Getting rid of a GPS Surround Panel in FS

[Prof Bill]

I have a problem that is rather tricky to resolve and wondered if anybody might be able to "shed some light on"?

I want to enlarge the MS GPS visual window and can easily do but also I only want to see only the GPS visual window itself and not the buttons and the surround frame.
The information to manipulate can be found in the Panel.cfg file and usually in Window 02 e.g.:

[Window02]
size_mm=456,378
window_size=0.5
position=8
BACKGROUND_COLOR=0,0,0
VISIBLE=0
ident=GPS_PANEL
gauge00=fs9gps!gps_500, 0,0


My modification as an example gauge00=gps!gps,0,0,350,450

I can get rid of the frame on the bottom and on the right hand side by reducing 350,450 to a smaller value but
I cannot introduce negative numbers for the index 0,0 e.g. -20,-30 to remove the surround frame on the left and upper side!

I have no problem with the Reality GARMIN 530 and negative indices but cannot hack into the MS GPS to see how to do it!!

I am using a 7.2 inch flat panel LCD display with manual buttons and rotary encoders that give me a real panel instrument that I have designed and have a need to use the Microsoft series of GPSs in a specific simulator rather than Reality (which of course are really excellent) if possible!

Regards,

Bill.

[Bob Reed]

Have you tried one of the FS panel editing softwares? I would think you could do it with those. You might also look in the FS SDK. Information for working with gages is in there as well.

[yoss]

Search Avsim forum on that

The solution exsist and was published by Tigert there
Yes thats some panel cfg editing

Regards

[Prof Bill]

Many thanks for the AVSIM lead!

The TIGERT lead could be promising.

I have also tried many panel editors but to no avail!!

I have also asked MICROSOFT Support but despite my followups no reply as the whomsoever I need to contact seems to be hidden behind a cloak of anonynimity!!

Started playing with the FS SDK but do not have time on my side and need a quick solution but nevertheless will try.

Many more cockpit builders will want to do this in FSX with the GARMIN 1000 hence a solution will need to be identified if one wishes to replicate some degree of authenticity with real encoders and buttons.

Bill.

[Prof Bill]

The solution to the "GPS surround blanking problem" led me back to a solution of the Reality GARMIN 530 when information mining AVSIM.

That is resolved!

Many thanks nevertheless as I shall now have to try and do it myself via the SDK and concurrently see if I can extract either some pointers or a solution from MICROSOFT!!

Bill.

[Trevor Hale]

Bill,

You can use FS Panel Studio. Edit the gps gauge and replace the BMP of the gps with "SOLID BLACK COLOR" Anything in the Flightsim panel world that is BLACK is considered transparent.

Resave the gauge and you will be off to the races.

Best regards,

Trev

[Prof Bill]

Many thanks Treveor for that tip!

It works but I now still need somehow or other to move the 0,0 index to something like -X,-Y.

The negative numbers are the problem and are needed to shift the image to the left and upper left to maximise utilisation of the 7.2 inch LCD.

Regardless of this your tip has solved another problem.

Bill.

[Trevor Hale]

Hi Bill,

Give this a try!


Use your Software that comes with your video card, (Advanced tab of video properties) You should be able to shift the image with the video properties of that monitor instead of Shifting it in FS LAND. I know you can do this with the ATI Catalyst software, I would think if you run Nvidia you should be able to do this as well.

Best regards,

Trev

[CWFlightsim]

Gidday, I have a modified fs9 GPS file where I took out all the surround in the xml file, just unzip and put the folder into ///gauges and remove the gps cab file
if this file didnt upload, just email me and i will send it to you

CW

[Prof Bill]

Hi Trevor and CWFlightsim,

It would appear I have been overpowered by two very positive and practical solutions.

I must admit that as soon as I saw "XML File" in the CWFlightsim solution that a resolution to the problem suddenly seemed apparent.

I have not tried it yet but felt I should acknowledge the contribution of all before I tried to experiment!! I am on "the case" now to coin a phrase!!

Many thanks for your contributions Trevor as this has opened up an area in Video Card management that I had not considered.

Many thanks to all,

Bill.