Post by Travis on Dec 1, 2023 0:08:00 GMT -5
Captains,
Version 1.8.4 Alpha is released here in our forum as of today.
This version contains new features, many bug fixes, as well as new settings and changes to better make your ATP career suit your style of flying!
First Things First
Before you do anything else, you need to backup your current \FSCaptain\ folder. Then you need to run your Installer, and then you need to Rebuild your Airport Database.
About Our Installers (and, "Why are there so many?")
There are several different installers, but you only need one installer.
For this Alpha release, you need to be updating from FSCaptain 1.8.3. Just download the FS9, SimConnect-32, or SimConnect-64 Refresh installer from the links below, and point it to your simulator's root folder.
These Refresh Installers only contain updated docs, DLLs, EXEs, and GAUges They must be installed over an existing FSCaptain 1.8.3 installation, as they only update certain files!
What if I'm not a Customer?
If you are running FSCaptain 1.8.3, you can still install and use FSCaptain for fully-supported flights from any of our six "free-to-fly-from" airports - EGCC, EGGD, EGJJ, KOLM, KPDX, and KSEA. If you decide to become a customer, just purchase a license key from SimMarket and add it to your existing FSCaptain. Then you will be free to fly from any Flight Simulator airport!
What are the changes??
!! New Features
-- Exit Protection
- A new option - ENABLE_EXIT_PROTECTION - will prevent your FO from complaining if your pressurized aircraft exits are opened while Enroute. Such an event is very rare to occur In Real Life, but it's simple to occur in your flight simulator. For instance, if one has a flame out mid-flight and then accidentally presses SHIFT-E instead of actually restarting your engine with CTRL-E. Like I've done. (Oops)
- Between the period between going OUT and going IN, this option will also attempt to automatically close any exits that it sees are open. This is only a cosmetic effect and it requires the ability to control a particular aircraft's exits.
-- Runway Selection / Display Screens
- Changes to Flight Menu screen, PLN screen, and to (DDF) Deicing screen....
- There are new Default and editable "Max Demonstrated Crosswind" values for all aircraft's Takeoff and Landing.
- There is a new Default "Max Tailwind" value for all aircraft.
- See the Runway Selection document for details.
-- Aircraft availability can be tied to Pay Grade Level when using the Economic Mode
- If you're using FSCaptain in Economic Mode, you can assign any of your Airline's aircraft to be available according to your current Pay Grade.
- In your [airline_name]_aircraft.cfg file, the last parameter on each aircraft's line was originally designed to be the "crew weight" for the aircraft. That parameter has long since lost its meaning, so we decided to repurpose it for values from 1 to 10 - representing the FSCaptain Pay grades.
- If you want an aircraft to be available starting at a specific Pay grade and for all higher Pay grades, just enter the desired Pay grade as the last value of the data line.
For example - Aircraft=A321,*,10000,9000,0,5 - would allow all A321s to be flyable starting at Pay grade #5.
- If you want an aircraft to be available starting at one Pay grade and only until reaching a higher Pay grade, just enter the two Pay grade values separated by a hyphen character, like so: "2-5" would allow the indicated aircraft to be available for Pay grades 2, 3, 4 and 5.
!! Changes
-- There is a new version of SceneryScanner which fixes bugs and better supports the Runways.cfg file introduced in FSCaptain 1.8.3. This new SceneryScanner uses more configuration files which are included.
-- Disabled the option to print in the "View Dispatch Release" dialog when it's called from the simulator menu. Also, the "OK" button is now the default choice.
-- If parking with "No Assigned Parking" enabled, the FCDU message no longer assumes everywhere you stop along your taxi path is where you wish to park.
-- The ReadyToUnload() check will now allow piston aircraft to keep one of their engines running while unloading.
-- Checks for a valid SupportedSim value on Admin launch, and will prompt for an update if not found.
-- A Dispatch List containing a single flight does not need to have the flight to be highlighted to be 'selected'.
-- Tweaks to Load routine to allow an escape using "RTL>".
-- Added new calls to update TakeoffRoll_Estimated after loading. This can be reflected on your Departure Runway Information screen.
-- Autosaves are prevented on landing if < 2500 AGL. (This is so you can easily revert to an Autosave that's several miles away from landing.
-- Initial Ground Ice is better limited to the aircraft's size.
-- Runway scoring (used to determine "Favored Runways" in your Dispatch Release) now reflects tailwind, crosswind, and ILS / Flight Rule effects.
-- Starting up with an FCDU gauge might have a condition triggered that would read WX data many times each second... causing a dip (more like a crater) in the simulator's Frames Per Second.
-- Some Aircraft Parameters which could cause issues in flight (minimum runway lengths, max touchdown rates, max crosswind values, Flap and Gear Damage speeds) are now listed in each Dispatch Release.
-- If a flight contains Complainers, this will be noted in the Details display of the flight's log - once completed.
-- PAX, Cargo, and Other Exit Controls are available on the Ready to Load, Load Progress, Load Complete, Load Confirm, and Load Reconciliation FCDU screens. In the time of 1.8.4 Beta, these controls will also be found on all Unloading screens.
Press the red "P" LSK to open your PAX exits. Press the light blue "P" LSK to close them.
The "C" LSKs control your Cargo exits, and the "O" LSKs control your Other exits.
In order to function properly, these exits must be defined in an "Exit Map," which can be found on your aircraft's Load Map dialog in the Administrator.
!! Bugs
-- A scheduled flight with both a Departure and Arrival time of '0000' will no longer be considered a "zero minute flight."
-- Captains were allowed to REVISE BLOCK time after landing, but no longer. (Doing such would have been declined anyway, but it's less silly this way.)
-- Fixed a "chance" to Zap AI Aircraft when you are carrying a GROUP.
-- Fixed the Administrator's Flight Log's display of a flight's Level Hours when displayed as "Newest First".
-- Added checks to prevent FO calls and FCDU prompts to check gear and flaps before landing if aircraft speed would prohibit such.
-- The method GetFlightRule() could have miscalculated visibility. No longer.
-- The option IGNORE_ICE could have had its value changed to zero. No longer.
-- "Water-only" airports may have been noted as "surface-only". No longer.
Is there Anything More that I have to Read Now?
Each Installer download has an obvious README file (README-9 for FS9 and README-32 & -64 for the SimConnect versions). The READMEs also expound on the need to FULLY BACKUP any current FSCaptain installation before installing!! It doesn't cost more than a few seconds of CPU and drive access time... but it could save your flight sim career in the meanwhile.
Is that it??
That's most of it.... Remember, after you've made your backup, and have downloaded your installer, unzip it and review the README- files, and run your installer.
Once that's finished, you need to run your Administrator, go to your "Profile and Settings" tab, and then click "Rebuild Airport Database". This will give you the data you need to work with FSCaptain 1.8.4.
Fly Safe - Fly ACME!!
12.1MB - SimConnect 64-bit Refresh Install - only for existing P3D4 & P3D5 installations
www.fscaptain.net/downloads/000005Oo/FSCaptain_184_Alpha_Refresh_SC-64.zip
12.4MB - SimConnect 32-bit Refresh Install - only for existing FSX, FSX-SE, and P3D2 & P3D3 installations
www.fscaptain.net/downloads/000005Oo/FSCaptain_184_Alpha_Refresh_SC-32.zip
11.0MB - FS2004 Refresh Install - only for existing FS9 / FS2004 installations
www.fscaptain.net/downloads/000005Oo/FSCaptain_184_Alpha_Refresh_FS9.zip
Version 1.8.4 Alpha is released here in our forum as of today.
This version contains new features, many bug fixes, as well as new settings and changes to better make your ATP career suit your style of flying!
First Things First
Before you do anything else, you need to backup your current \FSCaptain\ folder. Then you need to run your Installer, and then you need to Rebuild your Airport Database.
About Our Installers (and, "Why are there so many?")
There are several different installers, but you only need one installer.
For this Alpha release, you need to be updating from FSCaptain 1.8.3. Just download the FS9, SimConnect-32, or SimConnect-64 Refresh installer from the links below, and point it to your simulator's root folder.
These Refresh Installers only contain updated docs, DLLs, EXEs, and GAUges They must be installed over an existing FSCaptain 1.8.3 installation, as they only update certain files!
What if I'm not a Customer?
If you are running FSCaptain 1.8.3, you can still install and use FSCaptain for fully-supported flights from any of our six "free-to-fly-from" airports - EGCC, EGGD, EGJJ, KOLM, KPDX, and KSEA. If you decide to become a customer, just purchase a license key from SimMarket and add it to your existing FSCaptain. Then you will be free to fly from any Flight Simulator airport!
What are the changes??
!! New Features
-- Exit Protection
- A new option - ENABLE_EXIT_PROTECTION - will prevent your FO from complaining if your pressurized aircraft exits are opened while Enroute. Such an event is very rare to occur In Real Life, but it's simple to occur in your flight simulator. For instance, if one has a flame out mid-flight and then accidentally presses SHIFT-E instead of actually restarting your engine with CTRL-E. Like I've done. (Oops)
- Between the period between going OUT and going IN, this option will also attempt to automatically close any exits that it sees are open. This is only a cosmetic effect and it requires the ability to control a particular aircraft's exits.
-- Runway Selection / Display Screens
- Changes to Flight Menu screen, PLN screen, and to (DDF) Deicing screen....
- There are new Default and editable "Max Demonstrated Crosswind" values for all aircraft's Takeoff and Landing.
- There is a new Default "Max Tailwind" value for all aircraft.
- See the Runway Selection document for details.
-- Aircraft availability can be tied to Pay Grade Level when using the Economic Mode
- If you're using FSCaptain in Economic Mode, you can assign any of your Airline's aircraft to be available according to your current Pay Grade.
- In your [airline_name]_aircraft.cfg file, the last parameter on each aircraft's line was originally designed to be the "crew weight" for the aircraft. That parameter has long since lost its meaning, so we decided to repurpose it for values from 1 to 10 - representing the FSCaptain Pay grades.
- If you want an aircraft to be available starting at a specific Pay grade and for all higher Pay grades, just enter the desired Pay grade as the last value of the data line.
For example - Aircraft=A321,*,10000,9000,0,5 - would allow all A321s to be flyable starting at Pay grade #5.
- If you want an aircraft to be available starting at one Pay grade and only until reaching a higher Pay grade, just enter the two Pay grade values separated by a hyphen character, like so: "2-5" would allow the indicated aircraft to be available for Pay grades 2, 3, 4 and 5.
!! Changes
-- There is a new version of SceneryScanner which fixes bugs and better supports the Runways.cfg file introduced in FSCaptain 1.8.3. This new SceneryScanner uses more configuration files which are included.
-- Disabled the option to print in the "View Dispatch Release" dialog when it's called from the simulator menu. Also, the "OK" button is now the default choice.
-- If parking with "No Assigned Parking" enabled, the FCDU message no longer assumes everywhere you stop along your taxi path is where you wish to park.
-- The ReadyToUnload() check will now allow piston aircraft to keep one of their engines running while unloading.
-- Checks for a valid SupportedSim value on Admin launch, and will prompt for an update if not found.
-- A Dispatch List containing a single flight does not need to have the flight to be highlighted to be 'selected'.
-- Tweaks to Load routine to allow an escape using "RTL>".
-- Added new calls to update TakeoffRoll_Estimated after loading. This can be reflected on your Departure Runway Information screen.
-- Autosaves are prevented on landing if < 2500 AGL. (This is so you can easily revert to an Autosave that's several miles away from landing.
-- Initial Ground Ice is better limited to the aircraft's size.
-- Runway scoring (used to determine "Favored Runways" in your Dispatch Release) now reflects tailwind, crosswind, and ILS / Flight Rule effects.
-- Starting up with an FCDU gauge might have a condition triggered that would read WX data many times each second... causing a dip (more like a crater) in the simulator's Frames Per Second.
-- Some Aircraft Parameters which could cause issues in flight (minimum runway lengths, max touchdown rates, max crosswind values, Flap and Gear Damage speeds) are now listed in each Dispatch Release.
-- If a flight contains Complainers, this will be noted in the Details display of the flight's log - once completed.
-- PAX, Cargo, and Other Exit Controls are available on the Ready to Load, Load Progress, Load Complete, Load Confirm, and Load Reconciliation FCDU screens. In the time of 1.8.4 Beta, these controls will also be found on all Unloading screens.
Press the red "P" LSK to open your PAX exits. Press the light blue "P" LSK to close them.
The "C" LSKs control your Cargo exits, and the "O" LSKs control your Other exits.
In order to function properly, these exits must be defined in an "Exit Map," which can be found on your aircraft's Load Map dialog in the Administrator.
!! Bugs
-- A scheduled flight with both a Departure and Arrival time of '0000' will no longer be considered a "zero minute flight."
-- Captains were allowed to REVISE BLOCK time after landing, but no longer. (Doing such would have been declined anyway, but it's less silly this way.)
-- Fixed a "chance" to Zap AI Aircraft when you are carrying a GROUP.
-- Fixed the Administrator's Flight Log's display of a flight's Level Hours when displayed as "Newest First".
-- Added checks to prevent FO calls and FCDU prompts to check gear and flaps before landing if aircraft speed would prohibit such.
-- The method GetFlightRule() could have miscalculated visibility. No longer.
-- The option IGNORE_ICE could have had its value changed to zero. No longer.
-- "Water-only" airports may have been noted as "surface-only". No longer.
Is there Anything More that I have to Read Now?
Each Installer download has an obvious README file (README-9 for FS9 and README-32 & -64 for the SimConnect versions). The READMEs also expound on the need to FULLY BACKUP any current FSCaptain installation before installing!! It doesn't cost more than a few seconds of CPU and drive access time... but it could save your flight sim career in the meanwhile.
Is that it??
That's most of it.... Remember, after you've made your backup, and have downloaded your installer, unzip it and review the README- files, and run your installer.
Once that's finished, you need to run your Administrator, go to your "Profile and Settings" tab, and then click "Rebuild Airport Database". This will give you the data you need to work with FSCaptain 1.8.4.
Fly Safe - Fly ACME!!
12.1MB - SimConnect 64-bit Refresh Install - only for existing P3D4 & P3D5 installations
www.fscaptain.net/downloads/000005Oo/FSCaptain_184_Alpha_Refresh_SC-64.zip
12.4MB - SimConnect 32-bit Refresh Install - only for existing FSX, FSX-SE, and P3D2 & P3D3 installations
www.fscaptain.net/downloads/000005Oo/FSCaptain_184_Alpha_Refresh_SC-32.zip
11.0MB - FS2004 Refresh Install - only for existing FS9 / FS2004 installations
www.fscaptain.net/downloads/000005Oo/FSCaptain_184_Alpha_Refresh_FS9.zip