Thanks. I like your attitude.
From my experience in other fields, I suspect that I am the type of person who is suitable for creating instruments. I have a certain skill set and the patience… but at the moment lack the knowledge required… but I will get there.
I have learned so much recently through the struggle to modify existing instruments to create new ones for my specific plane panels. Understanding is increasing.
Just last night I spent over an hour trying to find out why I could not get a fuel tank selector to go in the correct direction. I am using an existing Cessna 172 selector that actually works in the JMB VL3.
The only difference is that the “both” position is not used - Just LEFT/RIGHT/OFF
I changed the 2 images to the ones I have created to look like the JMB instead of the Cessna… so far so good… but I cannot get the code to make my images rotate to the correct position.
It is so weird.
As long as I use the existing angles in the Cessna 172 script everything is fine (apart from the selector of the JMB image being in the wrong position). When change the angle in the script from say -90 to 90 I can get 2 of the positions to work, but I cannot get the third position to behave.
I have the link to all the Event IDs and Simulation variables that are referenced in the scripts
I will have another go today to try and find what I am doing wrong.
You wrote:
I’m not sure how small a pool of people you believe have made instruments for the store but it’s perhaps more than you perceive.
I guess that is a question of what is small and large - relative to the number of people in using AM and wishing for instruments.
…so because everyone can’t do it does not make it cumbersome or particularly difficult.
Unless I am missing something, the only way to make instruments is via the Create/Edit tab in the Air Manager program… and I would suggest that method is a comparatively slow and cumbersome method because positioning the images can only be done by entering the code into the script , saving the script, and then hitting RUN to see what the result is. Am I right is wrong?
Fine-tuning positions of needles, for example, takes many actions like this which is not a vey efficient way of doing it IMHO.
I do a lot of music recording and photo/video editing, so I am used being able to visually nudge images (and sound) into exactly the position required. It would be insane if I had to do that by entering coordinate numbers into a script.
Same with creating web pages.
In the past it all had to be done by entering code.
Now the code is written automatically… and there are buttons and tools that write the code for animations, color changes etc. and adaptive design in general.
I can only imagine the time that some have had to spend creating those complex instruments using only the method available in the Air Manager Create/Edit tab.
I know someone has made a series of teaching videos linked in the SIM INNOVATION website, and I have watch several of them… but frankly they are awfully bad pedagogy. There is a desperate need for some really concise and straight forward videos with examples and steps for someone to try for learning purposes. There could also be some templates made for people to work with.
Indeed the default could be that every community instrument is open for modification and re-distribution because of the type of licence you would have to agree to but as of yet there is nothing like this and therefore we have to respect the original authors work.
Yeah. I guess this indicates an urgent priority for SI to establish something - otherwise we will all get frustrated. It should not be that hard to just declare whatever is in the community folder is OPEN and creators who don’t want their work messed with can withdraw and place their work in a different category… eliminate this uncertainty and set the community free… otherwise someone will come along with an alternative to Air Manager with more user-friendly solutions.
In the mean time, the Simstrumentation GitHub tried to do something but that seems to have become bogged down too… I do not see a whole lot of activity creating new instruments or tutorials encouraging others.
Anyhow… in the mean time, I will keep struggling along on my own and will eventually learn I suppose, but I will not bother offering what I create to the community to avoid the hassle of someone claiming my creations are party theirs.
Happy flying.
