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NICKS JET EXHAUST CONTROL GAUGE:
TWEAK_IT!
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This tutorial will describe how to tweak and/or create a new exhaust effects control gauge for the aircraft you are flying in the simulator using the existing gauge as a template. It is important to understand that when you tweak the original exhaust control gauge you are not just tweaking it for one aircraft. You are changing the throttle threshold that the effects will appear and disappear at for ALL the aircraft which reference that gauge in their panel configuration files.
If you wish to make a tweak for a specific jet and all your other jet aircraft work well with the gauge I highly suggest you create a NEW gauge using the original gauge as a template and reference it to the specific aircraft. Instructions on how to edit the panel.cfg file with the gauge code section are located in the HELP_ME.txt file. I will demonstrate below how to change the file name in that code section below.
The steps for tweaking the gauge are the same as creating a new one. The exception is you will not be making a copy of the existing gauge file and renaming it. In order to simply tweak the existing original XML gauge, skip down to the section, EDITING THE AIJetSmokeFXControl GAUGE FILE.
NEW GAUGE CREATION:
1. The first step is to make a copy of the gauge file and rename it. You will find the gauge file installed on your system:
AIJetSmokeFXControl.xml
in the following directories:
For FS9 (FS2004) Users:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\Gauges\nn-gauges
For FS2002 users:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2002\Gauges\nn-gauges
2. Open the nn-gauges folder and locate the AIJetSmokeFXControl.xml file. Right click the file and select copy, then paste it in the same directory. In example, if you copied and pasted the AIJetSmokeFXControl.xml file, you will end up with a file named:
Copy of AIJetSmokeFXControl.xml
3. Rename the file. I suggest renaming the file by adding short initials that represent the aircraft you want to associate the gauge with to the beginning of the original file name, removing the term * AI * in the file name and leave the last part,
JetSmokeFXControl.xml
unedited.
In example, assuming I was making a new gauge file specifically for a NorthWest Airlines Boeing 727 aircraft and I am using the copied file:
Copy of AIJetSmokeFXControl.xml
I could rename the file:
NWJetSmokeFXControl.xml
By renaming it as exampled I have a good reference as to what aircraft the gauge is designed for and an easy reference to locate it in the folder with the other gauges. The new gauge MUST remain in the nn-gauges folder with the other gauges or the new panel.cfg gauge code line, which you must create for the aircraft based on the new file name, will not be able to access it when the aircraft is booted in the simulator.
Note: Do not use any numbers in the file name!
4. After renaming the gauge you must associate it to the aircraft through its panel.cfg file or the plane will continue to access my original gauge. This is done by opening the panel.cfg file for the aircraft and locating the [VCockpitXX] heading which contains the code you originally installed for the plane:
[VCockpitXX]
size_mm=512, 512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$h_cluster
background_color=0,0,0
visible=0
gauge00=nn-gauges!AIJetSmokeFXControl.xml, 0,0 <-------- original file name in the gauge code line
Simply edit out the file name: AIJetSmokeFXControl.xml
and replace it with your new file name as exampled below:
[VCockpitXX]
size_mm=512, 512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$h_cluster
background_color=0,0,0
visible=0
gauge00=nn-gauges!NWJetSmokeFXControl.xml, 0,0 <------ example new file name in the line
Remember, do NOT change the syntax of the line, just the file name itself.
5. Save the panel.cfg file.
You can now edit and tweak the new gauge as needed without making changes in the throttle control of the other aircraft in your fleet.
NEXT.....
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EDITING THE AIJetSmokeFXControl.xml GAUGE FILE
WARNING:
WHEN MAKING EDITS TO XML CODE LINES, DO NOT ADD ANY SPACES OR CARRIAGE RETURNS TO THE TEXT. TO DO SO WILL RENDER THE GAUGE USELESS. UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING, ADDING ANY OTHER CODE OR EDITS TO THE LINES MAY ALSO RENDER THE GAUGE USELESS OR CAUSE IT TO MALFUNCTION IN THE SIMULATOR.
The only edits necessary will be to the single or two digit numbers which specify the percent of throttle increase before taxi/full throttle exhaust effects appear.
1. Open the gauge file in notepad.
2. The gauge has 2 sections. Each section is designed to control a different aspect of the flight. The first is for full throttle and the second for taxi speed activation. The gauge accesses 1 switched light channel (light type 7, see the readme_first.txt for light type description) of the aircraft.cfg file in order to accomplish the task. The values can be edited or tweaked for the specific N1 engine calibration, scale, and/or type of aircraft.
The following example is taken from the AIJetSmokeFXControl.xml gauge (without the comment):
As you can see there are 2 separate sections. Each section has common code lines which defines that the heat/ehaust effect will only show on the screen if at least one of the engines of the aircraft is running, the current throttle value is greater than a certain percent and depending on the state of the aircraft (in the air or on the ground) which control should switch the light channel on/off.
XML TERMS:
> = AND GREATER THAN
< = AND LESS THAN
Starting with the first lines of section 1 and section 2, the code, (A:TURB ENG1 N1,percent) 5 > defines engine 1 is indeed started and is currently running if the N1 value of the aircraft engine is indeed 5% or greater than. This value should never need to be changed ans is duplicated for engine 2.
It is fairly easy to see the code lines which define the engine(s), and the throttle of the aircraft in each section. They are:
These lines represent the full throttle threshold in SECTION 1:
(A:GENERAL ENG1 THROTTLE LEVER POSITION,percent) 65 > = 65% throttle and greater than
(A:GENERAL ENG2 THROTTLE LEVER POSITION,percent) 65 > = 65% throttle and greater than
*** I have found the 65% value works out to be around 80-90% true throttle for many planes ***
These lines represent the taxi throttle threshold in SECTION 2:
(A:GENERAL ENG1 THROTTLE LEVER POSITION,percent) 8 > = 8% throttle and greater than
(A:GENERAL ENG2 THROTTLE LEVER POSITION,percent) 8 > = 8% throttle and greater than
3. If you wish to lower/raise the throttle value find the two (ENG1 and ENG2) THROTTLE LEVER POSITION,percent lines in the section you wish to make the change to as shown above and edit them EQUALLY to a value that will better suit your aircraft. Even if the aircraft is a single engine design.. edit both lines equally.
ONLY edit the single or two digit numbers. Do NOT add any spaces or remove/change any syntax!
4. Save the edited gauge. MAKE SURE it has an .XML extension on the filename and it remains in the nn-gauges folder with the other gauges.
