creating hardware cockpit

[Guest]

Hi,I am interested in designing my own cockpit for the B747-400, but I do not have much experiences... First I want to know how it is possible to create own .xml-files? I found the program "FS panel studio" and I am interested in this. But, how much can I do with this program? I want to use external switches and selectors for different functions, e.g. switching on external power, Main bat and so on. I use an old keyboard, and each function I want to control (e.g. gear up and down = G) I use an external switch. But there are a lot of functions I cannot configure to a keyboard-switch in the options menu.Can anybody help me or give me a link?Thanks and greetings from EDDF!Stefan

[Guest Fabio Miguez]

Hey Stefan,XML is a relatively simple programming language, and is therefore easy to get started. The best way to learn it is to open the ones in the .CAB files from MSFS and study them, while swinging by here to absorb some knowledge from the guys that have been doing it for a while. C++ can also be used to build gauges, but I think your interest is more on the usage of the panel than on the programming.FS Panel Studio is a great program that will allow you to add, remove and reposition gauges in the panel in FS. It does not program gauges for you. Easy Gauge makes that programming task a lot easier, you might wanna check it out at http://www.bluesky-net.de/If all you want is external switches, there are some options that come to mind. Take a look at GoFlight http://www.goflightinc.com/ Also, PFC has some pretty cool things http://flypfc.comFinally, if you are going all out, have a look at http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/