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Boeing 737-800 Taxi Light

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I have edited/put Shockwave lights into the Lights section of the FSX stock Boeing 737-800 aircraft.cfg as below, but cannot get the taxi lights the light up the ground. The taxi light shines the ground and turns with the aircraft when the landing lights are on, but goes off when the landing lights are switched off.Do you know how to fix this?[LIGHTS] //Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit, 5=landinglight.0 = 3, -25.00, -58.20, 3.90, fx_shockwave_navred ,light.1 = 3, -25.00, 58.20, 3.90, fx_shockwave_navgre ,light.2 = 2, -71.52, 0.00, 5.92, fx_shockwave_strobe ,light.3 = 2, -25.20, -58.20, 4.20, fx_shockwave_strobe_2 ,light.4 = 2, -25.20, 58.20, 4.20, fx_shockwave_strobe_3 ,light.5 = 1, -7.55, 0.00, -5.50, fx_shockwave_beaconb ,light.6 = 1, 2.00, 0.00, 8.70, fx_shockwave_beaconh ,light.7 = 4, 47.60, 0.00, 3.00, fx_shockwave_vclight ,light.8 = 3, -29.50, -56.60, 3.70, fx_shockwave_navwhi_l ,light.9 = 3, -29.50, 56.60, 3.70, fx_shockwave_navwhi_l ,light.10 = 3, -71.30, 0.00, 4.75, fx_shockwave_navwhi_l ,light.11 = 5, 5.6, 7.28, -1.47, fx_Shockwave_landing_light_narrow , // Shockwave lightlight.12 = 5, 5.6, -7.28, -1.47, fx_Shockwave_landing_light_narrow , // Shockwave lightlight.13 = 5, 36.0, 0.0, -18.0, fx_shockwave_landing_light_light ,light.14 = 6, 41.85, 0.0, -6.8, fx_shockwave_landing_light.fx , // Shockwave light


Harry Sung

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You can't fix it. They are assigned incorrectly in the compiled model (.mdl) file and can NOT be changed. :(


Fr. Bill    

AOPA Member: 07141481 AARP Member: 3209010556


     Avsim Board of Directors | Avsim Forums Moderator

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You can't fix it. They are assigned incorrectly in the compiled model (.mdl) file and can NOT be changed. :(
Here are extracts from my aircraft.CFG, and panel.CFG.The taxi lights work fine, and independently of the landing lights. The "gauge 29" line in the panel.cfg turns them off automatically when the gear is raised.
[LIGHTS]		//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit, 5=landinglight.0 = 3, -25.00, -58.20,  3.90, fx_shockwave_navred ,light.1 = 3, -25.00,  58.20,  3.90, fx_shockwave_navgre ,light.2 = 2, -71.52,   0.00,  5.92, fx_shockwave_strobe_l_nl ,light.3 = 2, -25.20, -58.20,  4.20, fx_shockwave_strobe_l_2 ,light.4 = 2, -25.20,  58.20,  4.20, fx_shockwave_strobe_l_3 ,light.5 = 2,  -7.55,   0.00, -5.50, fx_shockwave_beaconb ,light.6 = 1,   2.00,   0.00,  8.70, fx_shockwave_beaconh ,light.7 = 4,  47.60,   0.00,  3.00, fx_shockwave_vclight_l ,light.8 = 3, -29.50, -56.60,  3.70, fx_shockwave_navwhi_l_nl ,light.9 = 3, -29.50,  56.60,  3.70, fx_shockwave_navwhi_l_nl ,light.10 = 5, 5.6, 7.28, -1.47,  fx_Shockwave_landing_light_narrow		// Shockwave lightlight.11 = 5, 5.6, -7.28, -1.47,  fx_Shockwave_landing_light_narrow	// Shockwave lightlight.12 = 6, 41.85, 0.0, -6.8,  fx_Shockwave_landing_light		// Shockwave lightlight.13 = 5,  36, 0, -18, fx_shockwave_landing_light_light,

[VCockpit01]size_mm=1024,1024pixel_size=1024,1024texture=$737_1background_color=23,17,52gauge01=B737_800!overhead_popup,   4,4,581,529gauge02=B737_800!pfd,	   6,536,260,260gauge03=B737_800!trim_popup,   6,801,194,154gauge04=B737_800!annunciator_speed_brake_armed,   6,961,51,28gauge05=B737_800!annunciator_below_glideslope,   6,994,52,27gauge06=B737_800!annunciator_panel_1,   64,961,132,40gauge07=B737_800!mfd,   347,536,260,260gauge08=B737_800!autopilot,	205,801,463,90gauge09=B737_800!annunciator_panel_gear,	205,895,66,71gauge10=B737_800!annunciator_le_flaps,	204,974,100,28gauge11=B737_800!annunciator_auto_brake_disarm,   275,895,47,27gauge12=B737_800!annunciator_anti_skid_inop,   275,925,37,27 gauge13=B737_800!flap_indicator,   308,960,59,59 gauge14=B737_800!compass,   325,895,91,62gauge15=B737_800!compass,   370,960,50,50gauge16=B737_800!clock,	424,896,105,105gauge17=737-400!Transponder,   589,4,190,78gauge18=737-400!Nav 2,   589,87,190,78gauge19=737-400!Nav 1,	589,169,190,77gauge20=737-400!Comm 2,	589,249,190,78	 gauge21=737-400!Comm 1,   589,330,190,78gauge22=737-400!Audio,	589,411,190,40gauge23=737-400!ADF,	589,454,190,80gauge24=B737_800!eicas,	   704,541,260,260gauge25=B737_800!adf_vor_backup,	757,908,104,105gauge26=B737_800!attitude_backup,	533,896,104,105gauge27=B737_800!alti_and_asi_backup,	641,909,103,103gauge28=B737_800!efis_control_panel,	672,815,143,76gauge29=shockwave_lights!SW Lights_taxi_gear,  1,1,1,1 //shockwave light

Hope that helps!David

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Here are extracts from my aircraft.CFG, and panel.CFG.The taxi lights work fine, and independently of the landing lights. The "gauge 29" line in the panel.cfg turns them off automatically when the gear is raised.
I wasn't refering to the Shockwave .fx file. I was referring to the actual "ground splash" that's hard-wired in the .mdl file to respond to the ubiquitous "general_lights" key_event that was all that was implemented in the FSX RTM SDK.The OP's actual question was (emphasis mine):
...but cannot get the taxi lights the light up the ground. The taxi light shines the ground and turns with the aircraft when the landing lights are on, but goes off when the landing lights are switched off
It wasn't until SDK2/Acceleration SDK was released that additional "light key_events" were added to the modeldef.xml file so that developers could control all of the lights independently.Of course, some developers (such as myself) had already scripted custom XML modeldef.xml entries to add the missing key_events, but the default models shipped with FSX only had "general_lights" available.Similarly, support for emissive backlighting in the VC wasn't added until FSX SDK SP2/Acceleration as a result of developer feedback to the ACES team. :)

Fr. Bill    

AOPA Member: 07141481 AARP Member: 3209010556


     Avsim Board of Directors | Avsim Forums Moderator

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I wasn't refering to the Shockwave .fx file. I was referring to the actual "ground splash" that's hard-wired in the .mdl file to respond to the ubiquitous "general_lights" key_event that was all that was implemented in the FSX RTM SDK.The OP's actual question was (emphasis mine):It wasn't until SDK2/Acceleration SDK was released that additional "light key_events" were added to the modeldef.xml file so that developers could control all of the lights independently.Of course, some developers (such as myself) had already scripted custom XML modeldef.xml entries to add the missing key_events, but the default models shipped with FSX only had "general_lights" available.
Bill is correct in that I am refering to the "ground splash" of light that is not working in the FSX stock B738. The shockwave gauge automatically switches off the taxi light upon retraction of landing gears.So Bill, are you saying you have developed a custom XML to independently control the taxi lights to light up the ground?

Harry Sung

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So Bill, are you saying you have developed a custom XML to independently control the taxi lights to light up the ground?
No, what I said was that long before MS/ACES released the SDK2/Acceleration SDK, I wrote custom XML scripts for the modeldef.xml file that would allow me to fully control all the lights for my own projects...No one can "fix" the default 737-800 unfortunately.

Fr. Bill    

AOPA Member: 07141481 AARP Member: 3209010556


     Avsim Board of Directors | Avsim Forums Moderator

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Actually, after some trial and error, I kind of DID fix the 737 taxi light.

 

If you look at 55A05C thru 55A074, you'll find a line that reads 

ASCII
VISS....LIGHT LANDING#bool.VISCL
HEX
00 56 49 53 53 13 00 00 00 4C 49 47 48 54 20 4C 41 4E 44 49 4E 47 23 62 6F 6F 6C 00 56 49 53 43 4C

if you change it to

ASCII
VISS....LIGHT TAXI#bool....VISCL
HEX
00 56 49 53 53 13 00 00 00 4C 49 47 48 54 20 54 41 58 49 23 62 6F 6F 6C 00 00 00 00 56 49 53 43 4C 

it will work fine, you just have to maintain the position in the file of the VISCL by padding the space between the bool with extra 00 characters in the hex code (there was already one there)...

Now, if you load up the 737 at night and flick on the taxi light, you'll get the nosewheel light illuminating the ground only.  Turn on the landing lights and you'll get the inboard lights too, but independent of the nosewheel light.

 

 

Another issue that has always annoyed me was the landing lights being reversed what they should be (up when on, down when off instead of down when on and up when off).  If you go into the 737-800 panel folder, you'll find a B737_800.cab file.  Extract it to the panel folder so you have "FSX/SimObjects/Airplanes/B737_800/panel/B737_800/" and inside that folder you'll have a bunch of .XML and graphic files.  Find the "Overhead_Popup.xml" and open with notepad.  Search for "landing" and the first entry will be the start of 4 you'll want to look at.

        <Element id="Left Landing Lights - Retract">
            <FloatPosition>29.000,444.000</FloatPosition>
            <Select id="Select">
                <Expression id="Expression">
                    <Minimum>0.000</Minimum>
                    <Maximum>1.000</Maximum>
                    <Script>(L:Left Landing Lights Retract,bool)</Script>
                </Expression>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>0.000</ExpressionResult>
		    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_outboard_on.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_outboard_on.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>1.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_outboard_retract.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_outboard_retract.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
            </Select>
        </Element>
        <Element id="Right Landing Lights - Retract">
            <FloatPosition>64.000,444.000</FloatPosition>
            <Select id="Select">
                <Expression id="Expression">
                    <Minimum>0.000</Minimum>
                    <Maximum>1.000</Maximum>
                    <Script>(L:Right Landing Lights Retract,bool)</Script>
                </Expression>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>0.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_outboard_on.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_outboard_on.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>1.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_outboard_retrct.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_outboard_retrct.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
            </Select>
        </Element>
        <Element id="Left Landing Lights">
            <FloatPosition>94.000,431.000</FloatPosition>
            <Select id="Select">
                <Expression id="Expression">
                    <Minimum>0.000</Minimum>
                    <Maximum>1.000</Maximum>
                    <Script>(A:Light landing:1,bool)</Script>
                </Expression>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>0.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_inboard_on.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_inboard_on.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>1.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_inboard_off.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_inboard_off.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>

                </Case>
            </Select>
        </Element>
        <Element id="Right Landing Lights">
            <FloatPosition>124.000,444.000</FloatPosition>
            <Select id="Select">
                <Expression id="Expression">
                    <Minimum>0.000</Minimum>
                    <Maximum>1.000</Maximum>
                    <Script>(A:Light landing:2,bool)</Script>
                </Expression>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>0.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_inboard_on.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_inboard_on.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>

                </Case>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>1.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_inboard_off.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_inboard_off.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
            </Select>
        </Element>

Notice how with the retractable lights, if the landing lights boolean = 0 (off), use the ON image and landing lights = 1, use the retracted image.

And the landing lights shows if the landing lights = 0, use the ON image and landing lights = 1, use the off image.  Well, that fix is easy enough, just swap the Image elements so it looks like this:

        <Element id="Left Landing Lights - Retract">
            <FloatPosition>29.000,444.000</FloatPosition>
            <Select id="Select">
                <Expression id="Expression">
                    <Minimum>0.000</Minimum>
                    <Maximum>1.000</Maximum>
                    <Script>(L:Left Landing Lights Retract,bool)</Script>
                </Expression>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>0.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_outboard_retract.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_outboard_retract.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>1.000</ExpressionResult>
		    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_outboard_on.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_outboard_on.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
            </Select>
        </Element>
        <Element id="Right Landing Lights - Retract">
            <FloatPosition>64.000,444.000</FloatPosition>
            <Select id="Select">
                <Expression id="Expression">
                    <Minimum>0.000</Minimum>
                    <Maximum>1.000</Maximum>
                    <Script>(L:Right Landing Lights Retract,bool)</Script>
                </Expression>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>0.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_outboard_retrct.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_outboard_retrct.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>1.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_outboard_on.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_outboard_on.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
            </Select>
        </Element>
        <Element id="Left Landing Lights">
            <FloatPosition>94.000,431.000</FloatPosition>
            <Select id="Select">
                <Expression id="Expression">
                    <Minimum>0.000</Minimum>
                    <Maximum>1.000</Maximum>
                    <Script>(A:Light landing:1,bool)</Script>
                </Expression>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>0.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_inboard_off.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_inboard_off.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>1.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_inboard_on.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_left_inboard_on.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
            </Select>
        </Element>
        <Element id="Right Landing Lights">
            <FloatPosition>124.000,444.000</FloatPosition>
            <Select id="Select">
                <Expression id="Expression">
                    <Minimum>0.000</Minimum>
                    <Maximum>1.000</Maximum>
                    <Script>(A:Light landing:2,bool)</Script>
                </Expression>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>0.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_inboard_off.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_inboard_off.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
                <Case id="Case">
                    <ExpressionResult>1.000</ExpressionResult>
                    <Image id="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_inboard_on.bmp" Name="overhead_popup_switch_landing_lights_right_inboard_on.bmp">
                        <Transparent>True</Transparent>
                    </Image>
                </Case>
            </Select>
        </Element>

I would love to upload the modified files for others to download, but as they are originally not made, only modifed by me, I am unsure that AVSIM would allow these files here.

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Well, I just spent the last 8 hours instead of sleeping, making a small program that will install the files easy-peasy, making backups and all.

 

The file is uploaded, so all that is needed is approval by the moderators and you can have at em.

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Well, I just found a slight error in my program...it turns out most programs I write, text files are best used in UTF8 format, but Flight Sim likes its Aircraft.Cfg files only in ASCII format, so when the tool writes the new aircraft.cfg, FS wont load it.

 

There was also a slight issue with comments and their equal signs when I parsed the cfg files.  It has been corrected and a new version is being uploaded.

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Text based files in FSX/ESP/P3D are all ASCII format.

 

All .xml files however are UTF-8 format.


Fr. Bill    

AOPA Member: 07141481 AARP Member: 3209010556


     Avsim Board of Directors | Avsim Forums Moderator

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That explains it...I've been doing lots of XML-based work for my simpit software....

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Actually, after some trial and error, I kind of DID fix the 737 taxi light.

 

If you look at 55A05C thru 55A074, you'll find a line that reads 

ASCII
VISS....LIGHT LANDING#bool.VISCL
HEX
00 56 49 53 53 13 00 00 00 4C 49 47 48 54 20 4C 41 4E 44 49 4E 47 23 62 6F 6F 6C 00 56 49 53 43 4C

if you change it to

ASCII
VISS....LIGHT TAXI#bool....VISCL
HEX
00 56 49 53 53 13 00 00 00 4C 49 47 48 54 20 54 41 58 49 23 62 6F 6F 6C 00 00 00 00 56 49 53 43 4C 

 

Which file do you need to edit to implement this?

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I see a file in the avsim file library, named fsx_b737-800_fixer.zip, by Aaron Parsons, that addresses the default B738 taxi light and other issues.  It works for me.  


dv

Win 10 Pro || i7-8700K ||  32GB || ASUS Z370-P MB || NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11Gb || 2 960 PRO 1TB, 840 EVO

My Files in the AVSIM Library

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