Hi all-

 

I have a 2d panel I've made with only a small "out the window" view. The window is pretty small, and I can get the forward view to show up through it when the 3d view and panel are both docked, but the 3d view is the size of the whole screen rather than scaled to fit the opening in the panel.

 

How can I scale the forward 3d view to be only slightly larger than the opening?

 

thanks,

Andrew

There is only one set of parameters in the panel.cfg file that adjusts the 3d outside view, and those are at the very bottom. The normal purpose of these parameters is to set the lower edge of the 3d outside view to just below the lowest part of the 2d panel's glareshield, and set the width of the 3d outside view.

 

They only affect the 3d outside view for [Window00], so if you used that section for your small view, you could make it work. All other [Windownn] sections would default to full screen for the 3d outside view.

 

[Default View]
X=0
Y=0
SIZE_X=8192
SIZE_Y=2557

Thanks Bert,

 

Here's how mine reads:

 

 

[Default View]

X=0

Y=0

SIZE_X=8191

SIZE_Y=3276

 

However, I really don't understand that "resolution" or whatever it might be - can you shed any light on that? My res is 2500 x 1440.

 

cheers

Andrew

Although both Bert and I have a "B" in our names, it's unfair to Bert to confuse him with me!

 

The numbers used in those parameters are "unitless" because there's no way of knowing what size or resolution of anyone's monitor is in advance.

 

As a result, 0,0 is the top left corner of any monitor's screen, and 8192*,6144 is the bottom right corner. This would make the 3d view fill the entire screen.

 

*Note: a small bug in FSPS will occasionally set the size_x value to 8191, which is of course 1 unit too narrow. You'll have to fix that using notepad.exe manually.

 

My res is 2500 x 1440.

With a width of 2500 pixels, that calculates out to 8192/2500 = 3.2768 units/pixel.

With a height of 1440 pixels, that calculates out to 6144/1440 = 4.2666 units/pixel.

 

So, if you need a small 3d window that is 400pix by 400 pix square, and is located at the top middle of the screen, you need ot calculate what the top left corner of the window will be in "units."

 

400 pix wide = 400p x 3.2768u = 1310u (rounded down from 1310.72 units)

 

400 pix high = 400p x 4.2666u = 1706u (rounded down from 1706.64 units)

 

8192u / 2 = 4096u (half the screen width)

1310u / 2 = 655u (half the window's width)

==================

4096u - 655u = 3441u (top left corner's x value)

 

Since we want the window at the top of the screen, the top left corner's y value will of course be zero!

 

4096u + 655u = 4751u (bottom right corner's Size_x value). Since we are begining from the top of the screen, the Size_y value will simply be the height of the window in units, 1706! B)

 

Now we have the values for our panel.cfg entry!

 

[Default View]
X=3441
Y=0
SIZE_X=4751
SIZE_Y=1706

Oops! Sorry Bob! ;)

 

Thanks, this is very helpful. Will try it out tonight.

 

Is there a tutorial / reference you'd recommend where information like this can be found?

 

cheers

Andrew

I would always start with the SDK, which does have much of the information given above.

Just ordered from Amazon. Thanks.

Ordered what? Did you not have the Deluxe edition of FSX?

 

You can get the FS2004 SDK here:

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555857

 

Hope this helps,

Just joking.