Bespoke Events not Setting DREDataRefs

DavidWilliams5620

Hi,
Trying to setup the x-plane 11 737-800 with GF-EFIS and GF-MCP Pro and have come to a sticking point. Have used the Detective to setup bespoke events to set the value in datarefs but when I run the test, the value in the dataref doesn't change. Here's my xml:













Here's the GF-EFIS xml:





When I use the mouse to change the map view directly within x-plane I can see the dataref values change. When I use the test button in Detective, nothing happens.
I must be missing something, and it will probably turn out to be something really simple, but I can't see what I'm doing incorrectly.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

David

DavidWilliams5620

I've attached the xml files.

David

admin_pps

Hi David,

I suspect the dataref you are changing is an after effect and does not actually drive the map change. What dataref are you changing in your bespoke event?

Have you looked to see if a built in command will do the same thing?

Best wishes
Steve

DavidWilliams5620

Hi Steve,
The bespoke dataref is call "laminar/B738/EFIS_control/capt/map_mode_pos". I'm able to change it in the DatarefEditor so if I change it to a 2 the dataref retains the value of 2, the knob rotates to MAP but the dataref sim/cockpit2/EFIS/map_mode does not change.
Changing sim/.../map_mode changes the MFD but has no effect on the laminar dataref nor the knob.

When I turn the map mode knob on the GF_EFIS the first light on the status page alternates between green light on and off.

DavidWilliams5620

Hi Steve,
Apart from the previous issue around the map_mode position rotation knob (which I still don't have a clue), I've managed to get the rest of the EFIS and MCP programmed to function correctly. Thank you for the tip on using commands and not just datarefs.
The issue I still have, and I don't know if it's a GIT issue or a Laminar issue with the B738 is that I can't get the lighting to work from the datarefs that Laminar have documented for the status of the buttons and switches.
An example:

• The attachment GIT.jpg is the A/T ARM switch in the MCP tab of GIT. It shows that I'm using the laminar/B738/autopilot/autothrottle_arm_toggle command to toggle the switch.
  

• The attachment Autothrottle_Off.jpg show the switch in the off position, the light is off and the autothrottle datarefs are 0.000000. The switch on the physical GF-MCP Pro is in the off position.
  

• When I toggle the physical switch to the up position then
  

1. The A/T Arm switch (in the simulator) is animated to the up position
   
2. The light above the switch is illuminated
   
3. The Laminar datarefs for the autothrottle are set to 1.00000
   
4. however, the physical light above the A/T Arm on GF-MCP Pro does not illuminate.
   
5. 
   

Any feedback is appreciated. GIT is a fantastic interface and I'm almost there, apart from one or two issues.

Thanks

David

admin_pps

Hi David,

When configuring the lights sometimes it does not work straight away. You would have to trigger the change a few times by toggling the switch (this only happens during config and not normal running of GIT). If it still doesn't work, have you checked if the 1 status is a permanent change?

Best wishes
Steve

DavidWilliams5620

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your comments. I tried toggling the A/T Arm switch, to no avail. When the switch is in the up position the dataref .../autothrottle_status remains 1.

Went back to the Detective to try and find out some more information. It's what I didn't find that is more interesting.
I hid all the standard datarefs and hid all the custom datarefs except the autothrottle_status. I then started the monitor. As expected nothing showed. I then toggled the autothrottle switch up and down and could see the dataref, in the DataRefEditor, changing between 0 and 1. Nothing showed in the Detective.

Could it be that GIT is not recognising these custom datarefs at all? They certainly appear in the variables box, which I assume is populated from the Datarefs.txt and DREDatarefs.txt in the aircraft folder. I moved the datarefs to the GlobalDatarefs but had no effect.

Curiously, when I start the Detective I get a lot of GIP:Unable to monitor DataRef messages. The Autothrottle_status is not one of them though. I've attached a copy of the log if you're interested.

Thanks
David

admin_pps

It could be that that DataRef is being declared via DRE and GIT cannot mimic DRE because you are running the DataRefEditor. Try removing the DataRefEditor from X-Plane and try starting GIT again.

Thx
Steve

DavidWilliams5620

Thanks Steve. I removed all the plugins just to be on the safe side.

Still nothing though. In the Detective I only have the laminar/B738/autopilot/... datarefs visible (top right box) but when I press the buttons I can see the animation happening in the sim but nothing shows up in Detective.

The laminar/B738/.. datarefs only exist in the DREDatarefs.txt file in the aircraft folder, although the definitions are in the xlua plugin scripts. Does it need to be replicated in some other location?

Appreciate your patience.

Thanks.

David

admin_pps

I'll try it myself at the weekend. Which 738 is it?

Thx
Steve

DavidWilliams5620

Thanks Steve.

The B738-800X (Zibo) is version 2.62 at http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/forums/topic/111305-boeing-b738-800-modified/ (first page has links).

admin_pps

Hi David,

Just tried it myself and I'm seeing the same issue. It's clearly a bug in GIT if DRE is picking it up. I will investigate.

Best wishes
Steve

Slayer

Try a different dataref. Get Dataref tool then you can accurately see which event or events are firing when you flip the switch. DRT shows how long ago the dataref was used DRE does not. Many times you will find one event or command fires several others, you have to figure out which is the proper one that will make the switch anim go, the dataref change and the light go on. You can also try poking at the animation datarefs too if all else fails.

Also Laminar had a lot of datarefs as read only on these new default aircrafts so you cannot manipulate them. I spoke to Ben about it and his logic was if there was a command then they were locking the dataref

I currently don't have my hardware installed as it is in storage for the next couple of months while I move but I can tell you I ran into snags on every single default aircraft I tried. I sent bug reports asking that datarefs not be locked as anyone with more than a simple momentary pushbutton on a joystick requires a bit more access than a toggle "command"

Good luck

DavidWilliams5620

Thanks Slayer. I'm just waiting for Steve to investigate and see what he finds.

admin_pps

I have located the issue and fixed it. Available in next release, hopefully Sunday evening.

Best wishes
Steve

DavidWilliams5620

Hi Steve,
Downloaded the new version, deleted the ...\Documents\GoFlight Interface Tool directory and started fresh. Works like a charm with one exception. The lights for the buttons and toggles are all working correctly. Thank you for the fix.
The map mode partially works. Changing from APP through PLN changes the MFD in the sim but the knob doesn't animate. This will be tonights exercise to work through.

Thanks.

David