SimVimX

We have finished working on a major update for SimVimPanel, improving its interaction with panel lighting controls along with multiple other changes. Check the full list of changes here.

We are also shifting to a different approach to making panel modules, where we aim to provide different modules more suited to either cockpit-builders or virtual panel users.

To demonstrate all the new features, we are providing a set of new Cessna 172 modules. You can download multiple modules for panel builders custom-made for different screen sizes on our website. In addition, a full virtual panel module with background is available to subscribers.

We are currently working on new modules for SimVimPanel, along with some significant changes to the panel program itself.

Working on Boeing 737 panel module revealed some shortcomings in the main program that resulted in graphical glitches when displaying panels of high complexity, so I took some time to rework the graphics part of the program to fix this issue, also ensuring that these changes work well with different hardware and graphics drivers.

After recent changes in the plugin, I'm also reworking how the panel is affected by different lighting channels, making sure that the illuminated panel looks realistic and all the different elements are properly affected by their corresponding brightness controls.

As we are changing our approach to modules, planning to keep fully-virtual panels and instrument-only versions for panel builders separate, I'm implementing some new functionality that will help cockpit builders. In addition to moving the whole panel on screen, users of the instrument-only modules will now be able to move individual instruments within a certain threshold to align the instrument with their panel cutouts when making a physical panel.

Future plans include implementing plugin functionality to move and zoom in the panels using hotkeys or cockpit controls, for convenience of those choosing to use large virtual-panel modules on a smaller screen instead of making a physical panel, to quickly switch between viewing different panel areas.

Boeing 737 page (WIP):

- A new, more consistent system for all parameters related to brightness control (lighting/displays) is being implemented. These dedicated parameters will be working with custom planes (with proper conversion) and at the same time can be used for hardware lighting and SimVimPanel lighting. Added support for this parameter structure to the plugin.

Currently all brightness functions are available in the B737 conversion. Over time, these new functions will be added to more built-in conversions, and a convenient assignment interface for them added to the online converter. SimVimPanel will also be gradually improved to support these multiple brightness controls.

- Improved the "Starter_Return" function for better compatibility with some aircraft models (also tested in XP12).

- Improved the plugin's handling of some input keywords (where built-in SimVimX functions are run simultaneously with converted functions for custom models).

- Fixed an oversight in input processing for analog inputs preventing them from working correctly with some of the complex SimVimX functions.

I have added an experimental plugin version built for Apple Silicon (aarch64-macos) architecture to the downloads page, which means the plugin can now be used with X-Plane 12 on this OS without running in compatibility mode.

The download archive only contains the plugin file, and still requires all the extra files from the main download, meaning you should just copy it on top of the existing SimVimX installation and replace the "mac.xpl" plugin file.

This experimental plugin currently only lacks the ability to check for plugin and database updates online, but other than that, should be fully functional.

SimVimPanel core program has been updated. The main changes include fixing a bug in the subroutine for ADF KR87 (used in Baron 58 co-pilot side), which caused the program to crash when avionics had no power, and the addition of new functions for the upcoming new annunciator panel modules for different King Air variants.

At the same time, I am continuing to work on the new functions and graphics for the future B737 and Dash 8 panels. The program will require more updates before these are available.

Download the new version here.

New in this version:

- Better handling of converted parameters based on X-Plane version (built-in conversions can now use different datarefs for XP11/XP12).

- A minor fix for conflicting display flags (caused the minus sign to disappear from the display when using the "no avionics" option).

Both SimVimX plugin and SimVimPanel have been updated.

The new features include custom MDA/MDH functions, EFIS map waypoints, and multiple improvements to different panel gauges.

You can read more about the update here.

Best regards, and thank you for your support!

- Roman

This update adds support for a feature that allows specifying default minimal activation value threshold for all LEDs, to account for a trend for heavily varying LED brightness values in some X-Plane 12 models (this caused the physical LEDs to not light up when certain X-Plane 12 models were loaded, because their relevant dataref values were too low). The updated database file uses this feature for the affected models, fixing the issue.

The new RealSimControl configurator has now been made available to all users after a period of closed testing for subscribers, and has fully replaced the old configurator. The new config tool was further refined and some bugs were fixed during the testing period.

Logging in to your account on RSC website will grant you access to saving your configuration on the server and automatically loading it the next time you use the configurator, as well as access to conversion features.