Radar not working, I forgot how to..

[Marlin]

I have installed the fantastic mirage, but I forgot how to make the radar work. I do have other planes that use the f-16 radar that work.

Where do I get the code, then where do I update it at. F16.gau by Eric Marciano
KEY = DSVT JE5S 6DUO

A basic question I know, but what can I say

[Graycat]

Heya Marlin,

To my knowledge the Eric Marciano F16.gau hasn't been upgraded since the FS 2002 days.

What I have done is to add this AI Radar to all of my aircraft panels as a separate pop-up window (either Shift + 8 or Shift + 9).

In the case of the Mirage you can easily replace the radar with Eric Marciano F16.gau in the aircraft's Panel.cfg file.  Don't forget to Copy/Paste the Radar.bmp file from the original aircraft Panel folder into the Mirage Panel folder.

[Gypsy_Baron]

I have installed the fantastic mirage, but I forgot how to make the radar work. I do have other planes that use the f-16 radar that work.

Where do I get the code, then where do I update it at. F16.gau by Eric Marciano
KEY = DSVT JE5S 6DUO

A basic question I know, but what can I say  :(

Thanks,
Marlin

The file containing the keys is located in your "Modules" folder.
The file is FSUIPC.key

If other aircraft in your inventory currently have a working  F16.gau
installation but the one you mention does not, then the problem is not
with the key file, since that is common to all aircraft.
A long time back I seem to recall having a similar problem while
using the unregistered copy of FSUIPC and I found that I had to
create a flight with one of the aircraft in which the gauge worked,
save that as a default, then the probelm aircraft installation worked.
Also, make sure you have the latest version of FSUIPC.

You ARE turning the radar ON, I presume? When the gauge is first
called you'll see a single "sweep" and Eric's copyright info, then
the radar screen goes blank until turned on.

Your panel.cfg should have the following lines somewhere within:

gaugexx=F16!Radar,  363,631,93,76
gaugeyy=F16!Radar Mode,  337,734,57,19
gaugezz=F16!Radar Range,  422,734,60,20

The gauge numbers and placement/size data is installation dependant.

Also, check yout FSUIPC.log file in the modules folder.
It should contain an entry similar to this:

   47063 Module [M3] identified = "F16.GAU"

if the key is correct and the gauge is in fact installed in the current
aircraft.

Beyond that, I can't think of any reason one plane would work
and another not.

  Paul

[Marlin]

Paul,

You hit the nail right on the head and sank it with one solid blow, thanks alot for a refresher on the basics.

NOW, I would like to expound on this to another plane that has a totally differant layout and totally differant radar that doesn't work also.

I have messed with the panel cfg and have managed to make the radar that doesn't work to a missing radar, oh well that is what the back up is for. Now really, the cfg isn't even close to the mirage. So once again, I'm at a total loss.

This is the super fantastic F-18E superhornet by KBT.

Maybe Graycat, or someone else, could expand on what he is trying to explain me.

Thanks,
Marlin

[Gypsy_Baron]

-SNIP-
This is the super fantastic F-18E superhornet by KBT.

Maybe Graycat, or someone else, could expand on what he is trying to explain me.

Thanks,
Marlin

Glad I could help on the other problem. As for the F-18E
SuperHornet "Rader"....that gauge is really a "dummy" radar.

It only paints the sweep going back and forth and the various
parameters around the perimeter of the "scope", plus the
horizon reference and velocity vector in the center.

It will not "paint" actual radar targets as the F16.gau does.

I have that A/C in my inventory ( of 700+ aircraft )
and was just plating around to see what I could do for you.

I modified the panel.cfg to replace the non-functioning "rader"
with the F16.gau. I then went on to modify the XML code of
the original gauge so that it could co-exist with the F16.gau.
The object being to keep the display of the parameters around
the scope edge but eliminate the dummy antenna sweep.

I'm still tweaking things and when I finish I'll post my mods here
for you.

   Paul

[Gypsy_Baron]

-SNIP-

NOW, I would like to expound on this to another plane that has a totally differant layout and totally differant radar that doesn't work also.
-SNIP-

Thanks,
Marlin

OK, Marlin. I finished my tweaking. Download the Read_Me.txt
file and the radar.zip file from the URL's below.
( the path is case sensitive )

Just follow the directions and you should have a working F16
radar where the "dummy" radar use to be, along with the
parameters displayed around the edge.

If you have any questions, just ask away here.

  Paul

http://www.cris.com./~pstrogen/temp/F18_Mod/Read_Me.txt

http://www.cris.com./~pstrogen/temp/F18_Mod/radar.zip

[Marlin]

Well Paul, I don't really know what to say besides a simple thank you fill with gratatude

How much do I owe you?    

How do you do this kind of stuff, is there some kind of program that helps with panels? Or is this freehand with brainpower?

I figured out how to make it work in the VC mode. There arn't any buttons but it still works non the less.

I can fly the heck out of them, but fixxing them up  ??? I'm pretty clueless.

So once again, thanks a lot!!!!!!!

Marlin

[Gypsy_Baron]

Well Paul, I don't really know what to say besides a simple thank you fill with gratatude

How much do I owe you?    

Happy to help you out. I enjoy a little "customization" task from
time to time.

How do you do this kind of stuff, is there some kind of program that helps with panels? Or is this freehand with brainpower?

Well, I'm a retired electronics engineer and used to design lots of
"widgets" in my day. I used to do some programming in assembly
language and even resorted to machine code in the "early days"

When I go about troubleshooting or modifying a panel I first take
a close look at the panel.cfg file to get a good understanding of
what it does, or is suposed to do. If it contains XML gauges I have
a look at the code in them ( if it's a problem that I'm looking into )

To place gauges I use two approaches....if it's a major overhaul or
a panel from scratch I use FS Panel Studio which allows me to
palace gauges where I want them and also gives me X-Y position
and size data on all the gauges in a panel.
FS Panel Studio also allows you to edit bitmaps in compiled gauges,
those with the .gau extention. I sometimes chage bitmaps to
make a gauge blend in better with a particlar panel.

I'f I'm just placing or replaceing one or two gauges I get X-Y data
of gauges nearby to where I want to add the new one from the
panel.cfg file then I just add the gauge with my estimated X-Y data,
have a look in the cockpit to see which way I need to adjust and
repeat until I'm satisfied.

For bitmap edits or creation I use PaintShopPro. I'm alsways changing
things like text on panels, adding window frames to the non-forward
views on panels that don't come with them, and creating bitmaps for
XML gauges that I design.

I probably spend as much time tweaking things as I do "flying"

I figured out how to make it work in the VC mode. There arn't any buttons but it still works non the less.

I can fly the heck out of them, but fixxing them up  ??? I'm pretty clueless.

So once again, thanks a lot!!!!!!!

Marlin

I've learned alot by just diving in and trying thing, plus reading various
forums and the SDK's from MS. Just get in the habit of making
backups before you leap

   Paul