Button and switch mapping

[brettt777]

How are animated buttons and switches mapped? If a certain button or switch in a cockpit has a function that is normaly assigned to a the joystick, or maybe a custom function that isn't a normal FSX function like changing an MFD display, how is it assigned? Is there a file somewhere that tells it what to do or is it something in the model itself?

[Travis]

I'm guessing you mean switches such as the starter, generator and battery buttons in the VCs?  Those are assigned in the modeling process.

[brettt777]

Yeah something like that. So it's done in the model. Is there a way to edit/add to these functions? See, I actualy got permission to use some avionics from one aircraft in another one, if I could figure out how to do it. I have it partialy figured out but not completely.

[Travis]

Well, that's a tricky question.  What aircraft are you modding, and what are you trying to add?

[Fr. Bill]

Unless you have the source model file (.gmax or .fsc), you can NOT "change stuff." Period.

[Travis]

Well, Bill, I was thinking about that:

On my Angel, I mapped several 2D gauges to 3D parts.  The parts weren't assigned anything in the model except as bits of the $panel locations.  So in theory, someone could come along and remap them to something else, provided that thy did so in the panel.cfg file.

Although, Brett:

It is impossible to edit the VC switch functions, or add them, if you don't have the files Bill mentioned.

But if you don't mind having 2D images representing those functions on the VC panel, it might be possible.

[brettt777]

[quote]Well, that's a tricky question.

[Travis]

The only way that FSUIPC would help with that would be with the paid version (~$30 US).

But most functions for stuff in the cockpit have an ability to be mapped to either keyboard or joystick.  You just have to go to Options-->Controls-->Assignments and find the correct command, then map it to either the keystroke you want, or the joystick button you want.

[brettt777]

[quote]The only way that FSUIPC would help with that would be with the paid version (~$30 US).

But most functions for stuff in the cockpit have an ability to be mapped to either keyboard or joystick.

[Travis]

Ah!  You never mentioned that it was an MFD.  Yeah, that's gonna be hard to do.

But what part of the MFD are you trying to map to a button?

[brettt777]

Just normal MFD functions, like changing it from the ADI to the engine display or the FCR.

[Travis]

Well, those aren't going to be mappable to any buttons.  They aren't commands associated with anything in FS.  They're commands that are specific to that MFD.

But why would you need them to be mapped?  Aren't those little white buttons around the side of the MFD enough?

[Fr. Bill]

[quote]Well, those aren't going to be mappable to any buttons.