Simviation Forums

What does it mean ? Looking at the  listing of my Gauge folder, I see numerous files of the same size and different dates, but with ALMOST the same name: Example" Wiskey_compass. gau       45056      1/21/02
               wiskey-compass.gau          45056      5/19/04
            wiskey_compass_0001.gau   45056      1/25/05
            wiskey-compass-0001.gau   45056      3/25/05

Notice the underscore and  minus sign. While I believe these files being the same , I wonder how wise it will be to keep the original, and remove the others to unclutter the folder.  In the exemple cited above, I'll bet  3 Panel cfg use the same gauge, but call it by different spelling. I understand there are software utilities, capable of analyzing  the panel.cfg and the gauge folder to do a cleaning the Gauges folder.
Bob.*          

.mmm....you can always move some to a temporary folder or to the desktop and see what happens when you run the sim............just keep them for a while until you are sure they are/are not required.............commoner

I have noticed the same thing occuring after a session with cfgEdit and I believe they are a by-product of that program.

I have satisfied myself that they are harmless but useless and I routinely delete them without ill effect.

Take care with original files  ::)

There are many threads reporting bugs and strange things in Flight Sim. As software engineer I know that a lot of useless files are often left in installation packages because nobody in the development team can tell for sure it is not used by any subroutine. If the developers are not sure, how could we, the users be sure instead ?

So, if you are not short of space on your hard disk, it is wise to leave them. a file can be useless until you are in specific flight condition.  the  procedure "do_this" may call "wiskey_compass_0001.gau" while the procedure "do-that" will call "wiskey-compass-0001.gau".

OK, you can save them but six month later when suddenly after switching the lights on/ off  you find a black hole  instead of your instrument, will you remember that you removed "wiskey_compass_0001.gau"

Anyway, before removing original files or installing some  add on  BACKUP THE WHOLE FLIGHT SIM DIRECTORY

Common problem, not to worry!

This happens when you add an acft. and it's gauges and it makes a duplicate copy.

Say you downloaded an acft. and went to install it. You install it's gauges. You already have a "wiskey_compass.gau", so the flight sim just makes a copy and names it "wiskey_compass_0001, 0002.gau or however many copies you have. Deleting any gauge with an extension won't cause any problems UNLESS the panel.cfg calls for the "wiskey_compass_0001.gau". This is VERY RARE but has happened. MOST of your experienced panel designers are aware of this and avoid using any duplicate gauges.

I periodically go through my GAUGES folder and delete all the _0001, _0002 etc. gauges.

I don't know whether this works in FS04 but fsGauges http://www.simviation.com/fs2002utilities_gen5.htm will compare your panels with your gauges and tell you whether any are missing.  It will also allow you to move (recommended) or delete (not recommended) "unused" gauges.

When you see that you have a lot of these _001 gauges piling up you can take the appropriate action.

What does it mean ? Looking at the  listing of my Gauge folder, I see numerous files of the same size and different dates, but with ALMOST the same name: Example" Wiskey_compass. gau       45056      1/21/02
               wiskey-compass.gau          45056      5/19/04
            wiskey_compass_0001.gau   45056      1/25/05
            wiskey-compass-0001.gau   45056      3/25/05
-SNIP-  

Panels with VC's will often cause a "duplicate" gauge
file to be created. If you remove the _0001 files they will be recreated
the next time you fly that aircraft and enter the VC.

     Paul

It's possible these are modified gauges used on some of your 3rd party panels. Any panel designer worth his salt will change the file names of gauges he's modified so they won't overwrite the originals.