Give me some ideas for macros.

[eracer1111]

What kinds of things do you program macros to do? I just got a new keyboard and need some ideas.

 

First thing that comes to mind is programming one to do a cold start routine.

 

1. Electrical power on.
   
2. Wait 180,000 ms
   
3. Nav lights ON
   
4. Close Canopy
   
5. Set throttle position to 0
   
6. Start L engine
   
7. Wait 10,000 ms
   
8. Start R engine
   
9. Flaps to takeoff position
   

 

What other things do you assign macros for?

[Rudel_chw]

What other things do you assign macros for?

 

I use them for short sequences that together comprise a single task, for example:

 

To change the view to a fixed snapview I use a three step macro:

 

- Pause The headtracking.

- wait 60 miliseconds

- press Cockpit_view_toggle

- press the snapview key

 

To exit the view, I use the reverse macro:

 

- exit shapview

- wait 60 miliseconds

- unpause the headtracking.

 

On the Mig-21, I use a macro to extend the landing gear:

 

- release LG lock

- wait 500 msec

- gear handle down

- wait 2 seconds

- gear handle to neutral position

- wait 500 msec

- enable LG lock

- switch landing lights to landing position

 

Reverse that to retract the LG :)

 

I’d never use a Macro for more complex tasks, like cold starting, as that is a task for myself.

 

Eduardo

[eracer1111]

I can see how you wouldn't want checklist items assigned to a macro. That's pilot stuff, and a big part of the realism we look for in the sim.

[sirrah]

What kinds of things do you program macros to do? I just got a new keyboard and need some ideas.

 

First thing that comes to mind is programming one to do a cold start routine.

 

1. Electrical power on.
   
2. Wait 180,000 ms
   
3. Nav lights ON
   
4. Close Canopy
   
5. Set throttle position to 0
   
6. Start L engine
   
7. Wait 10,000 ms
   
8. Start R engine
   
9. Flaps to takeoff position
   

 

What other things do you assign macros for?

 

Not my intention to troll or anything and I probably don't understand what these macros are used for, but just curious. Why would you bother to create a macro for this and why not just use the engine start sequence cheat?

 

I do however understand the one for the MiG21 gear as it requires a lot of valuable hotas buttons

Edited July 21, 2020 by sirrah

[David OC]

If you plan on many aircraft, keep them all very similar use case.

 

If you have HOTAS (Throttle and stick) why macro's?

 

Think in the long term here. Are you planning on HOTAS or have one?

HOTAS and Trackir is a game changer, same with VR.

 

You can fly and get quite good if you keep the muscle memory similar for all aircraft.

 

 

Everything is close to what it is for the real jet on HOTAS, then I only use a modifier button assigned in DCS to my throttle (pinky button). When this is held ALL the buttons on the stick and throttle can do other things........?

 

 

I only use the modifier for very basic used all the time items. Flaps, gear turn radar silent multiplayer etc. Other wise it's trackir, see button and click button. The checklist is a back up when flying. I need to visually scan and click, this comes back to muscle memory (If in the real thing switch) Or visual click memory here.

 

The only real way to get that physical memory is to build a pit.

 

What kinds of things do you program macros to do? I just got a new keyboard and need some ideas.

 

First thing that comes to mind is programming one to do a cold start routine.

 

1. Electrical power on.
   
2. Wait 180,000 ms
   
3. Nav lights ON
   
4. Close Canopy
   
5. Set throttle position to 0
   
6. Start L engine
   
7. Wait 10,000 ms
   
8. Start R engine
   
9. Flaps to takeoff position
   

 

What other things do you assign macros for?

 

That's also in game and allowed on many servers and aircraft. (Hold Left windows + Home key) = Inbuilt Auto Start DCS macro.

Edited July 21, 2020 by David OC

[Rudel_chw]

If you have HOTAS (Throttle and stick) why macro's?

 

My HOTAS includes a macro language, and it is nice ... it allows me to bind complex actions to just a single HOTAS button.

 

The MiG-21 macro I mentioned earlier looks like this .. first you need to state which comand keys the Sim accepts:

 

Gears_Handle_Lock_engaged = {RCTL g}    
Gears_Handle_Lock_released = {RSHF g}    
Gears_Handle_Neutral = {LCTL g}    
Landing_Lights_LANDING = {LALT LCTL l}    

 

Next you define the Macro, like this:

 

Extend_LG =  
  Gears_Handle_Lock_released 
  DLY(500) 
  Gears_Down 
  DLY(2000) 
  Gears_Handle_Neutral 
  DLY(500)  
  Gears_Handle_Lock_engaged 
  Landing_Lights_LANDING

 

and finally, I bind the Macro to a HOTAS button, like this:

 

BTN T9 Extend_LG

 

:)

[David OC]

My HOTAS includes a macro language, and it is nice ... it allows me to bind complex actions to just a single HOTAS button.

 

The MiG-21 macro I mentioned earlier looks like this .. first you need to state which comand keys the Sim accepts:

 

Gears_Handle_Lock_engaged = {RCTL g}    
Gears_Handle_Lock_released = {RSHF g}    
Gears_Handle_Neutral = {LCTL g}    
Landing_Lights_LANDING = {LALT LCTL l}    

Next you define the Macro, like this:

 

Extend_LG =  
  Gears_Handle_Lock_released 
  DLY(500) 
  Gears_Down 
  DLY(2000) 
  Gears_Handle_Neutral 
  DLY(500)  
  Gears_Handle_Lock_engaged 
  Landing_Lights_LANDING

and finally, I bind the Macro to a HOTAS button, like this:

 

BTN T9 Extend_LG

:)

 

Reminds me when I was using CH Manager way back, now CH Throttle and VKB.

 

I did have a few different macro's setup for Flare / chaff for the FC3 Aircraft tho, when using the manager.

 

What the OP described, is pretty much the inbuilt macro.

[eracer1111]

Not my intention to troll or anything and I probably don't understand what these macros are used for, but just curious. Why would you bother to create a macro for this and why not just use the engine start sequence cheat?

 

I do however understand the one for the MiG21 gear as it requires a lot of valuable hotas buttons

Good question, actually. I guess because I didn't know there was an engine start sequence cheat!

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

What kinds of things do you program macros to do? I just got a new keyboard and need some ideas.

 

First thing that comes to mind is programming one to do a cold start routine.

 

1. Electrical power on.
   
2. Wait 180,000 ms
   
3. Nav lights ON
   
4. Close Canopy
   
5. Set throttle position to 0
   
6. Start L engine
   
7. Wait 10,000 ms
   
8. Start R engine
   
9. Flaps to takeoff position
   

 

What other things do you assign macros for?

 

1. Refuel probe off

2. TACAN - T/R

3. Master ARM on

4. Radar on - A-A mode

5. HUD Gunsight

6. Playing "Terminator theme"

 

 

 

For those refuelling days we all have, you know. It´s called "Refuel, terminate".