Help The Hummer

[Katahu]

Ok, once again, I hit a wall here. I have been trying to get the gauges to show up in the VC; but every time I try it out, the gauges don't know up. In fact, the polygons in which the gauges should show up on are completely invisible. The gauges show up pretty well in FS Panel Studio and in the 2D panel when tested in the sim, yet they don't show up in the VC. Here is what I have put into the panel.cfg file:

The panel is made using FS Panel Studio for FSX.

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window00]
file=Main_Panel_Standard.bmp
size_mm=1024
window_size_ratio=1.000  
position=7
visible=1
ident=0
window_size= 1.000, 1.000
window_pos= 0.000, 0.003

gauge00=TerraVue!TerraVue3,  757,244,180,190
gauge01=SeatAdj_grey!SeatAdj_grey,  722,492,56,59
gauge02=Cessna!Starter,  469,597,56,52
gauge03=CallSignPlate!CallSignPlate_grey,  461,453,79,25
gauge04=SuperTimer2!SuperTimer2,  784,492,125,57
gauge05=Cockpit Commander!CpitCmdr1,  663,555,251,92
gauge06=HmrH1!Engine Temperature Indicator,  126,509,81,81
gauge07=HmrH1!Left Fuel Quantity,  458,509,82,82
gauge08=HmrH1!Speedometer,  218,486,107,107
gauge09=HmrH1!Tachometer,  339,485,105,105


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit01]
file=Oil_Pressure_background.bmp
Background_color=1,1,1
size_mm=128,128
visible=1
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$Gauge_Oil_Pressure

gauge00=Beech_Baron!Left Oil Condition Indicator,  0,0,128,128


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit02]
file=Water_Temp_background.bmp
Background_color=1,1,1
size_mm=128,128
visible=1
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$Gauge_Water_Temp

gauge00=HmrH1!Engine Temperature Indicator,  0,0,128,128


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit03]
file=Speedometer_background.bmp
Background_color=1,1,1
size_mm=128,128
visible=1
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$Gauge_Speedometer

gauge00=HmrH1!Speedometer,  0,0,128,128


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit04]
file=Tachometer_background.bmp
Background_color=1,1,1
size_mm=128,128
visible=1
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$Gauge_Tachometer

gauge00=HmrH1!Tachometer,  0,0,128,128


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit05]
file=Fuel_Meter_background.bmp
Background_color=1,1,1
size_mm=128,128
visible=1
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$Gauge_Fuel_Meter

gauge00=HmrH1!Left Fuel Quantity,  0,0,128,128


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit06]
file=Voltage_Meter_background.bmp
Background_color=1,1,1
size_mm=128,128
visible=1
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$Gauge_Voltage_Meter

gauge00=Cessna!Vacuum_Ampermeter,  0,0,128,128



[Default View]
X=0
Y=0
SIZE_X=8191
SIZE_Y=4892

The background and dummy textures are in standard texture format. I'm guessing that it's a matter of converting either the background or the dummies to a different format; however, I have two issues with that: one, I don't know what format it should be in; and two, I don't know if it's either the bbackground or the dummies that need converting. Ultimately, I'm not even sure if converting is even the problem.

[SkyNoz]

A default window looks like this, which works..

[VCockpit01]
size_mm=512,512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$C172s_1
background_color=0,0,0
visible=0

and size_mm and pixel_size are matched, that's what I would test first.

and I was looking in a other aircraft to find a quick relation and noticed the demesions used where,

Pixel_size=512, 512
Size_mm=256, 256

I would also, change visible to zero. I have a feeling in the process of applying the texture is wasn't applied right to your poly.

This is a good link too, http://thegreatptmd.tripod.com/tutorials/dvc/panels/dvcpanels.htm

[JonMich]

Hey Katahu

I am guessing that the VC is made in Gmax. You might play around with the FSX material settings in Gmax, I recall that I had a similar problem when I was starting a VC a while back. In particular, there is a check box at the bottom of the material editor for VC textures. Other than that just playing around with the material settings is all I can suggest. Other than what SkyNoz mentioned above the cfg section looks good to me.

Good luck,

Jon

[Stormtropper]

Make sure the the gauges are on top of the background poly...

...in my personal experience, its always the stupid mistakes that gets mes.

...just the other day, I threw a tantrum because I thought my model went corrupt because I couldn't select half the stuff...turns out I just unchecked "selectable" box

[Katahu]

Well, I don't know what to say around here. It seems to me that the gauges just don't want to show up in the VC. I tried setting the "visible=1" tag to "0", but no dice. I tried setting the "size_mm" and "pixel_size" to the exact same values [and to the power of 2], yet no response at all.

Therefore, is it possible that changing the texture format might improve the results? If so, which textures? The dummy or the background textures?

[CAFedm]

I'm no authority on VC's but have been working on one for an aircraft, and it is coming along nicely, so something is going right. Anyway, one thing that jumps out is the number of VC texture entries you have listed in the panel.cfg. In all the tutorials I've come across, a maximum of two textures is normally employed, maybe three at most, with as many gauges clustered onto each texture as possible (while being mindful of gauge sizing to maintain clarity). Wondering if grouping some of your textures under a smaller number of VC entries might work. For example, see if you can put your gauges for Oil Pressure, Engine Temp, Tachometer, and Fuel Gauge on one large 1024x1024 texture (e.g., $Gauge_VC01) and then the remaining gauges on another 1024x1024 texture ($Gauge_VC02 or however you wish to name it). Also ensure your textures are saved in 8-bit/256 color. I feel for you because I lost a fair amount of hair to constant pulling when starting work on a VC. Just a stab in the dark here, but when nothing else works, anything's better than nothing.

[SkyNoz]

I would change the background color to 0,0,0.

[Katahu]

I took CAFedm's advice and it worked! Finally, I can see active DVC gauges! They even work in FSX [although their a little less blurry in FSX]. I decided to group the main gauges into one poly and they're all working fine.

Before I placed all of the gauges in one poly, one thing I noticed was the shape of the polys in which I previously applied the dummy texture to. The previous polys were round and not square as opposed to what most tutorials would mention. Maybe the shape of the polys has a direct effect on whether or not the DVC gauges would work in FS.

Anyways, the DVC gauges now work and I'm moving on to more important things like animations and fixing a few texture issues.

Thanks for the help guys.