Additional FSUIPC Offset Requests

[Scotfleiger]

Hi John

The FlyByWire A32NX API lists a number of MSFS VAR and SIMCONNECT VAR some of which are listed in FSUIPC Offsets.

Can I request that the following MSFS VARs be added to the offsets?

EXTERNAL_POWER_AVAILABLE

EXTERNAL_POWER_ON  

Is the a way developers/users could temporarily assign their own offsets to these variables? Once tested a consolidated request could be submitted to you.

[John Dowson]

Hi Andrew,

59 minutes ago, Scotfleiger said:

Can I request that the following MSFS VARs be added to the offsets?

EXTERNAL_POWER_AVAILABLE

EXTERNAL_POWER_ON  

Sure, I can add them. They are only available for aircraft that use the new electrical system - I will also add the simvar NEW ELECTRICAL SYSTEM which will flag when these offsets are/should be available. I will add them as read-only offsets.

There are quite a few new simvars for the various  new systems (electrical system, fuel system, etc). I still need to go through the MSFS documentation to compile a list of new simvars which I will add to the offset documentation (as available upon request).

1 hour ago, Scotfleiger said:

Is the a way developers/users could temporarily assign their own offsets to these variables?

No, not that I could think of. You can update unknown simvars (those that are settable) using the lua ipc.execCalcCode() function, but there is no way to return the result when executing calculator code to read the current values.

I will post a version here for you to test when ready.

[Scotfleiger]

Offset 0x07D4 is mapped to MSFS Var AUTOPILOT ALTITUDE LOC VAR. The FBW A32NX refers to another AUTOPILOT ALTITUDE LOCK VAR:3. Is this var available (similar to 0x07CE for AUTOPILOT HEADING LOCK DIR:3)? Is so can you add it to the offset list?

[John Dowson]

8 hours ago, Scotfleiger said:

Offset 0x07D4 is mapped to MSFS Var AUTOPILOT ATLTITUDE LOC VAR. The FBW A32NX refers to another AUTOPILOT ALTITUDE LOCK VAR:3. Is this var available (similar to 0x07CE for AUTOPILOT HEADING LOCK DIR:3)? Is so can you add it to the offset list?

Sure. I will look into adding these on Monday, so if you know of any others that may be useful (e.g. anything similar for airspeed/vertical/rpm/etc) then let me know and I will add them all at the same time. Note I will be unavailable (on holiday) from 12th-17th (inclusive).

I am also going to see if I can add a lua functions to return the value of any simvar (i.e. provide access to the get_named_variable_value gauge function via the WASM/WAPI). As mentioned, it is already possible to set any (settable) simvar via calculator code, but I may also add a helper/wrapper function to make this easier. 

[Scotfleiger]

Will do.

[John Dowson]

Hi Andrew,

please try the attached version, v7.2.15b: FSUIPC7.exe

In this version, the following new offsets/simvars are/should be available:

    0x0798: AUTOPILOT ALTITUDE LOCK VAR:3 [4 bytes]
    0x07A8: NEW FUEL SYSTEM [1 byte]
    0x07A9: NEW ELECTRICAL SYSTEM [1 byte]
    0x07AA: EXTERNAL_POWER_AVAILABLE [1 byte]
    0x07AB: EXTERNAL_POWER_ON [1 byte]

All are read-only.

John

[John Dowson]

EXTERNAL_POWER_ON  doesn't seem to work as expected for the FBW A320 (haven't checked with any other a/c). EXTERNAL_POWER_AVAILABLE seems to be correct, but when I request ext. power (using the flypad) I can see the truck, the flypad Ext Power button (eventually) goes green, but the simvar doesn't seem to get updated.

 

[Scotfleiger]

Hi John

Many thanks again. The AP Alt Lock Var (0x0768) works perfectly when convert to feet and apply the correction (/65536*3.29).

Having switched on the MSFS control pop up help it reports that the A32NX EXT PWR button is unavailable. That would explain why the offsets are not working. Sorry for wasting your time.

[John Dowson]

4 minutes ago, Scotfleiger said:

Having switched on the MSFS control pop up help it reports that the A32NX EXT PWR button is unavailable. That would explain why the offsets are not working.

It is reported as unavailable when on a runway, but available when at a gate. However, when available and requested, once connected that simvar doesn't change. At least thats what I have found...

4 minutes ago, Scotfleiger said:

Sorry for wasting your time.

No time wasted! I will keep those new offsets anyway.

John

[Scotfleiger]

😉 It really is an arcade game. I will keep working....

[John Dowson]

23 minutes ago, Scotfleiger said:

The AP Alt Lock Var (0x0768) works perfectly when convert to feet and apply the correction (/65536*3.29).

Do you know what the  difference is between the AUTOPILOT ALTITUDE LOCK VAR:3 and AUTOPILOT ALTITUDE LOCK VAR:1 variables is?
Is one the active/set value, and the other the dialed-in value?

[Scotfleiger]

22 minutes ago, John Dowson said:

Do you know what the  difference is between the AUTOPILOT ALTITUDE LOCK VAR:3 and AUTOPILOT ALTITUDE LOCK VAR:1 variables is?

The VAR:1 appears to be the constrained Altitude (limited by Flight Plan and flight profile as in SID) and VAR:3 is the targeted Altitude (as entered and displayed on FCU).

[John Dowson]

3 minutes ago, Scotfleiger said:

The VAR:1 appears to be the constrained Altitude (limited by Flight Plan and flight profile as in SID) and VAR:3 is the targeted Altitude (as entered and displayed on FCU).

Ok, thanks.

Looking at the documentation, both of the EXTERNAL_POWER_AVAILABLE and EXTERNAL_POWER_ON are indexed variables:

 

EXTERNAL POWER AVAILABLE

This will be true if the given external power source is available. Use an external power index when referencing.

EXTERNAL POWER ON

The external power switch position, true if the switch is ON. Use an external power index when referencing.

Any idea in what the index refers to? I am currently requesting unindexed, or index 1.

 

[Raysot]

Is there any way to make offset 0x07AB Read/Write? I'm struggling with how to set the External Power switch in the King Air. There doesn't seem to be any way to perform this operation programmatically in FS2020.

  

[John Dowson]

4 hours ago, Raysot said:

Is there any way to make offset 0x07AB Read/Write?

Possibly, if there is a generic control for this Toggle External Power or Set External Power maybe? Have you tried these to see if they work in the King Air?
However, it is not necessary to make this offset wtiteable as there are other offsets that can be used (although it would maybe make this easier).

Is this the Bat Bus switch in the King Air that you are referring to - the one with the red and white striped background? If so, that is INOP in the VC, so I don't think it is possible to control this in the King Air at all (unless there is a mod available that implements this).

To control things programmatically (i.e. via offsets), if an offset is not writeable but there is a control/event or preset to control, then you can use either offset 0x3110 (facility to send any control) or offset 0x7C50 (facility for presets, lvars, hvars and calculator code).

John