edit/create panels

[fighters]

Hello,

Which program should I use to edit my panels or create new panels?

[Hagar]

Hi fighters. The best freeware panel design program is CfgEdit posted in the SimV Panel Design section. As it was originally intended for FS2000 it won't read the latest XML gauges. This can easily be overcome with a little knowledge of Panel.cfg. For more information check out the Scenery & Panel Design forum.

[fighters]

Ok thanks.  But I don't know anything about Panel.cfg What is it? How does it work  ???

[Hagar]

Open any default Panel.cfg file in Notepad to check it out. Basically it defines the panel windows & the size & position of all the gauges used on the panel in text format. These entries can be edited just like an E-mail or word processor. You can swap gauges simply by changing the names in the appropriate entries. I'm sure you will soon figure it out. Some people can design a new panel from scratch using this method. CfgEdit has a visual interface which makes positioning gauges much easier.

Take my tip & make a backup copy of any file before editing it.

[Dan]

It isn't really that hard, trust me! Heres part of the panel.cfg from the FS2002 stock F4u Corsair:

// Panel Configuration file
// F4U1A Corsair

[Window Titles]
Window00=%window_title_00%
Window01=%window_title_01%


[Window00]
file=Panel_Background_640.BMP
file_1024=Panel_Background_1024.BMP
position=4
size_mm=640,480
window_pos=0.0,0.0
window_size=1.000,1.000
render_3d_window=1
sizeable=1
visible=1
ident=MAIN_PANEL

gauge00=F4U1A_Corsair!Compass,288,329
gauge01=F4U1A_Corsair!Flaps,0,340
gauge02=F4U1A_Corsair!Tach,70,347
gauge03=F4U1A_Corsair!Altimeter,138,325
gauge04=F4U1A_Corsair!Manifold_Pressure,137,406
gauge05=F4U1A_Corsair!Fuel_Selector,28,429
gauge06=F4U1A_Corsair!Tail_Gear,83,414
gauge07=F4U1A_Corsair!Airspeed,211,403
gauge08=F4U1A_Corsair!Stall,287,307
gauge09=F4U1A_Corsair!Carb_Heat,344,307
gauge10=F4U1A_Corsair!Attitude,360,308
gauge11=F4U1A_Corsair!Turn_Coordinator,288,400
gauge12=F4U1A_Corsair!Vertical_Speed,360,401
gauge13=F4U1A_Corsair!Fuel_Pressure,435,424
gauge14=F4U1A_Corsair!Fuel_Quantity,494,333
gauge15=F4U1A_Corsair!Oil_Temperature,550,373
gauge16=F4U1A_Corsair!Oil_Pressure,556,428
gauge17=F4U1A_Corsair!CHT,435,365
;gauge18=F4U1A_Corsair!Hydraulic_Pressure,494,387
gauge19=F4U1A_Corsair!Hydraulic_Pressure_Warning,263,304
gauge20=F4U1A_Corsair!Ignition,512,436
gauge21=F4U1A_Corsair!Clock,435,309
gauge22=F4U1A_Corsair!Starter,494,435
gauge23=F4U1A_Corsair!DG,219,320
gauge24=F4U1A_Corsair!Master_Switch,509,395
gauge25=F4U1A_Corsair!Icon_Engine_Controls,197,304
gauge26=F4U1A_Corsair!Icon_Map,215,304

Its easy really.



[glb]// F4U1A Corsair[/glb] The // there means it just a comment. So it has no effect.


[glb]%window_title_00%[/glb] Thats the name of the window as you want to refer to it.

[glb][Window00][/glb] That has to be unique, and its for using more than one window, so it would be Window01 next.

[glb]file=Panel_Background_640.BMP
file_1024=Panel_Background_1024.BMP[/glb] Thats the background file names. You can use just one, I think.

Heres the gauge bit:

[glb]gauge00=F4U1A_Corsair!Compass,288,329[/glb]

The gauge00= has to be unique, 01 02 03 etc.  The F4U1A_Corsair!Compass is the file name, as taken from the gauges folder. The numbers after that, 288,329, are for position.

Hope that helps you, with the help of CFG Edit, http://www.cfgedit.com/, you should be able to build your own. I used to be able to write a whole cfg, but I don't think i could remeber it all now!!
Dan

[greekydeke]

  In June I posted a tutorial and workbook on panel design on this website which might help you understand how to work with and/or design instrument panels, gauges, and related files.   I wrote it for mostly for beginners and intermediates, but it also contains very detailed reference tables that can be used by more advanced users.

  To read about the tutorial, click on "Design" in the left frame on the home page of this website, then click on "Panels" when you're in the list of design topics.  Scroll down to "Simple Panel Design" to read a summary of what's in the tutorial and workbook.   The tutorial has been downloaded over 3,900 times since I posted it five months ago.  So far no complaints, just lots of complimentary emails.

 Perhaps the tutorial will be of help to you?