Did I screw up?

[homebrewer]

I downloaded the C-119 Flyin' Boxcar (Props, Page 6; 4.3 Mb) and put in the model, but forgot to put in the gauges. I went back to the gauges folder for the model and opened it. I saw a zipped CAB icon. I unzipped it and put about 50 or more gauges into the Gauges folder of FS9. I created a flight with the aircraft, and still no gauges. Question: I now have all those seemingly useless gauges in the Gauges master folder. Any harm in just leaving them there? I pretty much know which ones they are because many of them are the little paintbrush-on-a-square icon. Others are also easily identified. Is there any way I can backtrack and do it right the second time? I backed-up the FS9 Gauges folder on my second hard drive the other night, but have added several planes since then. I assume I'd lose the gauges for all my newest downloads if I restored the Gauges folder with the backed-up version? What to do? What to do?

[dave3cu]

A gauge .cab

[homebrewer]

I'll take a shot at it tomorrow. It's late now and I've had a big day in front of my computer all day, posting here a bit but making many, many posts over at my favorite political bulletin board. Thank you for the info...

[garryrussell]

A cab is an archive not a zip and should not be unzipped

Any gauges left there will be harmless as you have already found out they are not being read.

If you are sure and want to, them remove them, any doubt leave them.

Cab often stay in the panel folder at least some of the aircraft I use have to have them in there to work.

The installation instructions should say where the .cab goes.

[Hagar]

Cab often stay in the panel folder at least some of the aircraft I use have to have them in there to work.

The installation instructions should say where the .cab goes.

The CAB file works just like the old default cluster gauges. These can contain a number of sub-gauges in XML format. Many 3rd party XML gauges are contained in an ordinary folder. All types of gauges should work from either the Panel folder of the panel they're used on or the main FS\Gauges folder. The latter is the best location if you wish to use the same gauge on several different panels.

These are the 3 types of gauge commonly used in FS9.


When in doubt use the default files for reference.

[garryrussell]

Some of Fraser McKay's panels will not work properly unless the CAB file is in the Panel folder

[Hagar]

Some of Fraser McKay's panels will not work properly unless the CAB file is in the Panel folder

Not having tried these panels I obviously can't comment. However, I find that very odd.

Conventional gauges of all types will work just as well in either location. I've never found one that didn't in all the panels I've tested over the years.

[garryrussell]

I think it is unusual but being a member of the team and his panels are in my four current projects I can vouch for it.

There are some differences thrown up in for example CTRL E no longer works so a rapid start button is used instead

Just the way the panel is set up I supposed but they are exellent panels.

Just a caution in that it can be the case unusual or not.

[homebrewer]

I have taken out all the singular icons or whatever you want to call them and replaced them with the entire CAB file. I now have my instruments and all is well on the flightdeck of my Boxcar. Lesson learned. Many thanks to all who replied...

[garryrussell]

Good

Glad you're sorted

So easy when you're unzipping a file to think that's just another zip

[homebrewer]

The CAB file had that ".zip look" to me, so it got the iZarc treatment after the little window came up that says there's already a file named Gauges in there...

[gypsymoth]

I often put gauges in the panel folder.  If there's a problem they're easier to find for one thing.

[Hagar]

I often put gauges in the panel folder.  If there's a problem they're easier to find for one thing.

That's fine unless they're used on several different aircraft/panels. I do the same when trying a new aircraft. Then if I wish to keep it I transfer the gauges to the FS\Gauges folder making sure I don't overwrite existing files.

As Garry pointed out, some gauges will only work from one location.