On and Off for fuel pump switch (not just toggle)

[klarson8]

I hope this hasn't been answered before, I tried searching, but couldn't find it...

I am building a cockpit and using fsuipc to control my switches. As far as i can tell, there is only a toggle for the fuel pump switches. Is this corrrect? Is there a way for it to be on and off and not toggle for a non programmer? I think the master switch was the same way.

Pete, love the program. It has been a great interface for my controls! Thanks! fs9

[Pete Dowson]

As far as i can tell, there is only a toggle for the fuel pump switches. Is this corrrect? Is there a way for it to be on and off and not toggle for a non programmer? I think the master switch was the same way.

FS only provides toggle controls for many, many functions.

However, FSUIPC does provide a set of "Offset" controls, which allow you to write values or change individual bits in FSUIPC's programmable offsets, which in turn operate FS via its innards.

You really need a reference for this -- for FSUIPC3 it is the FSUIPC SDK from the Schiratti "Dowson" page. Inside there's a document "FSUIPC for Programmers". Just load that into Word or wordpad and search for "pump" (and "Master"). For FSX the replacement document is available in the FSX downloads above, but it is compatible for these things in any case.

As an example, fuel pump offsets found are:

3104, 1 byte, set to 1 for ON, 0 for OFF. This is only Engine 1.

More flexible:

3125, 1 byte, one bit for each engine, 2^0=1 up to 2^3 = 4.

Assign the "Offset Byte Set" control for 3104, with x3104 as the offset and 1 (ON) or 0 (OFF) as the parameter.

Assign the "Offset Byte Setbits" control for 3125 "ON" values, with parameters 1, 2, 4 and 8 for engines 1-4 respectively.

Assign the "Offset Byte Clrbits" control for 3125 "OFF" values, with parameters 1, 2, 4 and 8 for engines 1-4 respectively.

If you have less than 4 switches you can, of ocurse, combine values -- a parameter of 15 in both cases would switch them all at once. (15 = 1+2+4+8).

You can, with thought and logic, extend this access method to almost anything accessible through FSUIPC.

Regards

Pete

[klarson8]

Maybe i'm a little slow, but this is done in the buttons+switches or does it need to be done directly in the .ini file?

Thanks again for your help!

[klarson8]

Ooops. Never mind! I found it in the Advanced Users Guide. I just never thought of myself as advanced for this programming. Thanks again!

[Pete Dowson]

Ooops. Never mind! I found it in the Advanced Users Guide. I just never thought of myself as advanced for this programming. Thanks again!

You don't need to refer to the Advanced User's Guide. The "Offset" controls are all listed in the drop-down list of FS controls in both the Keys and the Buttons assignment options!!! :-( :-(

Please go back and read what I said. It'll be so easy if you just follow the instructions! Select the appropriate control, from the list, by name, then enter the offset, exactly as I said, and the parameters, as I worked out for you, and confirm. What is so hard about any of that?

Sometimes I might as well not say anything, I think. I thought I was being so explicit. What was so wrong with what I said that you couldn't just find the controls and do the assignments?? :-(

The Advanced User's guide is for advanced users who want to do clever things editing the INI file and so on. You do not need to touch any of that to do what I suggested!

Regards

Pete

[klarson8]

ok... Finally figured it out. I was looking for the actual offset value (3125 as stated earlier), but finally came across offset... Piece of cake.

2 more problems arose.

- in a twin engine with seperate push to starts (DC3 type) how is the starter handled?? Offset 0892 with parameter 4 for engine 1 and offset 092A parameter 4 for engine 2? do i need a second clrbit offset control as I am controlling my mag switches as 4 toggles and clearing would go to both or off, nullifying my independent switches. Is this what the paragraph for offset 0892 is saying about doing it in order??

- fsuipc has a toggle tailwheel lock, but I couldn't find an offset for it.

thanks again

[Pete Dowson]

- in a twin engine with seperate push to starts (DC3 type) how is the starter handled?? Offset 0892 with parameter 4 for engine 1 and offset 092A parameter 4 for engine 2?

Yes, but please read the notes. You need to remember to write the value for the magneto setting after the engine has started. Generally, the starter switch is spring-loaded, so you just release it when you have a start, and the released position should write the magneto value (generally 3 for both, but dependent upon another switch). The actual values in 0892 etc are based on a typical Cessna type keyswitch which, as rotated, goes through 0-4, with the 4 position being spring-loaded not latched.

From buttons or switches you don't need to use the offsets for any of this, there are FS controls.

do i need a second clrbit offset control as I am controlling my mag switches as 4 toggles and clearing would go to both or off, nullifying my independent switches.

I don't really know what you are talking about there, but there's no "bits" to set or clear here. Those offsets deal in Word values (0-4), not individual bits.

- fsuipc has a toggle tailwheel lock, but I couldn't find an offset for it.

FSUIPC has no such thing. There's an FS control for it listed in FSUIPC as it appears in FS's CONTROLS.DLL. I've never tried it, no idea if it works. Never known a location in FS for it. Sorry.

There are many things only accessible by FS control. I'm not sure why you are getting obsessed by offsets. Try using the controls as MS intended first. ;-)

Regards

Pete

[klarson8]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the quick reply. I am building a flight sim in an actual cockpit and trying to use the actual controls, that is my obsession. The tailwheel lock, by only toggling it, could be off when it is on in the cockpit and vice/versa. Am i missing an easier way other than entering the offsets (If one were available for this?) And also, I am not using momentary switches so on is on and off is off...

[Pete Dowson]

The tailwheel lock, by only toggling it, could be off when it is on in the cockpit and vice/versa. Am i missing an easier way other than entering the offsets (If one were available for this?) And also, I am not using momentary switches so on is on and off is off...

This is a general problem with many functions in FS cockpits. The best way to deal with those for which you only have a toggle is to synchronise to start with. Save a Flight with all the positions known and start your cockpit that way.

The offsets do sometimes (in fact many times) provide a better solution, but certainly the tailwheel lock isn't one of those. in fact no one has ever asked for it before, in the 7+ years of FSUIPC.

I just checked, and it is actually readable in FSX, so I can implement an offset for it in FSUIPC4 if you wish. Not FSUIPC3 though.

Regards

Pete

[klarson8]

Pete,

Thanks for the help. I was afraid the answer was as you said (as far as saved flights for the toggle positions). Maybe i should look into moving up to FSX sooner rather than later! I would like the tailwheel lock in fsuipc4, but do it in your timeframe, not mine. I realistically won't upgrade for 6-8 months!

[kiek]

I hope this hasn't been answered before, I tried searching, but couldn't find it...

I am building a cockpit and using fsuipc to control my switches. As far as i can tell, there is only a toggle for the fuel pump switches. Is this corrrect?

No, that depends on the aircraft.

For the Level-D 767 there are on/off commands for the Fuel Pumps as offstes in FSUIPC (at 0x8B22). They are provided by the Level-D SDK and my FSCONV program (for free).

[Pete Dowson]

Pete,

Thanks for the help. I was afraid the answer was as you said (as far as saved flights for the toggle positions). Maybe i should look into moving up to FSX sooner rather than later! I would like the tailwheel lock in fsuipc4, but do it in your timeframe, not mine. I realistically won't upgrade for 6-8 months!

Ah, wellI've just added the Tailwheel lock switch to FSUIPC4 (FSX only) in version 4.085, released here tomorrow. It is at offset 29A0.

It is waiting for you! ;-)

Regards

Pete

[paralaile]

Hello,

it's not 29A0, but 2A90.

That works for my DC-3 Tailwheel.

(Thank you  Peter Dowson for FSUIPC, WIDEFSv ...)
Best Regards from LFBO

Dominique