FsXPand & FsClient, version 6.1 User Manual

FsXPand 6.1 is an enhancement of 5.8. This software comes in 2 versions: basic, which is an enhancement of 5.8, and FMS, the mMain new feature.
Users of previous versions will have to buy an upgrade.
If you find new errors, please let us know. Problems can be reported at the forum, where a lot of issues have already been discussed. Suggestions for improvement are appreciated as usual.

Contents

1. Setup of your cockpit cluster
2. FsXPand setup
3. FsClient setup
4. Panel configuration
5. Glass panel configuration
5. Joystick configuration
6. Advanced use
7. Troubleshooting
8. Error list

Licensing

The downloaded (unlicensed) version is fully functional. The only limitation is a time limitation. You can connect to your clients for a maximum of 30 minutes (unpaused airtime, basic v. 20 mimnutes). After this, FsXPand will shut down. The licensed program has no such limitation. The unlicensed version will show a banner. You can remove it with a click on it.
You can connect as many PC's as you want, each running FsClient (belonging to one LAN only).
If you buy a license, it is valid for any PC on which you install FsXPand.
Of course, you need to hold all the appropriate licenses for all the software you are using on your PC's.


What is new in version 6.1

FMS: An entire new extension.
FsXPand is now compatible with CPFlight MCP/EFIS/Radios. Just check the hardware menu in your master machine.
PFD and ND can be on any client PC, as can the CDU display and keyboard. Depends only on the performance of the machine. The CDU is again another FsClient gauge.

Basic version:
- Altimeter has now a baro scale
- A lot of minor adjustmenst and small bugfixes
- Trim indicator can now be reversed


What is new in version 5.8

Compatibility added with X-Plane 9.4, requires the use of XPUIPC 1.7 or 1.8
Option for setting your PMDG offset for updating the heading bug
Navigational updates can be applied from Flyware FsXPand AIRAC cycle data available at Navigraph.

ND:
import FS 2004 lightplan
import FSX lightplan
show FP magenta lines in ND
key commands for previous-next waypoint
PLAN mode added as panel #7 in pfdnd and pfdnd_1024
EFIS key command added Press BARO - inches to hp vv

EICAS:
EICAS Thrust Mode annunciations (simulated)
EICAS fuel low
EICAS fuel imbalance

PFD:
PFD Flight Mode Annunciations (simulated)
PFD enhanced performance

Controls:
AI Align analog and buttons
Aileron trim analogs and buttons
Rudder trim analogs and buttons

extra offsets: vacuum, mixture position

minor issues, fixes:
- ND magenta dashed line is now showing under the heading bug
- selection of engine parameters is only possible with engine gauges, the non-engine parameters only with remaining gauges, the program suggested otherwise.
For your understanding: Custom gauges are never engine gauges. Usually there are unused engine gauges in every configuration to modify instead.
- square black 1 pixel border around each of the standby gauges - is gone
- no occasional overtyping of port box, caused stall of data without the user noticing
- waiting for FS is displayed in FsXpand so you know why it is not yet sending its data
- fs98 flap string error fixed
- A change of a label caption gives only 'Label'
- a few minor bugs

-Compatibility with Windows versions before win2k has been dropped


What is new in version 5.7

Importing 5.6 cockpits:
The import function will get your FsClient settings as well from your previous installation.

Added gauges: Yaw damper, brake pressure, wet compass, yoke indicator, rudder indicator, aileron and rudder trim indicator.
The scalar is now linked to the needles in stead of 1 per gauge.

Custom gauges and labels:
Round engine gauges are no longer static, they can be linked to parameters from a list. Tapes remain static for now.
There is a Custom gauge template that you can add at will.
There is a custom label/value combination you can assign a parameter to.

Bonus pack:
Advanced Gauge Editor 1.0
This separate program will allow you to take full control of the gauge layout and all its elements. It can do much more than the gauge options in FsClient itself.

More:
You can have the border around gauges off if you want.
In FsXPand, there is a FS on top - maximized option.
A few bugs an oddities fixed.


What is new in version 5.6

Importing 5.4 cockpits (FsClient setup)
Introducing panel names (Panel configuration)
Panel picker for easy composition of a cockpit (FsClient setup)
Replace gauges from another panel (FsClient Setup)
Change font properties (Panel configuration)
Key command codes are configurable now (Glass panel configuration)

An extra 737NG EICAS set
737EICAS2 is a new set of EICAS panels, the well known primary, secondary, and compact. 737 type tape gauges have been included.

Added gauges
Digitals for N1 and N2 have been added.

New elements in gauges
Heading bug is added in the Direction Indicator, and the chart will follow the drift in FS. If you want to reset it, you need the button in FS.
A speed bug is added in the Airspeed Indicator. There is a barber pole speed needle available now in the ASI.
The ADF has an option added 'RMI mode' that will make the rose follow the heading of the airplane.
Red and yellow lines added in the EICAS.
There is now a readout for the N1 target and the REV indication. Red and amber limits added.

One panel frame bitmap per panel
It is now possible to use a different frame bitmap for each panel. This is to allow for the creation of synoptic panels built from digital readouts.

Bugs/problems
- Gross weight is read properly now
- In the N1 and N2 737 EICAS gauges, decimals were wrong. The import function will correct that for you.
- It was a problem adding negative values and/or decimals in gauge settings, depending on local preferences. Now you can use negative values and decimals where you want.

Logging
There is more logging done in FsXpand. The bottom lines now give more information on the process of connecting and starting the application (log.txt).

System influences
FsClient will set your thousands separator if it is unequal to "." or ",". On exit, your setting will be restored.

Instant help on configuration
Both programs will give you more information if there is something wrong in the configuration and give you appropriate messages.


What is new in version 5.4

All round gauges have been reproduced using the new gauge library (the one that sits behind the PFD as well).

General:
Redesign of all round gauges (D3D graphics card required)
Fast and nice graphics
Panel Reload button added

Panels:
There is no possibility of importing your old panels. In teh future, there will be no such need as most of the configuration is done in a script file.
Panel switching can be done now using the key commands Alt-1 to 6. The increment/decrement function is still in place.

Added gauges:
Cessna and Boeing type Attitude indicator
(Boeing type with ILS needles)
Combined Altitude/Indicated Airspeed for Boeing
Combined Torque and Power gauge for the Bell

All specific round gauge elements like needle shapes, flags and bugs are bitmap based. They are in the GBmp directory. Their application is governed in the script files (.ini). You are on your own when editing .ini files.
You can switch all round gauge frames off with one tick. Turning of the frames increases performance greatly.
To see the gauge names displayed, you need to set the option in the panel menu.
We have dropped the bevel option.