Hi PMDG, I was thinking if a feature can be implemented in your cockpits, now as systems and their management grow complex in simulations, is it possible that while flying if I press a key (for this example lets call it "F1") small tags appear on different controls on the cockpit with the associated key to use it, like for Baro selector, if someone has assigned "B" key then a tag "B+-" comes next to the Baro Selector Knob on the EFIS control panel, a second press of "F1" should make it disappear.The reason I'm asking this is because when flying bad weather approaches with failures, last thing I want to do is to look for the assigned key to operate that control, even though it's printed right in front of me, it does become a pain in the nose and takes away a bit of fun and excitement. I hope you'll add this type of feature with NGX or later releases.B h a s k a r - K r i s h n a

Bhaskar-I believe yours is the first request we've received for anything like this- so it isn't something that has been considered previously.On the face of it- this isn't THAT difficult to achieve- but there are some barriers to it being effective... The primary of which is that so many of the knobs in the cockpit are multi-use and multi-directional. For example, some of the layered knobs on the EFIS Control panel have two bezels turning in two different directions, plus a push button located on top. That means we'd have to find real-estate for 5 tags around that switch... Which is hard to do even if we didn't have another 17 tags to display in the same 4" x 2" space of panel....But the idea is not without some merit... I'll turn it over on the spit and see if we come up with anything.

Good point, although I haven't thought about that particular feature.Nevertheless will we be able to assign virtually every control to a key? Reason I ask is I recently purchased one of those Logitech keyboards that have a bunch of extra keys (some have 12, some 18), that can even be assigned in three layers, so that makes a 36 or 54 extra keys, resp. Now the thing is they can only map usual key combinations (like CTRL+SHIFT+something), they are not recognized as individual 'extra' keys by FS for instance. This means I have to assign some weird keystroke in FS to a particular function, then 'map' that very awkward keystroke to one of the special keys. Maybe there is a more efficient way but I don't know of one.It's awful to set up but it works. It requires key-mappable functions though. Well, in FSX you can obviously map pretty much every function to a key, so I hope it will be possible to do that in the NG as well.

What I've done for the current 737 is purchase a keyboard cover (clear plastic) and attach a sticky tab on the cover over the keys I have assigned. I have made these covers for several planes since the assignment keys will be different. Makes locating the correct key easy. Now I don't know how this would work with more functions than there are keys, so one may need to be innovative.Jim Dow

The other option is to fly in the VC. If you want to be really trick, get one of those mice with a scroll wheel and extra buttons and program one to be the 'space' key. Then you can move around the cockpit and zoom in or out almost instantly. In fact it is nearly as good as trackIR.

The other option is to fly in the VC. If you want to be really trick, get one of those mice with a scroll wheel and extra buttons and program one to be the 'space' key. Then you can move around the cockpit and zoom in or out almost instantly. In fact it is nearly as good as trackIR.

I use a Logitech VX Nano wireless and is completely programmable. It has an up and down arrow right next to the left button, and I have the down arrow act as the space and I programed the up arrow to strike (( CTRL+. )) for the parking break. And as paul stated this works awesome. I have been doing it like this way for as long as I have had FSX and I LOVE it. So I personally recommend the Logitech VX Nano, or any other Logitech because it comes with software and it is 100% programmable. But thats just me.

Actually, might be one of the better solutions, if you have some extra $ to spend... :( Wish they'd improve on that, don't think it's quite ready for serial production.

Thanks Robert for considering my request, well! the whole idea of this is to NOT look anywhere else while pressing a key for control/switch assignment. Lets take an example of for what we discussed the Baro Selector Knobnow with a FreeTrack or TrackIR clip, a person presses a key lets say "F1" he basically sees a lot of small white squares fill up the whole of cockpit, close to individual selectable controls, this will probably not clutter the space, I'm talking of square just about this dot "." So basically a person just sees the key assignments of the keys he's sitting closest to, not something far "in the virtual cockpit" but he does see a square dot in the vicinity depicting or telling him immediately that particular control has an assignment to it. after moving his head a bit closer, the small square expands and shows him the key assignments for those. after finding out what he wants, just press "F1" again and all squares and dots disappear.Benefits: user won't be bothered looking away from the screen, he can still pretty much use his periphery to fly the plane instead of pausing it.Just my two cents :)---B h a s k a r - K r i s h n a

now with a FreeTrack or TrackIR clip, a person presses a key lets say "F1" he basically sees a lot of small white squares fill up the whole of cockpit, close to individual selectable controls, this will probably not clutter the space, I'm talking of square just about this dot "." So basically a person just sees the key assignments of the keys he's sitting closest to, not something far "in the virtual cockpit" but he does see a square dot in the vicinity depicting or telling him immediately that particular control has an assignment to it. after moving his head a bit closer, the small square expands and shows him the key assignments for those. after finding out what he wants, just press "F1" again and all squares and dots disappear.

Sounds like a nifty idea, but I'm a little concerned about its implementation. I figure you can't easily put these hints "on top" of the screen in the VC like you could in a 2D cockpit. And 'modelling' them into the 3D geometry is probably not feasible either. But good food for thought, certainly.

The 737 isn't nearly complicated enough for any of that messing around....it's quite a simple aircraft. This is a exact replication, try using the default 737; there's no need to worry there.Sam.

The 737 isn't nearly complicated enough for any of that messing around....it's quite a simple aircraft. This is a exact replication, try using the default 737; there's no need to worry there.Sam.

I dont understand what you are trying to say here, I would never fly the default 737 once I've flown PMDG 737, and it is not "quite a simple" aircraft :), and the subject of this thread pretty much applies to all complex cockpits.Cheers!B h a s k a r

I'll rephrase, Learn 'till you can't help but not remember? Iunno, but why would PMDG go to all that trouble making this as real as possible for people who can't remember what they've tied to the 'T' button? I'd get annoyed if you pressed a button say 'G' on the keyboard for example..and tonnes of little captions appeared...get a better memory? It's designed to be flown with a bit of thinking, that's why it's taken all these years!! :PPS - the 737 is 'simple', hence the reason a large part of the ATPL exams are based upon it and its systems, and why many schools like where I went have a 737 sim for their MCC/JOC...it's simple and a 'standard' almost...Regards.

All I'll say is my memory is not that of a genius. I keep forgetting things like key assignments etc, so I think I can be excused for asking a small addition and yes you dont have to press G for all the caption, I'll say "F1" or "Crtl - F1" is more appropriate, I wouldn't assign a gear down key to such a task. most of the time I'm flying other airplanes in FS than 737 having fun and enjoying scenery.like your ID, if you fly Airbus for real - then I must say you Underestimate what all a boeing crew does to fly, this includes cockpit procedures etc., this is what I've heard from real A320 FOs and they respect that. 737 is probably the only plane that can go complete manual, flown like a cessna ( full manual ) to full automation. 737 is just tooo popular cause it is a real airplane :) I think airbus should reduce the amount of theory they require their crew to mug up, it just gives them false confidence with remembering things. In real life it's more hands on flying that's fun... atleast for me.Best WishesB h a s k a r

Fair enough, it's just a flight simulator after all - I was being too serious You have't sat the current ATPLs recently then?? Airbus pilots have a false confidence? I don't think you're near qualified to make a statement like that - but let's not let this get personal, if you're ever around T5, look me up.I still don't get my people think airline pilots have a god given right to hands on flying, that's not your job all the time, maybe you missed that somewhere when reading 'So you wana be a pilot?" :PRgds.

with Hands on, if the traffic is less, horizon is visible and left seat is okay with it, I do most of the times disconnect AP and turn off FDs and fly it manually, this is not flight simulator I'm talking about ;)to be all the way into T5, I'll have to wait till fleet change, will see you there then ...Best Wishes,B h a s k a r