is there a way to save position and size of guages with multi monitor setup and in FullScreenMode?

i know there is a little program that does just that but in WindowMode, i got the program but didnt bother using it since i understood its for windows mode only, but threads were old and conflicting so i'm wondering if there were any new programs/utilieties that can do it?

Thanks

Andy

well since noone knows i kinda figure it out and will try to write a little tut on how to do it.

i found no other up to date tuts so here's mine hope it will help some of you who might be interested...

this works on my setup: 1computer, 2video cards, 6monitors

first video card gtx670 runs 3monitors in surround NV 2d and 1 other monitor

second card gtx570 runs 2 monitors

 

upon entering fullscreen mode in FSX ALT+ENTER all monitors go to fullscreen mode

 

program is called if i recall correctly panelposition.... something like that zip consists of 2 exe files one called positionsave.exe second positionrestore.exe

i dont recall exact names but i'm bored so i write the tut and later when i'm home i fix the names and hopefully find the link to it.

ok so how i do it.

THIS INITIAL SETUP ONLY NEEDS TO BE DONE ONCE... HENCE 'INITIAL' BUT IT MIGHT PROVE PAIN IN THE ROYAL... :-)

a) start fsx in windowmode choose the a/c you wish to save instrument/guage positions and size i use pmdg737ngx B)

b ) open as new view/undock/position/resize all the instruments you wish to save size position of

do all that in window mode IGNORE YOUR MAIN FSX WINDOW JUST WORRY ABOUT GAGUES/INSTRUMENTS

c) once you happy run the positionsave.exe wait a moment it will create an INI file

d) now go to FULLSCREEN the guages will slightly change size/position now make note looking at them in FULLSCREEN which gauge you would like to be little different size/position little to the leftbor bigger or smaller whatever suites you, JUST NOTE OR MEMORIZE DO NOT RESIZE THEM OR EVEN TOUCH THEM IN FULLSCRENMODE !!!

e) now ALT+ENTER back to windowmode 'omg!! they all messed up' DO NOT PANIC :-) just run the positionrestore.exe and they will all go bact to exact position you had them before you entered the FULLSCREEN MODE ... are they back... they should be :-)

f) now... in step' 'D' you made notes of imperfection in position and sizes in full screen view so now while still in window mode adjust the required guage window move it up down a bit or whatever you need trying to remember what the offset position of this guage should be so it looks good in FULLSCREENMODE

g) once satisfied run positionsave.exe then enter FULLSCREEN MODE

h) REPEAT STEPS E-G untill all gauges in FULLSCREEN are exactly where you want them to be.

RELOADING

a) start fsx in window mode

b ) load the a/c you set up before

c) run positionrestore.exe

c1) all guages should open and position where you set them up in case they do not... then OPEN and UNDOCK these gauges, but dont bother positioning them just run POSITIONRESTORE.EXE it should then place them in correct area you set up earlier

d) go into FULLSCREEN MODE and FLY

NOTE everytime you exit FULLSCREEN MODE gauges will be messed up so you have to run positionrestore.exe EVERYTIME BEFORE ENTERING BACK TO FULLSCREEN MODE

Well i hope some of you find it usefull and helpfull i could not find anything better so i wrote that

Andy

Hi Andy

 

I can't say I understand all of that, but exactly what do you mean by "guages"? I expect that is a misspelling - it should be gauges.

 

Do you mean panels or windows? If you do, there is a far easier way to do what you want, and it is permanent.

 

Someone else asked about this on this forum. I gave him a lead, but he hasn't bothered to respond.

 

Frank

yes lol its Gauges :-)

if there is a better way please tell me that one i came up with was only one i figured out i searched with no luck and i agree that my way is a bit of a pain... i got no better info so i just decided to share what i invented :-)

but please do point me to the other way i sure would like to try it..

i have homebuild cockpit that is why i would like them to remember their position when i load up a/c

Thanks

Andy

ps what i mean by gauges ... say you are in VC of 737 then you click on your eicas for example it will pop out then i have to move it and resize is to where i want it to be... and i found on way to sve the position/size of it... so i had to do it every time... now thi is all in FULLSCREEN MODE

I DO NOT use VC but i do need them gauges :-) my main view is just maximized outside view 2d cockpit then hit 'W'

program is old here is original toppic with download info

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/63144-a-software-to-save-your-panel-position/page__view__findpost__p__443003

the set of exe are called panel_store and panel_restore

unlike i named them positionsave/positionrestore

anyhow.... an amazing little utility made by Stephane 'inactive user' well... Once Again Thank You Stephane in case you read it for making it.

it is meant to store panels in window mode however it help in fullscreen as the panels are a little bit offset from when you change from window to fullscreen thats why the extra steps i made in the little Tutorial thingymabober of mine program only works in WINDOW MODE, so thats why the in and out from Fullscreen to Window mode but only durring the Initial set up reloadin is a piece of cake after

Bottom line it works!

It saves per aircraft ini great !

oh yeah step C1 must be folowed the panels have to be UNDOCKED before running panel_restore but no more resizing them and moving around trying to find the golden spot :-)

especially when your mouse goes crazy flickering lol... but thats another issue still working on getting the panel.cfg files modified oh boy.... :mad:

again... could not find anybetter way yet

Andy

Hi Andy

 

The way to do this, so that you can open in full view and call panels in the same position and the same size every time, involves amending the panel.cfg. Would you be happy doing this?

 

Frank

yes, i already have to do some work with panel.cfg to try to get rid of the crazy mouse flicker...

now, idk that it will be easier but you are correct it will be forever always every time...

i looked into it a little.. but not sure how to get it...

my problems are following...

i think i need to modify window_pos and window_size for each of gauges... well panel windows.. i used to call them gauges...

but

values are not in pixels for window pos they are x.xxx and x.xxx same with window size, so how do i know where is the position i need even if they were in pixels still how do i know what the values are...

but maybe what i'm talking about is not what you have in mind and there is easy way.. so...

I shut up and listen, hit me Frank, what do i do..?

Thanks

Andy

Hi Andy

 

I have my file note in Adobe PDF format, but do not know how to reproduce it in this forum. You are welcome to it if you can PM me your email address. DON'T GIVE IT IN REPLY TO THIS, THOUGH. The PM system keeps it from the wider public.

 

You seem to have found the panel.cfg. That recites each Window at the beginning. Under the same given number, its details follow lower down in that file. Each Window (you called them Gauges) has a definition of SIZE and POSITION. In PMDG's case it sometimes runs to more than 3 decimal places. That's quite unnecessary and is clearly the result of a complex computer calculation.

 

Position can be defined in 2 ways: Position=z or Window_pos=x.xxx,x.xxx Where both are present the format Window_pos=x.xxx,x.xxx takes precedent. Size uses only the format Window_size=x.xxx,x.xxx

 

You are right to say the x.xxx does not represent pixels. They are what I call 'factors' and I will refer to each as =X,Y to further explain. 'Size' is defined by width (X) and height (Y) - 'Position' by left (X) and top (Y).

 

I mentioned the alternative way of defining position, which is best if you do not want to define it to be in a non-standard position. On the screen's surface there are nine standard positions, numbered 0 to 8. Position=0 will place the Window in the upper left corner of the screen. Position=1 will be in the upper centre of the screen. And so on to Position=8, which is at the lower right of the screen. As you are using a triple monitor display each monitor will be left,centre and right. On the left monitor 0,3, and 6 will align to the left side of the monitor. On the right monitor 2,5 and 8 align to the right edge. The centre motor positions 1,4 and 7 are aligned down the centre of that monitor.

 

Using the factor format, Window_pos=1.000,1.000 is the same as Position=0.

 

If you wanted that Window to appear farther to the right - say halfway across the left monitor, but still at the top - the format would be Window_pos=0.166,1.000. That is because 0.166 approximates to one sixth, which defines the position in terms of a three monitor display. On a single monitor that factor would be 0.500 - halfway across.

 

If you can grasp this from my long explanation, you will be able to figure out how to use the factors to define your required positions and sizes.

 

Don't hesitate to ask, if you need more help.

 

Good luck

Frank

hi Frank,

first thanks for explaining the factor number in window_pos i had no idea how they come up with :-)

 

my problem is slightly different though... i dont have 3 monitors... i got 6 and the pos factors will not work because on the main 3 monitors i actually do not want any panels/gauges to display they are all to display on the other 3 monitors which are configured in windows below the main trio..

now position factor numbers might work... but idk.. they might have to be negative..? or of some value that would put them outside of the main 3 monitors

the little utility program creates an ini file where it somehow defines the position of the pnels on the other screens

i dont want to make up numbers so when i get home i will post this file here and maybe with your help we can come up with some formula :-) that would convert those numbers ( if i recall they are pixle coordinates) from ini file to factor values that i could then enter into panel.cfg and then yes once entered when i click on hsi or eicas they will pop into correct position and screen and will not have to run the panel-restore utility every time i enter/exit fullscreen..

worth a shot i will post the winows size/position made by this utility and if you interested maybe we come up with what values need to be used in panel.cfg for all that to work

Thanks

Andy

Hi Andy

 

Yes - that is an interesting one. I'd like to help. What I can learn from you will be useful to one of our club members (Gatwick Flight Simulation Group).

 

Firstly, please tell me how you operate your 6 screen set-up. How many computers? What is the link system? Does FSX have to operate in Windows mode?

 

What is the name of that program you are using? And, how and where did you get it?

 

Regards

Frank

those i can answer without going home :-)

ok there is only 1 computer see my system spec

i have in it 2 video cards no sli just 2 cards

First card is gtx670 this card powers total of 4 monitors, 3 of those monitors are setup as nvidia 2Dsurround and the 4th is so called accessory display

so the 3 are used as my main window view the 4th is displaying the capitan instruments

Second card is gtx570 this card powers 2 monitors, one for first officer instruments and second monitorn is your center MIP eicas

i do not use any special software just fsx and pmdg737 but any aircraft will do

you can fly in window or fullscreen whatever you wish, i only fly in fullscreen, now that is where the problem with gauges/panels position and size is

the little panel position utility i talked about in original post does magic to save and restore panels where you want them and the size you want them to be in WINDOW-MODE , but the moment you enter fullscreen the panels will move slightly as compare to window mode that is why in this little tut i mention one might need to go in and out of fullscreen and play a little and guess where to stretch the panel so it looks PERFECT once you goin Fullscreen, but thebutility onlymsaves while in window mode, so you have to do your guessing in window mode, save, go to full and see resoults.

that is where editing panel.cfg will come in handy then panels will always open where you want them and you will never need to run the utility...

for now if i exit fullscreen and want to go back in i need to run panel-restore b4 i go fullscreen again, panel.cfg edit might solve it.. note i do not need to do all the setup again once i did it only need to run restore

it seems lika a lot but really the INITIAL SETUP from my TUT only took maybe 5-10 min tops once this is done for each aircraft you want to use never need to do it again only run panel-restore before entering fullscreen.

that utility if possible might help determin the coordinates for each panel and their size then the idea is once entered into panel.cfg it should always remember and no need to ever run panel-restore given aircraft :-)

wow thats long... longer to write it then to do it lol

 

that is the toy, at the time of photo center monitor was broken i have since replaced it i took a hammer to it to flaten some frames on it.... it was bad idea LOL

Andy

Edited December 5, 201213 yr by firehawk44
Image removed - exceeds 1600W and 400KB limit (yours 585KB)

if that wasnt long enough i should add that if i go to fullscreen ALL 6 monitors go Fullscreen.. so entire pc is for fs and nothing else but fs can be used at that time, that's fine by me...

i plan on adding another pc that will run fscommander, opus and whatever else i need at which time i think i will turn to sister program of fsuipc the widefs...

i use also sioc that program makes my mcp / efis etc.. hardware work with all aircraft but they have nothing to do with the 6 monitor set up, for this just 1 pc, 2 video cards and fsx :-)

i also had no luck running in dx10 mode with both cards installed fsx would just crash

the fps are acceptable for me, given all i make my pc do... main thing is that its fairly smooth gameplay after tweeking all i could think of in fsx.cfg thanks to Word Not Allowed and others who contributed with their tweak guides

Andy

Hi Andy

 

I'm about to go out for the evening, but having read these two notes I am sure my process will solve all your problems.

 

I will go through it tomorrow.

 

In the meantime please read my stuff thoroughly, and give it some thought. Maybe, try one amendment just to see how it goes.

 

Frank

 

BTW - What's a TUT?

oh :-) tutorial how to use the utility thingy

i will look thrugh it and will be playing with the panel.cfg i got your email will look at that too tonight

Andy

[window 1]

name=Zoomed Left Outboard DU

x=914

y=1072

width=622

height=647

[window 2]

name=Zoomed Right Inboard DU

x=3283

y=1249

width=600

height=612

[window 3]

name=Zoomed Upper DU

x=2649

y=1046

width=581

height=612

[window 4]

name=Zoomed Left Inboard DU

x=1652

y=1074

width=622

height=647

[window 5]

name=Zoomed Right Outboard DU

x=3983

y=1249

width=600

height=612

 

the above are the pixle location and size for my panels made by the little utility

so you know

my top 3 monitors have resolution of 6000x1080

then at the bottom

6000x1080 monitors 1, 2, 3

1440x900 monitor 4

1024x768 monitor 5

1280x1024 monitor 6

 

they are configured as such...

 

1___2___3

4_5_6

 

what the above should represent is when you go to resolution set up that is how they will be displayed

 

also sometimes shows like this as realy the top 3 monitors are combained into 1 big one

 

___3___

4_5_6

 

so resolutions could be explained like this kind of...

 

 

 

____________________________6000__________________

|

|

|

1080

|

|

|___________________________________________________

 

________1440______1024______1280_______

| | | |

| | 768 | |

| 900 |__________| 1024 |

|______________| | |

|______________|

 

i saw this stuff above is mess...

 

well kinda sorta like this

i wonder if it even allings in message... ???

guess total resolution could be said to be 6000 x 2104 2104 is max hight 1080+1024 vertical monitors and x,y=0,0 would be in top left corner... i think.. ?

 

so if total resolution is x=6000 and y=2104

x=0 and y=0 then window_pos= 1.000, 1.000

 

now for example first saved window

 

x=914 y=1072 and total res is x=6000 and y=2104

then what is

window_pos= ?,???,?.???

 

now i go to sleep... goodnight.... :lol:

i might take a crack at it tomorrow

 

 

 

so when one adds up the resolutions the coordinates make sense in this file well kind of... like where is 0,0 ... ? or even x=0.. idk... i guess left top corner

take a crack at it if you like i will think about it some more tommorrow

 

Andy