• Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:

    • Tag FS2020 specific questions with the MSFS2020 tag.
    • Questions about making 3D assets can be posted in the 3D asset design forum. Either post them in the subforum of the modelling tool you use or in the general forum if they are general.
    • Questions about aircraft design can be posted in the Aircraft design forum
    • Questions about airport design can be posted in the FS2020 airport design forum. Once airport development tools have been updated for FS2020 you can post tool speciifc questions in the subforums of those tools as well of course.
    • Questions about terrain design can be posted in the FS2020 terrain design forum.
    • Questions about SimConnect can be posted in the SimConnect forum.

    Any other question that is not specific to an aspect of development or tool can be posted in the General chat forum.

    By following these guidelines we make sure that the forums remain easy to read for everybody and also that the right people can find your post to answer it.

What do I need?

B

Baldur2630

Messages
1
Country
belgium
I was a Delphi (Pascal) programmer for many years, now retired. I can also hold my own with HTML. Now I want to try to learn XML, specifically for FSX, so I can design a few gauges and maybe scenery later.

So, here are the questions : -

1. What do I need in the way of an Editor for XML?
2. I found a list of all the XML Variable in FSX but not how to use them
3. Information about XML Syntax
4. How / where one places the XML file (for example a gauge) and how to refer to where it is in panel.cfg.

If I can just get some basic essentials, I'm pretty sure I can 'muddle my way' through the rest.

Thanks in advance.
 
Hi,

I do not know the least thing about making gauges and I believe they are one of the harder parts of FS to develop.
However, having read the SDK dozens of times, I am pretty sure that all your questions are answered in it. Included in the SDK are also some sample xml files explaining the syntax.
I do hope you have the SDK?
PS - xml files can be opened with wordpad or notepad;
- placement of gauges is defined in the panel.cfg
 
Baldur2630 said:
I was a Delphi (Pascal) programmer for many years, now retired. I can also hold my own with HTML. Now I want to try to learn XML, specifically for FSX, so I can design a few gauges and maybe scenery later.

So, here are the questions : -

1. What do I need in the way of an Editor for XML?
2. I found a list of all the XML Variable in FSX but not how to use them
3. Information about XML Syntax
4. How / where one places the XML file (for example a gauge) and how to refer to where it is in panel.cfg.

If I can just get some basic essentials, I'm pretty sure I can 'muddle my way' through the rest.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Answers (quick ones to keep it simple):

1. I use Notepad, which is already included with Windows, as my editor.
2. Look at what others have done by looking at the XML files they have used.
3. Google is your friend. Use xml programming for a search term for instance.
4. A Cab file placed in the Panel folder of the aircraft is where you will place your XML files as well as your bitmaps.

Regards, Mike Mann
 
I use Visual Studio primarily for C/C++ gauge work, but since it also handles XML nicely, I use it for scripting as well.

Visual Studio 2010 Express is downloadable for free use from Microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/express/Windows/

All versions include a "Basic XML Editor (code coloring and IntelliSense)," which is what I use. The nice part of this is automatic and consistent formatting indents, as well as the IntelliSense, which is perfect for identifying pesky syntax errors quickly! :D

There is a very nicely done set of tutorials at:
http://www.fs2x.com/Tutorials.htm

This should be enough to get you started in the right direction. For the most part, XML scripters are "self-taught," since it's fairly easy to cut/paste/modify existing "gauges" to suit one's needs.

XML's "math syntax" is RPN (Reverse Polish Notation), so if you've by chance mastered "Yoda speak," you should be well prepared already! :rotfl:
 
Hi,

The information that you've received so far sounds very good and I intend to follow up on the suggestions. I would like to add this.
Here's a quote from the Creating XML Gauges section of the SDK:
"The ACE resource tool can be used to build a number of components for Flight Simulator X, this document explains how to use the tool to help build gauges."
The Ace tool is, in essence, a Wysiwig editor. You supply the required input and it produces the XML output for the new gauge.
The included tutorial is enough to get you up and running.
The tutorial covers the creation of a panel to show up in the C172 that includes one existing gauge and two new ones.
There is one problem with the Ace tool that needs to be addressed however. When an item is created it's "Bright" Property must be set to True for the item to be previewed within the tool. With this setting the item will not be dimmed at night but this property can be easily changed before the gauge is finally saved.

Jim F.
 
Last edited:
One other thing to keep in mind is that the "ACES Tool" will only create XML "gauges" for FSX.

If you intend to create anything that may be used in both FS9 and FSX, then you'll need to use the FS9 XML Schema.
 
n4gix said:
One other thing to keep in mind is that the "ACES Tool" will only create XML "gauges" for FSX.
Click to expand...

Another thing to keep in mind is the ACE tool flat out sucks :-> (I spent many, many months using that tool to layout dialog boxes, which was it's original function, before support for gauges was also added to it).
 
LOL! That made my day, Tim! I'd come to that conclusion after spending just one day with it.

Although, it's not so much to tool itself, but rather the lack of clear instructions on how to use it that is the greatest shortcoming...

Okay, FSX XML Schema is also excessively verbose for no apparent reason.
 
I enjoy being able to use simple Notepad. Super simple. PropTrash uses a pretty nice system though that can 'remember' where the edits go, which I find impressive, but the package is like $2,000.00 at Microsoft. I forget the name of it though.


By the way, you can 'check' XML code by simply opening it with Internet Explorer, (IE) and if it is bad code, it will red flag it and stop the code at the break point. Great for locating your errors.
 
Bill, you can also download Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express edition for FREE, and make use of the truly fantastic XML Editor...

Among the many features, it will auto-close any open <Tags> for you, and will identify any "mistakes" by underlining the problem with little squiggly marks... :D
 
Last edited:
n4gix said:
Bill, you can also download Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 Express edition for FREE, and make use of the truly fantastic XML Editor...

Among the many features, it will auto-close any open <Tags> for you, and will identify any "mistakes" by underlining the problem with little squiggly marks... :D
Click to expand...

Fr. Bill, are you in a time warp? :D

To the OP: one other thing you need, not mentioned yet: patience!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top