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Reloading aircraft in FSX - reliable?

S

Simon853

Messages
516
Does anybody else find that reloading an aircraft in FSX (using the menu or key binding) doesn't always seem to completely clear out and reload the gauges?

For instance, if I try out new gauge code and it fails because I've made a mistake, so I edit the file, re-cab it, copy it back into \gauges, and then reload the aircraft, sometimes the gauge now works as it should and other times it wont. But if I shut down FSX and restart it I often find that my gauges work as expected.

This is making my gauge programming very slow going as every time I correct a mistake in the xml I can't be assured that it will function correctly unless I restart the sim every time. In fact sometimes the sim completely hangs. (The when I restart it, it is fine.)

Or is there something else I could be doing to ensure old gauges get properly scrubbed when reloaded?

Si
 
n4gix

n4gix

Resource contributor
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Why in all that's Holy are you (re)cabbing the file every time? That really slows you down!

Instead, create a subfolder in your \panel folder with the same name as your gauge. Drop your .XML and .BMP files in the folder.

Launch FSX, load your aircraft, then do a "Reload Aircraft" to "unlock" the XML gauges.

Now you can simply save your edited XML, do a "Reload Aircraft" and see your changes immediately.

OTOH, custom L:variables are NOT reset to zero with a "Reload Aircraft" operation. To reset custom L:vars you will need to do a Ctrl-; sequence (restart flight).

Before the first Ctrl-; sequence though, best press ; to Save your current flight to some unique name... ;)
 
S

Simon853

Messages
516
I had tried both methods of placing the gauges in the directories, but just wasn't sure whether one method increased the likelihood of the gauge failing or not.

Thanks for the tip on the L:vars.

Si
 
T

taguilo

Resource contributor
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n4gix said:
OTOH, custom L:variables are NOT reset to zero with a "Reload Aircraft" operation.
Click to expand...

Oh yes, they ARE reset to zero, unfortunately :( (IMHO) as Reload Panels doesn't work so far SP1

Tom
 
W

Waugh

Messages
135
Country
us-kentucky
Simon853 said:
Does anybody else find that reloading an aircraft in FSX (using the menu or key binding) doesn't always seem to completely clear out and reload the gauges?

For instance, if I try out new gauge code and it fails because I've made a mistake, so I edit the file, re-cab it, copy it back into \gauges, and then reload the aircraft, sometimes the gauge now works as it should and other times it wont. But if I shut down FSX and restart it I often find that my gauges work as expected.

This is making my gauge programming very slow going as every time I correct a mistake in the xml I can't be assured that it will function correctly unless I restart the sim every time. In fact sometimes the sim completely hangs. (The when I restart it, it is fine.)

Or is there something else I could be doing to ensure old gauges get properly scrubbed when reloaded?

Si
Click to expand...

Remember that to reload an aircraft reliably the SDK tells us that we have to turn off AI aircraft. I have no problem with it, but then I'm doing C gauges too.

Something else you might consider is coding your XML in an editor that will prevent syntax errors. There are a few good editors out there for free, and some great ones out there in payware.

Patrick
 
S

Simon853

Messages
516
Something else you might consider is coding your XML in an editor that will prevent syntax errors. There are a few good editors out there for free, and some great ones out there in payware.
Click to expand...

Any particular suggestions? I'm new to gauge programming and had a quick look for gauge editors and didn't come up with anything.

Also: Are people sticking to the FS9 gauge file syntax or adopting the new FSX schema? It seems that all the FSX XML gauges are still written in the old syntax.

Si
 
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