Simviation Forum - separate gauge lighting from landing lights???

Jun 8^th, 2009 at 11:01pm

brantmacga Offline
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Can anyone tell me how you separate the gauge lighting from the landing lights.

On the aircraft in question, the gauge lights are controlled by the landing lights switch; the landing lights are on the gear, and when its retracted, they shut off.

below is the electrical and lighting section of the aircraft.cfg file.

i just assume its in that part, but have no idea really. if its somewhere else, please tell me. thanks!

[electrical]
;BusType, MaxAmpLoad, MinVoltage BusTypes:0=MainBus,1=AvionicsBus,2=BatteryBus,3=HotBatteryBus,4-7=Generator/Alte
rnatorBus(1-4)
flap_motor=0, 5 , 17.0
gear_motor=0, 5 , 17.0
autopilot=0, 5 , 17.0
avionics_bus=0, 10, 17.0
avionics=1, 5 , 17.0
pitot_heat=0, 2 , 17.0
additional_system=0, 20, 17.0
marker_beacon=1, 2 , 17.0
gear_warning=0, 2 , 17.0
fuel_pump=0, 5 , 17.0
starter1=0, 20, 17.0
light_nav=0, 5 , 17.0
light_beacon=0, 5 , 17.0
light_landing=0, 5 , 17.0
light_taxi=0, 5 , 17.0
light_strobe=0, 5 , 17.0
light_panel=0, 5 , 17.0

[lights]

//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit, 5=landing

light.0=3, -2.77, -13.0, -0.75, Fx_shockwave_navred
light.1=3, -2.77, 13.0, -0.75, Fx_shockwave_navgre
light.2=2, -2.9, -13.0, -0.75, Fx_shockwave_strobe_2
light.3=2, -2.9, 13.0, -0.75, Fx_shockwave_strobe_2
light.4=3, -3.81, 0, -1.87, Fx_shockwave_strobe
light.5=4, -3.9500,0.000,2.0, fx_vclLegacy
light.6=5, 0.7, -5.7, -2, Fx_shockwave_landing_light_small_xenon // Shockwave light

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Reply #1 - Jun 9^th, 2009 at 12:55am

madbrit Offline
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The panel lights control the gauge lighting.

Looks like all your lights are set the same =0, 5 , 17.0
Don't know what you need to change them to in the config file but they can be set to different commands in the key assignments to switch them on and off manually.

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Reply #2 - Jun 9^th, 2009 at 2:10am

Travis Offline
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It might have something to do with the Shockwave lights not being entirely compatible with the way the aircraft is set up. Or I could just be blowing smoke . . .

Although you might try looking at this page.

If that doesn't work, try changing "fx_vclLegacy" to either "fx_vclight" for the regular lighting or "fx_shockwave_vclight_l" to see if that helps.

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Reply #3 - Jun 9^th, 2009 at 2:10am

brantmacga Offline
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i don't know what those "5, 17.0" numbers in the electrical mean.

the panel lights are linked to the landing lights, so when they shut off, I lose them.

any idea on how to put them on a separate key command? i'd be satisfied having them controlled by the nav lights switch.

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Reply #4 - Jun 9^th, 2009 at 2:12am

brantmacga Offline
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Travis wrote on Jun 9^th, 2009 at 2:10am:

Although you might try looking at this page.

i noticed that link is for the fsX sdk. is it identical to fs9?

thanks.

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Reply #5 - Jun 9^th, 2009 at 2:16am

Travis Offline
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You can't really get them to operate on a light switch keystroke that isn't the panel switch. But you could try just a panel switch.

Go into the control assignments menu and click on the left drop-down menu. Find "lights" or "lighting" and look through it until you find "panel lights switch" or the equivalent. Set it to whatever keystroke you would like and then try it.

Did it do this before you installed the Shockwave lighting on it?

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Reply #6 - Jun 9^th, 2009 at 10:49am

Fr. Bill Offline
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brantmacga wrote on Jun 9^th, 2009 at 2:10am:

i don't know what those "0, 5, 17.0" numbers in the electrical mean.

Those numbers indicate the Bus type, max amp, min voltage...

0 = Main Bus (most components connected here)
5 amps
17 vdc minimum

They also have nothing at all to do with your question.

Quote:

the panel lights are linked to the landing lights, so when they shut off, I lose them.

any idea on how to put them on a separate key command? i'd be satisfied having them controlled by the nav lights switch.

Which "panel lights?" The overhead flood or the backlighted gauges? These are created by two completely separate methods...

The "overhead flood lights" are created by the entry in the [Effects] section of your aircraft.cfg file. Since they are assigned to Type=5 which is panel lights, clearly this is not your problem!

The emissive gauge backlighting however is generated by a lightmap (xxx_L.bmp) file located in the ..\texture folder. Since your gauge lighting fails with the landing light switch, then all you need to do is change the color of the Alpha channel on the relevant xxx_L.bmp files!

pure white Alpha = landing light controlled
pure black Alpha = any other light switch control

Look in your panel.cfg file for the [VCockpitnn] sections and note the name of the texture= entry is, for example:

texture=$vc_01

Normally the associated lightmap will be the same name, but without the $ and with an _L suffix, such as:

vc_01_L.bmp

Once you've identified the filename(s), open it (them) with DXTBMP.exe and change the Alpha channel from white to black. Export as DXT3 and overwrite the original file(s).

« Last Edit: Jun 9^th, 2009 at 11:00pm by Fr. Bill »

Bill
Gauge Programming - 3d Modeling Eaglesoft Development Group Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600-4GB DDR2 Crucial PC6400-800 GB SATA-ATI Radeon HD2400 Pro 256MB DX10 NOTE: Unless explicitly stated in the post, everything written by my hand is MY opinion. I do NOT speak for any company, real or imagined...

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Reply #7 - Jun 9^th, 2009 at 9:41pm

MiltonShupe Offline
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Fr. Bill wrote on Jun 9^th, 2009 at 10:49am:

... snipped ...

The emissive gauge backlighting however is generated by a lightmap (xxx_L.bmp) file located in the ..\texture folder. Since your gauge lighting fails with the landing light switch, then all you need to do is change the color of the Alpha channel on the relevant xxx_L.bmp files!

pure black Alpha = landing light controlled
pure white Alpha = any other light switch control

Look in your panel.cfg file for the [VCockpitnn] sections and note the name of the texture= entry is, for example:

texture=$vc_01

Normally the associated lightmap will be the same name, but without the $ and with an _L suffix, such as:

vc_01_L.bmp

Once you've identified the filename(s), open it (them) with DXTBMP.exe and change the Alpha channel from black to white. Export as DXT3 and overwrite the original file(s).

" and change the Alpha channel from black to white. "

Bill, is this stated backwards or am I confused.

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Reply #8 - Jun 9^th, 2009 at 11:05pm

Fr. Bill Offline
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MiltonShupe wrote on Jun 9^th, 2009 at 9:41pm:

Bill, is this stated backwards or am I confused.

Good catch. Actually, the a/c in question probably doesn't even have an Alpha channel, which would be equivalent to being pure white.

I actually had to refer back to my own tutorial to sort myself out... Grin

FS-X Emissive Textures and VC Lighting
http://www.freeflightdesign.com/tutorials/FSX_Emissive_Textures_and_VCLighting.z...

Quote:

First and foremost is the question of “control.” In FS2002 and FS2004 the Alpha
channel of a lightmap determined which “electrical circuit” controlled the lighting:
pure white (RGB:255,255,255) assigned control to the landing light switch. Pure
black (RGB:0,0,0) assigned control to any other light switch.

Bill
Gauge Programming - 3d Modeling Eaglesoft Development Group Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600-4GB DDR2 Crucial PC6400-800 GB SATA-ATI Radeon HD2400 Pro 256MB DX10 NOTE: Unless explicitly stated in the post, everything written by my hand is MY opinion. I do NOT speak for any company, real or imagined...

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Reply #9 - Jun 9^th, 2009 at 11:16pm

MiltonShupe Offline
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Thanks Bill. And it was that original sharing of yours that put a whole lot of designers on the right track to better night-lit gauges, and we thank you for that.

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Reply #10 - Jun 9^th, 2009 at 11:42pm

brantmacga Offline
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thanks for the info.

its going to take me a little time to comprehend what you're saying, but I think I can figure it out.

Also, I don't think this happened before the shockwave lights. There is a line of text I had to put in the panel.cfg and I believe it cuts off any lights in the gear.

If I could leave them on as-is, it wouldn't work out well because the shockwave lights would still be visible with the gear up.

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Reply #11 - Jun 10^th, 2009 at 12:56pm

Fr. Bill Offline
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brantmacga wrote on Jun 9^th, 2009 at 11:42pm:

Also, I don't think this happened before the shockwave lights. There is a line of text I had to put in the panel.cfg and I believe it cuts off any lights in the gear.

If I could leave them on as-is, it wouldn't work out well because the shockwave lights would still be visible with the gear up.

Oh! Well that puts a completely new spin on the situation.

Many developers, following my own techniques, have "hijacked" the landing lights electrical system to allow for emissive gauge backlighting to be implemented, along with 'zoned' panel/gauge lighting. IOW, separate control for Pilot, Center, Throttle console, and Copilot lighting...

Also, this allows for separate left/right landing and taxi light control if one wishes. What all this means is that -if this is what was done- then Shockwave effect files cannot be used...

Without knowing the specific aircraft package you're referring to, all I can do is "guess" based on observed/reported behavior. Undecided

Bill
Gauge Programming - 3d Modeling Eaglesoft Development Group Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600-4GB DDR2 Crucial PC6400-800 GB SATA-ATI Radeon HD2400 Pro 256MB DX10 NOTE: Unless explicitly stated in the post, everything written by my hand is MY opinion. I do NOT speak for any company, real or imagined...

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Reply #12 - Jun 10^th, 2009 at 8:46pm

Travis Offline
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It's the Lancair Legacy originally built for FS8, I'm fairly sure.

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Reply #13 - Jun 11^th, 2009 at 11:07am

brantmacga Offline
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Fr. Bill wrote on Jun 10^th, 2009 at 12:56pm:

Many developers, following my own techniques, have "hijacked" the landing lights electrical system to allow for emissive gauge backlighting to be implemented, along with 'zoned' panel/gauge lighting. IOW, separate control for Pilot, Center, Throttle console, and Copilot lighting...

Also, this allows for separate left/right landing and taxi light control if one wishes. What all this means is that -if this is what was done- then Shockwave effect files cannot be used...

Without knowing the specific aircraft package you're referring to, all I can do is "guess" based on observed/reported behavior. Undecided

The package is Legacy5.zip (@ simv). Lancair Legacy 2000 v1.0 for FS9.

It has separate landing & taxi light control, and an overhead cockpit light. gauge backlighting was hooked up to landing light switch.

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