Pilot and CP/G MFD outputs are swapped

[Derbroomaster]

Hi, all. As it says in the title, the exports for the CP/G are what the Pilot sees in the MFDs, and vice-versa when I take the CP/G position. Buttons all work, and all other displays work the way they're supposed to. Anyone else use this profile?

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3342923/

It's an otherwise very solid Helios profile and I enjoy using it. I don't mind editing files if that's what's required.

 

Cheers

[Derbroomaster]

This appears to be a DCS thing, not a profile thing. I've used multiple profiles (we have a lot of brainy people among us, nice) and they all have the MFDs reversed. Anyone have an idea what might be causing this?

[Floyd1212]

You are saying that when you are in the back seat, you get the displays from the front seat, and if you move to the front seat, the displays automatically change to show the back-seater’s MPDs?

I don’t use that profile you linked, but I am not seeing that issue here.  The display exports follow based on the seat I am occupying. 

[Derbroomaster]

13 hours ago, Floyd1212 said:

You are saying that when you are in the back seat, you get the displays from the front seat, and if you move to the front seat, the displays automatically change to show the back-seater’s MPDs?

I don’t use that profile you linked, but I am not seeing that issue here.  The display exports follow based on the seat I am occupying. 

Yes. When sitting in the back seat and I look over the CP/G's shoulder, I can see the displays I'm supposed to have on my touchscreen for the pilot. When I switch to the CP/G position, I see the screens for the pilot, not for the MFDs and TEDAC.

[Floyd1212]

In your Monitor.lua file that defines the exports, you are using "LEFT_MFCD" and "RIGHT_MFCD"?  Those are the generic names that will automatically switch with the seats.

When the Apache was first released, there was a distinction between the PLT and CPG displays, but then they combined them so they would work properly.  Maybe you are using an old profile?

Edit: It looks like the profile you linked to is current, so it must be something else.

Edited March 8 by Floyd1212

[Derbroomaster]

3 minutes ago, Floyd1212 said:

In your Monitor.lua file that defines the exports, you are using "LEFT_MFCD" and "RIGHT_MFCD"?  Those are the generic names that will automatically switch with the seats.

When the Apache was first released, there was a distinction between the PLT and CPG displays, but then they combined them so they would work properly.  Maybe you are using an old profile?

While possible, it would be multiple old profiles, as I see this manifest across at least two: the one I referenced and Bunny's AH-64D Helios profile. 

[Floyd1212]

What does your active monitor.lua look like?

[Derbroomaster]

On 3/8/2025 at 12:08 PM, Floyd1212 said:

What does your active monitor.lua look like?

I'll put up this information the next time I get on the rig.

[Derbroomaster]

Where is this file normally located? I don't go under the hood often enough to remember.

[Floyd1212]

Mine is located at:

"C:\Users\username\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Config\MonitorSetup\CustomMonitor.lua"

(I think the filename could be anything you defined it as, not necessarily as shown above, but should be at that path location, or similar.)

Edited March 11 by Floyd1212

[Derbroomaster]

This is the only Apache-related file in that path:

DCS Apache.lua

[Floyd1212]

This is what mine looks like for comparison.

I was basically interested that you were also calling them LEFT_MFCD and RIGHT_MFCD like I am, and it looks like you are.  This seems to work for me.

The only other thing I noticed is mine are defined above the Viewports definition, and yours are defined within Viewports.  Not sure if that makes a difference.

[Leg2ion]

Hi @Derbroomaster - I did post in the comments section following your comment against the profile, and also PM'd you if you needed help?

One thing looking at your profile - have you run a helios monitor configuration, as your lua would appear to be a 'stock' set-up? What I tend to do is carry out an export so helios creates a helios monitor lua, which I then use as a master list of co-ordinates for my viewports etc.

Second check - have you applied the helios patches which reconfigure the MFCD.init luas?

Thirdly - your 'x' co-ordinates of your left MFD appear to be further right than the right MFD?

 

I have attached my monitor lua - but basically the way the profile is set up minimal exported viewports are needed - I only export to the the pilots EUFD, TEDAC, Left and Right MFCD onto a touch screen that swap, and the CPG MFCDs (separately onto TM Cougar displays).

Your co-ordinates generally don't look right, as in the profile the TEDAC sits between the 2 MFDs and lower, yet your lua shows the TEDAC sitting to the left of both MFDs and higher?

Also be interested to see your monitor setup of your 4th screen if still having issues - as your Y co-ordinates seem quite large?

HeliosAH.lua

Edited March 13 by Leg2ion
More info.

[Derbroomaster]

On 3/13/2025 at 4:03 PM, Floyd1212 said:

This is what mine looks like for comparison.

I was basically interested that you were also calling them LEFT_MFCD and RIGHT_MFCD like I am, and it looks like you are.  This seems to work for me.

The only other thing I noticed is mine are defined above the Viewports definition, and yours are defined within Viewports.  Not sure if that makes a difference.

OK. Thank you for looking.

[Derbroomaster]

On 3/13/2025 at 5:29 PM, Leg2ion said:

Hi @Derbroomaster - I did post in the comments section following your comment against the profile, and also PM'd you if you needed help?

One thing looking at your profile - have you run a helios monitor configuration, as your lua would appear to be a 'stock' set-up? What I tend to do is carry out an export so helios creates a helios monitor lua, which I then use as a master list of co-ordinates for my viewports etc.

Second check - have you applied the helios patches which reconfigure the MFCD.init luas?

Thirdly - your 'x' co-ordinates of your left MFD appear to be further right than the right MFD?

 

I have attached my monitor lua - but basically the way the profile is set up minimal exported viewports are needed - I only export to the the pilots EUFD, TEDAC, Left and Right MFCD onto a touch screen that swap, and the CPG MFCDs (separately onto TM Cougar displays).

Your co-ordinates generally don't look right, as in the profile the TEDAC sits between the 2 MFDs and lower, yet your lua shows the TEDAC sitting to the left of both MFDs and higher?

Also be interested to see your monitor setup of your 4th screen if still having issues - as your Y co-ordinates seem quite large?

HeliosAH.lua 1.25 kB · 0 downloads

I will take a closer look at the Helios setup. I take care to apply Helios patches after every update and ensure each profile does not have identified issues.

One thing to note is that the touchscreen (the fourth screen) is 1920 x 1080, while the other three are 2560 x 1440. 

The coordinates you call out in your screenshots: what numbers should those be as opposed to what are showing?

Additionally, what is the .lua file these numbers came from and where is it located?

Thanks for the information. I'll be doing my homework. I was away from the sim for a week learning a GA plane.

[Leg2ion]

1 hour ago, Derbroomaster said:

One thing to note is that the touchscreen (the fourth screen) is 1920 x 1080, while the other three are 2560 x 1440. 

How are your screens aligned - if you can do a screen capture or detail how they are aligned to each other it will help massively:

Your monitor setup file should be in your saved games folder on your c drive ("C:\Users\username\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Config\MonitorSetup\CustomMonitor.lua".). If running Helios and it configures your monitors there will be a lua in there named Helios. For this to take effect you need to select it in DCS Options - Monitors.

Your x co-ordinates run left to right, and your y co-ordinates run top to bottom.

If your touchscreen is under your 3 main screens - then your y co-ordinates miss - as your total height is 1440 plus 1080 - so a total of 2520 - but your y is shown as 2720 - so 200 pixels below your actual display area. In addition the right hand MFD is positioned at x1345, so to the left of your left hand MFD at x1965 (which may also be outside your view area of the touch as it has a width of 1920.

As above - if you can show your monitor setup, and dig out and attach your monitor setup lua it will be a great help. 

What I have found is if you configure helios to not sure any warnings/cautions when it starts a profile - it sometimes isn't the best - so if you make custom adjustments helios detects it and steers you towards fixing things  - which in turn screws the viewports.

Edited March 20 by Leg2ion
More info.

[Derbroomaster]

Screen 1 is the touchscreen.

I believe my true problem is that the CP/G export is being seen in the Pilot seat. When I sit in the front the displays are fine.

[Leg2ion]

Hi @Derbroomaster - Thanks for that - it helps.

When you import the profile have you reset your monitors to replicate your config, and then if you reset the helios lua it should give you all the co-ordinates you need. Also noting in your lua you provided the width is set at 5760, yet you say the three monitors are 2560 - so max width should be 7680?

From your monitor config - If I assume screen 1 is slap bang in the centre of screen 2 (which is 3 screens wide x 2560 = 7680, I believe your co-ordinates should look something like like this - which should be ball park. 

Viewports =
   Center =
   {
        x = 0;
        y = 0;
        width = 7680;
        height = 1080;
        viewDx = 0;
        viewDy = 0;
        aspect = 7680 / 1080;
   }
 
   LEFT_MFCD =
   {
   x = 3215;
   y = 1228;
   width = 500;
   height = 500;
   }
   
   RIGHT_MFCD =
{
   x = 3965;
   y = 1228;
   width = 500;
   height = 500;
}
 

It might help if you align the lower screen with the left hand edge of the uppers, as will make figuring x co-ordinates easier.

[Derbroomaster]

Where is the file you're referencing here?

And yes, the x value for resolution of the top screen should be 7680, as you mentioned.

Edited March 27 by Derbroomaster

[Leg2ion]

As per @Floyd1212 post above - the file you attached to your post?

"C:\Users\username\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Config\MonitorSetup\CustomMonitor.lua"

In the example above replace CustomMonitor.lua with whatever you have called your custom layout - so if you are using the file you attached - should be HeliosAH. This should be created by helios (or you can make your own custom), and will give basic viewport positions for each window - as long as you have your monitor config set up correctly.

You need to ensure the name in the file is also selected in DCS options - otherwise it will ignore it and do something differently based on what you have selected.