DCS Mods structure : How to create your plugin from scratch

[Alfa]

Very interesting! :)

[Silver_Dragon]

a question? That file structure has aplicable for a helo / vehicle / ship? or need expecific files for that?

[42]

Thanks Alex!

[Haddock]

Great topic! Thanks!

[NineLine]

So can I use this if I am wanting to add a custom ground vehicle with custom cannon/shell?

[Sceptre]

Great posts!!

 

But do you know how I can get the MiG-29A cockpit model from FC2?

 

Where is it in my FC2 folder?

 

Thanks!

 

EDIT: I am using DCS: World.

Edited June 10, 2012 by Sceptre

[Krebs20]

Kabina MIG29a

 

I don't remember the exact name off the top of my head. Something like that.

[Sceptre]

Okay thanks I found the 2 files but how do I implement this as my default cockpit for the MiG-29A?

 

This is how my mods\aircrafts\MiG-29A folder is structured and my entry.lua:

 

 

 

I basically structured it the same way as the Su-25T folder in DCS world.

 

But how do I get this MiG-29A to use its own cockpit and radar etc from Flaming Cliffs 2?

 

 

 

Thanks in advance.

[SilentEagle]

I have three needles on the altimeter (10000 ft, 1000 ft, and 100 ft). I am trying to use the gauge: base_gauge_BarometricAltitude, but it appears that it only sends one number, the full altitude value (Ex: 11532 m), so I can only define the 10000 ft needle correctly. By extension, two needles will work below 10000ft and all three needles will work below 1000 ft.

 

How can I use this base gauge to define all three needles? I notice the other DCS aircraft all pull from the *_common.dll files for their altimeter gauges through FM_PROXY. My code is below. If you could please advise on how I can use this gauge or how I can take it's value and perform a math modification on it to get the value I need to send to each gauge. Thanks!

 

-- Altimeter
--10000 ft needle
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude				= CreateGauge()
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.arg_number	= 52
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.input			= {0.0, 30480.0}
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.output		= {0.0, 1.0}
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.controller	= controllers.base_gauge_BarometricAltitude

--1000 ft needle
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude				= CreateGauge()
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.arg_number	= 53
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.input			= {0.0, 3048.0}
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.output		= {0.0, 1.0}
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.controller	= controllers.base_gauge_BarometricAltitude

--100 ft needle
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude				= CreateGauge()
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.arg_number	= 51
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.input			= {0.0, 304.8}
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.output		= {0.0, 1.0}
base_gauge_BarometricAltitude.controller	= controllers.base_gauge_BarometricAltitude

Edited June 11, 2012 by SilentEagle

[SilentEagle]

Okay, we've made some progress! Followed your guide, Alex, and wrote this Altimeter.lua to do what I said I needed in the last post:

 

local Altimeter = GetSelf()

local update_rate = 0.1 -- 1/10 sec, or 10 times per second
make_default_activity(update_rate)

local sensor_data = get_base_data()

local baro_alt10000 = get_param_handle("baro_alt10000")
local baro_alt1000 = get_param_handle("baro_alt1000")
local baro_alt100 = get_param_handle("baro_alt100")

baro_alt100:set(0)
baro_alt1000:set(0)
baro_alt10000:set(0)

function update()
	
baro_alt100:set(sensor_data.getBarometricAltitude() % 1000)	-- 12345 % 1000 = 345
baro_alt1000:set(sensor_data.getBarometricAltitude() % 10000) -- 12345 % 10000 = 2345
baro_alt10000:set(sensor_data.getBarometricAltitude())
end

 

However, my 1000 ft needle still doesn't work above 10000 ft and my 100ft needle has a mind of its own and only moves in certain altitude ranges.

 

Here is my addition to devices.lua:

 

devices["ALTIMETER"]     = counter()--6

 

Here is my addition to device_init.lua:

 

creators[devices.ALTIMETER]			 = {"avLuaDevice"	,LockOn_Options.script_path.."Altimeter.lua"}

 

And finally, here is my addition to mainpanel_init.lua:

 

-- Altimeter
--10000 ft needle
Altimeter_10000m_Gauge				= CreateGauge("parameter")
Altimeter_10000m_Gauge.parameter_name   	= "baro_alt10000"
Altimeter_10000m_Gauge.arg_number    		= 52
Altimeter_10000m_Gauge.input    		= {0.0, 30480.0}
Altimeter_10000m_Gauge.output    		= {0.0, 1.0}

--1000 ft needle
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge				= CreateGauge("parameter")
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge.parameter_name   	        = "baro_alt1000"
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge.arg_number    		= 53
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge.input    			= {0.0, 3048.0}
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge.output    		= {0.0, 1.0}

--100 ft needle
Altimeter_100m_Gauge				= CreateGauge("parameter")
Altimeter_100m_Gauge.parameter_name   		= "baro_alt100"
Altimeter_100m_Gauge.arg_number    		= 51
Altimeter_100m_Gauge.input    			= {0.0, 304.8}
Altimeter_100m_Gauge.output    			= {0.0, 1.0}

Edited June 12, 2012 by SilentEagle

[beczl]

Try to use "cycled" parameter for your 1000 and 100m needle. Like this:

 

--1000 ft needle
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge                = CreateGauge("cycled")
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge.cycle_value         = 1000
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge.arg_number            = 53
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge.input                = {0.0, 1000}
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge.output            = {0.0, 1.0}
Altimeter_1000m_Gauge.controller  = controllers.base_gauge_BarometricAltitude

--100 ft needle
Altimeter_100m_Gauge                = CreateGauge("cycled")
Altimeter_100m_Gauge.cycle_value         = 100
Altimeter_100m_Gauge.arg_number            = 51
Altimeter_100m_Gauge.input                = {0.0, 100}
Altimeter_100m_Gauge.output                = {0.0, 1.0}
Altimeter_100m_Gauge.controller  = controllers.base_gauge_BarometricAltitude

 

And no alt100 and 1000 variable need to Altimeter.lua

Edited June 12, 2012 by beczl

[SilentEagle]

Thanks beczl! I didn't have to write a device after all, but at least I learned how.

[Tango]

OK... how did you know to use "cycled"? Where can we get a list of these things?

 

Best regards,

Tango.

[42]

OK... how did you know to use "cycled"? Where can we get a list of these things?

 

Best regards,

Tango.

 

He probably has the russian docs ;)

[Tango]

Probably....and a big dose of help from ED. :P

 

Thanks to Alex got it working now. 8)

 

Best regards,

Tango.

[Blaze]

So I'm assuming we'd use this "cycled" param for similar gauges like the HSI, ADF and compasses?

[SilentEagle]

Well, no, because the value of a heading wouldn't go past 2*PI or 360 degrees.

[Tango]

Let me work my magic and see what I can do... ;)

 

Best regards,

Tango.

[SilentEagle]

I'm trying to write a controller for the airbrakes to auto-extend past Mach 0.78 and retract below 0.78, but I cannot figure out how to send a command to the game. I have tried LoSetCommand(147) from the Export.lua and I have also tried SetCommand(147). What is the command to do this? Here is my code:

 

local dev = GetSelf()

local update_rate = 0.2 -- 1/5 sec, or 5 times per second
make_default_activity(update_rate)

local sensor_data = get_base_data()

local m_max = get_param_handle("Max_Mach")
local auto_ext = get_param_handle("AutoExtended")

function post_initialize()
auto_ext:set(0)
m_max:set(0)
print("post_initialize called in BrakeController.lua")
end

function update()

local spdbrkpos = sensor_data.getSpeedBrakePos()
local mach = sensor_data.getMachNumber()

if mach>0.78 then
	m_max:set(1)
else
	m_max:set(0)
end

if mach>0.78 and spdbrkpos==0 then
	--BRAKES OUT
	LoSetCommand(147) -- Air brake on 
	auto_ext:set(1)
elseif mach<0.75 and spdbrkpos==1 and auto_ext==1 then
	--BRAKES IN
	LoSetCommand(148) -- Air brake off
	auto_ext:set(0)
end

end

[beczl]

Should need to be insert the following before function update due the sensor_data declaration is required..

 

local sensor_data = get_base_data()

make_default_activity(0.05) --20 time per second

So the code looks like this:

 

local sensor_data = get_base_data()
make_default_activity(0.05) --20 time per second

local m_max = get_param_handle("Max_Mach")
local auto_ext = get_param_handle("AutoExtended")

function post_initialize()
   auto_ext:set(0)
   m_max:set(0)
   print("post_initialize called in BrakeController.lua")
end

function update()

   local spdbrkpos = sensor_data.getSpeedBrakePos()
   local mach = sensor_data.getMachNumber()
   
   if mach>0.78 then
       m_max:set(1)
   else
       m_max:set(0)
   end
   
   if mach>0.78 and spdbrkpos==0 then
       --BRAKES OUT
       LoSetCommand(147) -- Air brake on 
       auto_ext:set(1)
   elseif mach<0.75 and spdbrkpos==1 and auto_ext==1 then
       --BRAKES IN
       LoSetCommand(148) -- Air brake off
       auto_ext:set(0)
   end
   
end

need_to_be_closed = true -- close lua state after initialization 

[BrontoloIT]

LoSetCommand(147) -- Air brake on

 

Hi guys, what if, like on A10C, i need to set Air brake not FULL but just, let's suppose, to 40% ?

It's possible or we need to wait for the AFM ?

[SilentEagle]

Hi guys, what if, like on A10C, i need to set Air brake not FULL but just, let's suppose, to 40% ?

It's possible or we need to wait for the AFM ?

 

I'm guessing that speedbrakes, being a flight model system, are tied to the SFM.

 

Should need to be insert the following before function update due the sensor_data declaration is required..

 

If you look at the top of my example, I actually have those lines. Your example only re-ordered those lines. The command still does not work, but I know the logic is fine, because I have tested it. I am just wondering if LoSetCommand is the right command I should be using, or if that only works in export.lua I have tried your code as well and same result.

[beczl]

Sorry my fault. It's an early morning. :-)

[BrontoloIT]

Any update?

Keep getting

attempt to call global 'LoSetCommand' (a nil value)

in my test device.

 

As SiletnEagle wrote, probably LoSetCommand isn't the right command.

[Tango]

It would seem LoSetCommand can't be called from LUA scripts. :(

 

Best regards,

Tango.