FDC Live Cockpit Version 3.12 27th March 2010 CHANGES APPLIED to FDC Live Cockpit version 3.12 1. FIXED a small problem when using FDC alongside PFE where the descent checks could be triggered at the wrong altitude (only if you selected to use the PFE cruise altitude) 2. ADDED support for the Project Magenta MCP. Support includes full interaction with the MCP, FDC's decision height, V1, VR and V2 taken from PM's CDU settings. To activate this new feature simply open the performance file editor and select the aircraft you wish to use, then, under the AutoPilot Type drop down box just select 'Project Magenta' 3. FIXED some code that 'may' have caused issues for 'some' users where gear and/or flaps were not being set by FDC 4. ADDED a configurable delay after applying parking brakes at your destination before the final checks are called. This delay defaults to 30 seconds but you may change this if you wish by adding... FinalChecklistDelay=XX...to the FDC.INI file under the [Checklist] section, where XX is the number of SECONDS you wish the delay to run before the checklist is played. 5. FIXED a problem when using the Semi-Auto checklist mode which resulted in each checklist section playing automatically, rather than waiting for the user to hit Ctrl+SPACE 6. FDC / PFE INTERACTION It obviously sounds much better if your FDC co-pilot (PNF) and PFE pilot (which is really the PNF) sound the same... and you now have an additional choice to those originally offered in version 3.9... all of which are shown here:- FDC Voice set #11 and PFE US Mid West Pilot #2 are both the same author, Rick Schaefer.
The other options are to use one of the all new voice sets we have had recorded for FDC (see the FDC Download section of our website for download details), recorded by the same author of PFE's British Pilot 11 (New) and PFE's British Pilot 12 (New). http://www.oncourse-software.co.uk/fdc_downloads.htm This new voice sets have already been named as voice set #16, as that is the optional voice slot and one which may already be vacant. Should you wish to replace one of the other voice sets then you will have to rename the new one yourself. Eg. If you wished to replace the original voice set #13 then all files in the new voice set you choose beginning CM16- would need changing to CM13- and files beginning CMR16- would need changing to CMR13- As mentioned earlier this new FDC voice sets match PFE's British Pilot 11 (New) by David Leesley and PFE's British Pilot 12 (New) by Graham Jackson. Graham has also done many other voice sets for LevelD and PMDG, to name but a few. For the sake of simplicity let's say your FDC Voice16 folder is empty... just download and unzip whichever one of the new voice sets you want into your \FDC\Wav\Voice16 folder and you're ready to go. Run the programs and select either: FDC Voice set #11 and PFE Mid West Pilot #2 or (depending on which one you download) FDC Voice set #16 and PFE British Pilot #12 or FDC Voice set #16 and PFE British Pilot #11 For further detain regarding FDC/PFE please see the notes under the FDC 3.9 release section in this document. That's it!
31st March 2009 CHANGES APPLIED to FDC Live Cockpit version 3.11 1. FIXED one of our changes in 3.10 which prevents the 'localiser alive' and/or 'glideslope alive' calls being played if you are NOT using FDC alongside PFE (Shame on you!) 2. ADDED a new option on the Select Aircraft page. You will notice I have removed the AGL option next to Descent checks as in all probability that would never be used and if it was it probably shouldn't be <G>. So, the 'or click here' displays a new PFE only message that describes the new option. Basically if you enter an altitude and choose MSL then everything works exactly as it does now. If you select the new PFE Cruise option then the altitude you enter here is subtracted from PFE's cruise altitude to give the altitude at which Descent checks would be triggered. This provides a means by which these checks will be automatically adjusted for each of your PFE flights, even if the cruise altitude is different in each one. There are a few provisos here... IF you select to use this new option but decide not to use PFE then Descent checks will be whatever you've entered, unless it is below the Approach checks, in which case Descent checks will be readjusted to be the same as Approach checks + 2000. Equally, if you have a high figure in the Descent check and choose to use the PFE option... if the Descent altitude is higher than the PFE cruise altitude it wll be reset to PFE cruise altitude -2000. 3. ADDED - The new timers on the main menu screen to indicate departure time, etc, will now 'pause' whenever FS is in 'pause mode'
FDC Live Cockpit Version 3.10 6th January 2009 CHANGES APPLIED to FDC Live Cockpit version 3.10 1. FIXED one of our changes in 3.9 which prevents the 'localiser alive' and/or 'glideslope alive' calls being played if you are NOT using PFE alongside FDC
8th December 2008 CHANGES APPLIED to FDC Live Cockpit version 3.9 1. FIXED - a problem where the 'All passangers on Board' message was played too soon after the cabin announcement". It now plays BEFORE the announcement 2. FIXED - the problem where the new UnBoarding wav file was not being played at the end of the flight. 3. FIXED a problem where setting any of the User files to trigger during a descent were being triggered as soon as FDC was connected. 4. ADDED 'interactive' support for those using PFE alongside FDC. This should prevent either program (PFE or FDC) from stepping on each other. New to PFE version 2.8 and FDC version 3.9 each program is now fully aware of the other. If FDC is currently playing a checklist and ATC contact YOU then the checklist will automatically pause and resume once the transmission is complete from both sides. However, if ATC is talking with another aircraft the checklist will not pause but the volume of ATC will be lowered, although that is optional and your part fully adjustable. Also, whereas FDC only had two transition altitude settings to work with it will now use whatever you have configured in PFE. In addition to that FDC will be made aware of the cruise altitude in your PFE flight plan, which will make some of the cruise altitude triggered calls more accurate and easier to implement. Various other program elements will be passed back and forth between the programs to allow for further interaction both now and for future enhancements. So watch this space. Please Note: PFE and FDC do not have to be running on the same pc for this interaction to work. Each program could be running on different client pcs, with the main pc running FS and all connected via WideFS Now I am sure one of the questions we will be asked is Do I have to do anything special to get FDC and PFE to interact? The answer is, NO! Provided you are running PFE version 2.8 (or higher) and FDC version 3.9 (or higher) interaction is automatic.
However, there are a few things I think need to be explained here plus I'll show you how I've found it best to set things up for both systems to help make them 'blend' together. Firstly, it obviously sounds much better if your FDC co-pilot and PFE pilot (which is really the PNF) sound the same... so you have two choices... FDC Voice set #11 and PFE US Mid West Pilot #2 are both the same author, Rick Schaefer. The other option is to use an all new voice set we have had recorded for FDC (see the FDC Download section of our website for download details), recorded by the same author of PFE's British Pilot 12 (New). http://www.oncourse-software.co.uk/fdc_downloads.htm This new voice set has already been named as voice set #16, as that is the optional voice slot and one which may already be vacant. Should you wish to replace one of the other voice sets then you will have to rename the new one yourself. As mentioned earlier this new FDC voice set matches PFE's British Pilot 12 (New), and the author is Graham Jackson. Graham has also done many other voice sets for LevelD and PMDG, to name but a few. For the sake of simplicity let's say your FDC Voice16 folder is empty... just download and unzip the new voice set into your \FDC\Wav\Voice16 folder and you're ready to go. Run the programs and select either: FDC Voice set #11 and PFE Mid West Pilot #2 or FDC Voice set #16 and PFE British Pilot #12 I think FDC sound sets are slightly louder than PFE's so here's how I found mine work best, but please remember these are my own personal preferences. These controls do not have to be set this way for FDC/PFE interaction to work. FDC Volumes:- Captain=10 Co-Pilot=10
PFE Volumes:- Set the VCP Volume one notch below maximum Set the ATC volume 1 notch lower than the VCP volume Set the background noise four notches down from maximum Under TGS settings set TGS volume reduction to 50% That's it! 5. CHANGED ControllXR to support FDC/PFE interaction 6. FIXED a problem that's been around for a long time which prevented you from changing the time delay for the last cabin announcement, as this would always revert to 60 seconds. 7. CHANGED some logic in the auto updates program 8. FIXED the repeating 'Start number one... start number one... start number one..." call during engine startup on some aircrafts. 9. ADDED two new options for triggering checklists and cabin announcements. The first is on the Select Aircraft page, next to the Before Takoff checklist option. Click on the 'or click here' to see the option available... it waits for you to contact Tower (in PFE) and then triggers the checklist. The second one is on the Cabin Info page, next to the 4th Cabin Announcement option. Cick on the 'or click here' to see the option available... it waits till you reach your cruising altitude (as set in PFE) to trigger this 4th announcement. Obviously neither of these are active if you are not running PFE 10. ADDED some new options to the Performance File Editor for Speed Brake/Spoiler calls. Previously you only had two choices... Spoilers or Speedbrakes... now the choices are... 1. Call Spoilers 2. Call Speedbrakes 3. Call Spoilers on Landing only 4. Call Speedbrakes on Landing only 5. No Spoiler/Speedbrake calls at all 11. ADDED three countdown timers that will appear on the main menu screen after you 'connect' to FS. These show the time
remaining till your Departure, time remaining till the boarding ambience starts and time remaining till the first Cabin Announcement is made.
14th January 2008 CHANGES APPLIED to FDC Live Cockpit version 3.8.3 1. FIXED - A few items which were causing the infamous Overflow Error 6 for some users on long haul flights. After some exhaustive testing we are as confident as we can be this has now been resolved.
Version 3.7 released 7th January 2008 1. FIXED - Changing VCP Mode to handle Flaps and Gear was not being saved until you came out of the VCPX display and then selected SAVE again 2. FIXED - some issues preventing FDC working with FSCONV 6.9 and the LD 767 3. FIXED - some issues preventing ControllerXR working with FSCONV 6.9 and the LD 767 4. CHANGED the main checklist editor page to make it clear that those calls marked with an asterisk are only available when using one of FDC's Extended voice sets 5. FIXED a problem on the Select Aircraft page when selecting an 'unlisted' aircraft and the 'skip engine startup call' option disappeared 6. ADDED an 'UnBoarding.wav' file which will be found in the..fdc\cabinambience folder after applying this update. This is the same as the Boarding.wav file but obviously one is played at the start of your flight and the other at your destination. Providing two files will allow those wishing to have different sounds played at the start/end of their trip to do so by simply adding their own files and using the relevant file names. 7. ADDED two new files named PAX_ON.wav and PAX_OFF.wav which you will find in the..fdc\wav folder after applying this update. The first one is played once passenger boarding completes and the default (included) file plays 'all passengers on board captain'. The second one is played once all passengers have left the aircraft and the default (included) file plays 'all passengers have left the aircraft captain'. Obviously you may change these files to one of your own choice if you wish to play a different sound at these times, just ensure you use the correct filenames. Equally if you don't like or require these additional sounds simply delete or rename these files and then you won't hear them at all. NOTE: To used FDC with the LD 767 you must do the following o o o Download and install Nico Kaan's FSCONV version 6.9 or later from the downloads section at http://home.planet.nl/~nwkaan/ Run the FSCONVigurator.exe and select option '4' (MCP Panel) Setup FSCONVigurator to match the screenshot shown below
o o o Now select option 5 (Main Instruments Panel) Setup this display to match the screenshot shown below
o o o o o o o o Select Save to FSCONV.ini and FSCONV.dat Start FS and select the LD767 Start FSCONV Start FDC From FDC's 'MISC' options page select the 'Use LevelD767 support when selecting 767-300' option From FDC's 'Select Aircraft' options select the 'Boeing 767-300' option Connect FDC to FS and enjoy Additional NOTE: You will find details in the FSCONV documentation on setting up FSUIPC to start FSCONV for you automatically.
8. FIXED a small problem which could result in the flaps not being set correctly prior to takeoff, especially if you started with a flap setting higher than the normal takeoff setting. 9. ADDED 'some' changes in an attempt to fix the problem some users experience toward the end of a long haul flight where FDC issues an Error 6 message. I am not 100% confident this has addressed the issue simple due to not being able to recreate the problem nor having seen any relevant information in the logs previously provided.
Version History Version 3.7 released 12th February 2007 1. FIXED DirectX issues when running under Windows Vista preventing FDC from connecting to FS
21 st January 2007 Version 3.5 released 21st January 2007 1. Changes when running with FSX to ensure the aircraft.cfg file path is read correctly 2. Changes to ControllerXR to support FSX correctly 3. Splash screen changed to that of the newly packaged (FSX) product
15th October 2006 Version 3.5 released 15 th October 2006 1. ADDED support for FSX 2. FIXED a problem with the auto-updates process to address an issue some users were having when using this function
Version 3.4 released 23rd April 2006 3. FIXED a problem some users were having when running FDC on a client pc via WideFS. FDC would normally detect when FS had stopped running and then stop itself after a pre-determined (user configurable) timeout. However, if the user was in one of the FS menus FDC detected FS as being inactive, which of course was wrong. FDC now disregards any User/FS menu navigation. 4. FIXED a problem some users reported when running FDC from a client pc via WideFS and receiving a 'Hotkey Error' message. This was associated with the issue addressed in item #1 5. FIXED a problem in 3.2 which was preventing the global memory dump to the blackbox log when an error occured. 6. FIXED a problem preventing the VCP from correcting any incorrectly set interactive items during checklist calls. Version 3.3 released 9 TH April 2006 CHANGES APPLIED to FDC Live Cockpit version 3.3 1. CHANGED to support the new release of FSCONV Version 5.0+ when using the extended LD767 support features of FDC If you wish to use the LD767 extended features of FDC please read the following:- 1. Download and install the LD 767 SP3 update, available from: http://www.leveldsim.com 2. Download FSCONV version 5.0+ from: http://home.planet.nl/~nwkaan/downloads.htm 3. If you re using FDC on the same PC as FS please go to step #5. If you re using FDC on a client PC and connecting via WideFS please go to step #4 4. Create a new folder under your ControllerXR main folder called FSCONV Eg. YourInstallationPath \ FSCONV 5. Create a new folder under FDC called FSCONV
Eg. YourInstallationPath \ FDC \ FSCONV 6. Install FDC into this new FSCONV folder. Note: This is very important. Previously FSCONV was installed in your C:\Windows folder but now it can be installed anywhere but MUST be installed under your main FDC folder (or ControllerXR folder if running FDC on a client PC). If not, FDC will not be able to interact with it and the extended LD767 features will not work. If you previously chose to have FSCONV started when Flight Simulator starts( by using an entry in the FSUIPC.INI file) this will need changing to reflect the new location of FSCONV. Eg. RunIf1=READY,KILL,YourInstallationPath\FDC\FSCONV\fsconv.exe For those who may be new to FDC, or not already using the LD767 extended support features, we repeat the original instructions from the version 3.1 readme here, with relevant changes applied of course. Like a lot of high end third party aircraft the autopilot features do not use the standard Microsoft offsets and consequently FDC (via FSUIPC) is unable to interact with them. However, thanks to the Level-D developers for providing the SDK and Nico Kaan's brilliant FSCONV program, this is now possible with this aircraft. What this additional support provides is almost the same interaction as you currently have with the default and majority of third party aircraft. The VCP will be able to read and set the MCP altitude and heading settings, provide calls when nearing the target altitude. Turn the AP on/off at predetermined times, etc, etc. Basically, if you currently use FDC with the LD767 you will know exactly what functionality you are currently missing. Hopefully this update will correct that. Here's what you need and most importantly what you need to do to enable the Level-D 767 support feature:- See relevant details above (a) FSCONV must be running when FS is running and you would normally start it after you start FS. However, the easiest way to do this is to automate the task by adding the following lines to the FSUIPC.INI file (which you'll find in the FS\Modules folder). If you don't have a [Programs] section in FSUIPC.INI file you must create one, if you already have a [Programs] section simply add the RunLF1= line (shown below) beneath it:-
[Programs] RunIF1=READY,KILL,YourInstallationPath\FDC\fsconv\fsconv.exe What this does is to run FSCONV each time you start FS (so you'll never forget to do it <G>), but it only does so once FS is in a 'ready' state. Also, when you exit FS it will stop FSCONV automatically. (b) From the FDC 'Misc' page select the new option:- 'Use Level-D 767 support when selecting 767-300' (c) From FDC's 'Select Aircraft' page select the new 767-300 option from the drop down listing. Please note: Level-D 767 extended support will not work if you use any other options than described here. If you create your own performance file and select that instead of the default 767-300 option you will not have LD767 extended support. If you're not happy with the performance file settings included as default you may change them via the Performance File Editor. (d) For the very first time only, after installing FSCONV, please complete the following:- That's it. Start FS If you haven't configured FSUIPC to start FSCONV automatically for you (as described above) then please start it now. You will probably get a warning message stating No Services Defined in FSCONV. That s okay, and you should just OK the message. Start FDC. You should then get a message stating that FSCONV configuration has been changed and FSCONV requires stopping and restarting. Now simply stop and restart FSCONV. If you ve configured it to start automatically with FS you could always stop and restart FS. Next time FSCONV is started it will run automatically and also be minimized on the Task Bar. This is because FDC will have reconfigured the FSCONV INI file to ensure this is how it works. Obviously once you've installed FSCONV.EXE version 5.0+ and set FSCONV to auto start with FS you don't have to worry about any of these instructions again. Then, provided you have the option described in (b) above selected (which you can obviously save to a profile), each time you select the 767-300 aircraft FDC's Level-D 767 extended support will be 'active'
Although FSCONV is capable of providing data for just about every switch and gauge on the LD767, FDC uses only a small subset of this and consequently pre-configures FSCONV to use only those services it needs, thereby reducing any unnecessary processing overhead. New versions of FSCONV may appear from time to time as Nico Kaan continues to refine his program. Obviously it is always best to use the most recent versions of most software so I would suggest you check Nico s website from time to time. However, I would suggest when updating to a new version you only copy the FSCONV.EXE file and not the FSUIPC.INI file. If you do you will be using Nico s default settings which basically turn all FDSCONV services to OFF. FDC will then detect this and reset the FSCONV.INI file to only run those services we need. Consequently, at that point, you will receive a message stating such changes have been applied and that you need to stop and restart FSCONV. No harm in this at all, just a bit of a pain, and this obviously only occurs the once for each update.
Version 3.2 released 23 rd March 2006 CHANGES APPLIED to FDC Live Cockpit version 3.2 1. FIXED a problem when running FDC on a client where it resulted in an ERR 13 due to a missing NoChange_FSCONV entry in the FDC.INI file 2. FIXED - The VCP-X interactive checklist configuration toggle option in the VCP-X options was labelled incorrectly and this switch is now defunct. To turn Interactive Checklists off you use the master switch on the Select Aircraft page, next to the Interactive Checklist time delay option. 3. FIXED a problem whereby if millibars were selected they were not used for the callout when climbing through transition altitude. 4. Reduced the size of the 'FlightDeck_Companion.EXE' file considerably, which means less memory used and quicker load time. 5. FIXED (Hopefully) a 'out of memory' issue some users experienced during long haul flights. 6. FIXED a problem where FDC was not setting flaps correctly (or at all for some users) when using the PMDG 747 7. FIXED a problem when using a 3-man crew where some checklist calls/responses were not heard 8. FIXED a few minor problems associated with the extended LD767 support features. 9. ADDED a few changes to improve performance 10. ADDED a NEW auto updates feature. When selected FDC will check once per day to see if any new updates are available. Should you choose NOT to use this new option you may still use the 'Updates' control from the main menu. Whichever option you choose if any new updates are available and you confirm you wish to download them the installation will be automatic. That's right, no more having to choose the correct installation folder and clicking Next, Next, Next. All updates will be fully automatic including stopping and restarting FDC if necessary. We hope this new feature is not only much easier and seamless for our users but it will also enable us to provide any small fixes quickly and easily. Please note: FDC does not collect any personal data about you or your system. This feature downloads a text file from our server then runs a version status check. 11. FIXED a problem with the Black Box display when switching from System Time, FS Time and both.
Version 3.1 released 19 th December 2005 CHANGES APPLIED to FDC Live Cockpit version 3.1 1. ADDED some more options to the User File setup page to allow additional flexibility for you to choose when the files are played. Each file can now be configured by the original method (xx minutes after the previous message, etc) or at a given altitude during climb or descent (you may even choose that by AGL or MSL) or XX minutes starting from a given point of the flight e.g. 'Connect' time, at the gate, as you start to taxi, once ready for T/O, takeoff roll, Cruise, Descent, Landing and Parking. Please remember that these files will always be initiated in numerical order, no matter what settings you configure. So, if you set #3 to start at 5,000' AGL and #4 to start at 4,000' AGL, file #3 will start first followed immediately after by file #4. 2. ADDED additional support for the Level-D 767. Like a lot of high end third party aircraft the autopilot features do not use the standard Microsoft offsets and consequently FDC (via FSUIPC) is unable to interact with them. However, thanks to the Level-D developers for providing the SDK and Nico Kaan's brilliant FSCONV program, this is now possible with this aircraft. What this additional support provides is almost the same interaction as you currently have with the default and majority of third party aircraft. The VCP will be able to read and set the MCP altitude and heading settings, provide calls when nearing the target altitude. Turn the AP on/off at predetermined times, etc, etc. Basically, if you currently use FDC with the LD767 you will know exactly what functionality you are currently missing. Hopefully this update will correct that. Here's what you need and most importantly what you need to do to enable the Level-D 767 support feature:- (a) Download a copy of FSCONV from Nico Kaan's website http://home.planet.nl/~nwkaan/downloads.htm then select FSCONV (you will need version 4.0 or later) (b) Unzip FSCONV.EXE and FSCONV.INI into your C:\Windows folder (this is a FSCONV requirement, not mine) (c) Now make a copy of the LVLDSDK.dll file and put that into your C:\Windows folder too. The LVLDSDK.dll file is included with the Level-D 767 package and after installation will be found under your FS folder in:-
..\Level-D Simulations\Level-D SDK (d) FSCONV must be running when FS is running and you would normally start it after you start FS. However, the easiest way to do this is to automate the task by adding the following lines to the FSUIPC.INI file (which you'll find in the FS\Modules folder). If you don't have a [Programs] section in FSUIPC.INI file you must create one, if you already have a [Programs] section simply add the RunLF1= line (shown below) beneath it:- [Programs] RunIF1=READY,KILL,c:\windows\fsconv.exe What this does is to run FSCONV each time you start FS (so you'll never forget to do it <G>), but it only does so once FS is in a 'ready' state. Also, when you exit FS it will stop FSCONV automatically. (e) From the FDC 'Misc' page select the new option:- 'Use Level-D 767 support when selecting 767-300' (f) From FDC's 'Select Aircraft' page select the new 767-300 option from the drop down listing. Please note: Level-D 767 extended support will not work if you use any other options that described here. If you create your own performance file and select that instead on the default 767-300 option you will not have LD767 extended support. If you're not happy with the performance file settings included as default you may change them via the Performance File Editor. (g) For the very first time only, after installing FSCONV, please complete the following:- Start FS If you haven't configured FSUIPC to start FSCONV automatically for you (as described above) then please start it now. Start FDC. You should then get a message stating that FSCONV configuration has been changed and FSCONV requires stopping and restarting. If you've configured FSCONV to start automatically with FS just stop and start FS, if not you will have to stop and start FSCONV manually. That's it. Obviously once you've installed FSCONV.EXE, FSCONV.INI and LVLDSDK.dll and set FSCONV to auto start with FS you don't have to worry
about those items again. Then, provided you have the option described in (e) above selected (which you can obviously save to a profile), each time you select the 767-300 aircraft FDC's Level-D 767 extended support will be 'active' Although FSCONV is capable of providing data for just about every switch and gauge on the LD767, FDC uses only a small subset of this and consequently pre-configures FSCONV to use only those services it needs, thereby reducing any unnecessary processing overhead. New versions of FSCONV may appear from time to time as Nico Kaan continues to refine his program. Obviously it is always best to use the most recent versions of most software so I would suggest you check Nico s webste from time to time. However, I would suggest when updating to a new version you only copy the FSCONV.EXE file and not the FSUIPC.INI file. If you do you will be using Nico s default settings which basically turn all FDSCONV services to ON. FDC will then detect this and reset the FSCONV.INI file to only run those services we need. Consequently, at that point, you will receive a message stating such changes have been applied and that you need to stop and restart FSCONV. No harm in this at all, just a bit of a pain, and this obviously only occurs the once for each update. ControllerXR Users. A new ControllerXR program has been included with this release to support the new LD767 features. The new ControllerXR.exe will have been installed into your FDC\ControllerXR folder by default. If you re running a networked system you must remember to copy this new version of ControllerXR onto your main (FS) PC. Also, please copy the file named EX_Config.TXT also found in the FDC\ControllerXR folder and place it into the same folder as the ControllerXR.exe program on your main (FS) PC. If you're not working in a networked environment but still use ControllerXR (recommended) then you need do nothing, provided the FDC\ControllerXR location is where you normally run this program from of course. 3. FIXED the problem where the Alt Baro setting was not being set correctly when descending below transition altitude if running FDC on a client PC via WideFS. This will now work but you must have ControllerXR running on the main (FS) pc. 4. FIXED a problem where FDC (when running on a client PC using WideFS) would not always detect if FS became inactive and would consequently remain in the 'Connected' mode. A new option on the 'Misc' page allows you to add a timeout value (in seconds). So, if FDC does not detect any activity for this length of time it will automatically dis-connect. Please note, opening
any of the FS menus will render FS 'inactive' as far as this feature is concerned. Personally I find the default of 60 seconds works well because once 'connected' I rarely have to use the FS menus and if I do it's certainly not for any great length of time... But you may enter a longer timeout if you wish with a maximum value of 999 seconds (approximately 17 minutes). I guess that should be long enough for anyone! <G> 5. ADDED three new hotkeys to provide an 'auto-scan' feature for checking what s going on around you. SHIFT+N scans the nearside views (the same as using the numeric keys 7 and 4) with a slight pause between each view. SHIFT+O scans the offside views (the same as using the numeric keys 9 and 6) again with a slight pause between each. SHIFT+M scans all views (the same as using the numeric keys 4, 7, 9 and 6) with a slight pause between each view. I personally have these keys assigned to my Yoke buttons and like to use them when taxing, to me it's much easy to hit one button to check if there's any other taxiing aircraft dangerously close prior to making turns, etc. As with all FDC s Hotkeys you may re-aasign the keys to use or disable those you don t wish to use. 6. FIXED a problem when using FDC alongside Radar Contact 4.0 which resulted in FS freezing at the point where the VCP called Airspeed Active. This was a result of making too many calls to FSUIPC during takeoff and if you killed RC4 then FDC and FS would continue as normal. A final note from Dave March The majority of these (3.1) changes were completed some time ago but have not gone through our normal and most stringent testing cycle. However, due to the release of Radar Contact 4.0, and the subsequent issue FDC users were having when using RC4 and FDC together, I felt it best to get this patch to you as quickly as possible. So apologies in advance if you find anything untoward with any of the new additions here hopefully any issues will be minimal and not spoil your continued enjoyment of FDC. Cheers and thanks for your continued support Dave March
INSTALLATION From version 3.2 all installations are handled automatically by FDC. All you need to do is confirm you wish to download and install this update