2DGauges 2008

Battle of Britain "Wings of Victory"
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stickman
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2DGauges 2008

Post by stickman »

Folks,
There is another thread called 2DGauges, which is long and old. So I start another one, after the v2.08 Upgrade.
Mind ye, I was the crazy one that first tried to use Scott and Simon's 2D Gauge system they made for Air Battles and try it in BoBII.
So I know well better about this stuff than other BDG men do. Still learning!

First, some notes on the 2 different 2dGauge folders that are available here (v2.08 release topic):

http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtop ... highlight=

Buddye made one that uses all the files that Air Battles has.

Stickman made one that contains only a few files.
Most of the rotational gauge art work, and the configurations for these, I've done myself.
My initial intent was to make some true fuel gauges for the Spitfire and Emil.
Some users requested a Turn and Slip combo gauge up near the gun sight, as well as an Indicating Air Speed, and Altitude DIGITAL indicator.
This I have done. As well as supply a rotating compass and Enemy Position Indicator, where no padlocking problems appear.

!! If you wish to change from Buddye's version to mine, or vice versa,
you must remove the entire existing 2dGauges folder from BoBII,
and insert the desired one. Otherwise, interfering files may remain.

Beg your forgiveness for this ungainly method, but this 2DGauge stuff is WIP,
and Buddye and I have been bouncing off the walls doing other things!
Our original intention was to supply the users with some calibrated true fuel gauges for the aircraft, at least.
I have only made a good fuel gauge for the Spitfire and Emil, so far.
Buddye and I are not 3D modelers, and nothing doing there, so he and I said.
"Let's give something that works true, even if only in HUD 2D, for the time being."

I be not the expert on this, but I walk point down this dark trail!
Sometimes Simon speaks in my earpiece, "No! Go left, not right!"

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I asked Scott for his advise, and he gave me his original Notes,
which I am correcting and editing as I and Buddye see how the text configuration works. Simon illuminates us sometimes, too, Mahalo!
This contains all my current knowledge, sadly, but I be just a mechanic.

------

Here are the original notes, (edited by stickman, July, 2008):

INSTRUMENT VARIABLES – DEFINE HOW A PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT IS DRAWN

Name: what instrument value will be drawn (ie. Air speed). Names of permitted instruments are given following this list of variables.

x;//x screen position – 0-640
y;//y screen position – 0-480
width;//gauge width – 0-640
height;//gauge height– 0-480

gaugeType;//drawGauge:
1 = dial rotation gauge,
2 = vertical bar shift,
3 = numerical,
4 = click control,
5 = artificial horizon,
6 =shift bitmap compass,
7 = shift line indicator,
8 = panel (instrument panel background),
9 = enemy position indicator,
10 = indicating lamps and damage indicators.
Types 6 and 7 not implemented in this version

drawWhen;//drawWhen: 0=never, 1=all views, 2=virtual cockpit only, 4=outside views only

rotationScaler1;//rotationScaler1: scaler for needle1. rotationScaler1*value = angle of needle rotation.

rotationScaler2;//rotationScaler2: scaler for needle2, if any

needleStartAngle1;//needleStartAngle1: initial angle of rotation to zero needle1 (degrees)

needleStartAngle2;//needleStartAngle1: initial angle of rotation to zero needle2 (degrees)

needleMapIndex1;//needleMapIndex1: specifies coordinates of needle1 on the needle bitmap (0-16) 0= whole image; Else, Left to right and top to bottom in the cpt_b_n.dds images.

needleMapIndex2;//needleMapIndex2: specifies coordinates of needle2 on the needle bitmap (0-16)

needleSizeScaler1_W;//needleSizeScaler1_W: allows width of needle1 to be scaled larger(+) or smaller(-) than gauge face. New width = gaugeFaceWidth + gaugeFaceWidth*needleSizeScaler1_W.

needleSizeScaler1_H;//needleSizeScaler1_H: allows height of needle1 to be scaled larger(+) or smaller(-) than gauge face. New height = gaugeFaceHeight + gaugeFaceHeight*needleSizeScaler1_H.

needleSizeScaler2_W;//needleSizeScaler2_W: allows width of needle2 to be scaled larger(+) or smaller(-) than gauge face. New width = gaugeFaceWidth + gaugeFaceWidth*needleSizeScaler2_W.

needleSizeScaler2_H;//needleSizeScaler2_H: allows height of needle2 to be scaled larger(+) or smaller(-) than gauge face. New height = gaugeFaceHeight + gaugeFaceHeight*needleSizeScaler2_H.

needleCenterAdj1_X;//needleCenterAdj1_X: adjusts the x value for center of needle1 on gauge face

needleCenterAdj1_Y;//needleCenterAdj1_y: adjusts the y value for center of needle1 on gauge face

needleCenterAdj2_X;//needleCenterAdj2_X: adjusts the x value for center of needle2 on gauge face

needleCenterAdj2_Y;//needleCenterAdj2_y: adjusts the y value for center of needle2 on gauge face

maxValue1;//maxValue1 for needle1 or bar gauge (bar is totally red)

minValue1;//minValue1 for needle1

maxValue2;//maxValue2 for needle2

minValue2;//minValue2 for needle2

gaugeFace;//Image map number for the gauge face

Ineedle1;//Image map number for needle1

needle2;//Image map number for needle2

label;//label that appears centered below the gauge. Can be left blank

labelColor;//labelColor. RGB Color number.

numericDisplayColor;//color of numeric display on a numeric gauge. RGB color number.



PERMITTED GAUGE NAMES in ini files:

ammo = ammo counter

altitude = altitude (2 needle gauge)

indicatedAirSpeed = indicated airspeed

rpm0 = engine speed of engine 1

rpm1 = engine speed of engine 2

climb = vertical speed

boost0 = boost for engine 1

boost1 = boost for engine 2

radiatorTemperature0 = radiator temperature 1

radiatorTemperature1 = radiator temperature 2

oilTemperature = oil temperature

fuelContents = fuel contents

elevatorTrim = elevator trim

fuelPressure = fuel pressure

heading = compass heading (a dial rotation gauge)

oilContent = oil content

pitchAngle = pitch angle

propPitch = propeller pitch (2 needles)

radioAlt = radio altitude

rollAngle = roll angle

slipTurnCombo = slip/turn combo gauge (2 needles)

slip = slip

turn = turn

trueAirSpeed = true air speed

trueGroundSpeed = true ground speed

voltmeter = voltmeter

artHorizon = artificial Horizon (2 needles – roll angle/pitch angle)

InstPanel = a single bitmap with alpha of specified position and size

EnemyPositionIndicator = enemy position indicator - EPI

GearToggle = a click control that toggles gear up and down with a mouse click in interactive mode.

FlapsDown = a click control that toggles flaps down if they are up.

FlapsUp = a click control that toggles flaps up if they are down.

RadioToggle = a click control that brings up the radio communications screen.

MapToggle = a click control that brings up the map.

HUDToggle = a click control that closes the HUD gauges and click controls. Bring it back up with “h” key.

Eject = a click control that causes the pilot to bail out.

Exit3D = a click control that exits 3d to the menus.

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NOTES FROM OTHERS:

Simon:

In the type of gauge you are making (gauge face with rotating needle), Max and min values are not used in calculating the needle rotation.
The only variables used to affect needle rotation in this gauge are "RotationScaler1" which is the value of degrees of rotation per unit fuel change,
and "NeedleStartAngle1" which is the angle of offset that you want the needle to start its rotation.

Rotation scaler is the angle of needle rotation per unit change in fuel.

So, in the case of your Emil gauge, RotationScaler1 would be: total angle of needle sweep from 0 to FULL fuel 0/299.
This RotationScaler1 value then gets multiplied by current fuel level and this total is added to NeedleStartAngle1
to determine the needle rotation displayed.

In your example above, you can see that doubling the fuel value in the .acd file without changing the RotationScaler1"
value would cause the needle to decrement only half as much. So, It makes sense.

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I supply a pic as to coordinates, with examples:

Image
Last edited by stickman on 12 Jul 2008, 18:03, edited 1 time in total.

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stickman
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Post by stickman »

The Problem with 2DGauges

Monitor Resolution.

One man's gauges made using 1280x1024 will not look like another man's gauges using 1600x1200.
Stretching and squeezing can occur.
My little flat screen monitor is only capable of 1280x1024. That's what I use.
Folks using wide screen monitors find my makes stretched and squeezed.

This is why we were reluctant to make this feature public. We'd be getting a lot of
slop buckets tossed upon our heads,
"They look weird!" "They are egg shaped!" etc..........

All gauges and Indicators can be user adjustable as to size, height, and width.
So.. users may need to adjust these size, height and width parameters to fit their own Resolutions.
Some 2D gauges that look fine with 1280x1024, will never look right with some oddball resolutions, no matter how much stretching and squeezing a user tries.
Then, I advise that you do not use those gauges, by commenting them out.

-----------

The world is ever changing
and if as a youth
I expected the world
to wait for me as it changed
I was sadly mistaken!

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stickman
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Location: Oahu, Hawai'i

Post by stickman »

How to turn ON or OFF gauges

In the individual aircraft Configuration files
there is a line that tells the game when to make the Indicator appear.
DrawWhen=
0=never, 1=all views, 2=virtual cockpit only, 4=outside views only

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Boandlgramer
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Post by Boandlgramer »

Hello Stickman

Just a question
Would it be possible to move the gauges on a second monitor ?

Hans

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stickman
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Post by stickman »

Boandlgramer

Ah! Sir I loved your movies before.
Especially the first one with the Francais song!
Would it be possible to move the gauges on a second monitor ?
Nichts. The code is currently made for only 1 monitor.

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Boandlgramer
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Post by Boandlgramer »

I thought, I have read that you can´t open the old link of the movie.
I´m getting old :lol:

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stickman
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Post by stickman »

I just got a new computer with Vista. I think I need a plugin to view it. ?

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Boandlgramer
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Post by Boandlgramer »

Not really, the link is dead :cry: :cry:
I can upload the movie on my own space, if you like to view it again. Do you ?
Would be a pleasure .............

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stickman
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Post by stickman »

Yes, please. :) Kanaljaeger

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Boandlgramer
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Post by Boandlgramer »

Hello Stickman

It can take a few days till I am able to upload the film, because the movie is on my old computer without internet connection .

For the moment watch this movie : :lol:

http://schreinerschmid-web.homepage.t-o ... liegen.wmv

or this one:

http://schreinerschmid-web.homepage.t-o ... e/film.wmv

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