X-plane setup guide

[EHM-1997 Alexander]

When you first get x-plane, there are a few things you'll want to tweak to improve the out of the box experience.

1. Update

Download the latest updater from here: http://www.x-plane.com/pg_downloads.html and place in your x-plane folder. Double click to run and make sure the betas box is left unticked.

2. plugins

Get the following plugins. to install, place them in your x-plane/resources/plugins folder

XPUIPC: http://www.tosi-online.de/XPUIPC.html
This emulates the FSUIPC interface and allows use of many MSFS external addons like FSCommander, Project Magenta and Euroharmony Flogger applications.

X-Ivap: http://www.ivao.aero/softdev/X-IvAp/
Ivao client for x-plane

xSquawkbox: http://www.vatsim.net/pilots/pilotsclients/xsquawkbox/
VATSIM client for x-plane

VRINSight have an x-plane plugin that is installed in an x-plane folder in the installation folder.

3. Rendering options

field of view - set to somewhere in the 60 degree range (this will let you see more in the virtual cockpit and move your nose away from the dials)
Increase texture resolution to either extreme res or one below (assuming a high end machine).

You don't want to set everything to max, but you can be selective where you improve the general look. I personally like crisp textures everywhere. I have per pixel lighting on(big frame hit), and have shadows on (can turn off for frames). Set the aurtogen, traffic etc sliders to somewhere in the middle then increment to find your best settings. Drop things back a notch so you get reasonable frames in all situations and forget.

4. Controls

You have two assignment panels, basic and advanced. In x-plane, move the axis and see the control axis move on screen, then select what you want it to do. FOr buttons, press the button and then pick the option. pressing the button again will display the selected action.

You'll need to map your hat views under advanced-views to pan left/right/up/down/ fast. Also assign a key to virtual cockpit (the control_o button) and chase view (a).

Set linearity of controls to about 50% on all inputs. Otherwise you may think it's too responsive

Please note that x-plane uses connection order to map usb devices, so if you unplug and replug usb in a different order you'll have to redo your mappings. For this reason you may wish to invest in a usb hub or not plug/unplug.

[EHM-1997 Alexander]

Pilotview plugin (For making your life easy in Virtual cockpits)

Download: http://www.xpluginsdk.org/pilot_view.htm

Clear the Keymappings for Function Keys F1-F8

Replace the contents of the pilotview.ini file (that goes in your resources/plugins folder) with the following:

Code:

[CONFIG]
AutoStart = 1
EngineVibration = 0
TrackIRDisableOnAutoStart = 0
EngineVibrationOffInFlight = 0
EngineVibrationScalerX = 1.0
EngineVibrationScalerY = 1.0
EngineVibrationScalerZ = 1.0
;TrackIREnableXAxis = 0
;TrackIREnableYAxis = 0
;TrackIREnableZAxis = 0
;TrackIREnablePitchAxis = 0
;TrackIREnableHeadingAxis = 0
;TrackIREnableRollAxis = 0

[PV_TOGGLE]
HotKey = F1
HotKeyModifiers = Shift+Down

[TRACKIR_TOGGLE]
HotKey = F2
HotKeyModifiers = Shift+Down

[EFFECTS_TOGGLE]
HotKey = F3
HotKeyModifiers = Shift+Down

[CONTROL_PANEL_TOGGLE]
HotKey = F4
HotKeyModifiers = Shift+Down

[DATA_PANEL_TOGGLE]
HotKey = F5
HotKeyModifiers = Shift+Down

[EFFECTS_PANEL_TOGGLE]
HotKey = F6
HotKeyModifiers = Shift+Down

[VIBRATION_EFFECT_TOGGLE]
HotKey = F7
HotKeyModifiers = Shift+Down

[PRESET1]
HotKey = F1
HotKeyModifiers = Down

[PRESET2]
HotKey = F2
HotKeyModifiers = Down

[PRESET3]
HotKey = F3
HotKeyModifiers = Down

[PRESET4]
HotKey = F4
HotKeyModifiers = Down

[PRESET5]
HotKey = F5
HotKeyModifiers = Down

[PRESET6]
HotKey = F6
HotKeyModifiers = Down

[PRESET7]
HotKey = F7
HotKeyModifiers = Down

[PRESET8]
HotKey = F8
HotKeyModifiers = Down

Some planes will have the config already defined (payware), otherwise, use the in sim tools to set up your views as you like and bam F1-F7 for 3d views in speciifc locations (close up FMC, Overhead panel etc).