understanding gauges

[johnboy007007 0]

Can anyone explain how gauges in fsx function. I am trying to insert a gauge into an fsx a/c but need to understand how fsx manipulates the gauge, for ex: How does the needle in a compass move, surely there is a piece of coding cleverly written for this gauge to function, where is this coding ?. I have been given a piece of coding for a pitch trim gauge but all I get is a window which is transparent enabling me to see outside the a/c through the bitmap area. I have tried to understand how a line in the panel.cfg i.e : gauge00=airbus_321!altimeter,x,x,x,x, actually works, . I`ve not been able to see where fsx goes to look for the piece of coding that actually enables this gauge to animate. Can anyone explain this to me. thanks .....johnboy

[javfn 0]

Hello! Look for the XML file of the compass you want to see the code of. Is located in the Gauges folder of FS. It contains all of the code for that compass gauge you can open it up whit NotePad and see the code of it. Best Regards.Javier

[johnboy007007 0]

Thanks javfn. How much lines of code on average would be needed to run a digital pitch trim. Do certain gauges take their code from other a/c. The lines of text I was kindly given by fxsttcb is about 7 lines long and only 1 line has any kind of calculations, is this the code for the gauge im trying to enter. I would ask fxsttcb (dan), but feel ive maybe pickled his brain, and made a nuisance of myself. Am still nowhere nearer to getting a digital pitch trim gauge working with a fsx a/c despite all dans efforts to help me.

[fxsttcb 1]

Not a nuisance at all! I remember, quite well, the struggle to understand xml.If it wasn't for the kindness and patience of folks here and on other sites, it would have taken much longer, through trial and error to learn.In that vein, I try to emulate their behavior, and, lately "What Would Opa Do" pops to mind. May he rest in peace. The "line of calculation" is the code that uses the variable, the rest of the code describes to the sim itself how to access and display it.XML is quite versatile. If you peruse FSX in it's entirety you will find .xml for your controls, in add-on scenery placement, and others. I got your PM and replied there also....Don