What i need to add a panel?

[pilot2242]

hello.
I have made a button to add to my panel i made this button in Xara Xtreme and i dont know what i do to convert it so i can put it on my panel is there a plugin or something so i can Export it in a GAU format?

Thank's

2242

[wji]

Sorry I can't help . . .
I just call the ones already in FS9, changing the red delineators to fit; e.g.,
gauge39=SimIcons!Kneeboard Icon, 326, 280
gauge40=SimIcons!ATC Icon, 340, 280
gauge41=SimIcons!Map Icon, 354, 280
gauge42=SimIcons!Avionics Icon, 399, 280
gauge43=SimIcons!GPS Icon, 413, 280
gauge44=SimIcons!Compass Icon, 427, 280

Good Luck

[pilot2242]

i have got 1 question What file do i edit?

[Gypsy_Baron]

i have got 1 question What file do i edit?

Gauges for a panel are specified in the "panel.cfg" file....

 Paul

[WebbPA]

If you want to design a gauge you should get the SDK from Microsoft.

I don't know why anyone would want to design a gauge in .gau format anyway.  Wouldn't .xml be a lot easier?

[H]

I don't know why anyone would want to design a gauge in .gau format anyway. Wouldn't .xml be a lot easier?

If only modifying, a gauge editor can be easier (certifying that you're matching the action and px sizes, though).

[Hagar]

If you're modifying an existing gauge, rename the modified version & use that on your panel. This avoids conflicts & other problems with the original gauge & you can have as many different versions of the same gauge as you wish. Chuck Dome's little GauBmp2 utility is very useful for this job.

PS. I haven't tried it but you could probably modify XML gauges like the FS9 default SimIcons.cab in the same way.

[pilot2242]

thank's everyone
but i have made a picture of a button and guage in xara and i would like to know how i change the picture into a useable button or guage in flight sim9?

thank's again

2242

[Hagar]

The easiest way would be to modify an existing gauge. You can extract the BMP images from the conventional gauges in GAU format using GauBmp2 I mentioned earlier. This will also convert them back after repainting. I assume that you can also repaint the BMP images in XML gauges but I don't know which format they're in. You might like to check out the relevant SDK as XML gauges should be much easier to modify or create from scratch than the older GAU types.

[pilot2242]

Thats what i'm trying to do make a new gauge from scratch. What programs do i need and where do i get them from?

PS i cant pay for them because i dont have a credit card

Thank's

2242

[Felix/FFDS]

Thats what i'm trying to do make a new gauge from scratch. What programs do i need and where do i get them from?

PS i cant pay for them because i dont have a credit card

Thank's

2242

You don't NEED a program - if you're program the gauge in XML.

Download the Microsoft Panel and Gauges SDK, install and study them.

XML gauges can be created with a basic text editor - such as Notepad.

Now, when we see a posting about "gauge design" most of us automatically think about creating the gauge and accompanying bitmap from scratch - identifying the flightsim event, creating the graphic, etc.

Another thing is building up the panel from existing gauges, which is, at its simplest, creating the panel background graphic, possibly modifying gauge bitmaps, and placing them correctly on the panel background image.


This process can be helped along with freeware programs, most useful being cfgedit

[pilot2242]

thank's felix i will study the sdk's.

[pilot2242]

i have got a nother question i would like to add a after burner to my aircraft how can i do that i think i have to do it in the CFG file but i dont know what to do?

can someone please help?

Thank's

2242

[pilot2242]

dont worry about the last question i have played around with it and i know how to do it now

2242