Hi Folks. I am trying to use a Rotary dial on my StreamDeck plus to operate the autopilot SPD mode control in the fs2020 default Longitude. I have the code to operate the change from FMS mode to MAN mode and it works with a simple left/right turn of the rotary dial. However, I would like to make use of the relevant FMS and MAN .jpg images from the X-Icon Pack Guenseli 1_6_60Klp set of images for the Citation Longitude. I downloaded the pack from the web.

I have the /lorbyaxisandohs_elgato_plugin.pdf and have read the relevant sections concerning the two types of rotaries available in the plugin. I just don't have the knowledge to get the two images from Guenseli's pack to show as icons when I turn the rotary to select either the FMS or MAN setting in the autopilot mode panel. I get lost deciding how to use the images in the 'Icon definitions' and the 'Visibility variable' sections of the Rotary Encoder dial from the plugin. 

Can anyone give me some advise please? I would love to get the icons to show in the strip above the rotary dial. I just don't have the required knowledge yet.

Thanks...Kenny.

Edited June 30, 2025Jun 30 by kenny584
typo.

I'm not really doing a lot of this either. I would probably use the rotary encoder canvas, create two image definitions, one for each icon, and use whatever variable tells you which mode is set for the visibility. So that, depending on that variable, one or the other icon is shown.

Edited June 30, 2025Jun 30 by Lorby_SI

Hello again. Thanks for the info. I'll use the rotary encoder canvas as you suggest, but it's knowing how to determine the correct variable for the visibilty part that I'm unsure of. I'm using an IE to trigger the change between FMS and MAN mode and I know about the 1 and 0 that causes the switch, but I'm unsure how to use AAO to find the variable that uses the 1 or 0. Perhaps I'm looking at it wrongly of course, I just don't know. I'll go and have a further tinker with it. 

 

18 minutes ago, kenny584 said:

but I'm unsure how to use AAO to find the variable that uses the 1 or 0.

Theoretically, you should be able to read from the IE too, not only write to it. If that fails, try reading from its binding ("B:" + same name as the IE)

You can try that with AAO, using Scripting->Watch Simulator Variables -> type "(IE:name-of-the-IE)" into the box and press "add". Same for "(B:name-of-the-IE)". Then flip the switch and observe how they behave.

There is probably an LVar in play too, but that would be harder to find (use Scripting-> Read LVars from sim, then on the watcher dialog use "Select Variable" and try to find suitable candidates trough filtering by likely parts of their name.

The other option is to look at the behavior code of that switch in MSFS developer mode, open Tools->Behaviors, click back into the sim, hover the mouse over the knob/switch/lever that you are interested in and press Ctrl - G. Then check the code if you can spot the animation (L:) variable.

Edited July 1, 2025Jul 1 by Lorby_SI

7 hours ago, kenny584 said:

Hello again. Thanks for the info. I'll use the rotary encoder canvas as you suggest, but it's knowing how to determine the correct variable for the visibilty part that I'm unsure of. I'm using an IE to trigger the change between FMS and MAN mode and I know about the 1 and 0 that causes the switch, but I'm unsure how to use AAO to find the variable that uses the 1 or 0. Perhaps I'm looking at it wrongly of course, I just don't know. I'll go and have a further tinker with it. 

 

You read the value directly from the IE, I just tried it
(IE:AUTOPILOT_Speed_Mode) yields 0 or 1 depending on the position of the switch.

On the Rotary Encoder Canvas Action, first configure the right/left turn as you did with the other action.

Then go to the "Image definitions" section.
For each Icon do this:
- press "Add new image definition"
- enter a header
- select "IE:" for the visibility variable and enter the "AUTOPILOT_Speed_Mode" into the box. 
- Set Visibility value to 0 or 1 as required
- Click on "Upload Image" and upload the Icon
- Press "Save" directly below that
-> Repeat for the next icon

Press "Submit" at the bottom when finished. 
 

Edited July 1, 2025Jul 1 by Lorby_SI

That did it. Wow, thanks so much for helping out, I really do appreciate it. I'm starting to understand the relationships between the actions and the various variables in fs2020. As you know from my previous posts, I'm far from being a techy, but I'm getting there slowly. I enjoy making things happen in the sim by using my SD+ and X touch mini. Your AAO programme is the driver of it all. 

Best Regards...Kenny.