[simpits-tech] Cougar - Keystroke - DirectX

Tue Apr 27 10:22:25 PDT 2004

Well, boy there's a bit of a story there.

What are you using from the shared memory for lighting gear lamps??

You will notice that the current BMS and SP3 (and earlier) header files
don't include a bit, per se, for each of the gear lamps.  There are gear
position (gearpos) float values that was I think added in one of the SP
exe's.  Now, these values show gear up/down but in terms that the graphics
models work and the values that this field can take are defined as part of
the data files...in other words they can change if you make changes to the
various dat files.  Any correlation between the problem you see and
switching to the new SP4 with updated dat files by chance?? ;-)

I discovered a while ago that the current state of the dat files for the
F-16 in the SP4 package has a gear down value of 0.75 for the left main gear
strut and something like 1.35 for the right strut and 1.75 for the nose
gear.  Something like that anyway; I don't have the exact numbers handy.  I
have *no* idea why the main gear values wouldn't be symmetrical -- must have
made sense to a modeler at some point.

However, if you (as I was) are using the gearpos values to figure out if you
should light the gear panel green lamps, a test of the value again oh say
"1" will not work consistently and either way is susceptible to the modelers
changing the dat files again at some point in the future.

So again, in the next rev of the BMS exe, I put three new bits in the
LightBits3 that are boolean on/off bits where on means gear down and locked
and the code in the exe only sets this bit if that is true.  I'm using these
to drive the gear lamps.

Until the new exe comes along, about your only option is to work through the
model files in the SP4 package and work out the exact "fully extended"
values that are in there and test the gearpos variables in the shared memory
against those values.

Cheers,

Mark.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Frank Riedel [mailto:frank at rezultat.dk]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 8:06 AM
> To: Simulator Cockpit tech list
> Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Cougar - Keystroke - DirectX
> 
> Hi Mark !
> Is there any change in sharemem at this time (BMS103) that
> has changed the Gear bit ???? becaus i have som prob with my memreader
> before update it worked fine... now the gearlight do not match the one in
> the
> cockpit (in game) the nose light do not work anymore and the left gear
light
> has become nose lamp ?????
> 
> All the best
> Frank
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Doran" <mark_s_doran at hotmail.com>
> To: "'Simulator Cockpit tech list'" <simpits-tech at simpits.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 8:12 AM
> Subject: RE: [simpits-tech] Cougar - Keystroke - DirectX
> 
> 
> Yes, that's what I mean.
> 
> In earlier BMS revs I added some flags in the existing integer "bit
fields"
> but this didn't change the fundamental shape of the class structure in
> memory.  The most recent changes by the multiengine support crew to add
> values for things like RPM values for a second engine and such add
complete
> new float values which definitely do change the shape of the class
structure
> layout.  I suppose in theory some programs using the shared memory area
> might be unaffected but the chances are that you are going to have to
> recompile with the new header to make them work consistently and reliably.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Mark.
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Joseph Fagner [mailto:falcon4 at sbcglobal.net]
> > Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 5:42 PM
> > To: 'Simulator Cockpit tech list'
> > Subject: RE: [simpits-tech] Cougar - Keystroke - DirectX
> >
> > What do you mean by incompatible?  Incompatible with what?  Does this
mean
> > programs written to read the current flightdata.h file will all have to
be
> > rewritten?
> >
> > Jay
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org
> > [mailto:simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org] On Behalf Of Mark Doran
> > Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 5:47 PM
> > To: 'Simulator Cockpit tech list'
> > Subject: RE: [simpits-tech] Cougar - Keystroke - DirectX
> >
> > There's nothing special about BMS 1.03 and DirectX buttons.  The *next*
> BMS
> > release (which I'm told is going to happen, just don't ask me when! ;-)
> will
> > have support for as many DirectX controllers as Windows can handle and
> each
> > of those may have 32 buttons.  Once you have that next BMS release you
can
> > say goodbye to keystrokes (I have -- and good riddance I say!! =8^D).
> >
> > I posted here about this forthcoming capability a while on the mistaken
> > assumption that BMS would make a release shortly thereafter...which
didn't
> > happen.  So, I wasn't meaning to tease or anything; it's just release
> timing
> > is beyond my control (as it were).  Anyhow, multiple DirectX controller
> > support and all the other goodies will be along at some point in a new
BMS
> > release.
> >
> > For now under BMS 1.03 I believe you can use one DirectX controller and
> the
> > 32 buttons that it can have associated with it.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Mark.
> >
> > p.s. ...and the next release will have an incompatible flighData.h file
--
> > the multi-engine guys added a bunch of new fields in the class...and I
> > haven't forgotten the list of people that asked for a copy of that file
--
> > when the release comes so will the email with that file.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Frank Riedel [mailto:frank at rezultat.dk]
> > > Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 9:14 AM
> > > To: Simulator Cockpit tech list
> > > Subject: [simpits-tech] Cougar - Keystroke - DirectX
> > >
> > > Hi All !
> > > The Keystroke file (for cougar) in the BMS103 update uses DirectX
button
> !
> > >
> > > Do i have to setup anything else - or is just DownLoad to my cougar
and
> > load
> > > the keystrokefile in Falcon... then everythings rocks ???
> > >
> > > All the best
> > > Frank
> >
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> >
> 
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