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.
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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:
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