I am a newbie at gauge design, and was wondering how MSFS reads the .gau file. Is it just loaded on startup, or can it be made to perform cyclical operations? The reason I ask is that I want to control an external device with real-time data (perhaps from the gauge). Thanks for any help.

All gauge files, whether .gau or .xml cycle at 18Hz rate.

Minor addition to what Bill said:All gauges cycle at 18hz unless, in an XML gauge, you use the tag to set that particular XML gauge file to cycle at a lower refresh rate. Some things don't need to be recalculated that often. Even if you *are* flying the space shuttle, how much fuel do you think you're going to burn in 1/18th of a second?Oh Bill, I got your email Re: TS a few days after you sent it and have been trying that server on and off ever since. Still trying now and then ;)Scott / Vorlin

Thanks a lot - I guess I'm not barking up the wrong tree anymore. Say, would you know where I could get gauge examples that are compiled in the MS Visual Studio 2003 C++ environment? The examples that come with the SDK are makefile projects, and I'm not experienced enough to convert them. Thanks again.

1) Grab MSVC++ 2005 Express Edition, it's free and they've decided to deactivate the one year limit on it.2) Crate a new project from existing code, as a dll. Point it at the folder with your existing code. By default it "includes" all of your C files in te build, which will error when you build. You need to exclude all of them except the main one. It's include instructions will call the others.I don't think you even have to exclude the makefile, but you may have to. Then you should be able to just build your gau normally as a dll.Scott / Vorlin

>Oh Bill, I got your email Re: TS a few days after you sent it>and have been trying that server on and off ever since. Still>trying now and then ;)I think there was an error with the IP. Should be: 24.12.109.76 same password. ;)