How to create a simicon?

[BFMF]

The default panels have little simicons for Radio stack, GPS, throttle quadrants, ect.

What does it take to program my own icon which can open up my own gauges???

[Hagar]

Hi Andrew. The simicons are XML gauges. You might be able to repaint the existing BMPs to create your own. I've not done this but it's worth a try. Open simicons.cab with WinZip & edit the image in your graphics editor. Save the image in the same size & format (8 bit BMP). WinZip should ask if you wish to update the CAB file with the modified image.

PS. I suggest taking a copy of the gauge & renaming it before attempting to modify it. Then edit individual Panel.cfg files to recognise the new gauge.

[BFMF]

ok, I extracted a couple of the default simicons, and opened them up, and here's all the text for the GPSIcon.xml

[quote]

[Hagar]

You're missing my point. No need to reconfigure or modify the xml code for the gauge itself. Simply repaint the BMPs. If you use a new name for the gauge, for example simiconsAE.cab, it should not conflict with the original.

Another way would be to rename the modified BMPs & edit the xml code to recognise them.

[BFMF]

Ok, I understand that, but what do I need to do to make it open up a fuelgauge window instead of the GPS window???

[BFMF]

What I really want is to create a simicon to open up a fuel status gauge I have.

So besides renaming this text into a 'FUEL icon.xml' file & having a little icon bmp in a seperate folder, what will actually cause the icon to bring up my fuel gauge instead of the gps after being clicked?

[quote]

[Hagar]

Ah OK sorry. I'm only a tweaker, not a gauge designer.
The Panel & Gauges SDK might help. http://zone.msn.com/flightsim/FS02DevDeskSDK00.asp

[BFMF]

Thanks Doug

[TJ_Gumby]

Fred Banting (DHC-2 Beaver designer) has been very helpfull to me with airfile tweaking and is also a well known gauge designer. I'm sure he would be more than happy to help you out.  

[Travis]

225 (>K:PANEL_ID_TOGGLE)

Okay, since I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about gauge design, I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark and say that this line might be what changes the function, specifically, the number "225", and then the (> . . .) means "and go to".