I'm working on 2 planes right now - Lockheed Constellation and Bombadier Dash 8-400.
I've read the forums and some directions for how to place lights and the string coding but I am still at a loss on "the model origin point". I understand about the coordinates and fore/aft, left/right, and up/down. "Numbers have to be adjusted for each aircraft you add lights to and are measured in feet from the model origin point"; where does this point begin. It must be different for different aircraft. Please don't tell me this is a guessing game. I've already been guessing on the 2 planes I'm working on now. Still --- if the model(s) origin point is known -- the placement of lights would be easier and less confusing. Why - in all what I have read in your forums - no one has asked this question?? To have a known starting point, the placement of coordinates on 3 axises would be a big help and make this a whole lot easier.
I expected more than what I am seeing and the less impressed I am at the more I understand about this software.
Shockwave Light Install
- Tako_Kichi
- BDG & A2A
- Posts: 2185
- Joined: 05 Jul 2006, 13:33
- Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit)
Re: Shockwave Light Install
As I understand it the model's origin point can be anywhere the designer feels like putting it, however, most seem to put it at the CoG location. I have added lights to many dozens of aircraft now and it really isn't that difficult once you get an understanding of how to do it. Here's what I do with a new aircraft I want to add lights to.
- 1 ) Start your FS program (either FS9 or FSX), pick your aircraft and a suitable field (I also choose dawn or dusk as it is easier to see what you are doing with the little bit of extra light you get).
2 ) Launch the sim and then set it to 'windowed' mode (hit <ALT+ENTER>) in full screen as this will allow you to easily switch between the sim and the config file in Notepad.
3 ) Open the aircraft.cfg file and find the lights section.
4 ) Check what locations/lights are already covered as you usually only need to change the effect called for things like beacons and nav lights etc. Landing/taxi lights usually have to be added from scratch unless you are very lucky and the co-ordinates are already in the config file.
5 ) Make your changes to the existing lines first and save the config file but DO NOT close it.
6 ) You now need to see the changes in the sim and most people do not realize there is a handy shortcut for doing this that is not assigned by default! Go back to the sim and do the following:
- For FS9
(i) If you do not see the menu bar at the top of the screen press <ALT> once.
(ii) Select 'Options/Controls/Assignments' from the drop down menu and make sure the 'Buttons/Keys' tab is selected.
(iii) Scroll down the list until you see 'Reload User Aircraft' and click once on the line to select it.
(iv) Click on the <Change Assignment> button and in the pop up window press the key combination you would like to use for this function. I use 'CTRL+SHIFT+R' as this is not used for anything else and I can easily remember that 'R' is for 'reload'. Once you have entered your key shortcut click on <OK> to close the window and <OK> again to close the settings window.
(v) Once back in the sim hit the <CTRL+SHIFT+R> (or whatever you picked) key combo and your aircraft will be forced to reload which also means that it re-reads the config file and picks up any changes made to it (provided you saved it first of course!) This is much faster than selecting 'Reset Flight' as it only reloads the aircraft and not all the scenery.
For FSX
(i) If you do not see the menu bar at the top of the screen press <ALT> once.
(ii) Select 'Options/Settings/Controls' from the drop down menu and make sure the 'Buttons/Keys' tab is selected.
(iii) Scroll down the list until you see 'Aircraft (reload)' and click once on the line to select it.
(iv) Click on the <New Assignment> button and in the pop up window press the key combination you would like to use for this function. I use 'CTRL+SHIFT+R' as this is not used for anything else and I can easily remember that 'R' is for 'reload'. Once you have entered your key shortcut click on <OK> to close the window and <OK> again to close the settings window.
(v) Once back in the sim hit the <CTRL+SHIFT+R> (or whatever you picked) key combo and your aircraft will be forced to reload which also means that it re-reads the config file and picks up any changes made to it (provided you saved it first of course!) This is much faster than selecting 'Reset Flight' as it only reloads the aircraft and not all the scenery.
8 ) Add new lines for missing lights. This is where most people have difficulties so I will break this area down further. Let's assume for this example we are adding a pair of landing lights in the wings. Now, trying to position the big, bright, landing lights can be difficult but here is a trick to doing it easily. Instead of positioning a landing light I will position a nav light and only when I am happy with the position do I change it to a landing light. So let's work through this example:
- (i) Copy a nav light line and paste it at the bottom of the [Lights] section and then change the light number to the next available one so that
- light.0 = 3, -0.15, -32.5, 0.66, fx_shockwave_navred
- light.10 = 3, -0.15, -32.5, 0.66, fx_shockwave_navred
- light.10 = 3, -0.15, -32.5, 0.66, fx_shockwave_navred
- light.10 = 3, -0.15, -20.5, 0.66, fx_shockwave_navred
- light.10 = 3, -0.15, -20.5, 0.66, fx_shockwave_navred
- light.10 = 3, 6.0, -20.5, 0.66, fx_shockwave_navred
(v) Check where the light is now in relation to where it needs to be and adjust ALL the distance values accordingly, save the config file and reload the aircraft. Repeat as necessary until you have the nav light located in the correct position for the landing light.
(vi) Once you have the light in the correct position you can copy and paste the line to add the light to the other wing but you have to change the 'sign' of the left/right value and also increment the light number so
- light.10 = 3, 4.5, -18.75, -0.5, fx_shockwave_navred
- light.11 = 3, 4.5, 18.75, -0.5, fx_shockwave_navred
(viii) Now you have both lights located you can change the nav light to a landing light. You will need to change the light type designator as well as the effect used so
- light.11 = 3, 4.5, 18.75, -0.5, fx_shockwave_navred
- light.11 = 5, 4.5, 18.75, -0.5, fx_shockwave_landing_XX
- For Folding Wings
gaugeXX=shockwave_lights!SW Lights_foldwing, 1,1,1,1 //shockwave light
where XX is the next available number.
For Landing Lights
gaugeXX=shockwave_lights!SW_Lights_gear, 1,1,1,1 //shockwave light
where XX is the next available number.
For Taxi Lights
gaugeXX=shockwave_lights!SW_Lights_taxi_gear, 1,1,1,1 //shockwave light
where XX is the next available number.
PANEL.CFG DEFINITIONS- SW Lights_foldwing – Turns off LANDING lights when placed on folding wings and wings are folded
SW_Lights_gear – Turns off LANDING lights when placed on retractable landing gear and gear is retracted
SW_Lights_taxi_gear - Turns off TAXI lights when placed on retractable landing gear and gear is retracted
- For FS9
Larry
E8400 Core2Duo 3 Ghz, 4 Gb DDR2 PC6400 RAM, GTX460 (1 Gb), Realtek HD O/B audio, XP Pro (SP3)
Saitek X52 HOTAS, Saitek Yoke/Throttle, Saitek Rudder Pedals, TIR 5 Pro, LG 22" WS LCD, B-K Gamer
E8400 Core2Duo 3 Ghz, 4 Gb DDR2 PC6400 RAM, GTX460 (1 Gb), Realtek HD O/B audio, XP Pro (SP3)
Saitek X52 HOTAS, Saitek Yoke/Throttle, Saitek Rudder Pedals, TIR 5 Pro, LG 22" WS LCD, B-K Gamer
Re: Shockwave Light Install
I "Thank You " for your reply. I was hoping for a more precise method of doing this; I had a feeling though that this would be a guessing game.. Ok - so this is what this is. I've printed out your directions and I am going to work on an Airbus319 that has no working lights {the person who said he fixed it - can't screw in a light bulb}. I'll get them to work one way or another.
Thank you again for your help.
Later >> TheO
Thank you again for your help.
Later >> TheO
- Tako_Kichi
- BDG & A2A
- Posts: 2185
- Joined: 05 Jul 2006, 13:33
- Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit)
Re: Shockwave Light Install
Unfortunately it is a guessing game and due to the nature of the sim there is no other way of doing it. However, it does get easier the more you do and you soon get a 'feel' for how far the lights need to be moved. Just remember that all dimensions are in feet and the number groups represent the fore/aft, left/right and up/down axes respectively.
EXAMPLE
light.0 = 3, -0.15, -32.5, 0.66, fx_shockwave_navred
3 = Light Type
-0.15 = Fore/Aft Dimension
-32.5 = Left/Right Dimension
0.66 = Up/Down Dimension
fx_shockwave_navred = Effect Used
EXAMPLE
light.0 = 3, -0.15, -32.5, 0.66, fx_shockwave_navred
3 = Light Type
-0.15 = Fore/Aft Dimension
-32.5 = Left/Right Dimension
0.66 = Up/Down Dimension
fx_shockwave_navred = Effect Used
Larry
E8400 Core2Duo 3 Ghz, 4 Gb DDR2 PC6400 RAM, GTX460 (1 Gb), Realtek HD O/B audio, XP Pro (SP3)
Saitek X52 HOTAS, Saitek Yoke/Throttle, Saitek Rudder Pedals, TIR 5 Pro, LG 22" WS LCD, B-K Gamer
E8400 Core2Duo 3 Ghz, 4 Gb DDR2 PC6400 RAM, GTX460 (1 Gb), Realtek HD O/B audio, XP Pro (SP3)
Saitek X52 HOTAS, Saitek Yoke/Throttle, Saitek Rudder Pedals, TIR 5 Pro, LG 22" WS LCD, B-K Gamer
Re: Shockwave Light Install
Larry,
Nice description. However, I do not understand how the sim can react on a gauge that does not exist. If fact, it doesn't for me. After starting to look into it you will find in the shockwave.cab just three gauges that can be addressed in the panel.cfg:
* SW Lights.xml
* SW Lights_foldwing.xml
* SW Lights_gear.xml
The last one might switch off taxi lights in a retractable gear if they are declared to be landing lights (light.nn = 6) in the aircraft.cfg. I think this might be a compromise solution in many cases.
Regards,
Axel
Nice description. However, I do not understand how the sim can react on a gauge that does not exist. If fact, it doesn't for me. After starting to look into it you will find in the shockwave.cab just three gauges that can be addressed in the panel.cfg:
* SW Lights.xml
* SW Lights_foldwing.xml
* SW Lights_gear.xml
The last one might switch off taxi lights in a retractable gear if they are declared to be landing lights (light.nn = 6) in the aircraft.cfg. I think this might be a compromise solution in many cases.
Regards,
Axel
- Tako_Kichi
- BDG & A2A
- Posts: 2185
- Joined: 05 Jul 2006, 13:33
- Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit)
Re: Shockwave Light Install
Are you sure you applied the v1.2a patch available here.....
http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtop ... 32&t=10499
I have five XML gauges in my 'Shockwave_Lights.cab' file.
http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtop ... 32&t=10499
I have five XML gauges in my 'Shockwave_Lights.cab' file.
Larry
E8400 Core2Duo 3 Ghz, 4 Gb DDR2 PC6400 RAM, GTX460 (1 Gb), Realtek HD O/B audio, XP Pro (SP3)
Saitek X52 HOTAS, Saitek Yoke/Throttle, Saitek Rudder Pedals, TIR 5 Pro, LG 22" WS LCD, B-K Gamer
E8400 Core2Duo 3 Ghz, 4 Gb DDR2 PC6400 RAM, GTX460 (1 Gb), Realtek HD O/B audio, XP Pro (SP3)
Saitek X52 HOTAS, Saitek Yoke/Throttle, Saitek Rudder Pedals, TIR 5 Pro, LG 22" WS LCD, B-K Gamer
Re: Shockwave Light Install
Larry,
Interesting question as Shockwave Lights Megapack have been a Xmas gift - downloaded and installed a month ago. You might agree when you would not expect to need an update being much older, right?.
I just followed your link and will check it during the weekend (it's quite late here now). However, your hint was right I definitely got something outdated.
EDIT: Ok, a similar gauge is included as I wrote myself, linked to the position of the left gear (I used the gear handle position). It works in principle the same way and does not solve all cases (like PMDG's Queen in both, FS9 and FSX).
Cheers,
Axel
Interesting question as Shockwave Lights Megapack have been a Xmas gift - downloaded and installed a month ago. You might agree when you would not expect to need an update being much older, right?.
I just followed your link and will check it during the weekend (it's quite late here now). However, your hint was right I definitely got something outdated.
EDIT: Ok, a similar gauge is included as I wrote myself, linked to the position of the left gear (I used the gear handle position). It works in principle the same way and does not solve all cases (like PMDG's Queen in both, FS9 and FSX).
Cheers,
Axel
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