Copyright: FSNavigator, Version 4.0


FSNavigator Help Index

Welcome to FSNavigator

General

Quick start

Payment and Registration

Working with FSNavigator

Scenery database

Word map

Flight plan

SID/STAR

Flight Management System

Search window

Autopilot, Avionics

Technical

Menu, Toolbar, Status bar

Menu

Plan menu

Edit menu

Options menu

Help menu

Toolbar

Status bar

Popup menus

Word map popup menu

Flight plan popup menu

Airports with SID/STARs popup menu commands

SID/STAR window popup menu commands

Search window popup menu

Application Control menu


General

Introduction:

 FSNavigator has been developed for FS98/FS2000 (hereafter indicated as Flt.Sim.) to find the way from one airport to another.

 FSNavigator is a navigational chart, Flight planner and Flight Management System.

 All important navigation objects are taken from Flt.Sim. scenery files and shown on a map of the world. Airway- and intersection data are part of FSNavigator.

 FSNavigator is made as a module of Flt.Sim., so it is not an independent program.

 Within Flt.Sim. you can toggle between the windows of Flt.Sim. and those of the FSNavigator with the <F9> key. This key is configurable.

 FSNavigator can be used full screen covering Flt.Sim., or it can be integrated with the aircraft cockpit as a freely movable window. The switch key <CTRL+F9> is configurable.

System requirements:

 Flight Simulator 98 or 2000.

 For FS98 you must have Microsoft(r) Patch Set 1 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 98(tm) installed.
This patch is available at: http://www.microsoft.com/games/fsim/downloads.htm.
If anything fails to work in FS98, re-install this patch again.

 For Windows 95 without IE 4/5 you will need Microsoft(r) comctl32.dll V4.72 or later.
The update can be downloaded from our homepage as 401comupd.exe.
If Menus or Dialog windows are not correctly displayed, install this update.

The FSNavigator

-  can be uninstalled automatically.

-  will not modify any Flt.Sim. settings.

-  adds the files FSNav.dll and FSNav.isu into the folder ...\Flt.Sim.\Modules\ .

-  adds the folder ...\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\ .

Installation:

If you have a previous version of FSNavigator: uninstall it. Do not manually delete any remaining files.

Extract all files contained in the zip file into a temporary directory. Start the setup program. The setup program’s last dialog box contains further important notes.

The FSNavigator Team:

Updates	: http//www.fsnavigator.com/

Support	: support@fsnavigator.com


Quick start

The program is controlled mainly via Drag & Drop and with popup menus, made available by pressing the right mouse button.

Step 1: Create a scenery database

Start the FSNavDBC program using Windows Start Menu - FSNavigator for FSxx in order to create a FSNavigator scenery database from Flt.Sim. scenery data. Press the FSNavDBC‘s Create database button, confirm the following Dialog boxes and wait until the program has finished, which is shown by a separate Dialog box.  Exit from FSNavDBC

Step 2: Start your Flight Simulator

Press the <F9> key to switch to FSNavigator. The FSNavigator has 4 main windows. The upper left one is the search window. The upper right window contains the Flight plan. In the bottom left window are the Avionics and Autopilot of the aircraft, and the bottom right area shows the Map.

Step 3: Magnifying and shifting the Map

To zoom in on a specific map area,  move the mouse pointer to the upper left corner of the desired area, press the right mouse button and drag to the desired lower right corner. Hereby a rectangle is drawn. Release the mouse button.

To zoom out (reduce magnification) press the right mouse button and select in the popup menu the appropriate instruction.

To simply zoom out or zoom in on the map as it is, you can also use the + and  - buttons in the bar on the right.

In order to shift the the map display to a different area, move the mouse pointer to a new central point and  double-click the left mouse button. The selected point will now be the new centre of the displayed area. This facility of centering the map by double-clicking with the left mouse button will also work in the search window and in the Flight plan window.

Step 4: Create a Flight plan

Move the mouse pointer over a runway in the map (the runway you are departing from). As soon as a Popup window appears, press and hold the left mouse button. Now move the mouse pointer to the left-hand side of the Flight plan and release the mouse button. The Runway is now inserted into the Flight plan. Similarly add the flight destination to the Flight plan. Between start and destination further waypoints can be inserted if required, by dropping them between start and destination point or between any other two waypoints. The order of waypoints in the Flight plan can be changed by dragging them up or down with the mouse.

If at the beginning of a Drag & Drop operation, the mouse pointer is not over an scenery object in the map, then a Fix-Point will be inserted into the Flight plan. This is a user-defined waypoint.

Step 5: Find a scenery object

A click of the left mouse button on the bar marked Inputline (upper left corner) opens the input line. Now enter a name (Munich) and confirm with <Enter>. In the lower part of the search window all corresponding objects are now displayed. These objects can be inserted with Drag & Drop into the Flight plan.

Step 6: Avionics, Autopilot

Avionics and autopilot show the aircraft's current Avionics and AP settings. In this area these settings can be modified and the Flight plan can be set to be flown automatically. All 'depressed' indications can be opened for input with a single click of the left mouse button. All input must be confirmed with <Enter>.


FSNavDBC
Scenery Database

FSNavigator needs all information about Runways, VOR's, NDB's, etc. available in the Flt.Sim. scenery files. The external program FSNavDBC.exe reads the data from the Flt.Sim. scenery files and copies it into a separate database.

After each addition to or modification of the Flt.Sim. scenery files the FSNavDBC program must be re-run to add or modify data in the database.

With FSNavDBC for FS2000 you can also bring new scenery into the Flight Simulator, or change parameters of scenery already present.

Creating the scenery database for the first time will take several minutes. When you install additional scenery or make changes in existing scenery, this will go much faster, as only the actual changes are made. Changes and additions are recognised by FSNavDBC by the names and paths of scenery (.BGL) files, the size of the scenery files and the date and time of their creation.

While FSNavDBC is running, Flt.Sim. should not be active. This ensures that all scenery files can be read, and increases the speed of database creation.

FSNavDBC - Main window

Database (FS98)

Normally only FS98 WORLD exists here.

Area list

Shows all available scenery in order of their priority. The scenery on top has the highest priority, and covers the scenery below. A  on the left side marks the scenery as active. Only active scenery is read by FSNavDBC. In order to make a partial database, simply deactivate te unwanted scenery with the mouse.  This has no influence on the Flt.Sim. scenery.

Create database

This starts building of the database. The progress is shown overhead. On completion a Dialog box appears.

Move up (FS2000)

Gives the scenery selected in the window on the left a higher priority.

Move down (FS2000)

Gives the scenery selected in the window on the left a lower priority.

Edit area (FS2000)

Here all relevant settings of scenery selected in the window on the left can be changed.

Add area (FS2000)

Here new scenery can be entered into the database.

Delete area (FS2000)

Deletes the scenery selected in the window on the left from the list. This scenery is not deleted from your disk.

Save to FS (FS2000)

All changes made in the scenery list will normally only have effect on the FSNavigator scenery database. This means you can experiment all you want without influencing the Flt.Sim. scenery. Only after Save to FS will these changes also be effected in your Flt.Sim. scenery.

FSNavDBC - Edit / Add area (FS2000)

With this Dialog box you can enter new scenery or edit the properties of existing scenery.

In the upper part you have the directory tree of your computer, where you can select the folder in which the scenery is located. Scenery usually is in three folders, one main folder bearing the name of the scenery, and two subfolders named Scenery and Texture. Allways select the main folder.

In the lower part of the Dialog box is an input line where you can enter the name of the scenery.  Use a unique and understandable name.

For scenery located on CD, select the option Cache this scenery, and for scenery on HD select Use this scenery directly. Normally FSNavDBC will set these options automatically.

Some scenery that is not fully compatible with FS2000, may require additional switches with the names Exclude and Flatten. These switches can be entered into the Dialog box on the lower right hand side.

FSNavDBC - Exclude / Flatten (FS2000)

These parameters are seldom necessary, and they are allways provided with the scenery software. You can find a description of these entries in the FS main directory, the Readme.txt file. FSNavigator will test all entries and mark any errors. If this occurs, compare your entry with the description in Readme.txt, and make corrections accordingly. Errors are generally clearly visable and already present in the scenery description.

FSNavDBC - Program crash

The program can crash if one of the .BGL files in the Flt.Sim. scenery is defective. The program will show above the Create database / Abort create process button the last scenery to be processed. This scenery contains the defective BGL file. If these scenery files are on CD, you can only try to carefully wipe the CD clean. If the scenery is on your hard disk, you will have to newly re-install it. You can of course deactivate the scenery in question, but remember that also Flt.Sim. won't be able to read and use this file.


Overview
World map

With the [image] button depressed a map of the world is at FSNavigator’s bottom right area. In this map all objects from Flt.Sim that are important for navigation, are shown. At the right edge of the window there is a bar with buttons for several quick operations. With the right mouse button a Popup menu can be activated in the map.

If FSNavigator takes part in a multiplayer connection, the own aircraft and all other participating aircraft are shown as a green dot. With it appear aircraft ID or registration, Altitude and Groundspeed. The number at the left is Flight Level or Altitude in feet/100, at right is the Groundspeed in knots/10.

To zoom in on an area of the map, move the mouse pointer to the left upper corner of the desired area, press the right mouse button and drag to the desired right lower corner. This will draw a rectangle, while distance and direction from starting point to end point are shown. After releasing the mouse button the marked area is magnified to fill the map window. The zooming process can be aborted by pressing the left mouse button at the same time, or by using the <ESC> key. Another way to zoom in is to use the <+> button in the rightsided bar.

To enlarge the area being displayed on the map, you can zoom out by pressing the right mouse button and select the appropriate instruction in the popup menu. You can also use the <-> key in the bar at the right.

To display a different area, move the mouse pointer over the desired new central point, and then double-click with the left mouse button.

With the mouse pointer over the centre of an object in the map, a Popup window opens. This popup window contains the object data. The last line shows the distance and direction from the aircraft's present location towards the object. The correct mouse position for indicating runways or ILS are the end of the runways and over the narrow point of each ILS.

If you left-click near an object on the map that is also part of a Flight plan in the Flight plan window, this entry in the Flight plan will be selected. If necessary the Flight plan will be scrolled up or down to show this entry.

Any object in the map can moved via Drag & Drop to the left side of the Flight plan window using the left mouse button. Only if a popup window containing information on this object was visible, will the object be inserted into the Flight plan. If no popup window was visible, then a Fix-Point will be inserted into the Flight plan instead. This is a user defined waypoint. Once it is on the map, it can be moved around by dragging with the left mouse button.

Markers, ATIS and PCL* are not allowed within the Flight plan, and therefore will be ignored with Drag & Drop actions.

*) PCL = Pilot Controlled runway Lighting; this is found in some add-on scenery. With it the pilot can switch on runway lights by setting COM1 to a special frequency. This frequency is shown on the map as PCL.

Sometimes you will see an arrow moving over the map. This arrow is only visible during flight, next to the line of flight plan or ahead. This happens when the autopilot is engaged, and the aircraft is climbing or descending to reach the altitude preset on the autopilot. The arrow points to the spot where the aircraft is expected to reach the preset altitude. This point is calculated using the actual speed of the aircraft, the vertical speed and altitude as set in the autopilot.

Airways sometimes allow traffic in one direction only. This is indicated by using partly interrupted lines for airway segments. If an airway segment is connected to a waypoint by an uninterrupted line, the airway can be entered and flown from this waypoint. An interrupted line connecting an airway segment to a waypoint means that the airway is closed in that direction, and can not be entered from this waypoint.

Also using Drag & Drop the VOR, ILS, NDB, ATIS and PCL frequencies can be set in the avionics panel of FSNavigator. The allocation is as follows:

VOR, ILS	==>	NAV1, NAV2

NDB	==>	ADF

ATIS, PCL 	==>	COM1

Switch panel

Map symbols

VFR Flights (Enno Laverman)


Overview
Flight plan

At the top right of FSNavigator you’ll find the Flight plan. It can be made up with scenery objects from the Map or from the Search window, usually via Drag & Drop. Clicking the right mouse button in the Flight plan window produces a Popup menu. To process the Flight plan, the Edit menu, the popup menu or Drag & Drop can be used. Pressing the <CTRL> key during a Drag & Drop operation copies whole lines within the Flight plan. A vertical green line at the left of a waypoint marks this waypoint as part of a SID or STAR.

The columns in the Flight plan have the following meaning:

Id	Waypoint Identification or Runway number.
Location	The waypoint’s name or position.
Freq	Frequency.
Head	Magnetic heading from previous waypoint to this waypoint.
IAS/TAS	Mean Airspeed from previous waypoint to this waypoint in kts.
Vspeed	Mean Vertical speed from previous waypoint to this waypoint in ft/min.
Altitude	Altitude at this waypoint in ft.
Distance	Distance from the previous waypoint in nautical miles.
ETE	Estimated flying time from previous waypoint to here.
Fuel [...]	Fuel consumption from previous waypoint to here. The units are determined from the setting in the Settings-Flightplan Dialog box.

Distance, ETE and Fuel consumption can be given as "Cumulative" or "Inverse Cumulative". This option can be set in the Dialog box Settings-Flightplan.

A Flight plan consists of Waypoints and Bearing points. Waypoints are always flown over. Any VOR, NDB or ILS can be marked in the Flight plan window popup menu as a Bearing point. These Bearing points are not flown over, but are used to automatically program their frequencies into the aircraft avionics while the flight plan is being flown. The values for Heading and Distance are measured from the previous waypoint.

Runways and Airports are automatically taken as a landing point. The program will calculate climb and descent according to the data of the in FSNavigator selected aircraft. Intermediate stops can be planned by entering two runways of the same airport (or the same runway twice) into the Flight plan.

Unless otherwise indicated, cruise flight altitude and cruise speed are taken from the aircraft data as present in the FSNavigator Aircraft database. With the Cruise Altitude/Speed Dialog box these values can be changed for the Flight plan as a whole. In addition to that it is possible to set altitude and speed for every single waypoint. This can be done for the marked waypoint using the popup menu Manual Settings.

The Identification of a Fix-point is generated automatically (Fix01, Fix02, Fix03 etc.) This ID can also be edited. Left-clicking the ID of a fix opens an input line. Up to 5 characters are accepted.

The Flight plan can be flown in automatic, semi-automatic or manual mode. In semi-automatic mode you can select different options to fine-tune this mode to your preferences. The way a flight is handled can be set in the Dialog box Settings-FMS for this purpose. Flying the flight plan is activated in the Autopilot or with the FMS of FSNavigator.  Only certain aircraft can perform takeoff and landing automatically.

The frequencies of VOR, ILS, NDB, ATIS and PCL can be input in FSNavigator Avionics using Drag & Drop.  The allocation is as follows:

VOR, ILS	==>	NAV1, NAV2

NDB	==>	ADF

ATIS, PCL 	==>	COM1

With a Flight plan all data of the aircraft are also saved. When opening a Flight plan, the name of the aircraft is compared with the list of names in FSNavigator. If the aircraft already exists in the FSNavigator, then the aircraft data of the Flight plan are rejected and the data of the FSNavigator are used. If the aircraft of the Flight plan is new for FSNavigator, then you can store it permanently using the Dialog box Aircraft.

The best way to create a Flight plan is as follows:

1. Aircraft

With the menu item Plan-Aircraft, the Aircraft Dialog box is opened and the correct aircraft is selected.

2. Altitude and cruising speed

The menu item Plan-Cruise Altitude/Speed and the following Dialog box is used to adjust the flight's cruising altitude and cruising speed.

3. Start

First, select the starting runway and drag it into the Flight plan.

4. Destination

Next, drag the landing runway of your destination into the Flight plan.

5. Flight route

With the menu option Plan-Calculate auto route and the following Dialog box the most favourable waypoints between start and destination are automatically inserted. High altitude Airways are best used when flying a jet, Low altitude Airways when you use a smaller propeller aircraft. If no airways are near, you can fly from Navaid to Navaid.

6. Fine Tuning Altitude and Speed

Above the Flight plan Popup menu use Manual Settings to set altitude and airspeed for every waypoint. The values entered here may not exeed what is technically possible given the aircraft properties. Especially climb- and sink rate are limiting factors.


Overview
SID/STAR

With the [image] button depressed, the lower right area of FSNavigator shows a double window containing the Flight plan and the SID/STARs. Both windows have Popup-windows activated by the right mouse button.

The left window contains the Flight plan, shown here with limited information, and has the same Popup menu as the Flight plan in the upper window.

The right window shows either a list of all airports/runways with SID/STARs available (list 1, selected with left button on top), or the SID/STARs of the waypoint selected in the left window (list 2, selected with right button on top).

Note! SID/STARS must be downloaded from internet before you can use them Menu Options - SID/STAR Download

What are SID/STARs?

SID or Standard Instrument Departure is a standard route by which an aircraft flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) leaves an airport.

STAR or Standard Terminal Arrival is a standard route by which an aircraft flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) must approach an airport.

Both consist of a number of waypoints. In FSNavigator a SID always begins with a runway, and a STAR allways ends with a runway. Also in FSNavigator a STAR must include the complete approach route up to and including the landing runway. This is implemented in FSNavigator in order to make use of this option easier.

So how does this help me?

With the use of SIDs and STARs we can make a flight like a real aircraft would do, and with a single mouse click select a runway and the departure- or approach route for that runway.  This is very easy if the controller assigns us to a different runway at the last moment.

How do I use SID/STARs?

If you want to make a new Flight plan using airports with SID/STARs, click the button [image] in the right window. Choose your airport of departure in the list, and then select your SID runway for departure at this airport. Insert this runway into the Flight plan. Use Drag & Drop or the Popup menu to do this. Then do the same with the destination airport and STAR runway.

Next, let FSNavigator generate the remaining waypoints in the route, including the SID and STAR, by use of Calculate Auto Route. The program will select the best SID and STAR and the most favourable Airway connection for you, using the runways you selected before.

Now your Flight plan is finished, but you still have the possibility to later change a runway for start or landing.

To do this, mark the runway to be changed in the left window. Click the button [image] in the right window and you can now see all SID/STARs with  the appropriate runways that will connect to the same scenery object (generally this means a connection to an airway). Choose one of these SID/STARs, and via Drag & Drop or Popup menu enter it into the Flight plan. The waypoints of the new SID/STAR now replace those of the old one.

Making your own SID/STARS

If you have the necessary maps and descriptions you can make the SIDs and STARs for an airport yourself, and upload them via internet to make them available to other FSNavigator users. Please use the Upload function only for airports with SID/STARs that are created with data from real-world aviation (f.i.: A.I.P., Jeppesen). All other SID/STARs that are not conform reality should be reserved for private use, and not be uploaded.

After upload the SID/STARs become a collective property of all FSNavigator users. This also means that other users can complete or update your SID/STARs in order to make them conform to the latest specifications. The FSNavigator team will be active in finding and deleting ”destructive” uploads.

When saving a SID/STAR you can add your name or e-mail adress to it;  thereby you become one of the authors of the SID/STARs of that airport. Please make sure you always use the same name.

All SID/STARs of an airport are stored in a datafile, and replace after upload the SID/STARs of airports that may already be present. Please do not upload until you are quite sure you have all the SID/STARs of an airport completed. Uploading a partly finished airport can lead to your data being deleted by the FSNavigator team.

If you modify an existing SID/STAR, please do not delete all SID/STARs of that airport, and then make remake all SID/STARs of that airport. This makes it difficult and time-consuming for the FSNavigator team to decide which author created the best SID/STARs. It’s better to complete or modify the existing SID/STARs, thereby becoming one of the co-authors.


Overview
Flight Management System

With the [image] button depressed you find in the right lower window of FSNavigator the instrument that provides you with information on the actual status of the flight. Here you are supplied with the actual values for time, distance, direction to the next waypoint and to your final destination. Some values are only visible during flight. Pointing the mouse at the data shown produces a small help text window explaining the meaning of these values.

At the upper border there are four buttons which control the Flight Management System:

Fly Flightplan makes the aircraft fly the flight plan automatically, but to start this you have to switch on the aircraft’s Autopilot also.

The two buttons on the right of Fly Flightplan let you select the next waypoint your aircraft will fly to; you can choose any waypoint ahead of you, but no waypoint you have already passed.

The Fly Holding button can only be used if a holding pattern ha previously been defined in the flight plan or on the map. After activating this button the aircraft will fly a holding pattern on it’s own, and continue to do so until you have clicked the Fly Holding button again. You must set values for Speed and Altitude yourself, or set these in the Autopilot. Be careful not to make the speed too high, or the Autopilot won’t be able to make the turns of the holding correctly. Do not deactivate Fly Flightplan (if active) before activating Fly Holding. Fly Holding has a higher priority, and it will deactivate Fly Flightplan temporarily. When later Fly Holding is deactivated, the aircraft will fly the holding to the exit point, and then resume the flight, with Fly Flightplan active again.

Every waypoint in FMS has a Popup menu with different functions. The number of functions depends on the type of waypoint.

If the waypoint has a frequency attached, you can bring this with Drag & Drop to the NAV1/2 or ADF of the FSNavigator Autopilot.

In the same way you can with Drag & Drop enter Heading and Course into the FSNavigator Autopilot.


Overview
Search window

Top left in FSNavigator the search window is located. With it the database can be searched for names or identifications. No difference is made between upper- or lower case characters.

A click with the left mouse button on the word Inputline activates the input line. If text is now entered and acknowledged with <Enter>, then the list below the input line will show the names of all scenery objects found.

If the Id  switch is not marked, then names will be searched for. The text to be searched for may be at any position within the name.

If the Id switch is marked, then the identification characters are searched for. The text to be searched for must begin with the first character of the Id code.

Doubleclicking the left mouse button on one of the waypoints found, or pressing the <Enter> key centres the Map on the marked waypoint.

With Drag & Drop the scenery objects found can be inserted into the Flight plan.

In the same way with Drag & Drop the frequencies of VOR, ILS, NDB, ATIS and PCL can be entered into the FSNavigator Avionics fields. The allocation is as follows:

VOR, ILS	==>	NAV1, NAV2

NDB	==>	ADF

ATIS, PCL 	==>	COM1

Right-clicking on an entry in the the result list opens the Popup menu.


Autopilot
Autopilot, Avionics

The lower left area in FSNavigator is used for the aircraft’s avionics and autopilot. There is a version with large characters and one with smaller characters. Use the version you want and close the other one. All depressed fields can be opened for input by clicking the left mouse button there or by hitting the <Enter> key. The input is only transmitted to Flt.Sim. after the <Enter> key is used to terminate the input. The TAB key moves the cursor to the next field or switch.

All items correspond to the autopilot and the aircraft’s avionics. The only exception is the switch Fly FP. This causes the autopilot (when engaged) to automatically fly the entire Flight plan.

An automatic flight is best handled as follows:

After the aircraft is put in starting position in the Flt.Sim. and a suitable Flight plan is loaded, press the key Fly FP. If the autopilot was active it is now de-activated. In the Flight plan the next waypoint is marked with a red frame.  Now change to Flt.Sim. and fly the take off by hand. As soon as the undercarriage is up and with the aircraft  at a safe altitude, activate the autopilot. When the autopilot is active, it will, set by the automatic flight data, take over control of the aircraft. With some aircraft the engine power settings must be regulated manually.  The aircraft now flies the entire Flight plan independently, using the Flight plan to set changes in altitude and direction. In the Flight plan a red frame identifies the next target.  The landing can be performed automatically or manually. For a manual landing switch off the autopilot and fly the last few miles by hand. Reducing speed in time will prepare you for the use of flaps and gear. If the runway has an ILS, then an automatic ILS approach is recommended. If the automatic flight brings the aircraft almost to the glide path, switch off the autopilot for just 1 second. When the autopilot is switched back on, the automatic flight is not re-activated. Now the ILS approach can be continued, with a manual touchdown.

The frequencies of COM1, NAV1, NAV2 and ADF can be set via Drag & Drop from the search window, Flight plan, Map or the FMS. The allocation is as follows:

VOR, ILS	==>	NAV1, NAV2

NDB	==>	ADF

ATIS, PCL	==>	COM1


Technical

Program

The program is found in the …\Flt.Sim.\Modules directory: FSNav.dll. Removing this DLL file before starting Flt.Sim. prevents FSNavigator from running.

Program configuration

FSNavigator does not use the Windows Registry. The program configuration and all options set are stored in the file …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\Bin\Program.cfg

Important is the section [Essential] and there particularly the entry SimVer.  SimVer=61 means FS98 and SimVer=70 means FS2000. Never remove the section [Essential] with its entries.

Airways, Intersections

FSNavigator has an own database for Airways and Intersections. The corresponding data from FS2000 are not used.

Airways and intersections are in the file …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\Bin\Airway.txt.

Additional Intersections are in the file …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\Bin\ISEC.txt.

The third file in this category is …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\Bin\ROUTE.txt.

This file contains invisible Airway connections that are used in automatic routing over the oceans.

Scenery data

All scenery data, exept Airways and Intersections, are taken from Flt.Sim. scenery files. For this purpose FSNavigator has a separate program, …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\Bin\FSNavDBC.exe.

The extracted data are stored in the files …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\*.000 and …\*.001.

This scenery database must be made anew before the first use of FSNavigator, and after every change in the Flt.Sim. scenery.

ICAO

Old scenery files have no ICAO designation for airports.

FSNavDBC uses the file …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\Bin\ICAO.txt to determine the ICAO code.

World Map

The world map is used to reproduce coastlines, lakes, rivers and mountains. It consists of more than 1,6 million lines, and is stored in the file …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\Bin\world.map

Aircraft

For Flight plans to be calculated correctly the correct type of aircraft must be selected. The characteristics of aircraft in the database can be modified, or new aircraft may be added.

Aircraft are stored in the text file …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\aircraft.ini.

Flight plans

Flight plans can be generated after a scenery database has been created and opened in FSNavigator. The waypoints are transferred by Drag & Drop from the Map to the Flight plan. FSNavigator can automatically insert optimal waypoints between start and destination.

Flight plan files (* fsn) are stored in the directory …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\Plan.

Flight plan export

The export of Flight plans is done by  DLL’s in the folder …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\FlpExport.

The Export settings for all .DLL’s are stored in the file FlpExport.ini.

SID/STARs

SID/STARs are in the folder …\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\SidStar. There is one file per Airport. Please do not manually edit these files, or change the filenames. The system is very complicated, and in part protected with CRC’s. If your SID/STAR system should get damaged, delete all files in the directory \SidStar, and do a SID/STAR Download. FSNavigator uses for SID/STAR up- and download the HTTP and FTP protocols. If you have a firewall installed it should be configured to allow this.

Voodoo

FSNavigator is not compatible with Voodoo1 or Voodoo2 chip graphics cards. The program runs well with the Voodoo 3 card.


Menu

The FSNavigator menu is situated in an unusual spot: between the Search window and the Flight plan window. There you find 4 buttons marked Plan, Edit, Options and Help. A click with the left mouse button will open the appropriate menu.


Plan menu commands

The Plan menu offers the following commands:

New	Create a new Flight plan.
Open	Open an existing Flight plan.
Open from Remote Computer	This item is available when FSNavigator is participating in a Multiplayer session, and an other player has made his flight plan available for download. The program opens the Dialog box Open from Remote Computer.
Save	Saves the current Flight plan under it’s name. If the Flight plan has still no name, then the function Save As is executed.
Save As	Saves the current Flight plan under a new name. A Dialog box opens to enter a new name.
Save as SID/STAR	If the flight plan meets the criteria for a SID or STAR this option is available. The program opens the Dialog box Save as SID/STAR.
Export	Flight plan export. The program opens the Dialog box Export for selection of the export format. After that all depends on the implementation of the exports DLL’s.
Aircraft	Using this menu option an aircraft can be selected for a Flight plan , new aircraft can be created by entering their properties, or existing aircraft can be modified or deleted. The program opens the Dialog box Aircraft.
Cruise Altitude/Speed	Adjusts the cruising altitude and airspeed for the entire Flight plan. The program opens the Dialog box Cruise Altitude/Speed.
Calculate auto route	This function automatically inserts additional waypoints into the Flight plan between start and destination. The program opens the Dialog box Calculate auto route.
Remove auto route	All waypoints inserted by the function Calculate auto route are removed from the Flight plan.
Print	Prints the Flight plan or the map as shown in the map window. The program opens the Dialog box Print mode for selection of the mode.
Print Preview	Gives a preview of the Flight plan or  map print. The program opens the Dialog box Print mode for selection of the mode.
Print Setup	Printer selection and adjustment.
1, 2, 3, 4	List of the last opened Flight plans.


Edit menu commands

The Edit menu offers the following commands:

Undo	Cancels the last action.
Redo	Cancels the last undo-action.
Cut	Cuts and copies the marked object to the clipboard.
Copy	Copies the marked object to the clipboard.
Paste	Inserts the object from the clipboard.
Delete	Deletes the marked objects.
Select All	Selects all available objects.


Options menu commands

The Options menu offers the following commands:

Multiplayer connect	Connects FSNavigator with an existing Multiplayer session in Flt.Sim. The program opens the Dialog box Multiplayer.
Multiplayer disconnect	Disconnects the existing Multiplayer session.
Public Flight plan	This option is present when FSNavigator participates in a Multiplayer session. It makes the Flight plan available to the other players for downloading.
Multiplayer Host Settings	This Menu option is only active when FSNavigator is participating in a Multiplayer session, if the original Multiplayer Host leaves the session, and FSNavigator happens to become the new Host. In the then following Dialog box you can set the number of Pilots/Observers and other parameters.
SID/STAR Download	With this option you can download the SID/STARs that are available on the Internet to your computer. The program opens the Dialog box Download SID/STARs.  Downloading is done from a central online database.
SID/STAR Upload	With this function you can upload self-made or altered SID/STARs to the online SID/STAR database. The program opens for that purpose the Dialog box Upload SID/STARs. After uploading your SID/STARs will be available to all other FSNavigator users.
Settings	The program opens the Settings Dialog box for adjustment of the program’s options.
Scenery Open	Selection from the Scenery database. The program opens the Dialog box Scenery database open. This option has relevance for FS98 only.
Docked Window	Sets the FSNavigator window Docked / Undocked.
Toolbar	Show / hide the Toolbar.
Status Bar	Show / hide the Status bar.


Help menu commands

The Help menu offers the following commands:

Help Topics	Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.
Payment and Registration	The Dialog box shows you how to keep using the program after the free trial phase has ended.
About FSNavigator	Information on the Program version and the Author.


World map popup menu commands

The map popup menu offers the following commands:

Zoom Out	Increases the area displayed on the map by reducing magnification.
Zoom Normal (1:1)	Brings the map to default size, displaying the whole world.
To Flightplan	If this option is selected while a popup window was before present over an object in the map, this object is now added to the Flight plan. If no popup window was present, a Fix point is added.
Holding Pattern	Defines a Holding Pattern over the selected VOR, NDB or Intersection. The necessary parameters can be entered into a following Dialog box. Only one Holding Pattern can be defined at a time.
Fly to here	Is available if the aircraft is airborne and has an autopilot. The aircraft will fly to the location represented by the position of the mouse. The autopilot only controlls the aircraft heading (direction) to this location.
Move Aircraft to here	Is available if the aircraft is airborne, or if the aircraft is situated on the ground, and the popup window displays runway/airport information. The aircraft is then shifted to the mouse position. If the aircraft is moved towards a runway, it will also be correctly lined up with the runway heading.
Set Tower View to here	This moves the Tower View to the indicated spot. If at this spot a runway or airport was shown in the popup window, the tower will be set at a suitable distance and elevation with respect to the runway. For all other locations with no popup window showing, a Dialog box will let you enter the elevation of the tower view. The default in this Dialog box is the actual altitude of the aircraft.
Copy	If this option is selected while a popup window was before present over an object in the map, this object is now copied to the clipboard. If no popup window was present, a Fix point at this location will be put on the clipboard. With the Paste command from the Menu this waypoint can later be added to the Flight plan.
Center Map	Centres the Map around the mouse position.


Flight plan popup menu commands

The flight plan popup menu offers the following commands:

Manual Settings	Opens the Dialog box  Manual Waypoint Settings for entering altitude and airspeed at the marked waypoint. With Fix-points you can also enter the position in numbers.
Bearing Point	Is available when the waypoint is a VOR, NDB or ILS. Bearingpoints are not flown over, they are for radio navigation.
Holding Pattern	Defines a holding pattern at this VOR, NDB or Intersection. A Dialog box is provided for entering the necessary parameters. Only one holding pattern can be defined at a time.
Fly Flightplan from here	This option is available if the aircraft has an autopilot. The automatic execution of the Flight plan from this line will be started as soon as the autopilot is engaged. If the autopilot is disengaged, the automatic flight is terminated.
Fly to here	Is enabled if the aircraft is airborne and an autopilot is available. The aircraft will fly to the marked waypoint. The autopilot only controls the flight direction (heading). The automatic flight ends when the target point is reached, the next waypoint does not become the new target.
Move Aircraft to here	Is available if the aircraft is airborne or if the aircraft is situated on the ground, and the waypoint is an runway/airport. The aircraft is shifted to the waypoint position. If the aircraft, while on the ground, is moved towards a runway, it will also be correctly lined up with the runway heading.
Set Tower View to here	This moves the Tower View to the marked waypoint. If the waypoint is a runway or airport, the tower will be set at a suitable distance and elevation with respect to the runway. For all other locations, a Dialog box will let you enter the elevation of the tower view. The default in this Dialog box is the actual altitude of the aircraft.
Cut	Cuts the marked lines and copies them to the clipboard.
Copy	Copies the marked lines to the clipboard.
Paste	Inserts the lines from the clipboard to before the marked line.
Delete	Deletes the marked lines.
Center Map	Centres the Map around the marked waypoint.


Airports with SID/STARs popup menu commands

The Airports with SID/STARs popup menu offers the following commands:

To Flightplan	The runway is added to the Flight plan.
Delete	Deletes all SID/STARs of an airport. Use this function if  you have altered the SID/STARs of an airport, and want to restore the originals. With every SID/STAR Download you get the originals from the internet.
Center Map	This will center the map on the selected runway or airport.


SID/STAR window popup menu commands

The SID/STAR window popup menu offers the following commands:

To Flight plan	The selected SID or STAR is entered into the Flight plan.
Properties	Opens the Dialog box Properties of SID/STAR
Delete	Deletes either all SIDs or all STARs of an airport, or only the selected SID or STAR.
Center Map	This will center the map on the selected runway, airport or waypoint.


Search window popup menu commands

The search window popup menu offers the following commands:

To Flightplan	This will add the indicated scenery object to the end of the Flight plan.
Holding Pattern	Defines a holding pattern at this VOR, NDB or Intersection. A Dialog box is provided for entering the necessary parameters. Only one holding pattern can be defined at a time.
Fly to here	Is available if the aircraft is airborne and an autopilot is available. The aircraft will fly to the scenery object selected by the mouse position. The autopilot will only control the direction of the flight.
Move Aircraft to here	Is available if the aircraft is airborne or if the aircraft is situated on the ground, and the waypoint is an runway or airport. The aircraft is shifted to the position of the indicated scenery object. If the aircraft, while on the ground, is moved towards a runway, it will also be correctly lined up with the runway heading.
Set Tower View to here	This moves the Tower View to the indicated scenery object. If the object is a runway or airport, the tower will be set at a suitable distance and elevation with respect to the runway. For all other locations, a Dialog box will let you enter the elevation of the tower view. The default in this Dialog box is the actual altitude of the aircraft.
Copy	Copies the selected object as Flight plan waypoint to the clipboard. With the Paste function in the menu this waypoint can later be inserted into a Flight plan.
Center Map	Centers the Map on the selected scenery object.


Open from Remote Computer dialog box

In the Player List are all the players who participate in a Multiplayer Session, and have made their actual Flight plan available to the other players.  If you select one of the other players and close the dialog box with OK, the Flight plan will be transmitted to your FSNavigator and appear in the Flight plan window. This action can take a few seconds.


Save as SID/STAR dialog box

This function saves the actual Flight plan as SID or STAR. All SIDs and STARs of an airport form a unit and are saved together in an file.

In the listing above all SID/STARs are shown that have the same entry-  and ending point.

Entering the Identification (ID) is important. Different ID’s must produce different SID/STARs. However SID/STARs with different starting points or ending points can have the same ID.

Description is optional, and can contain remarks on the SID/STAR.

With Global Region and Country you can define the place of the airport in the hierarchy of the window Airports with SID/STARs. With Country you can only use countries for which a number of airports with SID/STARs already exists.  The FSNavigator team will adapt the number of countries available as necessary.

In the field Author you can enter your name or e-mail adress. Hereby you become one of the authors of the SID/STARs of this airport. A maximum of 10 different authors will be stored with one airport, and shown in the window Airports with SID/STARs. With more than 10 authors the first name in the list is removed. This does not apply to the original author who first uploaded this airport, and whose name will never be removed.

Please note:

You have to make an important decision, especially if you want to upload your newly made ore modified SID/STARs via SID/STAR Upload to the central server on the Internet. The problem is, that two users may be working on the same Airport at the same time. This can never be excluded, and it may lead to a later loss of your work.

So what is the best way ?

 Make sure your computer has the right date and time settings.

 Before you start work on new SID/STARs for an Airport, or modify the existing ones, be sure to download the last SID/STARs first via SID/STAR Download.

 Only work on one Airport at a time.

 As soon as the Airport is finished, upload the data via SID/STAR Upload to the central Internet Server. Don’t send any unfinished Airports, as these will be deleted.

 After uploading your SID/STARs wait for 5 days, and then do an SID/STAR Download. You will then have any alterations the FSNavigator team has possibly made.

After saving a SID or STAR, the airport in the window Airports with SID/STARs will be marked with a red dot. This means:

 The airport no longer conforms to the data on the central internet server.

 The airport is ready for SID/STAR Upload.

 The airport is now protected, and will not be overwritten when you do a SID/STAR Download.  This also applies when SID/STARs downloaded from the central internet server should have a later date.


Export dialog box

This Dialog box is used for the selection of an export format. The following formats are available:

ACS-GPS

FS2000

Radar Contact

SquawkBox

UniversalText

WindowsINI

Flight plans with an intermediate landing can not be exported. With the formats FS2000, Radar Contact,  and Universal Text the first and the last waypoint in the Flight plan must be a runway or airport.


Aircraft dialog box

Normally this dialog box is used for the selection of an aircraft for the current Flight plan. With Name an aircraft can be selected from the list. If the Options Set Flight plan cruise alt or Set Flight plan cruise speed are active, then the settings made in the dialog box Cruise Altitude/Speed will be erased from the Flight plan.

In this dialog box you can also change aircraft data, or add new aircraft.

Changing Aircraft data is simple: Select an aircraft, change the data, save aircraft data again.  Alternatively, you can give the changed aircraft a different name, and keep the original aircraft as it was before. Aircraft that are part of FSNavigator can also be changed. If an aircraft has become useless by changing, it should be deleted. Next time Flt.Sim is started, the aircraft will be present again with its original properties.

Creating a new aircraft is laborious and time-consuming. The only way is to try settings, using automatic flight and a special Flight plan. Use a similar aircraft as a starting point. Just rename it in Name and save the new model's specifications.

Cruise Altitude [ft]	Max. flight altitude / 1.25
Cruise IAS/TAS [kts]	Usual cruising speed
Climb IAS/TAS [kts]	Average airspeed during the climbing process. Determined best by flying and trying. (F&T)
Climb Rate [fpm]	Average value for the rate of climb. This value must be determined by F&T. It is particularly important that the aircraft can actually perform this rate of climb at the airspeed as set by the autopilot. Excessive engine performance should not be necessary.
Touch Down IAS/TAS [kts]	Touch down speed at the runway.
Descent Rate [fpm]	Average value of the rate of descent. This value must be determined by F&T. It is particularly important that the aircraft can follow the sink rate and airspeed that are set by the autopilot, without the pilot having to resort to using speed brakes, or using flaps and/or undercarriage as brakes at speeds which do not permit this.
Fuel flow	Select the unit of measurement and fill out the fuel flow values. These values can be read off from the aircraft’s instruments or one can ask the manufacturer.

Do not forget to save the aircraft!


Cruise Altitude/Speed dialog box

With Cruise Altitude the maximum altitude during a flight is set. The maximum allowed is 1.2 x the value for Aircraft Cruise Altitude.

Cruise Speed determines the maximum airspeed. This value must be between Aircraft Touch down Speed and Aircraft Cruise Speed as entered in the Aircraft Dialog box.


Calculate auto route dialog box

If you don’t want to make a flight plan by entering all waypoints by hand, this function gives you the necessary support.

Enter your Departing Runway and Landing Runway into the flight plan. Any waypoints you want to make use of enroute should also be entered manually into the flight plan. The program will then automatically calculate the route with all waypoints in between.

Best use High Altitude Airways when flying a jet, Low Altitude Airways when flying a smaller propeller aircraft, or use from Navaid to Navaid if no Airways are near your route.

Part of the Airways are for one-way traffic. The program takes this into account.

If your route starts or ends at an airport with SID/STARs, the program will use these.


Print Mode dialog box

With this dialog box you can print your flight plan or map, or see a print preview.


Multiplayer dialog box

The Multiplayer function of FSNavigator is fully integrated with the Multiplayer system of Flt.Sim. So it is not necessary that the other participants have FSNavigator running. You will still be able to see all other pilots on your map. A connection with the MSN Gaming Zone is not possible. Alternatively you can use http://www.tradeip.com/ in order to join other sessions or Host a session.

In a Multiplayer session FSNavigator acts as an additional pilot. This means that the Host must have allowed a sufficient number of pilots for FSNavigator to join the session.

You can see the number of pilots allowed and the number of active pilots on the second page of this dialog box. If necessary, contact the host via the Chat window and ask him/her to increase the number of pilots allowed.

FSNavigator can not itself act as a Host; you can therefore only connect the program with an existing Multiplayer session.

Dialog box page 1:

Here you give your player a name, choose the type of connection, and (if you want to) make your flight plan available for download to all other pilots.

As Player Name you can best use the same ID or Callsign you use in the Flt.Sim. multiplayer connection. It will later be shown in the chat window, preceded by an asterisk.

Connection Type is the computer connection mode. Use the same settings as in your Flt.Sim. connection.

When Public Flight plan is activated, all other FSNavigator pilots in the mulitplayer session can download their actual flight plan. This option can also be activated/deactivated later during the session using this menu.

Dialog box page 2:

Here all multiplayer sessions as found are shown. With Internet connections it can take a few seconds before Host and multiplayer sessions are found. You can then choose which Session you wish to join.

With Internet or Intranet connections you will first be instructed to enter the Host computer’s IP adress. When your computer is host, you can leave this line empty.

With Internet connections it can take up to 30 seconds after closure of the dialog box until connection to all other participants has been established. Only then can you see all the other aircraft on the map.


Multiplayer Host Settings dialog box

This dialog box can only be accessed if the Flt.Sim. acting as host until then exits from the session, and your FSNavigator happens to become the new host. Here you can remove other pilots from the session, or  change the number of other pilots/observers.


SID/STAR Download dialog box

When you activate Start Download a connection is made with the SID/STAR database on the Internet, and your own SID/STAR database is updated.  With the first download all data are transmitted and stored in your computer.

This process can take up to 20 minutes. With later downloads only new or altered data are transmitted. Therefore download regularly so there won’t be too many data to be transmitted at one time.

Airports that have been downloaded are shown in a list.

Technical background:

For this program there exists on the Internet a SID/STAR database. This database is simply a fileserver with two folders for up- and download. In these folders are the SID/STAR files. There is a file for every airport. These files are mainly made by the FSNavigator users, and uploaded with SID/STAR Upload to the server. Before the files are put in the download folder they are tested and (if necessary) corrected by the FSNavigator team.

If you should change the SID/STAR of an airport and save it, the file will be blocked for updating from the Internet. Only after you upload this file to the Internet server, will this block be removed. If you don’t want to do this, as your changes were just an experiment, you can delete all SID/STARs of this airport; This will remove the file from your computer, and with the next download you will get the original file again from the server.

If downloading is not successful this can have one of the following causes:

 Microsoft Internet Explorer has not been installed or is not configured correctly.

 You have a Firewall installed that prevents HTTP and FTP from using its ports.

 You or your ISP are using a Proxy Server, and this or the MS Internet Explorer are not correctly configured for the HTTP and FTP protocols.

 You are an AOL client. This can sometimes be a problem. The FSNavigator team does not have exact information on why this is the case.


SID/STAR Upload dialog box

As soon as you have newly made or changed the SID/STARs for an airport, this airport is ready for upload and is shown on the list. Mark at the left in this list every aircraft you want to upload to the server. When you activate Start Upload a connection with the Internet server is made, and your files are sent. Please only send airports that are completely finished, and for which you can take responsibility towards the other users.

Technical background:

For this program there exists on the Internet a SID/STAR database. This database is simply a fileserver with two folders for up- and download. In these folders are the SID/STAR files. There is a file for every airport. These files are mainly made by the FSNavigator users, and uploaded with SID/STAR Upload to the server. Before the files are put in the download folder they are tested and (if necessary) corrected by the FSNavigator team. Therefore 5 days after upload make a download to receive the possible modifications made by the FSNavigator team.

If downloading is not successful this can have one of the following causes:

 Microsoft Internet Explorer has not been installed or is not configured correctly.

 You have a Firewall installed that prevents HTTP and FTP from using its ports.

 You or your ISP are using a Proxy Server, and this or the MS Internet Explorer are not correctly configured for the HTTP and FTP protocols.

 You are an AOL client. This can sometimes be a problem. The FSNavigator team does not have exact information on why this is the case.


Settings dialog box

In this dialog box the basic settings for the program functions are made.

Page Global:

Simulator uses Indicated Air Speed   Activate this option if  Indicated Airspeed (IAS) is also used in Flt.Sim. At the start of FSNavigator this option is read from the FltSim configuration file. Therefore you only have to change it if you have made this change in the Flt.Sim. settings.

Program Switch Key is the key by which FSNavigator is made visible/unvisible.

Docked Window Switch Key is the key that disconnects the FSNavigator window from Flt.Sim. In the default setting the Search window, Autopilot and Flight plan are then no longer visible. Only the Map remains. You can have all four areas in the undocked window by dragging them out of the thin-lined boundaries with the mouse, and reshaping the FSNavigator window according to your wishes.

The size and visibility of the FSNavigator internal windows docked and undocked are stored separately. When using FSNavigator next time in docked or undocked state, you will have the windows in the same size and position you left them before.

The undocked window also is very handy when you have Windows 98/ME with two graphics cards and two monitors. For the second system you could use a simple 2D card; as extra monitor f.i. an old 14"one. Details about the setup of such a system can be found in Windows Help.

Window Background Color is the background color for all FSNavigator windows. The blue color is not available on all systems.

Sound activates the acoustical signals of the program.

Show all Warnings will activate the showing of additional warnings and instructions in the windows.

Page Flight plan:

Speed limit below 10,000 ft limits the maximum speed allowed in the FMS. Civil aircraft generally have a speed limit of 250 kts when flying below 10,000 ft.

The option Distance, ETE, Fuel determines the way these values are represented in the flight plan.

Fuel  unit of measurement determines the units used for fuel quantity.

Page Map:

Here additional settings for the map can be made. Among these settings that are not available in the bar at the right side of the map. With Font you can choose a character type. Good fonts are Arial 8 and Small Fonts 7.

Page FMS:

Here optional settings for Automatic flight can be made. Global settings are made with the buttons Full Automatic, Half Automatic, and Manual. These settings can additionally be fine-tuned at the right.

With Full Automatic the flight plan is flown automatically, without input by the pilot. Half Automatic means that values are set in autopilot and avionics automatically; you have to press the autopilot buttons yourself.


Scenery database open dialog box

Database shows the list of scenery databases. This dialog box has relevance for FS98 only.


Manual Waypoint Settings dialog box

This dialog box can be reached via the context menu of a waypoint.

Altitude crossing is the altitude when crossing over this point. The aircraft will start climb/descend to reach this altitude at an optimal distance. Altitude crossing is mostly used descending.

Altitude after  is the altitude the aircraft should reach as quickly as possible after passing over this point. Altitude after is mostly used when climbing.

The Indicated (or True) Airspeed is set in the autopilot 3 n.m. before crossing the waypoint, so it will be overflown with this speed.

Altitude crossing, Altitude after and Indicated/True Airspeed will be maintained from the point where they are set until landing or at the end of the flight plan. These settings can however be disabled by Disable previous Altitude Limits, Disable previous Speed Limits, or by entering new manual settings at the next waypoint.

Normally a turn will already be initiated by the FMS before the waypoint, so a smooth transition to the next part of the route is given. This function can be disabled for a marked waypoint with Turn not before Overfly.

In the figure above showing an approach flight this option has been activated for Fix02. This ensures that the aircraft will fly the turn from Fix02 to Fix03 fully, and not arrive before the landing runway too high.

With automatically generated flight plans this option will be used by the program if necessary.

If a manual waypoint settings are technically impossible for an aircraft, they will be rejected or adapted automatically by the program.

An empty entry line means: No manual settings.


Holding Pattern dialog box

Defining a holding loop is only possible at a VOR, NDB or Intersection. Defining a new holding loop will delete the previous one. If you define a holding loop during flight, the heading preset in Heading is your present heading. The Segment length can be given in minutes or nautical miles. Please take into  account that FMS cannot make turns with a diameter of < 3 n.m., or 1.5 minutes. Also the airspeed should be reduced to =<180 knots.


Properties of SID/STAR dialog box

With this function a marked SID or STAR can be renamed or the global region of an airport can be changed.

In the listing above all SID/STARs are shown that have the same entry-  and ending point.

Entering the Identification (ID) is important. Different ID’s must produce different SID/STARs. However SID/STARs with different starting points or ending points can have the same ID.

Description is optional, and can contain remarks on the SID/STAR.

With Global Region and Country you can define the place of the airport in the hierarchy of the window Airports with SID/STARs. With Country you can only use countries for which a number of airports with SID/STARs already exists.  The FSNavigator team will adapt the number of countries available as necessary.

In the field Author you can enter your name or e-mail adress. Hereby you become one of the authors of the SID/STARs of this airport. A maximum of 10 different authors will be stored with one airport, and shown in the window Airports with SID/STARs. With more than 10 authors the first name in the list is removed. This does not apply to the original author who first uploaded this airport, and whose name will never be removed.

Please note:

You have to make an important decision, especially if you want to upload your newly made ore modified SID/STARs via SID/STAR Upload to the central server on the Internet. The problem is, that two users may be working on the same Airport at the same time. This can never be excluded, and it may lead to a later loss of your work.

So what is the best way ?

 Make sure your computer has the right date and time settings.

 Before you start work on new SID/STARs for an Airport, or modify the existing ones, be sure to download the last SID/STARs first via SID/STAR Download.

 Only work on one Airport at a time.

 As soon as the Airport is finished, upload the data via SID/STAR Upload to the central Internet Server. Don’t send any unfinished Airports, as these will be deleted.

 After uploading your SID/STARs wait for 5 days, and then do an SID/STAR Download. You will then have any alterations the FSNavigator team has possibly made.

After changing properties, the airport in the window Airports with SID/STARs will be marked with a red dot. This means:

 The airport no longer conforms to the data on the central internet server.

 The airport is ready for SID/STAR Upload.

 The airport is now protected, and will not be overwritten when you do a SID/STAR Download.  This also applies when SID/STARs downloaded from the central internet server should have a later date.


Tower view dialog box

This dialog box is only shown if the aircraft is airborne while the Tower View is set. Here you can enter the elevation of the viewpoint. As a default value the actual altitude of the aircraft is given.


Payment and Registration dialog box

Until you register, FSNavigator will work in Demo Mode. This means that you will have full functionality but limited to 20 Flt.Sim. sessions. To be able to see the map after 20 sessions you will need to buy a Registration Key.

Pay and register this program via our Homepage http://www.fsnavigator.com/. Besides payment by Credit Card also payment in cash (international), by Euro Check (Europe) or via Bank transfer (Germany) is possible.

When you have received your registration information via e-mail, enter these data into the fields Name, Date and Key. If in the dialog box the OK button is activated, the data as entered are valid.

After pressing the OK button the dialog box is closed, and the program will work without further limitations. If you have to re-install FSNavigator at a later date, you will have to enter the same registration data again. The registration data are independent of hardware, and valid for all your FSNavigator installations.

You can win a free registration key:

On every 30th computer FSNavigator will register itself directly the first time the program is used. If this is the case, a dialog box will inform you about it at once. In this dialog box you are given a key for unlocking all program functions permanently. Make a note of this key! You may need it again in case you have to re-install your program. You can also find this key in the textfile ...\Flt.Sim.\Modules\FSNavigator\Bin\Program.cfg

[Essential]

LicenseKey=xxxxxxx

This free registration key differs from the paid key by the following limitations:

 The registration key will only be valid for this computer.

 After HDD change or after formatting your C: partition, the registration key will no longer be valid.

 You are not entitled to a replacement key in case of loss or if your key becomes invalid.

 There are no guarantees and you are not entitled to support from the FSNavigator Team.


Print Progress dialog box

The Printing dialog box is shown during the time that FSNavigator is sending output to the printer.  The page number indicates the progress of the printing.

To abort printing, choose Cancel.


Print Preview toolbar

The print preview toolbar offers you the following options:

Print	Bring up the print dialog box, to start a print job.
Next Page	Preview the next printed page.
Prev Page	Preview the previous printed page.
One Page / Two Page	Preview one or two printed pages at a time.
Zoom In	Take a closer look at the printed page.
Zoom Out	Take a larger look at the printed page.
Close	Return from print preview to the editing window.


Toolbar

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window. The toolbar provides quick mouse access to many tools used in FSNavigator.

To hide or display the Toolbar, use the Toolbar command of the Options menu.

Click	To

Create a new flight plan.

Open an existing flight plan. The program opens the dialog box File open.

Saves the current flight plan under it’s name. If the flight plan has still no name, then the function Save As is executed.

Using this option, an airplane for the flight plan can be selected, new airplanes can be created or still existant aircrafts can be modified or deleted. The program opens the dialog box Aircraft.

Adjusts the cruising altitude and airspeed for the entire flight plan. The program opens the dialog box Cruise Altitude/Speed.

This function inserts automatically additional waypoints between start and destination into the flight plan. The program opens the dialog box Calculate auto route.

All by the function Calculate auto route inserted waypoints are removed from the flight plan.

Printing of the flight plan or the map of the world. The program opens the dialog box Print mode for the selection of the mode.

Cancels the last action.

Cancels the last undo-action.

Cuts and copies the marked objects to the clipboard.

Copies the marked objects to the clipboard.

Pastes the objects from the clipboard.

Deletes the marked objects.

The program opens the dialog box Settings to adjust the program’s options.

Shows the application as docked or floating window.

Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of FSNavigator.  When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark.  Then click somewhere in the FSNavigator window, such as another Toolbar button.  The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

The Dialog box shows you how to keep using the program after the free trial phase has ended.

Shows information on the application and the author.


Status bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the FSNavigator window.

To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the Options menu.

The left area of the status bar describes:

 Position of the mouse pointer on the map.

 Actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus.  This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, before releasing them.  If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button.

The right areas of the status bar indicate:

Indicator	Description

Meigs Feeld.fsn	Name of the current flight plan.

Learjet 45A	Type of the current aircraft.

x1	Zoom factor


Switch panel
World Map switch panel


Symbols
World Map symbols

	NDB:		VOR:
	ILS:		ATIS/PCL:
	Marker:		ISEC:
	Fix-Point:		Airport:


VFR Flights
VFR Flights (Autor: Enno Laverman)

During VFR flight you can always find your position on the FSNavigator map, and (by dragging with the right mouse-button depressed) measure distance and heading to a nearby airport or landmark.

You can also find what Navaids are nearby, set their frequency on your Nav receivers (simply drag the Navaid info to the Navaid-AP bar on the left), and use the instruments as navigation aids.

For VFR flight near Airports there are official VFR Approach Routes and VFR Departure Routes, but these are described using visual landmarks. As these landmarks (depending on the quality of the scenery) are not always visible and generally less accurately placed then the Navaids, it is not allways possible to use them for automatic flight,  so FSNavigator does not support use of these VFR routes like it does SID/STARs.

If your scenery is sufficiently detailed to make use of the landmarks in a VFR route, you can of course plan a VFR route on the FSNavigator map. Here are a few tips on how to do this:

If you have a paper map of  the area where you can find the geographical position of a landmark (say, a road crossing) you can make a Fix-point in the FSNavigator map, using the geographical pos. shown at the lower edge of the map.

If you have no geographical pos of your landmark, see if you can take a bearing on nearby Navaids (VOR, NDB) using your OBI or ADF. (your altitude must be sufficient!) Then use FSNavigator to make a Fix-point near these Navaids, make those Navaids into Bearing points, and drag your Fix-point to the spot where the bearings and distances are identical with the  previous readings on your instruments.

Any landmark with a position that can be measured from a Navaid or Airport or river bend that is recognisable on the FSNavigator map, can be located on this map in the same way (measuring direction and distance by dragging with the right mouse button depressed) and entered into the flight plan as a Fix point.

Want to be able to find that spectacular piece of scenery again later? Pause your flight.;  go to the FSNavigator map and make a Fix point at the location of your aircraft, send it To Flightplan, and repeat this as often as you like. Then save your flight plan.

Want to see what the mountains look like in Younamit? Go to the nearby airport, take off, open the FSNavigator map, and put your mouse pointer in a spot on the other side of the mountains. Press the right mouse button, and select  Fly to here in the popup menu. Select a suitable altitude and speed, and enjoy your flight.

VFR flight can be great fun, especially now scenery quality is improving. The FSNavigator Map gives an accurate picture of the location of Navaids with respect to each other and to airports  and, (somewhat less accurate) to coastlines, canals, lakes etc. This makes an instrument-assisted VFR flight very easy.

While flying VFR and enjoying the sights, use the FSNavigator map for orientation, and tune your Nav receivers to a VOR or NDB that will bring you close to your destination. Multiplayer flight, where FSNavigator puts the other aircraft with you on the map, is something you should certainly try!


New command

Use this command to create a new flight plan.

You can open an existing flight plan with the Open command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Open command

Use this command to open an existing flight plan.

You can create new flight plan with the New command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Open from remote Computer command

This item is available when FSNavigator is participating in a Multiplayer session, and an other player has made his flight plan available for download. The program opens the Dialog box Open from Remote Computer.


Save command

Use this command to save the active flight plan to its current name and directory.  When you save a flight plan for the first time, FSNavigator displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your flight plan.  If you want to change the name and directory of an existing flight plan before you save it, choose the Save As command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Save As command

Use this command to save and name the active flight plan. FSNavigator displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your flight plan.

To save a flight plan with its existing name and directory, use the Save command.


Save as SID/STAR command

If the flight plan meets the criteria for a SID or STAR this option is available. The program opens the Dialog box Save as SID/STAR.


Export command

Use this command to export the active flight plan. FSNavigator displays the dialog box Export for the selection of the export format. All further is dependent from the implementation of the exports DLL’s.


Aircraft command

Using this menu option an aircraft for the flight plan can be selected, new aircraft can be created, and existing aircraft can be modified or deleted. The program opens the Aircraft dialog box.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


 Cruise Altitude/Speed command

Adjusts the cruising altitude and airspeed for the entire flight plan. The program opens the dialog box Cruise Altitude/Speed.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Calculate auto route command

This function automatically inserts additional waypoints into the flight plan between the start and destination. The program opens the Calculate auto route dialog box.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


 Remove auto route command

All waypoints, inserted by the function Calculate auto route, are removed from the flight plan.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Print command

Prints the flight plan or the map of the world. This command presents a Print Mode dialog box to select flight plan or scenery and than the Print dialog box, where you may specify the range of pages to be printed, the number of copies, the destination printer, and other printer setup options.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Print Preview command

Use this command to display flight plan or scenery as it would appear when printed. This command presents a Print Mode dialog box to select flight plan or scenery. When you choose one from this, the main window will be replaced with a print preview window in which one or two pages will be displayed in their printed format. The print preview toolbar offers you options to view either one or two pages at a time; move back and forth through the document; zoom in and out of pages; and initiate a print job.


Print Setup command

Use this command to select a printer. This command presents a Print Setup dialog box, where you specify the printer and its properties.


1, 2, 3, 4 command

Use the numbers and filenames listed at the bottom of the Plan menu to open the last four flight plans you closed.  Choose the number that corresponds with the flight plan you want to open.


Undo command

Use this command to reverse the last editing action, if possible.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Redo command

Use this command to reverse the last Undo command, if possible.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Cut command

Use this command to remove the currently selected object and put it on the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no object currently selected.

Cutting data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	Shift+Delete


Copy command

Use this command to copy selected object onto the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no object currently selected.

Copying data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	Ctrl+Insert


Paste command

Use this command to insert a copy of the clipboard contents at the insertion point.  This command is unavailable if the clipboard is empty.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	Shift+Insert


Delete command

Use this command to remove the currently selected object. This command is unavailable if there is no object currently selected.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	Delete


Select all command

Use this command to select all data. This command is unavailable if there is no data available.


Multiplayer connect command

Connects FSNavigator with an existing Multiplayer session in Flt.Sim. The program opens the Dialog box Multiplayer.


Multiplayer disconnect command

Disconnects the existing Multiplayer session.


Public Flight plan command

This option is present when FSNavigator participates in a Multiplayer session. It makes the Flight plan available to the other players for downloading.


Multiplayer Host Settings command

This Menu option is only active when FSNavigator is participating in a Multiplayer session, if the original Multiplayer Host leaves the session, and FSNavigator happens to become the new Host. In the then following Dialog box you can set the number of Pilots/Observers and other parameters.


SID/STAR Download command

With this option you can download the SID/STARs that are available on the Internet to your computer. The program opens the Dialog box Download SID/STARs.  Downloading is done from a central online database.


SID/STAR Upload command

With this function you can upload self-made or altered SID/STARs to the online SID/STAR database. The program opens for that purpose the Dialog box Upload SID/STARs. After uploading your SID/STARs will be available to all other FSNavigator users.


Settings command

The program opens the Settings Dialog box for adjustment of the program’s options.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Scenery Open command

Selection from the Scenery database. The program opens the Dialog box Scenery database open. This option has relevance for FS98 only.


Docked Window command

Sets the FSNavigator window Docked / Undocked.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Toolbar command

Use this command to display and hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands in FSNavigator, such as Plan Open.  A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.

See Toolbar for help on using the toolbar.


Status Bar command

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the selected menu item or depressed toolbar button. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.

See Status bar for help on using the status bar.


Help Topics command

Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.

Shortcut

Toolbar:


Payment and Registration

The Dialog box shows you how to keep using the program after the free trial phase has ended.

Shortcut

Toolbar:


About command

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of your copy of FSNavigator.

Shortcut

Toolbar:


Context Help command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of FSNavigator. When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark. Then click somewhere in the FSNavigator window, such as another Toolbar button. The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Toolbar:

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


Zoom Out command

Increases the area displayed on the map by reducing magnification.


Zoom Normal (1:1) command

Brings the map to default size, displaying the whole world.


To Flightplan command

Word map window: If this option is selected while a popup window was before present over an object in the map, this object is now added to the Flight plan. If no popup window was present, a Fix point is added.

Airports with SID/STAR window: The runway is added to the Flight plan.

SID/STAR window: The selected SID or STAR is entered into the Flight plan.

Search window: This will add the indicated scenery object to the end of the Flight plan.


Holding Pattern command

Defines a holding pattern at this VOR, NDB or Intersection. A Dialog box is provided for entering the necessary parameters. Only one holding pattern can be defined at a time.


Fly to here command

Word map window: Is available if the aircraft is airborne and has an autopilot. The aircraft will fly to the location represented by the position of the mouse. The autopilot only controlls the aircraft heading (direction) to this location.

Flight plan window: Is enabled if the aircraft is airborne and an autopilot is available. The aircraft will fly to the marked waypoint. The autopilot only controls the flight direction (heading). The automatic flight ends when the target point is reached, the next waypoint does not become the new target.

Search window: Is available if the aircraft is airborne and an autopilot is available. The aircraft will fly to the scenery object selected by the mouse position. The autopilot will only control the direction of the flight.


Move Aircraft to here command

Word map window: Is available if the aircraft is airborne, or if the aircraft is situated on the ground, and the popup window displays runway/airport information. The aircraft is then shifted to the mouse position. If the aircraft is moved towards a runway, it will also be correctly lined up with the runway heading.

Flight plan window: Is available if the aircraft is airborne or if the aircraft is situated on the ground, and the waypoint is an runway/airport. The aircraft is shifted to the waypoint position. If the aircraft, while on the ground, is moved towards a runway, it will also be correctly lined up with the runway heading.

Search window: Is available if the aircraft is airborne or if the aircraft is situated on the ground, and the waypoint is an runway or airport. The aircraft is shifted to the position of the indicated scenery object. If the aircraft, while on the ground, is moved towards a runway, it will also be correctly lined up with the runway heading.


Set Tower View to here command

Word map window: This moves the Tower View to the indicated spot. If at this spot a runway or airport was shown in the popup window, the tower will be set at a suitable distance and elevation with respect to the runway. For all other locations with no popup window showing, a Dialog box will let you enter the elevation of the tower view. The default in this Dialog box is the actual altitude of the aircraft.

Flight plan window: This moves the Tower View to the marked waypoint. If the waypoint is a runway or airport, the tower will be set at a suitable distance and elevation with respect to the runway. For all other locations, a Dialog box will let you enter the elevation of the tower view. The default in this Dialog box is the actual altitude of the aircraft.

Search window: This moves the Tower View to the indicated scenery object. If the object is a runway or airport, the tower will be set at a suitable distance and elevation with respect to the runway. For all other locations, a Dialog box will let you enter the elevation of the tower view. The default in this Dialog box is the actual altitude of the aircraft.


Center Map command

Word map window: Centres the Map around the mouse position.

Flight plan window: Centres the Map around the marked waypoint.

Airports with SID/STAR window: This will center the map on the selected runway or airport.

SID/STAR window: This will center the map on the selected runway, airport or waypoint.

Search window: Centers the Map on the selected scenery object.


Manual Settings command

Opens the Dialog box Manual Waypoint Settings for entering altitude and airspeed at the marked waypoint. With Fix-points you can also enter the position in numbers.


Bearing Point command

Is available when the waypoint is a VOR, NDB or ILS.  Bearing points are not flown over, they are for radio navigation. An example is given here:

After the intersection AALEN a new course is flown to RIDAR. WLD VOR is in the same direction. In order to use radio navigation after AALEN, WLD is made a Bearing Point.

So a Bearing Point is generally entered into the plan after a waypoint where the course is altered.

At one waypoint two VOR’s and one NDB can be made Bearing Points. The first VOR will set NAV1 and the course in the Autopilot, while NAV2 is tuned to the second VOR. Bearing Points do not need to be in the direction of flight.


 #Fly Flightplan from here command

This option is available if the aircraft has an autopilot. The automatic execution of the Flight plan from this line will be started as soon as the autopilot is engaged. If the autopilot is disengaged, the automatic flight is terminated.


Properties command

Opens the Dialog box Properties of SID/STAR.


Set Autopilot Heading command

Set Autopilot Heading with the FMS Heading value.


Set ADF Frequency command

Set Autopilot ADF with the FMS frequency value.


Set NAV1 Course command

Set Autopilot NAV1 course with the FMS Heading value.


Set NAV1 Frequency command

Set Autopilot NAV1 with the FMS frequency value.


Set NAV2 Course command

Set Autopilot NAV2 course with the FMS Heading value.


Set NAV2 Frequency command

Set Autopilot NAV2 with the FMS frequency value.


Scroll bars

Displayed at the right and bottom edges of the window. The scroll boxes inside the scroll bars indicate your vertical and horizontal location. You can use the mouse to scroll to other parts of the window.


Title Bar

The title bar is located along the top of a window.  It contains the name of the application.

To move the window, drag the title bar.  Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.

A title bar may contain from left to right the following elements:

Application Control-menu button

Name of the application

Minimize button

Maximize button

Exit button


Application Control menu commands

The Applicatio Control menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:

Restore	Return the window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.
Move	Move the window.
Size	Size the window.
Minimize	Reduce the Window to an icon.
Maximize	Enlarge the window to fill the available space.
Close	Close the window.


Application Move command
Move command (Application Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the window with the arrow keys.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.


Application Size command
Size command (Application Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key)

to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Drag the size bars at the corners or edges of the window.


Application Minimize command
Minimize command (Application Control menu)

Use this command to reduce the window to an icon.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the minimize icon [image] on the title bar.


Application Maximize command
Maximize command (Application Control menu)

Use this command to enlarge the window to fill the available space.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the maximize icon [image] on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.


Application Restore command
Restore command (Application Control menu)

Use this command to return the window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.


Application Close command
Close command (Application Control menu)

Use this command to close the window.

Shortcuts

Mouse:	Double-click the Application's Control menu button

or click the exit icon [image].

Keys: 	ALT+F4 closes the application


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.