The Cfs Operations Gauge Package

At this time, the Cfo_Gauges package contains the following gauges:

Refuel_Dump	This gauge allows the fuel level to be adjusted. The gauge contains it's own background bitmap, making it suitable for inclusion as a separate panel, without the need for a separate background bitmap file.
Refuel_Dump_NB	This gauge is identical to the Refuel_Dump gauge, except that it does not include it's own background bitmap, (the "_NB" stands for "No Background"), making it suitable for inclusion on an existing panel, without consuming a lot of precious panel space.
Ballast_Dump	This gauge is designed to be used by sail planes that simulate water ballast using fuel values. It is essentially a fuel dump gauge. The gauge contains it's own background bitmap, making it suitable for inclusion as a separate panel, without the need for a separate background bitmap file.
Ballast_Dump_NB	This gauge is identical to the Ballast_Dump gauge, except that it does not include it's own background bitmap, (the "_NB" stands for "No Background"), making it suitable for inclusion on an existing panel, without consuming a lot of precious panel space.
Digital_Clock	This is a small, simple and adjustable digital clock.
Radio_Compass	This is a simple radio compass, (ADF).
Prestone_Warning	This is a coolant temperature warning light.

Installing the Cfs Operations Gauge Package

The Cfo_Gauges package is designed to be used under Cfs version 1, (FS 6.5), FS2K, (FS 7.0), or Cfs version 2, (FS 7.5).

Installation is simple: copy the Cfo_Gauges.Gau file to your \Gauges directory.

Gauge Details

Some of the gauges included in the Cfo_Gauges package are described in greater detail below.

The Refueling/Dump Gauge

The Refuel/Dump gauge allows you to quickly and easily add or remove fuel from your plane, allowing you to specify the percentage level to which your fuel tanks should be refilled or dumped. Just below the toggle switch is a "Fill Percentage" value that you can set with your mouse. Clicking on the left side of the display will increment the value, while clicking on the right side of the display will decrement the value. The gauge supports the following increments:

5%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 90% and 100%

To the right of the Refueling toggle switch is the Dump switch.

The simulator defines a total of eleven fuel tanks:

• Center
• Left Main
• Right Main
• Left Aux
• Right Aux
• Left Tip
• Right Tip
• Center #2 - (FS 6.5 and above)
• Center #3 - (FS 6.5 and above)
• External #1 - (FS 6.5 and above)
• External #2 - (FS 6.5 and above)

The first seven tanks were available in FS98, and the last four were added with Cfs version 1. The names used above are derived from the names used by panel tokens, and in .FLT files; the names appearing in various .AIR file editors may, or may not, agree with these.

The Refuel/Dump gauge operates on all eleven tanks. Previous versions of the gauge operated only on the first nine; the last two were not updated for consistency with the way the SIM1.SIM module performs "refuel box" operations.

The Ballast Dump Gauge

The ballast dump gauge is designed to be used by sail planes that simulate water ballast using fuel values. It is essentially a fuel dump gauge, which operates on all eleven fuel tanks defined by FS6.5 and above. This allows flexibility for sail plane designers in terms of which fuel tanks they use to simulate the water ballast.

The gauge consists of a single, electrically operated switch that, when toggled, dumps the water ballast over a configurable number of seconds. Since the switch is electrical, it will not function if the sail plane's electrical system has failed. The gauge may also be configured to turn on smoke production during the dump process.

Configuring The Ballast Dump Gauge

The ballast dump gauge may be configured using the "parameters" field of the gauge definition in the PANELS.CFG file. The general syntax of the definition is:

gaugeNN=Cfo_Gauges!Ballast_Dump,X,Y,,,[<dump_duration>][:<produce_smoke>]

dump_duration - This is the time, in seconds, that it should take to dump the ballast. Valid values are between 1 and 300, (5 minutes). If no value, or if an invalid value is specified, then the default is 30 seconds.

produce_smoke - This is a boolean value that indicates whether or not smoke production should be turned on during the dump process. Valid values are TRUE and FALSE. If no value, or if an invalid value is specified, then the default is TRUE.

Ballast Dump Gauge Examples

Following are examples showing various ways to use the ballast dump gauge:

gauge00=Cfo_Gauges!Ballast_Dump,0,0,,,
gauge00=Cfo_Gauges!Ballast_Dump,0,0,,,30:TRUE

The two definitions above are equivalent, (the second specifies values that are the same as the defaults).

gauge00=Cfo_Gauges!Ballast_Dump,0,0,,,240

This causes the ballast dump to occur over a period of 240 seconds, (4 minutes). Since no value has been specified for produce_smoke, the default value, TRUE, is used.

gauge00=Cfo_Gauges!Ballast_Dump,0,0,,,:FALSE

This causes the ballast dump to occur over a period of 30 seconds with no smoke production. Since no value has been specified for dump_duration, the default value, 30 seconds, is used.

The Prestone Warning Light

The prestone warning light provides a warning indication to the pilot when the temperature of the cooling system rises above a certain limit.

The light is obviously electrical, so it will not function if the electrical system has failed. The light may be configured with engine number and temperature limit.

Configuring The Prestone Warning Light

The prestone warning light may be configured using the "parameters" field of the gauge definition in the PANELS.CFG file. The general syntax of the definition is:

gaugeNN=Cfo_Gauges!Prestone_Warning,X,Y,,,[<engine_number>][:<temp_limit>]

engine_number - This is the engine number on which the light will operate. Valid values are [1..4]. If no value, or if an invalid value is specified, then the default is 1.

temp_limit - This is the temperature, in degrees Celsius, at which the light is to illuminate. Valid values are between 0 and 1000. Floating-point numbers are acceptable. If no value, or if an invalid value is specified, then 125.0 is the default.

Prestone Warning Light Examples

Following are examples showing various ways to use the prestone warning light:

gauge00=Cfo_Gauges!Prestone_Warning,0,0,,,
gauge00=Cfo_Gauges!Prestone_Warning,0,0,,,1:125

The two definitions above are equivalent, (the second specifies values that are the same as the defaults).

gauge00=Cfo_Gauges!Prestone_Warning,0,0,,,3

This causes the prestone warning to operate on engine 3. Since no value is specified for the temp_limit, the light will illuminate if the coolant temperature rises above the default value of 125 degrees Celsius.

gauge00=Cfo_Gauges!Prestone_Warning,0,0,,,:121.5

This causes the light to illuminate if the coolant temperature rises above 121.5 degrees Celsius. Since no engine_number is specified, the default value, 1, is used and causes the light to operate on engine 1.

Prestone Warning Light Comments

The coolant temperatures generated by the simulator are influenced by values that are encoded in the given plane's Airfile. The prestone warning light may not ever illuminate if the Airfile settings prevent the simulator from generating the appropriate temperatures.

The light is called "prestone warning" instead of "coolant warning" because this is how the light is referenced in the Pilot's Manual for a particular 1940's era aircraft.

Using The Gauges

The gauges in the Cfo_Gauges package are used in the same way as gauges in any of the default packages that are included with the simulator. Placing gauges from the package on a panel is best accomplished using a graphical tool, such as the FSEDIT.EXE option that comes with FS2000 Professional. In some cases, such as with the Refuel_Dump or Ballast_Dump gauges, you may want to include a gauge on it's own, separate panel. This can be done fairly quickly and easily by editing the desired PANEL.CFG file with a text editor. Just below are step-by-step instructions for doing this with the Refuel_Dump gauge. These same instructions can be used to define a sail plane ballast dump panel as well.

Installing A Refueling Panel

There are several ways that you can use the Refuel_Dump gauge. One way is to include it as a small "pop-up" panel, similar to the way the Throttle-quadrant works with the default panels.

Adding a definition to an existing panel is simple, but before you do: Make a copy of the PANEL.CFG file you intend to modify. Then, make a copy of the PANEL.CFG file you intend to modify. Finally, in case you didn't get that: make a copy of the PANEL.CFG file you intend to modify.

1. Open the PANEL.CFG file using Notepad.exe for the plane that you want to add the pop-up to. For example, "Aircraft\P47D\Panel\PANEL.CFG".

2. At the beginning of the "Aircraft\P47D\Panel\PANEL.CFG" file, you will find the following lines:

[Window Titles]
Window00=P47d -- Main Panel
Window01=P47d -- Engine Controls

Just below the "Window01=" line, you must add the following:

Window02=P47d -- Refuel-Dump Panel

When you are finished, you should have the following at the beginning of the "Aircraft\P47D\Panel\PANEL.CFG" file:

[Window Titles]
Window00=P47d -- Main Panel
Window01=P47d -- Engine Controls
Window02=P47d -- Refuel-Dump Panel

You MUST remember the number you entered here, in this case "Window02". Note that some panels might have more than just two existing windows; in general, you are going to add a new window and give it the next higher number value.

3. Still in the "Aircraft\P47D\Panel\PANEL.CFG" file, you must next scroll down until you find the definition for "Window01". That definition looks like this:

[Window01]
file=Thrust_Lever_Background.BMP
position=6
size_mm=99,130
window_pos=0.0,0.731
window_size=0.156,0.272
sizeable=1
visible=0
ident=THROTTLE_PANEL

gauge00=P47d!thrust_controls,0,0

Add the following just below the "gauge00=P47d!thrust_controls,0,0":

[WindowXX]
size_mm=133,90
window_size_ratio=1.0
position=8
visible=0
ident=100

gauge00=Cfo_Gauges!Refuel_Dump,0,0

You MUST change the "[WindowXX]" to the same window value as you added at the top of the file, in this case "Window02". When you are finished, you should have:

[Window02]
size_mm=133,90
window_size_ratio=1.0
position=8
visible=0
ident=100

gauge00=Cfo_Gauges!Refuel_Dump,0,0

4. Close the file, making sure to save your work when prompted.

Start Cfs, go to Free Flight, select the aircraft you just modified and start the flight. After the Sim loads, pull down the [View] menu and then select the "Instrument Panel" sub-menu. On that list, using the example above, you should see an entry which says:

P47d -- Refuel-Dump Panel

Select that menu option and you should see the panel pop up on the lower right corner of your screen.