<edit> On second thought

Bill reacted exactly the same way when I asked for the ability to get the GPS map image in order to integrate it in a gauge. Bill answered it was doable, but couldn't explain how because of copyright reasons that I fully understand and agree with.So can you explain me why I am called a mercenary when I do this?

There is a very big difference in these two events, Eric. The code I developed was done under contract to my employer, and as you've agreed I'm not at liberty to give away. I don't own the rights any longer.What you've claimed to do was based on the information freely given away by the original discoverer. Apparently you've managed to get the basic concept working in FS9, something that myself and others have yet to achieve. While you have the perfect right not to "give it away," it does give the appearance of being rather petty and selfish.Over the last eleven plus years I've seen folks take, take, and take, but few ever give anything back to the developer community. I find that rather disappointing... :( I do apologize for the use of the term "mercenary." It was intended as a play on your last name, a pun which failed to be communicated.

Guys,I am tired with this useless discussion and this is my LAST reply.I want to reply to Bill because I have much repsect for him and I appreciate his contribution to the Flight Sim community.Bill, there is no difference between your attitude and my attitude. You say you couldn't give information about your code because it was developed under contract with your employer, right? It is almost exactly the same for me. The solution I found for multiple smoke in fs9 is based on "tricks" that was provided to me by my employer and I can not share them. Without sharing this, I can not provide you, or the community, the way to trigger multiple smoke in fs9. This is why I wanted to provide it as a compiled gauge that people can use for their own needs, without providing the source code.Secondly, I would like to break the idea that you're suggesting in your post. The information provided here, which works for FSX only, didn't help me in any way to find the way to do the same in fs9. I can tell you the way to achieve this in fs9 is VERY different to what is explained in the original post. This thread only bought to me the frustration of being unable to do it in fs9, which is why I tried to find a workaround.And finally, I would like to say that, like you, I have contributed to the Flight Sim community with freeware panels and aircrafts, and also by sharing important information on this forum and others. I recognize that it is "old" story, but it happened. I have contributed, I have tried to help until I was discouraged by the way freeware developers were considered in this small FS world.As a conclusion, I see that when I try to "come back" to help by providing something to the community, I am attacked by many people who always find a way to turn what I wrote against me. I learn my lesson, I understand that staying silent is much better.I think you will not hear about me for a long time...EricPS. It is my turn to apologize, I didn't understand the use of "mercenary" was a joke related to my name, sorry about that. Don't forget that English is not my mother language ;)

Thank you for the more detailed explanation, Eric. Now your reluctance to share the precise technique is entirely reasonable and understandable.To be perfectly honest, the only reason I continue to share what I can is because I recognize that without having had the hundreds of others here and elsewhere share their knowledge, techniques and hard-won "tricks," I'd not know a tenth of what I know today......thus I feel an obligation to return as much as I can to the larger development community.

I agree, we share knowledge to honor our teachers. I think there is another aspect at play here too

Thanks Eric - nice video!! :(-Dai

 

 

Nice! I would submit however that the video demonstrates "that" rather than "how..." Unanswered is the question of whether this system can trigger up to 98 effects simultaneously, which is -after all- the main benefit/feature of the OP's discovery for FSX...

Unanswered is the question of whether this system can trigger up to 99 effects simultaneously, which is -after all- the main benefit/feature of the OP's discovery for FSX... :(

As I mentioned earlier (when this topic was still on-topic :( ), smoke.98 is the limit. I have a test gauge where I can trigger these either independently or simultaneously, or in groups. I can play it like a piano while flying, although too many smoke fx is a severe hit on frame rate for me so no cool videos of this... :( Dai, did you try this in a C gauge?/Tom

As I mentioned earlier (when this topic was still on-topic :( ), smoke.98 is the limit. I have a test gauge where I can trigger these either independently or simultaneously, or in groups. I can play it like a piano while flying, although too many smoke fx is a severe hit on frame rate for me so no cool videos of this... :( Dai, did you try this in a C gauge?/Tom

I have and it works just fine.BTW, unless I've got one extra finger, 1-99 is -in fact- 99 possibilities. If you omit smoke.0 entirely, then smoke.1 through smoke.99 works fine......at least in a C gauge.

I have and it works just fine.BTW, unless I've got one extra finger, 1-99 is -in fact- 99 possibilities. If you omit smoke.0 entirely, then smoke.1 through smoke.99 works fine......at least in a C gauge.

You have no idea just how tempted I was to agree that you've got one extra finger.... but I won't do it. :( @Tom: not yet but I had checked through on the theory of doing it. @Bill: if you can't release the info as public, you might just be able to save me some work here anyway. Does it involve changes to the aircraft.cfg file as well?-Dai

@Bill: if you can't release the info as public, you might just be able to save me some work here anyway. Does it involve changes to the aircraft.cfg file as well?

Well yes, you do have to add the [smoke] entries in the aircraft.cfg file...Just use the normal XML to C sequence:int number;execute_calculator_code("number (>K:SMOKE_ON)", NULL, NULL, NULL);

You have no idea just how tempted I was to agree that you've got one extra finger.... but I won't do it. :(

...and you could play some wicked banjo with that extra finger... :( The only use for this as I see it is for in-air fx such as airshow smoke, missiles etc. since the smoke system is not available unless at least one engine is running. Like Bill, I would also very much like to use this for extra interior and exterior lights, but they have to be available without the alternator bus powered. In my aircraft I have a (simulated) Emergency Power Unit which supplies electrical power if you flame out, and the smoke fx will obviously not work in that situation. I am toying with the idea of adding a "ghost" engine with no thrust to simulate the EPU, but then again that would be fuel-dependent which is not what I want. So maybe the usefulness of this "discovery" is not that great after all. :(

...and you could play some wicked banjo with that extra finger... :(

I think an extra thumb would be more useful... 'cause then you could accomplish double flanging... :( I haven't tried to see if the APU will provide the "power" needed by the smoke system...It would be so cool to be able to achieve this cabin lighting scheme:

The GLOBAL EXPRESS XRS incorporates wash lights that are assembled with 4 different LEDs:White, amber, blue, red.Red, Green and Blue (RGB) strips also available as an option to get the full color spectrum.Crisp white to full yellow and red spectrum ambiance.This enables the passengers or flight attendant to change the mood of the cabin with ten color presets8 standard + 2 customer selected

Shot at 2009-10-16

Gentlemen, A Blimp.... Flowing over stadium at no greater than 35 knots. With a super digital display on it's ribcage. 8 segments per digit & 3 effects per segment. You have a 3.75 digit display and if coded correctly it might turn out nice as an advertisement, scrolling etc... ( LIKE WE NEED MORE! ) . Even more get a .fx coder to make some straight line effects ( "formation lights" ) and make a 10 + element matrix, make it an 8 max digit line, out of that you could even advertise for "free credit report dot com" whilst flying over your fav locale & make millions!This idea is now copyright by .....................................? some fricken idiot.All it would take is someone to code it..No Prob.Mine would say..Cows in "c"alifornia are not happier, I can't get paid. Gournsey would say I'm going to perish as ""c"alifornia is falling into the sea" ( Steely Dan), or I'm going to burn, or, I'm going vibrate to death, or, I cant breath . How can I be happy? I'd rather be in WI, it cant be that cold. Anyhow, if some one can prove this and test, I'd be willing to make a "Front end - message maker" In VB .net to rewrite the display code ( XML w/ refresh ) as per user preference. Pretty darn good idea huh?RomanP.S. - california milk products just donot stand up. P.S.S. - The flight itself will not be enjoyable except,,, make the blimp have user triggered failures! ( I.E> not following proc.) P.S.S.S. Found a bug in the forum system, here's a reply to Bill's reply ( http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?s=&...t&p=1652654 )- I'd go on that flight if Alison Kraus & Union Station was playing & Bill took care of the lighting. LOL