Or you can distribute it as open source where everyone can do modification on their own.

>Or you can distribute it as open source where everyone can do>modification on their own. Open source authors and the community also provides support - often better than commercial counterparts. Someone has to do the sweat, and chances are high it would be you, the author :)It's just like we do here as well. But it takes time away from yourself. When you are the author, everyone comes to you with the questions.//Tuomas

First of all, I didn't mean to come across rude. It's just that this forum has been filled up over the past years with stuff about PM. Ok you didn't mean to say they are to expencive, and no, I am not at all a user. But anyway.The forum has also been filled up with builders who come and ask and make suggestions about MCP+PFD+ND+EICAS+FMC etc. And not your post in particular but this whole situation in general is boring me.Let me put it clear. There is no alternative. Or at least there is none that comes even close to PM.So what's the other option. There are some which you can find here: http://wiki.varxec.net/Softwares But as said, none of them close to PM.I'm just saying it's way easy for all the folks coming here and ask if someone could please make something like PM which is not so expencive.I say, it's way easy for all these folks to check out my tutorial and start coding. As I told you before, check this page: http://wiki.varxec.net/OpenF50If you'd read it you'd have noticed that I am building Fokker 50 which has no real glass gauges but does have an EHSI and EADI which were not available either as stand-alone programs. So what did I do ? I looked into an open-gl tutorial and found out that it's actually very much more easy and got started. You can see the result on that page. Sure, it's not a functional FMC or an EHSI with moving map or weather radar in them but it's an easy and good start and it works just fine.Am I a super l337 programmer ? No, I'm not. I just got basic VB.Net which is quite nothing like C++ and it was only a distante memory of Java that helped me on my way for this coding. So there you have it. Get a book "C++ for dummys" or check some online C++ tutorial sites, find a compiler and get buzzy. It took me just a couple of weeks to get where I am at now.Btw, don't be so modest about your english skills. I had no idea you were french ( which is an indication of how good your english is :( )

>Btw, don't be so modest about your english skills. I had no>idea you were french ( which is an indication of how good your>english is :( )I have to second this, excellent english, much better than many of the native speakers here write :-)Anyway, one thing that comes to mind is the OpenCockpits' "On737" setup that is the software counterpart of the IOCards project as far as I know. Check that out, they have a full suite on the works, and you can do the overhead logic with the SIOC programming language I would guess. Lots of work, yes. But very likely possible. On737 is free as "free beer". No sourcecode available though as far as I know. Worth checking out for sure if you want a 737 sim. www.opencockpits.com//Tuomas

Is there a software which permit to play XML gauges on a second PC (without FS running) liked with WideFS ?Something like an XML "player"That's will be an easy way to make custom gauge for a non-programmer like me ... and to run them on a client PC ...Thank'sBOB

I have no idea...Anyone?? I don't think there is any software that you can customize gauges and run in stand alone PC or maybe yet. But I do know altenatively you could do "Old-School Style Cockpit building" get Custom Panel Designer program and customize your gauges. Then run multi-monitor such as one PC will display external view and the other will just display whole thing as interior with working gauges. Unfortunately, it can kill frame rate.

Maxivista perhaps can do that--as running on separate computer connected via network to the serverNo noticable fps hit--however didnt messed with that to muchI tryed to run defoult gps and thats worked niceThe last version can hook up 2 additional monitors per clien computer

Ok, just to answer, i agree with you. My post was rather a complain than a step ahead to my cockpit !!!I do appreciate much your work for your own gauges, keep working on it !I bet we learn from all kind of experiences, i'm a real newbie in cockpit building, and i learned with this post a new fact of the cockpit building philosophy : "always think twice before asking, you may get the answer from yourself".Yes i finally did find a really great solutions : FreeFD suite + FMS from 8RC or something, this really rocks and actually has it all, including LNAV and VNAV !!!In answer to Tuomas, yes i use IOcards so i keep visiting ON737 projects wich looks more than promising. As i have computer programming skills, i use SIOC wich is very effective for creating systems interactions, but that's for playing with the electronics, the part i don't want to handle is for the software displays...I worked a lot past week end, got my DIY flight center up with my MIP ! Yoke also ok ! I'm not far away from flying it ! I'll post screenshots in the forum, and maybe set up a website.My main goal will be to present my project as a "fast and cheap" cockpit building. When we read about cockpit building we often see "it's gonna take you years", that's absolutely true when you want to achieve serious sim, but don't misunderstand the newbies (the one whom just can't wait, like me), a simple flight center wich is already very immersive can be set up in a few weeks !

ow, by the way, thanks for my english...it's always good to know people can easily understand you, and it gives us strenght to continue learning more and more.I do read english a lot (just try to build your own cockpit without speaking a word of engligh, you may be a little lost) but it is also very important for us to write in forums like this, so we practice our english in a different way, the harder way. best regards

H

Since this conversation started, I'd like to say what I'm doing on my part.Since a couple of years now, I began designing a hardware interface, something like FSBUS (even though I didn't knew it existed). I even presented an early prototype at a meeting of the Hellenic VACC in 11/2003. Since then I completed redisigned it.It is called AIMforFS (Another Interface Module for FS) and consists of a hardware and a software part.The hardware is using a powerfull microcontroller from Microchip PIC18F452 which runs at 40MHz. The design of the system is one micro for 512 bit outputs (a Led is one bit, a segment is 7 or 8) and 256 bit inputs plus a few (4-8 it depends) analog inputs. All this with just one micro. It also uses a few other very common ICs like multiplexers and latches.It is planned to be able to decode or drive any known hardware, from Leds and 7 segments to rotary encoders, knitters, whatever. It can also drive or accept a direct I/O port for connection to steppers or other appplications. Connection is serial or USB and from my tests it is extremely fast. It can load all variables in less than 4ms and reacts to changes in inputs in less than half (reaction=accept and decode an input, send it to computer and receive and display the output).The software part is an application that runs on the computer. It has an open architecture which is realized through the object-event approach.First there is an object called the "Data Provider". Data sources are FSUIPC, FDSConnection, or whatever else. The "Data Provider" provides "row" variables that can be formatted with the "Formatter" object. Then there is the "Action" object which defines what can be done when an event is fired (when a row or formatted value changes, when an input is recieved, a timer ticks, etc). Each I/O has an event that calls an action and an action can call other events, change values, etc).I've never ever discussed about it, because I don't want to give high hopes. I don't have a timeline, I code and develop whenever I feel like it. There are times when I work all my spare time and more, think about it all day, etc, and do a progress the would normally take 3 months in a few weeks. There are also times when I don't do anything for months.The hardware is 90% finished and certainly at a fully working state. Analog isn't coded, but I don't need for now so. Software is at a 60% state, works for demo reasons but lots of things are "hard" coded to just work and not yet done with the open architecture mentioned above.I'm going to build a A32x sim, so expect when (and if) it is ever finished to work 100% for that type, but as it was open designed I guess it can easilly be changed into any type...When I started the project I had a strong urge of giving back to the community. I wanted it to be free. Since then, FSUIPC and many other programs went payware and I have to say that I thought about making it payware. So, I don't know if I'll give away the code (haven't yet decided) but don't have any plans of selling it...

Funny words here, but hey i'm just writing, maybe you'll change your mind if you ear my accent :)Regarding IOcards that's true, but we're lucky, french and spanish are derived from Latin, and provided you choose this language instead of german (#### difficult !) at school, you may also be confortable in reading spanish docs.Jean Reno is pretty famous in France as you can imagine, i do like a lot of his movies, i would say especially the french ones. I'll have to watch Leon in english to ear that accent !I'll give a pic this week, not much to see but so proud of it ! I believe this is the most important part of the work, having fun.

There is. Just take a look at http://www.flyware.nl where you can check FsXPand - download and run it and see what it can do.For now, it can do GA instruments, and 737 EICAS (3 screens) but you can really modify at will. Gert

I started my website so I could produce low cost alternatives to PM. Considering the immense complexity of PM, it is impossible to include all of the functionality and keep the price low. We did come out with a GA gauge package as FREEWARE and have had a very good response to it. We are in the process of developing the next step in glass cockpit; the EFS50 is what you find in King Air aircraft. This will cost a bit though, probably less than 30.00 US. I think it is a good deal. I myself am an average builder, I like to do everything myself. I never considered buying PM software because of the cost. I think it is possible to build a very feature filled sim with minimum cost. Feel free to look.Jasonwww.jaycosims.com

As many of the people who replied to this thread, I also started to develop my own glass cockpit gauges for my ATR72-500 home cockpit.The engine instrument panel is already completed (8 gauges) with network support without WideFS (except for a registered copy of FSUIPC) or other payware software and the PFD is getting completed in a while...all of my work will be freeware.I didn't have any idea about OpenGL programming even though I'm a programmer, so I started to search over the Net finding a lot of resources and focusing especially on nehe.gamedev.net.I programmed my glass cockpit gauges using Delphi 7.0 Personal Edition (that is free) so if you want to start with something I can suggest you to try with Delphi that is easier to learn than C++ and may offer the same satisfaction when the "work" is finished.On nehe.gamedev.net you will find a lot of source examples for many programming languages (C++, Delphi, Visual Basic etc.).If you want to take a look at my work you can have a glimpse here:the engine panel:http://www.meridianavirtual.it/forumigv/in...hp?topic=9257.0the PFD (not yet finished):http://www.meridianavirtual.it/forumigv/in...hp?topic=9162.0Regards,Bob