View Full Version : How to tigh PFD / ND display to aircraft type?
Peter Hein
03-11-2006, 11:00 AM
Hi,
how can I tigh the PFD / ND display to the aircraft type selected via the
CDU?
Example: Iīve got the PFD and ND side by side for a 737; 777 and 747.
If however I select the 767 on the CDU, the display of PFD / ND arrangement
changes to 767 set up, which is ok. But if I select again a 737 or 777 or
747, the 767 type of set up remains on the display.
Since I do not have the key board for the PFD / ND PC connected it is a
hassle to revert back again to, letīs say a 737. I then have to switch that PC
off, connect a keyboard in order to select the appropriate setup via the F
keys.
Is there a better way in changing aircraft type??
Thanks
Best rgds
Peter
Ray Proudfoot
03-12-2006, 08:46 AM
Hi Peter,
In the PFD.INI make sure you have this entry...
Type=CDU
If you have 737 or anything else the PFD won't switch correctly when a
different aircraft type is selected inthe CDU.
Cheers,
"Peter Hein" wrote in message
news:400081.80115@wb.onvix.com...
> Hi,
>
> how can I tigh the PFD / ND display to the aircraft type selected via the
> CDU?
>
> Example: Iīve got the PFD and ND side by side for a 737; 777 and 747.
> If however I select the 767 on the CDU, the display of PFD / ND
> arrangement
> changes to 767 set up, which is ok. But if I select again a 737 or 777 or
> 747, the 767 type of set up remains on the display.
> Since I do not have the key board for the PFD / ND PC connected it is a
> hassle to revert back again to, letīs say a 737. I then have to switch
> that PC
> off, connect a keyboard in order to select the appropriate setup via the
F
> keys.
>
> Is there a better way in changing aircraft type??
>
> Thanks
>
> Best rgds
>
> Peter
>
Peter Hein
03-13-2006, 02:18 PM
Hi Ray,
thanks for your input.
Infact I had forgotten to set "Type=CDU", "Aircraft=CDU" in my PFD ini
file.
So this is done now, but when switching back from a 767 to a 737 as type in
my CDU Iīm getting just the large PFD in the middle of the screen and I
have to press F4 on the keyboard to get PFD and ND side by side on that
sreen.
Is there a way to avoid pressing F4??
Any hint highly appreciated.
Thanks and best rgds
Peter
Ray Proudfoot
03-13-2006, 05:18 PM
Hi Peter,
Don't bother with AircraftType=. It's updated automatically by the CDU or
PFD. The key entry is Type=CDU.
You could try 'lock display' on the PFD menu. Sorry, it's all I can think
of.
Cheers.
"Peter Hein" wrote in message
news:400613.80115@wb.onvix.com...
> Hi Ray,
>
> thanks for your input.
> Infact I had forgotten to set "Type=CDU", "Aircraft=CDU" in my PFD ini
> file.
> So this is done now, but when switching back from a 767 to a 737 as type
> in
> my CDU Iīm getting just the large PFD in the middle of the screen and I
> have to press F4 on the keyboard to get PFD and ND side by side on that
> sreen.
>
> Is there a way to avoid pressing F4??
> Any hint highly appreciated.
>
> Thanks and best rgds
>
> Peter
>
Peter Hein
03-14-2006, 05:23 AM
Hi Ray,
thanks for reply.
Have also used "Lock display", but this just prevents me from reverting back
using "F4" key. So, no success.
Iīm afraid Iīll have to check with Magenta support to find a solution.
May be the "new feature is being introduced to the aircraft config files"
(Recent Notams from Enrico) could help solving this issue. Unfortunately itīs
not very well documented.
Especially how do I set the PFD in order to have PFD /ND side by side
(747).
Thanks
best grds
Peter
Ray Proudfoot
03-14-2006, 01:25 PM
Hi Peter,
I've switched aircraft in FS9 from the 737-700 to a 767-400 and back again.
When I select the relevant aircraft type in the CDU the correct display is
shown on the PFD and the PFD layout remains the same. I don't need to press
F4 to redisplay that screen.
I can only think it's an option in the PFD.INI but there's too many to list
them here. Maybe a message to the support address will elicit a reply. I
don't think PM see this site as a official help forum hence why they have a
separate address for official help.
If you need to move the PFD and ND relative to one another I'm not sure how
this is done on any screen except the F6 one where they can be adjusted by
right-clicking each element and dragging it around. Maybe something is
broken??
Sorry I can't be of more help.
"Peter Hein" wrote in message
news:400776.80115@wb.onvix.com...
> Hi Ray,
>
> thanks for reply.
> Have also used "Lock display", but this just prevents me from reverting
> back
> using "F4" key. So, no success.
>
> Iīm afraid Iīll have to check with Magenta support to find a solution.
>
> May be the "new feature is being introduced to the aircraft config files"
> (Recent Notams from Enrico) could help solving this issue. Unfortunately
> itīs
> not very well documented.
> Especially how do I set the PFD in order to have PFD /ND side by side
> (747).
>
> Thanks
>
> best grds
>
> Peter
>
Peter Hein
03-14-2006, 01:48 PM
Hi Ray,
thanks for reply.
May be you are using different aircraft files. Mine are the ones from the PM
page.
I wonder in which file the position, size, etc of the PFD / ND is stored when
switching off. Canīt be in the PFD.ini and PFD.set as I had them write
protected but still got the same result (position / setup changed).
In the aircraft file I couldnīt find anything but the aircraft type.
BTW whatīs it all about the recent NOTAMS where Enrico announced that you can
have different setups in the aircraft config?
Unfortunately no doc can be found besides the things described in the
NOTAMs.
Would it be possible to get your aircraft and PFD ini files?
Thanks
Best rgds
Peter
Ray Proudfoot
03-14-2006, 03:35 PM
Hi Peter,
I'm using the aircraft.txt files from the PM site so they should be similar
to yours. I have attached the PMDG737700 file but notice I've changed the
Payload value. That shouldn't affect anything of yours.
I'm also attaching my PFD.INI with the registration info removed of course.
It's not the PFD.INI that holds the positions - I think the .SET files do
that as mine was updated after closing the PFD. Maybe if values can't be
written to the .SET file it just exits without trying. I can't see how it
could be any other file.
I haven't changed my settings using the suggestions Enrico posted on NOTAMS.
I do find the lack of documentation a little frustrating and having to
scroll through the INI files to find new options is also unique. More
complete documentation would be nice but I suppose it all takes time and
that is something Enrico doesn't have much of.
Anyway, I hope the attached files throw some light on things for you. I have
the F6 page displayed on a single 19" display with the PFD/ND on the top row
with the upper and lower EICAS below them.
Cheers,
"Peter Hein" wrote in message
news:400848.80115@wb.onvix.com...
> Hi Ray,
>
> thanks for reply.
> May be you are using different aircraft files. Mine are the ones from the
> PM
> page.
>
> I wonder in which file the position, size, etc of the PFD / ND is stored
> when
> switching off. Canīt be in the PFD.ini and PFD.set as I had them write
> protected but still got the same result (position / setup changed).
>
> In the aircraft file I couldnīt find anything but the aircraft type.
>
> BTW whatīs it all about the recent NOTAMS where Enrico announced that you
> can
> have different setups in the aircraft config?
> Unfortunately no doc can be found besides the things described in the
> NOTAMs.
>
> Would it be possible to get your aircraft and PFD ini files?
>
> Thanks
>
> Best rgds
>
> Peter
>
Peter Dowson
03-14-2006, 03:41 PM
On 3/14/2006 12:48:03 PM, Peter Hein wrote:
>I wonder in which file the
>position, size, etc of the PFD
>/ ND is stored when switching
>off.
I'm pretty sure it's the SET file.
>Canīt be in the PFD.ini
>and PFD.set as I had them
>write protected but still got
>the same result (position /
>setup changed).
That may be part of your problem. You'll need to un-protect them to allow it
to save new values. I suspect it saves values for different aircraft types.
After all, different graphics are used for some (viz 4-engined EICAS
versus 2 -- you'd not want them in the same place).
Unprotect the SET file (make a safe copy if you're paranoid. I do! ). Then
change aircraft, set up the display as you want it FOR THAT AIRCRAFT, then
close PFD.EXE. When you reload it should have the settings for both aircraft
now ..?
Et cetera!
This is only my theory, mind. Personally I only fly 737NG (ask Ray ).
Regards,
Pete
Peter Hein
03-15-2006, 09:16 AM
Hi Pete and Ray,
have done as proposed, but it did not help. It seems there is no such learn
mode. The problem occurs only when switching to a 767 and back to either a
737 or 777. (same with 747, but thatīs a 4 eng. type and even that works ok
if not switched to a 767 type).
In order that every one understands what Iīm complaining about here it is:
Switching to 767 on the CDU Ident page and then back to a 737 or 777 the
PFD/ND side by side display is gone and a single large PFD is displayed.
Pressing F4 once brings back the original setup.
All Iīd need is a solution to avoid pressing F4 after switching back from
767.
I could not figure out where the PFD stores the setup / size etc for next
time start up.
I thought itīs in the pfd.ini and/or .set. Obviously it is not, otherwise it
should come back with the store setup, when write protected.
However I noticed that, when switching aircraft types on the CDU, 2 files are
copied to the PFD root dir named type.txt and type.dat.
The type.txt is a copy of the aicraft.txt file from the CDU type folder. It
is only renamed from e.g. B737-400.txt to type.txt.
The PFD probably gets its setup info from there but sofar I couldnīt find
anything which would represent the setup (PFD/ND side by side or large PFD
only or FO PFD/ND (swapped)).
I slowly believe itīs a bug not a feature.
@Ray
Have you ever tried to switch to a 767 and then back? Does it come back OK
with your original set up?
Thanks
Best rgds
Peter
Bob Reed
03-15-2006, 11:16 AM
Hi Peter. If I remember right.. The software only saves its data when you
shutdown the software normally. So have you tried loading the 737 and
shutting down the software and then loading the 767 and shutting down the
software? Might give that a try. You may only need to save the 737 data.
Bob Reed
"Peter Hein" wrote in message
news:401018.80115@wb.onvix.com...
> Hi Pete and Ray,
>
> have done as proposed, but it did not help. It seems there is no such
> learn
> mode. The problem occurs only when switching to a 767 and back to either
a
> 737 or 777. (same with 747, but thatīs a 4 eng. type and even that works
> ok
> if not switched to a 767 type).
>
> In order that every one understands what Iīm complaining about here it
is:
> Switching to 767 on the CDU Ident page and then back to a 737 or 777 the
> PFD/ND side by side display is gone and a single large PFD is displayed.
> Pressing F4 once brings back the original setup.
> All Iīd need is a solution to avoid pressing F4 after switching back from
> 767.
>
> I could not figure out where the PFD stores the setup / size etc for next
> time start up.
> I thought itīs in the pfd.ini and/or .set. Obviously it is not, otherwise
> it
> should come back with the store setup, when write protected.
>
> However I noticed that, when switching aircraft types on the CDU, 2 files
> are
> copied to the PFD root dir named type.txt and type.dat.
> The type.txt is a copy of the aicraft.txt file from the CDU type folder.
> It
> is only renamed from e.g. B737-400.txt to type.txt.
> The PFD probably gets its setup info from there but sofar I couldnīt find
> anything which would represent the setup (PFD/ND side by side or large
PFD
> only or FO PFD/ND (swapped)).
>
> I slowly believe itīs a bug not a feature.
>
> @Ray
> Have you ever tried to switch to a 767 and then back? Does it come back
OK
> with your original set up?
>
> Thanks
> Best rgds
>
> Peter
>
>
>
>
Ray Proudfoot
03-15-2006, 05:15 PM
Hi Peter,
Switching to 767 on the CDU Ident page and then back to a 737 or 777 the
PFD/ND side by side display is gone and a single large PFD is displayed.
Pressing F4 once brings back the original setup.
All Iīd need is a solution to avoid pressing F4 after switching back from
767.>>
I have replicated the actions you describe and I can't duplicate the
problem. The PFD remains on the F4 mode - PFD/ND displayed.
> @Ray
> Have you ever tried to switch to a 767 and then back? Does it come back
OK
> with your original set up?
Yes, not a problem. I'm using a Project Opensky 767-400 and switching back
and forth between that and the PMDG737-900 leaves the F4 mode unchanged.
Have you run PMFileCheck to see if everything looks okay? Here's mine.
Failing that I can only suggest you contact support. You've done all you can
I think.
Cheers,
Peter Hein
03-16-2006, 07:19 AM
Hi Ray,
thanks very much for your prompt reply. Iīll have to do the file check.
Will report findings asap.
Thanks again
Cheers
Peter
paul douglas
03-16-2006, 08:36 PM
Peter
Proberbly stupid question, but try this, unlock display via menu, also change
the bit frame from 767 to say 747 or something similar? then use the page
up/down on keyboard, to cycle through the pages until PFD/ND appears,that
works with mine, i am just having major problems with the 777 frames and
getting the engine date to stay inside.
cheers Paul
Peter Hein
03-18-2006, 06:25 AM
@ Paul
Thanks Paul for coming in. Iīm not using frames at all. Only need to find the
reason why I have to press F4 to get back PFD / ND side by side.
@ Ray
have checked with pmfilecheck but couldnīt find anything irregular.
Please have a look on my filechek log file attached.
Thanks
Cheers
Peter