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DCStoF4 (Standalone version) by SharkNoir
[March 17, 2024, 03:19:25 PM]

Author Topic: DCStoF4 (Standalone version)  (Read 22427 times)

Offline SharkNoir

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DCStoF4 (Standalone version)
« on: July 05, 2021, 09:14:27 AM »
Hello,

For those of you old enough to remember I'm the author of the UCC. The UCC drove many cockpit systems back when there was not a lot of such systems available in the prehistoric times of cockpit building :)

Nowadays with more ppl using both DCS and BMS in their cockpit I wanted to try to make cockpit interfacing with both sims much easier than what it is.
In that idea I created a program that collects information from DCS and translates them into a format readable by BMS cockpit utility.
Basically the DCS variables populates the BMS shared memory which in turn is read by cockpit hardware

This should make cockpit interfacing much easier (at least I hope)
At this time I concentrate only on the F-16

The software is called "DCS to F4"

ATTENTION this is the standalone version here. DCStoF4 Dll PlugIn is a specific version for all Pegasus’s hardware for DCS.


It's far from being finished and I need some help from testers on several points if you're willing to helm make the app more complete.

  • Find out if my solution is interesting.
  • Look for bugs.
  • Help me find some data I'm missing on DCS.
  • Help me improve the program.
  • Find an icon.


How the program works:


1/ extract the content of the archive to a new folder of your choice.

2/ copy the content ("Export.lua" and "DCS-XFLIGHT" subfolder) of the "DCStoF4\DCS" folder to : %YourUseraccount%\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Scripts for DCS Open Beta and %YourUseraccount%\Saved Games\DCS\Scripts for the stable version

3/ Start Falcon BMS to the Ui (to activate the shared mem) and launch all required cockpit software as if you were setting up for a BMS flight. (UCC, DedCapture V2, Yame64, MFDE, etc.)

4/ launch "DCStoF4.exe"

Start a mission on DCS or DCS Open Beta.

Disclaimer,
the software is free to use as I am not looking for money, but I also do not want other ppl to use my work and make money on my back.
So please respect my work.


link to download :

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ai2CjfRIh6gzgsQanr3Q9tQkPpDz0A?e=Ergtwm
« Last Edit: May 14, 2023, 01:10:29 PM by SharkNoir »
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Offline SharkNoir

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Re: DCStoF4 -- I need help if you want
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2021, 09:22:49 AM »
Known issues:

- The RWR keeps symbols in the middle (see next post)
- The eHSI hardly works (see next post)
- For the ADI, the ILS bars do not appear (See next post)

- You need BMS on the main menu for most programs to work (research in progress).

- The DCStoF4 program must be restarted for each mission, it is a temporary measure, hopefully I will get rid of that as the software gets updated in the future
« Last Edit: July 05, 2021, 10:21:41 AM by Red Dog »
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Offline SharkNoir

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Re: DCStoF4 -- I need help if you want
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2021, 09:36:16 AM »
What I need to find out:
(feel free to provide advices if you can)

- DCS: I'm looking for the coordinates of the RWR symbols in DCS
- DCS: I am looking for info about HSI bits in DCS (bearing to station, crs, ...
- BMS: I am looking for the variable to makes the ADI displays the ILS bars in BMS  - it's probably in the HSI bits but I can't find where exactly
« Last Edit: July 05, 2021, 10:19:52 AM by Red Dog »
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Offline Red Dog

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Re: DCStoF4 -- I need help if you want
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2021, 11:37:19 AM »

- BMS: I am looking for the variable to makes the ADI displays the ILS bars in BMS  - it's probably in the HSI bits but I can't find where exactly

Might be in FD bits HSI bits, ADI_GS and ADI_LOC for the flags
and probably in FD Vars AdiIlsHorPos & AdiIlsVerPos for the actual needle position I presume.

there's the famous BMS flightdata app in the tools folder that allows you to check these bits and variables
Have a bandit day - Red Dog
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Offline Red Dog

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2021, 01:39:01 PM »
This is awesome !!

in a blink I reactivated most of my cockpit systems while flying DCS :)
AIC, with most of it working, needles, lights ...
screens, ded
Wow

Way to go Sharknoir.
this is a great beginning and You just made my week test flying the DCS viper in the marianas

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Offline Kukki

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2021, 02:51:37 PM »
super cool, I will take a look at it too  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Offline SharkNoir

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2021, 10:38:00 AM »
update to V0.2. link above

Add :

* HSI To flag
* HSI From flag
* HSI Ils Warning Flag
* HSI CourseWarning flag

For HSI, i looking for "bearingToBeacon" to finish it.
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Offline SharkNoir

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2021, 04:18:18 AM »
Setting the export of DCS screens.

Currently, DCS only exports screens on the PC that runs the simulator and cockpit exports only work on the Cockpit view (not in the exterior view).
For the HUD view only (ALT-F1), it does not export certain instruments either, unless we activate the extraction of these on or outside the main screen (DED, CMDS, UHF, RWR, EHSI).

So I give you a set of files to copy - paste in the main installation directory of the game (not in the save directory).
This will allow you to get a functional cockpit in single HUD view.

Once these files are installed, you will have to choose "DCStoF4 for F-16" in the game parameters, in the "SCREENS" choice in order to validate the option.
You can refine the instrument settings (especially for MFDs) by editing the file: "\ Config \ MonitorSetup \ DCStoF4-F-16.lua"

Link:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ai2CjfRIh6gzgcJFi0OqcwYLWASZUA?e=kA58fN
« Last Edit: March 09, 2023, 10:56:41 AM by SharkNoir »
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Offline Red Dog

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2021, 03:18:03 AM »
Thanks Olivier

My center screen is still inop, but I continue testing asap.
This piece of software is a real gem for us having built a pit for BMS and willing to port it to DCS. It's so easy and efficient.

Have a bandit day - Red Dog
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Offline SharkNoir

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2021, 02:22:54 PM »
Add V0.3

* The first UI for DCStoF4.
* Adjust the ILS in ADI
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Offline jjbravo

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2021, 10:21:10 PM »
Hey @SharkNoir
Is there anyway you can share how you get connected to DCS like BMS shared memory? I'm trying to write an integration, but I'm not quite sure how the scripts work for DCS and how I can receive outputs and send inputs. Your program isn't open source, otherwise I would have looked through that to find out how it works.

Here is what I'm working on for a Canbus implementation (This is early stages):
  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  

John

Offline jjbravo

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #11 on: August 26, 2021, 01:11:52 AM »
Never mind, I think found a good post where it's explained. Just need to learn some Lua now...

Offline Red Dog

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #12 on: August 26, 2021, 09:17:08 AM »
Quote
how you get connected to DCS like BMS shared memory?
That's exactly what DCStoF4 does.

I fail to see why the wheel needs to be reinvented? I'd rather see better cooperation towards a comon goal rather than a plethora of small initiative that ultimately fail or are used only by 1 ppl.

It's the whole story of VP. in 20 years hardly a few project federated and even today it's still a nightmare for newbees to join up and know where to start, where to get drawings and what interface to use.

IMHO, this DCStoF4 is a real Gem.
It should be pushed way forward and we should try to provide Sharknoir as much help he can get to perfect the software rather than trying to do the same on the side

Sorry for the rant, going back to my own hole now :)
Have a bandit day - Red Dog
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Offline SharkNoir

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #13 on: August 26, 2021, 09:44:43 AM »
For the few variables I miss I posted in two different places on the DCS forum.

- The F-16 Developers Wish List
https://forums.eagle.ru/topic/274099-dcs-lua-export-for-rwr-and-ehsi/?tab=comments#comment-4702391

- The Home Cockpit forum.
https://forums.eagle.ru/topic/273076-dcs-f-16c-mod-how-find-export-datas-for-ehsi-and-rwr/?tab=comments#comment-4732162

In response, I got ... nothing.
I seem to be the only one who wants to interface instruments.
It's either screen offset or VR.
Maybe if all VP members join me?
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Offline SharkNoir

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Re: DCStoF4
« Reply #14 on: August 26, 2021, 09:48:12 AM »
Sorry, if I can't respond within a day.

Then Reddog is right and alas, I don't have much feedback, if it's a valid idea or not ...

You can easily use what I did for your own personal project. it's a shame, but hey ...
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