RealSimControl - Configuration Guide
(This section will be reworked soon)
1. Before assigning specific functions, you may need to determine how many input expansion boards you need and which Arduino pins to use for them. As described in the project guide page the most important component used in the RealSimControl system for input expansion is the CD74HC4067 modules (16-channel multiplexers). Read the page "Input Extesion wiring in RealSimControl"
To add the extension board linked with specific input pin on the master board click on an empty (not allocated) pin in the table on the right, select the "Input Multiplexer" menu item.
Two another important extensions are the LED drivers and output extension Multiplexer for 7-segment displays (and LED drivers):
The same way add the output multiplexer board for 7-segment displays by clicking to a pin and select the "Output Multiplexer".
For digital output signals (LEDs) click select the "LED Drivers (Serial)" and connect drivers as described here. The serial drivers (DM13A) can be assigned to any pin (up to #69). Also, current RSC/SimVimX version supports LED drivers connected to an output multiplexer.
Note, for the LED you can also use the "matrix" LED extention (using the Max7219 driver) that can be connected only to the pins ##30-37.
New Configuration Tool features
- Now the master board is fixed on the right side of the configuration page and always visible as a table with two pin groups.
- The type of inputs, outputs and extensions assigned is marked with color and corresponding text.
- No extra clicks are required for complex operations, fewer intermediate windows and dialogs open.
- The key-matrix slave board is displayed as a table in which the columns represent the Arduino pins (2-12) and the rows represent the multiplexer output, making it easy to identify each button.
- When you click on a connected 7-segment display (Direct or MUX output), the display assignment table opens, and you can assign several parameters to be displayed on one 7-segment indicator. The same is true for a connected LCD (Direct or slave board), up to 16 parameters total can be displayed on one LCD.
- These multi-parameter assignments (all or assigned in any order in the same place on the screen) can also be easily configured as "conditional", switchable with a Selector switch (toggle, button, rotary) or be displayed when a specific plane model is loaded (see the note below).
- The same extension configuration window has "Type" and "Move" buttons (appear depending on the type of input/output).
- ! Any previously assigned extension can be easily moved to another pin in two clicks, with all configured I/Os (input multiplexer, output multiplexer, LED driver, LCD display or 7-segment display).
- When you click on the assigned parameter (LED, Display, Stepper Motor, LED Bar), you can see and change all of its options/attributes and device types at once without additional clicks.
New feature: aircraft-specific switchable parameters
Added the ability to use some parameters only for selected aircraft models when you assign more than one function to one switch ("Append" mode) or more than one output parameter to one display position.
Thus, if you want to reassign some controls to different parameters for a particular aircraft, the system allows you to do this without keeping a copy of the whole configuration.
With this option, you can mark some configuration lines for a particular aircraft present in your conversion (you need to specify the aircraft folder there, even if no parameters are converted).
To use this option, assign more than one parameter to the input you need, then click to edit them and select an aircraft for each assignment (i.e. "Default aircraft" for the first parameter, and the specific aircraft name for the second parameter).
For registered (logged in) users:
Saving the config file
If you are registered on the site and logged in, your configuration is saved on the server when you click the [SAVE] button to download the cfg.file.
If you want only to save your configuration you can cancel download. When you open the configuration tool next time your latest configuration will be loaded automatically, so you don't need to upload it from your computer every time as it was in the old configurator.
User custom plane conversion
- Custom plane conversion mode also is available for registered users. The conversion window opens when you click the "Conversion" button. All configuration operations are blocked in the conversion mode. Click the "Exit" button to return to the configuration mode and the previously opened category.
- The left part of the conversion window contains the always visible list of plane models (if you have added some) with conversions currently present in your configuration file. The right side of the window is the conversion options area.
- Here you can add a new aircraft to the list, correct the actual name of the aircraft folder, or delete the entire conversion.
- Additional options include the current converted parameters list for each plane (can be selected to edit or delete), the start-up options section where you can configure the virtual switches cover guards that will open on plane start, and an option of "overriding" some system types for the specific plane if needed. In this case the device/system type that is assigned as default will work for all planes, but the specific plane model will use a different type.
Save the data.cfg file correctly to the plugin folder
Don't change the file name - when you click the [SAVE] button the file always downloads as "data.cfg" and all you need is to select the "save file" option and folder to save. If you see the file name as "data" (without .cfg) - it's because you have the extensions visibility turned off in your Windows explorer. Don't add the ".cfg" manually in this case, or you will get the file named as "data.cfg.cfg"!
Input/Output pin colors and labels
Here is the color scheme for the master board pins in the RealSimControl Configurator for different types of input/output devices and extensions. When making a configuration, click an assigned pin to change its parameters or clear it. Pins marked with the white dot means extension.
Extended Inputs / Outputs
- Input Muliplexer board connected
- Analog Input Muliplexer board connected
- Serial LED drivers output
- Matrix (Max7219) LED drivers output
- Output MUX for 7-segment Indicators ( 8-16 displays)
- 24-channel PWM controller Extension
- Display - LCD direct control Pin (E)
- Display - 7-Segment display output (CLK)
Slave Boards
- LCD Slave board connected
- Servo Slave board connected
- Stepper driver / Key Matrix Slave board connected
Directly connected Inputs / Outputs
- LED (or direct Digital Output)
- Direct PWM pin, Analog Gauge output (coil ammeter).
- Axis Input on analog input Pin.
- Directly connected Momentary Button or Toggle Switch [one input Pin] or .
- Encoder, Direct connection [ 2 input Pins ].
- 3-position Switch or 2-way momentary switch (2 buttons) [two input Pins used ].
- Multiposition/Coded Switch (more than 2 pins)
Main RSC Data Configuration file
SimVimX Configuration file structure
The data.cfg file includes the following main parts (after the file header that mostly is used by the configurator and the plugin to define the connection type):
- The aircraft system assignment (used by SimVimX plugin and stores the different types of a plane systems, selected in the configurator)
The assignment of aircraft system types is used to tell the plugin how to handle some parameters depending on the assigned system type in a specific way appropriate for the selected aircraft model (Radios, Autopilot, throttle type, anti-ice system types, etc.)
- The hardware devices configuration - mostly used for displays (LCD, 7-segment, LEDs) setting options and selectors
Hardware device options are automatically added by the configurator when you make I/O assignments, and stores information related to whole devices (such as a 7-segment or LCD screen) in order for the plugin to properly initialize different device types, or assign global options for them (such as electric bus number or brightness area used to control the screen).
- The main I/O configuration block. Here, all the assigned SimVimX parameters (keywords) are located and linked to the board pins and multiplexer inputs / outputs.
Only this main I/O configuration section in the data.cfg file is essential and sufficient if your custom/paid plane is included in the SimVimX plugin or RSC aircraft database (RSC_Planes.dat file / or separate RSC plane file) or if the aircraft model you use with your cockpit works as-is with default SimVimX functions.
The next user conversion section for custom planes is optional, and if you have a custom plane model that is not included in the built-in RSC plane conversion database, you can create you custom conversion for assigned parameters directly in the data configuration tool (Configurator).
NOTE: This section can include several conversions for different plane models, that means the main configuration is working with any of these planes when loaded.
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