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Text File | 1993-09-12 | 25.5 KB | 494 lines

You should have the following files with this text file: DFS4A.BAT FLTSIM4A.ADV FS4RMPA.BAT FLTSIM4A.RMP READFS4A.TXT 1. Copy DFS4A.BAT and FLTSIM4A.ADV to your C:\MARKII subdirectory. Also copy READFS4A.TXT to C:\MARKII and print it out. 2. Copy FLTSIM4A.BAT and FLTSIM4A.RMP to your C:\REMAP subdirectory. 3. Switch to the C:\MARKII subdirectory and print the FLTSIM4A.ADV file and study it in conjunction with this text file. NOTE: ALL REFERENCES TO PRESSING A BUTTON ON THE WCS OR A BUTTON ON THE FCS OR PFCS (OR THE "HAT" SWITCH POSITON) MEANS PRESS AND THEN RELEASE. NEVER HOLD THEM PRESSED FOR LONG - THEY DO NOT AT THIS TIME REPEAT KEYS!!!!! MODE 3 - NORMAL FLIGHT MODE: The FLTSIM4A.ADV file, once downloaded to the WCS II will perform the following functions with the remapper in Mode 3 - Normal Flight Mode. You will remain in one of the three modes all the time while using this with FS4. If you want to see your original ADV functions, then just look at the print out of the FLTSIM4A.ADV file, then refer to the FS4 Manual and copy the functions each key that has been assigned to each button will be performed when you press that button. FCS BTN TG z - toggle autopilot on/off. BTN UB SCRLCK - Activate Scroll Lock - after pressing and releasing the upper button, if you push the "hat" switch in any direction and release it, it will cause your views to switch in that direction. If you push the "hat" fwd after pressing and releasing the upper button, for example your view will shift from the fwd view, to left 45 deg, and the next time you press and release the upper button and then push the hat fwd and release it, your view will return to fwd view. The next time you press and release the upper button followed by pushing the hat forward, your view will shift from fwd view to right 45 deg and then the next time you use the upper button and hat fwd combination of press and release your view will return to fwd. It will continue to cycle this way each time you use a combination of an upper button press/release followed by a push fwd/release of the hat. The combination of a press/release of the upper button and a push to the rear and release of the hat will cycle the rear, rear left, and rear right 45 deg views in the same manner the the upper button/hat fwd combination does. The upper button/left push and upper button/ right push on the hat will activate the left and right views in turn. BTN MB ] - 3-D view on/off toggle. Press once for on and press two times to toggle it off. BTN LB l - Turn cockpit and navigation lights on/off toggle. BTN HU KP7 KP8 - If the hat is pushed fwd by itself, every other press will cause the nose down trim to activate. This position of the hat in conjunction with the upper button will cause view switching to occur instead of nose down trim (see above - under BTN UB SCRLCK). It's a dual function on the hat. The view shifts are accomplished through the use of the remap program WCC.EXE and the remap TSR, KBDRMP.COM. Load and examine FLTSIM4A.RMP in WCC.EXE to determine how this is accomplished. Or refer to the text explanation of how the remapper programs are used to accomplish this bit of keyboard magic. BTN HR KP6 - By itself, pressing the hat right will cause right trim. Due to the FS4 programming, you are only permitted two right trim movement positions, but trimming right (or left) is not needed in FS4 due to the FS4 aircraft tendency to self-return to level wings. This is used mostly for view shifting in combination with the upper button. (See above - under BTN UB SCRLCK). BTN HD KP1 KP2 - If the hat is pushed to the rear by itself, every other press will cause the nose up trim to activate. This position of the hat in conjunction with the upper button will cause view switching to occur instead of nose up trim (see above - under BTN UB SCRLCK). It's a dual function on the hat. BTN HL KP4 - By itself, left aileron trim, with upper button first, left view. (See above - under BTN UB SCRLCK). WCS BTN 1 s - Window/view toggle. Note, if you are in outside view, you can shift your outside view position using the upper button/hat combination of presses as explained above in BTN UB SCRLCK. BTN 2 - - Decrease zoom view. If you hold the shift key while pressing and releasing this button you get fine zoom view decreases. BTN 3 = - Increase zoom view. If you hold the shift key while pressing and releasing this button you get fine zoom view increases. BTN 4 SHFTD BSP SHFTU - Pan view up in any view. Press and release upper button to return view to level. BTN 5 SHFTD ENT SHFTU - Pan view down in any view. Press and release upper button to return view to level. BTN 6 d a - Calibrate Directional Gyro and calibrate Altimeter with a single button press/release. RKR UP j - Activate Remap Mode 1 - Comms/Nav Mode - see functions in Remap Mode 1 explained below. RKR MD r - Activate Remap Mode 3 - Normal Flight mode. This mode is only used to ensure that the 8-way views are possible even with Mode 1 and Mode 2 turned off. In FS4 you fly with the TSR active in at least one of the three modes at all times so the 8-way views are enabled. The mode you are in. RKR DN x - Activate Remap Mode 2 - Landing/Takeoff Mode - see functions active in Remap Mode 2 explained below. MODE 1 - COMMS/NAV MODE: The FLTSIM4A.RMP Mode 1 - Comms/Nav Mode, when active by pressing the WCS II rocker switch to the UP position will cause your WCS II and your PFCS or FCS to perform the following functions: FCS BTN TG 1 - Use with BTN 4, for Nav radio 1 selection, & BTN 5 for VOR 1 selection. See the original ADV functions assigned and what this mode remaps them to. Do the same for all the Buttons listed below until you become familiar with the way the ADV file & the RMP file work together to provide you with all this user- defined functionality. You'll be an expert in no time. BTN UB SCRLCK - Does the same as in the above BTN UB explanation - refer to the description above for BTN UB if you wish to read this again. BTN MB 2 - Use with BTN 4, for Nav radio 2 selection, & BTN 5 for VOR 2 selection. See the original ADV functions assigned and what this mode remaps them to. Do the same for all the Buttons listed below until you become familiar with the way the ADV file & the RMP file work together to provide you with all this user- defined functionality. You'll be an expert in no time. BTN LB l - Does the same as in the above BTN LB explanation refer to the description above for BTN LB if you wish to read this again. BTN HU KP7 KP8 - Same as Mode 3 above. BTN HR KP6 - Same as Mode 3 above. BTN HD KP1 KP2 - Same as Mode 3 above. BTN HL KP4 - Same as Mode 3 above. WCS BTN 1 c - Select Com radio then press Trig for COM 1 or MB for Com 2 - press once to change frequency then press BTN 2 (down) or press BTN 3 (up) for the digits left of the decimal, and press twice to change frequency with a press of BTN 2 or 3 for the digits to the right of the decimal. BTN 2 - - Same as Mode 3 above. BTN 3 = - Same as Mode 3 above. BTN 4 n - Select Nav radio - see BTN 1 description - same functions except for the Nav radio and frequency changing. BTN 5 v - Select VOR indicator. see BTN 1 description - same functions except for the VOR indicator and heading changing. BTN 6 t - Select Transponder. see BTN 5 description - same functions except for the Transpondor code changing. Also, press once for first digit, then use BTN 3 or 4 (down or up) and twice for the second digit and three times for the third digit, and four times for the fourth digit each followed by pressing BTN 3 for down and BTN 4 for up. RKR UP j - Activate remap mode 1 - Comms/Nav Mode - the mode you are in. RKR MD r - Activate Mode 3 - Normal Flight Mode (described above in the first section showing the button assignments and functions). RKR DN x - Activate Mode 2 - Landing/Takeoff Mode (described below). MODE 2 - LANDING/TAKEOFF MODE: The FLTSIM4A.RMP Mode 2- Landing/Takoff Mode, when active by pressing the WCS II rocker switch to the DOWN position will cause your WCS II and your PFCS or FCS to perform the following functions: FCS BTN TG F7/F6 - Flaps toggle between 10 deg (F6) and 30 deg (F7) with each succeeding press of each button. BTN UB SCRLCK - Use the same as in other modes. BTN MB F5 - Retract flaps. BTN LB g - Extend/Retract landing gear. BTN HU KP7 KP8 - Same as Mode 3 above. BTN HR KP6 - Same as Mode 3 above. BTN HD KP1 KP2 - Same as Mode 3 above. BTN HL KP4 - Same as Mode 3 above. WCS BTN 1 s - Cycles views. BTN 2 - - Use to zoom view out. BTN 3 = - Use to zoom view in. BTN 4 o - Strobe lights on/off. BTN 5 h - Carb heat on/off. BTN 6 . a - Engage brakes (.) and calibrate Altimeter (a). RKR UP j - Activate remap mode 1 - Comms/Nav Mode. RKR MD r - Activate Mode 3 - Normal Flight Mode (described above in the first section showing the button assignments and functions). RKR DN x - Activate Mode 2 - Landing/Takeoff Mode (described below). The mode you are now in. Note: It would be a good idea, to use this series of files at first by following the loading procedures and then entering FS4 and learning the modes one mode at a time. For example, before following the loading instructions below, simply print out the command matrix printed at the end of this text file and then, follow the loading instructions and after entering FS4, make sure the rocker is in the middle positition, and try the Normal Flight Mode button functions and follow along in the button function matrix as you press each button on the FCS/PFCS and WCS II handle. The commands should activate what the matrix indicates while in FS4 with the rocker switch ON THE MARK II HANDLE in the middle position. If they don't, first try pressing the rocker up and then return it to the middle position, selecting Mode 3 - Normal Flight Mode again and try again. If they still don't do what you expect, stop and think - what might you have done to make it not work as expected. Remember, while flying FS4 you will ALWAYS have the remapper active in one of the three modes with these files loaded. You should never turn it off with the F12 (Remap ON/OFF key). HOW FLTSIM4.RMP, FLTSIM4A.ADV WORK TOGETHER AND HOW TO CREATE REMAPS: To view this RMP file switch to the C:\REMAP subdirectory and then run WCC, when WCC starts, click on File, Load, Remap, and FLTSIM4A.RMP. WCC will inform you that FLTSIM4A.RMP has loaded. Click on OK, and then Click on Remap File at the top. Look at the Configuration by clicking on Configuration. You will see there are THREE remap modes. They are called Mode 1 - RKR UP - Comms/Nav Mode, Mode 2 - RKR MD - Normal Flight, & Mode 3 - Takeoff/Landing Mode. You will also see the number of modes is 3, and the mode active when you start FS4 will be mode 3 - (Normal Flight). This means exactly that, the Normal Flight mode will be active and the buttons on your WCS II and FCS/PFCS will do what they have been REMAPPED to by the FLTSIM4A.RMP file from the FLTSIM4A.ADV file original keypress assignments. The remap program KBDRMP.COM causes the keys you assigned to the FCS/PFCS buttons and WCS buttons to be remapped to the keypresses you see in each of the modes in FLTSIM4A.RMP. You use the remap programming program WCC.EXE to accomplish this yourself, so you have total control over which buttons you wish to change by remapping them to other buttons and to two buttons that can toggle between one keypress and then another each time you press it. This toggle feature is used to get the eight way views in each mode (for example Mode 1 - Comms/Nav Mode where you will see I am telling KBDRMP.COM to remap the KP7 (7[numeric) to remap itself to KP9 and then with the next press remap itself to KP7 again. The 1/3/1 you see in this mode accomplishes this on the rear views. You will see this repeated in each mode so the 8-way views work in all three modes and continue to work as long as you don't ever turn the remap TSR off in flight by hitting the F12 key (you can turn it back on by hitting F12 again) as shown at the bottom of the Remap File Config- uration screen as the Remap On/Off Key. I have deliberately not assigned the F12 key to any buttons on the WCS II or FCS/PFCS so that to turn the TSR off you would hit it on the keyboard. I have never turned it off while flying FS4. You will also see this bit of keyboard magic in Mode 2 - Landing/Takeoff Mode where I remap the z key (which toggles autopilot on/off in Normal Flight Mode) to the F7 (Flaps 30 deg) and F6 (Flaps 10 deg down). This permits you to use the trigger in FS4 to lower the flaps in two stages - first press of the trigger in Landing/Takeoff mode puts the flaps to 10 deg down, and the second press will put them to 30 deg down. NOTE: due to the toggle nature, the next time you activate Landing/Takeoff mode, the flaps may go to 30 deg first - the cure whenever this happens is to simply press the trigger again and they will return to 10 deg down and will go to 30 degrees down with the next trigger press. This is just the way a toggle works and should cause no problems if you watch the flaps indicator when you press the trigger. If it goes to 30 deg - immediately press the trigger a second time if you want them at 10 deg instead. If you would prefer to have the flaps toggle between 10 deg and 40 deg instead of 10 deg and 30 deg, then simply switch to the C:\REMAP subdirectory and run WCC. Then click on File, Load, Remap, and FLTSIM4A.RMP and the remap file will load. Click on OK and then click on Mode 3. Once you see the Mode 3 screen, simply change the F6 F7/F6 to F6 F8/F6. The only change here is F7 to F8 and you will get 10 and 40 deg flaps instead of 10 and 30 deg flaps and they will toggle the same way. Experiment with this stuff, that's the whole purpose for this. Finally, the end user has some say in how his flight simulator responds. You will notice if you look at the FLTSIM4A.ADV file, in the Normal Flight Mode, the z key is operated by the trigger - that will toggle autopilot on/off, so if you want to switch to autopilot, press the trigger from the Normal Flight Mode (RKR Middle) then, place the RKR Up and set your COMMS & NAV radios to the frequencies you want, and the VOR 1 and 2 (note that when you put the RKR Up you switch to Comms/nav mode and the trigger is now a 1 and if used in conjunction with Button 5 on the WCS II handle, you can select VOR 1 and then set it with BTN 2 or BTN 3 (look at the FLTSIM4A.ADV printout - you'll see that BTN 2 is - and BTN 3 is = and they are NOT remapped to something else in any of the remap modes, so they can be used to set Com/Nav radio freqs, and VOR 1 & 2 headings, the Transponder code numbers. There is no need for me to explain the remapper and how it works any further, since this is how it works and covers every thing it can do. The rest is magic on your part. For example, if you look at the FLTSIM4A.ADV printout, you will see I assigned the keys d and a to BTN 6. These keys then, in Normal Flight Mode, will be generated with a single press of BTN 6 when the Rocker switch on the handle is in the middle position and you will then calibrate both your Directional Gyro and Altimeter with a single press of BTN 6 on the WCS II handle. When you place the Rocker switch on the handle down, I have remapped the d key to the b key so that on touchdown, what happens when you press BTN 6 on the WCS II is you get brakes (it will also cal altimeter). Not a bad option to have the ability to cal your altimeter as you are in your descent for landing. The brake indicator will come on, but it won't hurt anything since you are in the air. The brakes, too, are a handy little item to have after you touch down and are racing down the runway towards your doom. 8) Look very carefully at the remap file FLTSIM4A in WCC and you will soon learn just how easy it is to do this type of multi-function remapping. I have found that it is generally best to assign a separate mode to each position of the rocker switch. This is true in every sim I have done a remap file for. You may use either a no-op key or a key that actually does something useful assigned to both activate a mode in the remapper files you create - it is up to you to decide if an option is desirable when you also activate a remap mode. Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not. What you MUST pay close attention to is that you do not inadvertently remap a key you are using to activate a remap mode, or when you try to generate that key to activate the mode and maybe something else, if you have remapped it to another key already, it will generate the wrong key and you'll get a result you didn't expect. For example, lets suppose the l key turns the light on and off in FS4, and you wish to use it on the rocker down position to both turn your lights on or off each time you put the rocker down AND also activate a mode you assign to activate in WCC by the l key. If you remap the l key to some other key, say the o key (strobes) in the mode you are in with the rocker in the middle, when you first put the rocker down, the remapper will generate an o, and you will either turn your strobes on or off and the mode you set up to activate with the l key won't activate. This can also have the undesirable effect of causing your kids to run to your wife and say, "Mom, dad is using naughty words, and pounding on his keyboard AGAIN!" If you find this happening to you, then you might do what I do, I usually dream up the basics for a remap mode, then create it and do the batch file to load it (it explains how to do the batch file in the HELP screen you get in WCC when you click on Help at the top). You can print this help screen out by switching to the C:\REMAP subdirectory and printing out the file README. Assign the mode to the middle rocker position and call it the normal flight mode or something like that to start. Then print out the *.ADV file you created, and write down the keys you remapped the ADV assigned keys in a column to the right on the paper you just printed the *.ADV file on (use the format X/Y for the toggle keys you assign). Then you can better follow along with what is happening. The buttons will generate the keys you see to the left as printed out and the keys you see to the right when you activate the mode you created. (I use a pencil so I can easily make changes.) Fly the sim and think about other options you could add to the mode you just created and also what other modes you could create and assign to the up and down rocker positions. Then exit the sim, run WCC load the remap file you just created and modify it by adding the two other modes. You can have up to FIVE alternate modes and up to twenty key redefinitions in each of the five modes. I rarely have more than three modes because I like to assign them all to the three rocker positions for consistency and to avoid increasing my blood pressure trying to remember 80-odd keypresses or more. Remember, there are only 101 keys on the keyboard, and you can run the risk of suffering "pilot information overload" while in flight with too many key assignments on too many buttons. The miltary learned this early in the development of the Throttle and Joystick HOTAS controls (which the ThrustMaster WCS II and FCS/PFCS are copies of), so they limited the number of buttons on the two controls to avoid getting pilots killed in air combat engagements or ground attacks. The WCS II and FCS/PFCS are designed the way they are for the same reason. Refer to the Help file (README) for the remapper for other information, like keys that cannot be remapped because of the way the IBM keyboard driver is written, and for instructions on running WCC, creating remap modes, and saving the remap files you create. There is an option in the creation of the batch files where it will ask you if you will use the Pilot's Edge, if you have the Mark II WCS, you should not need this fine utility, since the WCS II will reprogram the same buttons it does for you, so do not use it (say no) when you use the BAT file creation option to create the batch file that will load the remap tsr and your remap file. If you wish to load the remapper manually, or create your own batch file using your favorite text editor, simply use this format: C:\REMAP\KBDRMP (loads the remap tsr program KBDRMP.COM) C:\REMAP\TBL_FLL YOURNAMED.RMP (loads the remap file you created) C:\[FLTSIMDIRECTORY]\[FLTSIMPROGRAMNAME] (Same name you type to normally start the flight simulation) I.E. FS or FS4 for Flight sim 4. Then, finally add: C:\KBDRMP (this will remove the remap from memory when you exit the sim). Note also in the WCC help file that it tells you the remap TSR will not coexist (run) with ill-behaved programs such as COMANCHE. Ill-behaved programs do not like to coexist with TSR or other programs running. COMANCHE is the only flight sim I've found so far that the remapper won't work with - which I suspect has to do with it's 386/486 Native mode programming method. If you encounter other programs (flight sim, or TSR or other) that you find it cannot work with, let us know and we will look into making it work. Practice with this stuff loaded. There are over 40 functions you can perform from your WCS II and FCS or PFCS, in addition to analog throttle control. This will take a little time to learn. You can add even more functions if you wish. Just create another mode or two with the remapper and you can have enough functions to completely befuddle yourself in the midst of a cross country flight. 8) Now, to get started using this series of files: 1. Print out the button function matrix below, and make sure you have a print out of FLTSIM4A.ADV handy. 1. If you have not already downloaded the FLTSIM4A.ADV file, then switch to the C:\MARKII subdirectory and type DFS4A. The rest of the process will be automatic, just follow the instructions as they are presented to you. 2. If you have already downloaded the FLTSIM4A.ADV file, then switch to the C:\REMAP subdirectory and type FS4RMPA - again read the instructions and perform them just as they ask you to. It is always a good idea to start from the dos prompt in whatever subdirectory you are in and make sure the handle on the WCS II is all the way back and you have clicked on Button 1 on the WCS II handle until you see characters generated. If you don't see characters, don't be alarmed, it may be that you have programmed some key like F7, for example onto button 1 and F7 will not produce anything at the DOS prompt even if you press it on the keyboard - it's a non native key. If if doubt as to whether your WCS II or FCS or PFCS are actually generating characters, use KEYTEST in the C:\MARKII subdirectory. Button function switch matrix: For FCS or PFCS and WCS II while running FLTSIM4A.ADV downloaded and the remap TSR running with FLTSIM4A.RMP loaded while flying Flight Simulator 4.0: FLTSIM4A.ADV Comms Normal L/TO DEFAULTS RKR UP RKR MD RKR DN No modes Mode 1 Mode 3 Mode 2 Active Active Active Active FCS BTN TG Autopilot *C/N/V 1 Autopilot Flap Stages BTN UB View Trigger T+View Trigger T+View Trigger T+View Trigger BTN MB 2nd 3-D Window *C/N/V 2 2nd 3-D Window Flaps Up BTN LB Lights on/off Lights on/off Lights on/off Gears up/dn BTN HU Trim/Nose Down +Fwd Views +Fwd Views +Fwd Views BTN HR Right Trim +Right View +Right View +Right View BTN HD Trim/Nose UP +Rear Views +Rear Views +Rear Views BTN HL Left Trim +Left Views +Left Views +Left Views WCS BTN 1 Cycle Windows T*Comm Select Cycle Windows Cycle Windows BTN 2 Zoom/decrease *Decr Freq/head Zoom/decrease Zoom/decrease BTN 3 Zoom/increase *Incr Freq/head Zoom/increase Zoom/increase BTN 4 Pan Up T*Nav Select Pan Up Strobes on/off BTN 5 Pan Down T*VOR Select Pan Down Carb Ht on/off BTN 6 Cal Gyro/Altim T*Trans Select Cal Gyro/Altim Brakes/Cal Alt RKR UP Mode 1 on Mode 1 on Mode 1 on Mode 1 on RKR MD Mode 3 on Mode 3 on Mode 3 on Mode 3 on RKR DN Mode 2 on Mode 2 on Mode 2 on Mode 2 on Note: BTN HU, HR, HD and HL if pressed and released by themselves all operate trimming of the aircraft. If pressed after pressing the BTN UB, the hat positions will operate one of eight view positions available in FS4. Hat operates this way with modes 1, 2, and 3 on. T* or T+ means first press this button to trigger a function on a button marked with a * or +. Happy flying, Buzz Hoffman Chief Test Pilot ThrustMaster, Inc.