I had the same question when I was first figuring out the FMC..well here is the answer for you
go to http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/ and  put in your route ..also put on "transitions" which will get you into and out of the route to you SID/STAR...anyways the first point on the flight plan will be your transition..a little confusing...
for example this is a route from KCLE to KSFO: the LOCKE1 is the sTAR I should fly and my transition will be MVA

KCLE DCT DJB J60 MAYZE J82 JOT J146 IOW J10 DSM J144 OBH J84 MVA LOCKE1 KSFO


One more thing some SID/STAR's have constraints to get the goto http://myairplane.com/ and go to NOAA approach plates and there you can find the SId/STAR you need and get the constraints

to solve the runway ATC will assign you to the one you choose in the FMC: Check the winds at the arrival airport, that will give you a hint which runway to use.

Descent is easiest way done in VNAV paTH mode. The autopilot will follow a computed vertical path down to your selected MCP altitude, where the aircraft will level off.
This means you obviously have to select a lower altitude than your cruise alt prior to T/D  and then sit back and watch the aircraft perform the descent for you.

In climbs I prefer VNAV, for various reasons.
A) it's the most used choice by real pilots
B) When cilmbing manually, you won't overshoot or "forget" any altitude contraints as the VNAV will revert from SPD to PTH mode when encountering an altitude constraint. LVL CHG climbs are pretty much the same as the VNAV climb (both are constant speed), but you won't have a protection against altitude constraints.
What is the correct way? It's a matter of taste really, as long you will get from point A to B...my friend only flies his take offs and climbs in CWS P and CWS R, simply because he's more comfortable with that, and who can say that is wrong? 

I only use CWS during heavy turbulence, so I cannot say I use it all the time. 

The navdata used in FS9 are some years old, while the navdata the PMDG FMC (www.navdata.at) uses are up to date, that's why you may get the "not in database" message.

to solve this go to the link jrpilot posted above
http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/

That site uses the same navdata as the PMDG FMC so if it exists in on that homepage, it will also exist in the FMC

You can either type them into the FMC maually..but by then usually you are under ATC control which they would give you a speed to maintain...but if not under ATC control you want to be 220 at 20 miles out..and 180 at 10 miles out...I believe that is what they say...

I don't use VNAV or auto-throttle because Southwest doesn't have those features on their -700s.   

Hehe come on, gotta keep it real, right?   8)

Quote:



It lookes as though they do have A/T...but I can't find a pic. with it being turned on....

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/687560/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/073553/L/

Thanks, Silver.
That makes sense