XP12: How to get GNS530/430W integrated(!) in C172

[PeterBremer 32]

How do I get the GNS430/530 integrated in the panel of the default C172 of XP12?
Whatever I do it stays locked to the screen positon, not to the posistion in the panel.

A simple version of the ini file I have is

[GNS]
; comma separated list of gauges
gauges = GNS_530_1

[GNS_530_1]
; comma separated list of render targets.
drawto = Garmin_530_screen
; is the master device if true.
MasterDevice = true 
; connects to: 'PFC_STACK','PFC_430','PFC_530' or any '#PID' (#D002 for PFC_430)
; no value connects to first found, 'OFF' disables connection.
HardwareDevice = 
; hardware selector number or -1 to disable.
HardwareIdx = -1
LinkVor = true 
LinkObs = true 
UseSimGpsCmds = true 
AutoCdiSrc = true 
PowerSource = AVIONICS_BUS
UseRyanTcad = false
LinkHsi = false
UseCrossFill = true 

[GNS_530_1.WINDOW]
; display window if true.
visible = true
; show screen only gauge if true.
nobezel = false
; display type: WINDOW,PANEL2D,PANEL3D,PANELS
frame.type = WINDOW
; display position and dimension (left,top,width,height)
frame.rect = 2804,691,414,302
; screen only border size (pixels).
border.size = 0
; screen only border color (#RGB or #RGBA).
border.rgba = #000000
; enable mouse clickspots if true, disable if false (use SHIFT to override)
usemouse = true
; left mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true.
popleft = false
; right mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true (requires XP11.1).
popright = false
; VR mode position and dimension (left,top,width,height) (requires XP11.20)
vrmode.rect = 0,178.5,245,178.5
; display as popout window if true (requires XP11.1).
undocked = false
; display mouse tooltips if true.
tooltips = false
; freeze display position if true.
locked = false
; auto hide in external view if true.
autohide = false

[GNS_530_1.Garmin_530_screen]
; display window if true.
visible = true 
; show screen only gauge if true.
nobezel = true 
; display type: WINDOW,PANEL2D,PANEL3D,PANELS
frame.type = PANEL3D
; display position and dimension (left,top,width,height)
frame.rect = 275,668,260,195
; screen only border size (pixels).
border.size = 0
; screen only border color (#RGB or #RGBA).
border.rgba = #000000
; enable mouse clickspots if true, disable if false (use SHIFT to override)
usemouse = true 
; left mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true.
popleft = true 
; right mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true (requires XP11.1).
popright = true 

 

Or a more extended version, wich works as expected in XP11, but not in XP12:

[GNS]
; comma separated list of gauges
gauges = GNS_430_2, GNS_530_1

[GNS_530_1]
; comma separated list of render targets.
drawto = WINDOW, Garmin_530_screen
; is the master device if true.
MasterDevice = true
; connects to: 'PFC_STACK','PFC_430','PFC_530' or any '#PID' (#D002 for PFC_430)
; no value connects to first found, 'OFF' disables connection.
HardwareDevice = 
; hardware selector number or -1 to disable.
HardwareIdx = -1
LinkVor = true
LinkObs = true
LinkHsi = false
UseSimGpsCmds = true
AutoCdiSrc = true
PowerSource = AVIONICS_BUS

[GNS_530_1.WINDOW]
; display window if true.
visible = false
; show screen only gauge if true.
nobezel = false
; display type: WINDOW,PANEL2D,PANEL3D,PANELS
frame.type = WINDOW
; display position and dimension (left,top,width,height)
frame.rect = 371,1171,769,560
; screen only border size (pixels).
border.size = 0
; screen only border color (#RGB or #RGBA).
border.rgba = #000000
; enable mouse clickspots if true, disable if false (use SHIFT to override)
usemouse = true
; left mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true.
popleft = false
; right mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true (requires XP11.1).
popright = false
; VR mode position and dimension (left,top,width,height) (requires XP11.20)
vrmode.rect = 0,178.5,245,178.5
; display as popout window if true (requires XP11.1).
undocked = false
; display mouse tooltips if true.
tooltips = false
; freeze display position if true.
locked = false
; auto hide in external view if true.
autohide = false

[GNS_530_1.PANELS]
; display window if true.
visible = false
; show screen only gauge if true.
nobezel = true
; display type: WINDOW,PANEL2D,PANEL3D,PANELS
frame.type = PANELS
; display position and dimension (left,top,width,height)
frame.rect = 0,0,0,0
; screen only border size (pixels).
border.size = 0
; screen only border color (#RGB or #RGBA).
border.rgba = #000000
; enable mouse clickspots if true, disable if false (use SHIFT to override)
usemouse = true
; left mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true.
popleft = false
; right mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true (requires XP11.1).
popright = true

[GNS_430_2]
; comma separated list of render targets.
drawto = WINDOW, Garmin_430_screen
; is the master device if true.
MasterDevice = false
; connects to: 'PFC_STACK','PFC_430','PFC_530' or any '#PID' (#D002 for PFC_430)
; no value connects to first found, 'OFF' disables connection.
HardwareDevice = 
; hardware selector number or -1 to disable.
HardwareIdx = -1
LinkVor = true 
LinkHsi = false
LinkObs = true 
LinkOto = false
CopilotSide = false
UseSimGpsCmds = true 
AutoNavGps = false
RyanTcadVolume = 30

[GNS_430_2.WINDOW]
; display window if true.
visible = false
; show screen only gauge if true.
nobezel = false
; display type: WINDOW,PANEL2D,PANEL3D,PANELS
frame.type = WINDOW
; display position and dimension (left,top,width,height)
frame.rect = 1143,1165,771,324
; screen only border size (pixels).
border.size = 0
; screen only border color (#RGB or #RGBA).
border.rgba = #000000
; enable mouse clickspots if true, disable if false (use SHIFT to override)
usemouse = true
; left mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true.
popleft = false
; right mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true (requires XP11.1).
popright = false
; VR mode position and dimension (left,top,width,height) (requires XP11.20)
vrmode.rect = 0,103,245,103
; display as popout window if true (requires XP11.1).
undocked = false
; display mouse tooltips if true.
tooltips = false
; freeze display position if true.
locked = false
; auto hide in external view if true.
autohide = false

[GNS_430_2.PANELS]
; display window if true.
visible = false
; show screen only gauge if true.
nobezel = true
; display type: WINDOW,PANEL2D,PANEL3D,PANELS
frame.type = PANELS
; display position and dimension (left,top,width,height)
frame.rect = 0,0,0,0
; screen only border size (pixels).
border.size = 0
; screen only border color (#RGB or #RGBA).
border.rgba = #000000
; enable mouse clickspots if true, disable if false (use SHIFT to override)
usemouse = true
; left mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true.
popleft = false
; right mouse button on the screen toggles popup window if true (requires XP11.1).
popright = true

[GNS_530_1.Garmin_530_screen]
visible = true
nobezel = true
frame.type = PANEL3D
; display position and dimension (left,top,width,height)
frame.rect = 0,1024,522,384

[GNS_430_2.Garmin_430_screen]
visible = true
nobezel = true
frame.type = PANEL3D
; display position and dimension (left,top,width,height)
frame.rect = 522,1024,431,234

 

Both do not work.

Also the procedure as described in the manual on page 24 does not work as in XP12 the CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+SPACE combination does nothing.

I have the latest plugin for XP12: 2.5.0.0 of Dec 21, 2022 and latest version of XP12

Any idea how to solve it?

Edited December 27, 2022 by PeterBremer

[evilstiefel 0]

I have the same issue. With regards to the panel screenshots, it does work, but keep in mind that by default, the command might not be bound to C+A+S+Space in XP12 (it wasn't for me). Look for "Make screenshot of your panels" in the options.

It seems that native XP12 planes have had some changes with regards to panel texture rendering. If you take a panel screenshot in e.g. the Baron 58, it looks like the attached PNG. The garmin units are not present anymore in the panel texture.

 

[PeterBremer 32]

19 hours ago, evilstiefel said:

look for "Make screenshot of your panels" in the options.

Sorry, have no idea what you indicate here.

There is no 'options' thing in the menu.

Where can I find it?

[evilstiefel 0]

It's an option available to bind to a key. So go to e.g. keyboard-bindings and search for "screenshot".

[PeterBremer 32]

Found it: "Shift+Alt+-Ctrl+space" is just bound to "Make screenshots of your panels" as it was with X-Plane 11.

But it does nothing!

Also rebinding it to e.g. Alt-Z or ctrl-Z does not hep. Just no output generated.

 

The png 'evilstiefel'shows is just a standard png installed, not generated by the command.

 

[samc99us 0]

Same problem on X-Plane 11.55r2 (latest release). Panel screenshots do not work. Fortunately some of the default .ini configurations in the configurations thread in this forum do work.

[PeterBremer 32]

Any news on this?

[PeterBremer 32]

After more than another month, any news on this?

Or is RealityXP effectively dead?

Edited April 4, 2023 by PeterBremer

[Matthew James 0]

@PeterBremer You ever get this figured out?

I'm thinking about getting Reality-XP for the GNS 530/430 combo, but if support is this hard and it doesn't work simply, I don't want to make the investment.   Hoping it's something simple.

[PeterBremer 32]

It is extremely quiet from RealityXP side. I am afraid the once great product is effectively dead for X-Plane 12.

Hopefully only dormant, but I doubt it.,

[anqv01 0]

Any news in this matter? I just bought the RXP 530W for X-plane 12 and it will not integrate with the C172. Have latest X.plane 12.

[nicbnf 0]

First thanks a lot Jean-Luc @RXP for updating the fantastic RXP product to XP12! Any news on converting the default 172 and some other modern aircrafts? 

[PeterBremer 32]

3 hours ago, nicbnf said:

First thanks a lot Jean-Luc @RXP for updating the fantastic RXP product to XP12! Any news on converting the default 172 and some other modern aircrafts? 

? 

Afaik it still has the same issue.

[Rylo 5]

Uh... any news? Anybody have a working ini file?

[DRS 7]

I have been working on this issue and at least have a direction as to what needs to be done. It is a bit beyond the scope of what I am familiar with but I thought I would post my findings in the hope that either someone or perhaps RXP can figure out a solution for this. I sent my question to Austin and he forwarded it to Philipp Ringler who provided me with this answer. Timely responses from both of them.

"The reason is, the X-Plane 12 C172 doesn't _have_ a 3d panel. Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Space only works for planes that have a panel texture that is mapped to the 3d panel.

The screens are made as 3d objects with a "device surface" - a screen that is directly mapped to an avionics device. The advantage of this technique is it saves both on VRAM and fps, because the intermediate copying into the panel.png is no longer necessary.

In the old style, the pixel would be copied from the avionics device screen first onto the panel.png, and then that would in turn be copied onto a 3d object that makes your virtual cockpit. These two copies both take time (frames) and memory (VRAM).

The new style is much more efficient, because it only copies pixels once, from the avionics device to the surface of the 3d object.

 

These "device surfaces" for objects have been introduced in X-Plane 11, and in X-Plane 12 they are open to third-party developers like Reality XP as well.

 

In X-Plane 11, if you wanted a third-party device you had no choice but to use the old, slow, two-copies method - the third party would go via the panel texture.

In X-Plane 12, third parties can instead access the frame buffer directly, and enjoy the new, faster path, the same as X-Plane's own devices.

This is explained in detail here: https://developer.x-plane.com/sdk/XPLMDisplay/#AVIONICS_API 

This is technical documentation for developers, you don't need to understand that, but developers of plugins for X-Plane 12 should understand that.

 

The X-Plane 12 C172 is obviously build with the new technique, it doesn't use panel copying.

Therefore, it will work fine with third-party devices that use the new callbacks. It won't work with third party plugins that rely on panel copying.

 

I am not up to speed on third party developments, so I don't know if Reality XP has an X-Plane 12 version of their GPSs that works with the callback method as opposed to the panel method.

A cursory glance at their homepage looks like their GNSs claim to be X-Plane 12 compatible, but of course they don't say which version of drawing they are using.

It might be worth asking them and asking whether they support the new X-Plane 12 API. If they do, this is both faster with fps, uses less VRAM, and will work with airplanes that are authored in a modern way."