of the other available variables, perhaps "ZULU DAY OF YEAR" is all you need.

HTH,
-Max
Click to expand...
Hi Max,

Is it possible to get notified by SimConnect when user changes date/time in-game, in-UI?

Thanks!
 
Misho said:
Is it possible to get notified by SimConnect when user changes date/time in-game, in-UI?
Click to expand...

Hi Misho, if you subscribe to them like other Sim Vars (`RequestDataOnSimObject()`, not `RequestDataOnSimObjectType()`) then the sim should "push" the changes to you regardless of how they're made (time actually passing or user changing it). With the latter function you have to poll the sim for changes, of course, but you should still get updated values, assuming sim time is passing at all.

Though to be honest I haven't verified that exact scenario as far as I can remember. I know the time variables get updated while sim is running, so I'm assuming user-induced changes would be reported the same way. So if it doesn't do that then I would consider it a bug... :)

BTW, the "strange place" for the docs has been passed onto Asobo and prompted a couple missions to find them... 😆
<https://devsupport.flightsimulator....tion-variables-docs-for-simconnect-users/6673>

Cheers,
-Max
 
MaxPaperno said:
Hi Misho, if you subscribe to them like other Sim Vars (`RequestDataOnSimObject()`, not `RequestDataOnSimObjectType()`) then the sim should "push" the changes to you regardless of how they're made (time actually passing or user changing it). With the latter function you have to poll the sim for changes, of course, but you should still get updated values, assuming sim time is passing at all.

Though to be honest I haven't verified that exact scenario as far as I can remember. I know the time variables get updated while sim is running, so I'm assuming user-induced changes would be reported the same way. So if it doesn't do that then I would consider it a bug... :)

BTW, the "strange place" for the docs has been passed onto Asobo and prompted a couple missions to find them... 😆
<https://devsupport.flightsimulator....tion-variables-docs-for-simconnect-users/6673>

Cheers,
-Max
Click to expand...
Thanks Max!

Yes, definitely, I could keep track of time, set up a sim 4HZ polling of time, then compare if my time is off compared to sim time, and if it is, call that a "TIME CHANGE" event by user. And, set something up to ignore it if the sim is not in flight mode, but in "UI" mode....

But man, does that seem awkward. I think back in FSX and P3D days, every time there was a UI time change, a sim would be saved and loaded into a temporary FLT file, and that event would be registered, so I would compare time stamp on SAVE FLT and LOAD FLT and see if the user changed time.

But now in MSFS2020, time is changed dynamically, without a reload, and that makes it a bit trickier.
 
Hi Misho,

I guess I'm not really sure or don't understand what you mean or are trying to do...

I just did a test, requesting (subscribing to) "ABSOLUTE TIME" and "ZULU TIME" vars via SimConnect (`RequestDataOnSimObject()`). They change in "real time" with whatever is happening in the sim... even if I go in and start changing the time in the World Map flight setup, the new/changed time is sent right away. And same when I'm in a flight and change the current date/time via UI.

So that seems to work as expected, at least. Does that help with what you're trying to do?

Cheers,
-Max
 
MaxPaperno said:
Hi Misho,

I guess I'm not really sure or don't understand what you mean or are trying to do...

I just did a test, requesting (subscribing to) "ABSOLUTE TIME" and "ZULU TIME" vars via SimConnect (`RequestDataOnSimObject()`). They change in "real time" with whatever is happening in the sim... even if I go in and start changing the time in the World Map flight setup, the new/changed time is sent right away. And same when I'm in a flight and change the current date/time via UI.

So that seems to work as expected, at least. Does that help with what you're trying to do?

Cheers,
-Max
Click to expand...
Right - but that is a variable. You can subscribe to it and poll it and get the value. What I'd like to know is when a user CHANGES the time, as in, an event when user selects the new time/date/year from the in-game UI.
 
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