FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide)

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FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide)

Postby flibberflops » Sun Aug 09, 2015 1:23 pm

FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide)

This guide has been written to hopefully walk a novice through the process of improving the default cockpit view position that each aircraft gives you in FSX.
This guide has been written for FSX STEAM EDITION on Flyinside but should work with any FSX edition (just file locations will be different)

File Locations

By default Steam installs itself into…

C:\Program files\steam\steamapps (on 32bit Windows)
Or
C:\ C:\Program files (x86)\steam\steamapps (on 64bit Windows)

However you can install steam in any custom folder you wish. Therefore in this guide I have shown the file locations from folder “steamapps” onwards. Obviously the first of the file location should be adjusted for your specific circumstance.


Aircraft Config files

Each Aircraft in FSX has its own folder which contains a config file called “Aircraft.cfg”. To alter the default 3D view position of an aircraft you need to alter this config file. Therefore I recommend you always backup this file before you edit it in case you make a mistake.
The file can be edited simple with Windows “Notepad”

Game Settings

As you change the settings you will need to test the changes. Therefore before you begin you will need to ensure that you have got the following controls configured (within the game) to be able to test your settings.

FSX Settings

Within the FSX main menu go to….
Settings > Controls > Button/Keys
Scroll down until you find “Aircraft (reload)”
Ensure you have a button assigned for this function and take a note of it (as you will be using it)…Traditionally this has been Ctrl + F11

FlyInside Settings

When you first fly a plane – go into the flyinside settings (from your 3D cockpit view) and ensure you have buttons mapped for the following functions…

Settings > Head Position > Reset Orientation

Settings > World Scale > Increase World Scale
Settings > World Scale > Decrease World Scale
Settings > World Scale > Reset World Scale


My Suggested settings

Posted below I have listed each of the default Steam edition aircraft and the file location of its config file.
I have also posted my suggestions for the config file and the world scale (more on this in a bit)

At the moment I have only done this for the Cesna’s but I will slowly do the rest and update as I go.

I welcome any suggested settings from other people to help complete the list!

The two changes needed to get your view right

The Default view is decided by two things…

A) The settings you specify in the “[Views]” section of the aircraft.cfg (which is the main thing)
B) The world scale (some cockpits look too squashed or too longated by default) so you may need to adjust the flyinside world scale

Therefore in some aircraft you need to both alter the aircraft.cfg and then alter the world scale.

World Scale

Unfortunately where the cockpit view position can be defined in the aircraft.cfg, the world scale can only be changed (as far as I can tell) by pressing a button. Not only that I do not of anyway to define the change of world scale other than the amount of clicks increase or decrease you need to do. Hopefully this will be made more configurable per aircraft in later versions of FlyInside. However for now I can only recommend (in my settings below) the amount of clicks increase or decrease.


The Config File settings

The only bit you are interested in the config file is the line called “Eyepoint” .. under the [View] section. This is usually found three quarters of the way down the config file. (example below)

[Views]
eyepoint= -3.0, -0.95, 1.7

The eye point consists of three figures and it is referencing your eye point in relation to usually somewhere in the nose of the plane.
The figures brake down like this..

The First number is your forward/back position
0 usually equals in the nose cone. Any positive figure will put you in front of the plane
Therefore the number this number is always a minus figure.

The Second Number is your left/right figure
Again as the reference point is usually in the middle of the plane, if you sit on the left this will be a minus figure.

The Third number is your height reference.
As the reference point is usually around the floor area this is usually the only positive figure.

Generally
The figures you type in usually only need tiny changes to make big movements. Increasing a number by 0.05 maybe all you need. Changing a figure from 1.7 to 2.7 will quite often put you out the plane



Instructions on how to change your view

(Please ensure you have got your game buttons as advised above)

1) Start FSX/Flyinside
2) Choose the plane you want to alter and start a free flight
3) Once you are flying pause the game (press the “P” key)
4) Oculus off the eyes
5) On the desktop of your PC browse to location of the aircraft.cfg
6) Locate the “eyepoint” setting in the file
7) Either change to my suggested settings or try your own
8) Save Config file (but you DO NOT need to exit out of it – you can leave it open in notepad)
9) Click back onto the FSX screen on the desktop (to go back in the game)
10) No need to unpause game… leave it paused
11) Oculus back on
12) Perform the “Aircraft Reload” function in FSX (Usually Ctrl + F11)
13) You should see the default view change to reflect your changes.
14) Double check by performing a Oculus reset Orientation (to confirm position)
15) If it’s still not right, go back to step 4 and try changing the cfg file again
16) Once everything looks ok (position wise) you may need to slightly adjust the world scale by clicking on the world scale buttons as recommended for each aircraft.
That’s it done.

Now when you start a game or reset the rift view the default view should be correct (except for world scale which may need adjusting each time you try a new aircraft).

Please advise me if I have made any errors
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Re: FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide)

Postby flibberflops » Sun Aug 09, 2015 1:27 pm

Aircraft

Airbus A321
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Airbus_A321
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= 53.3, -2.4, 4.3


World Scale:
6 clicks on decrease World Scale (from reset to Default)



AirCreation 582L Trike Ultralight
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Aircreation_582SL
CFG File setting:

[Views]
1.5, -0.02, -2.8


World Scale:
Default World Scale



Beechcraft Baron 58 (and G1000)
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\beech_baron_58
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= -7.6, -0.95, 2.32


World Scale:
6 clicks increase World Scale (from reset to Default)



Beechcraft King Air 350
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Beech_King_Air_350
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= 5.2, -1.30, 3.2


World Scale:
5 clicks increase World Scale (from reset to Default)



Boeing 737-800
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\B737_800
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= 48.4, -1.65, 1.9


World Scale:
Default World Scale



Boeing 747-400
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\b747_400
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= -17.6, -2.2, 10.6


World Scale:
4 clicks decrease World Scale (from reset to Default)



Boeing F/A-18
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\FA-18
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= -16.7, -0.1, 3.3


World Scale:
4 clicks increase World Scale (from reset to Default)



Bombardier CRJ700

Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Bombardier_CRJ_700
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= -10.6, -1.95, 4.1


World Scale:
4 clicks decrease World Scale (from reset to Default)



Bombardier LearJet 45
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Lear45
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= -15.8, -1.6, 3.0


World Scale:
Default World Scale


Cessna C172SP Skyhawk (and the G1000)
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\C172\Aircraft.cfg
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= -3.0, -0.95, 1.7


World Scale:
3 clicks increase World Scale (from reset to Default)


Cessna C208B Grand Caravan

Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\C208\Aircraft.cfg
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = -11.6, -1.3, 2.3


World Scale:
Default World Scale


De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\DeHavilland_Beaver_DHC2
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= -6.6, -1.3, 2.75


World Scale:
2 clicks on increase World Scale (from reset to Default)



DG Flugzeugbau DG-808S
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\DG808S
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = 2.56, -0.2, 0.9


World Scale:
6 clicks on increase World Scale (from reset to Default)



Douglas DC3
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_DC3
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = -6.1, -1.5, 3.2


World Scale:
2 clicks on decrease World Scale (from reset to Default)



Extra 300S
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Extra300
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = -5.4, -0.20, 2.1


World Scale:
Default World Scale



Gumman G21A Goose
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Grumman_Goose_G21A
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = 0.1, -1.45, 2.6


World Scale:
Default World Scale


Maule M7 Orion
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Maule_M7_260C
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= -1.8, -0.85, 1.4


World Scale:
2 clicks on increase World Scale (from reset to Default)


Maule M7 Orion (on skis)
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Maule_M7_260C_Ski
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint= -1.8, -0.85, 1.4


World Scale:
2 clicks on increase World Scale (from reset to Default)



Mooney Bravo (and g1000)
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Mooney_Bravo
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = -3.40, -1, 1.2


World Scale:
4 clicks on increase World Scale (from reset to Default)



North American P-51D Mustang
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\P51_Racer
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = -2.4, -0.1, 2.1


World Scale:
Default World Scale



Piper J-3 Cub
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Piper_J3Cub
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = -0.1, -0.1, 0.9


World Scale:
4 clicks on increase World Scale (from reset to Default)



Helicopters

Augusta Westland EH101 (Helicopter)
Filelocation:
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = -16.2, 2, 4.8


World Scale:
6 clicks on decrease World Scale (from reset to Default)



Robinson R22 Beta II (Helicopter)
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Rotorcraft\Robinson_R22
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = 2.6, 1.2, 2.0


World Scale:
4 clicks on decrease World Scale (from reset to Default)



Bell 206B JetRanger (Helicopter)
Filelocation:
“Your steam folder”\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Rotorcraft\Bell206B\sim.cfg
CFG File setting:

[Views]
eyepoint = -6.453, 0.7, 1


World Scale:
4 clicks on increase World Scale (from reset to Default)
Last edited by flibberflops on Mon Aug 10, 2015 3:18 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide)

Postby Mark W » Sun Aug 09, 2015 1:36 pm

Brilliant. I've been finding the default position in some planes to be too far back so this is good news.
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Re: FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide)

Postby Sharkku » Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:15 pm

Fantastic work! Now just to write a script that grabs your post and edits all corresponding aircraft.cfg:s automatically... ;)
CPU: i7-7700K @4.6 GHz, GPU: GTX1080Ti, RAM: 16 GB, OS: Win10 64-bit, HMD: Rift CV1
Software: FSX:SE, FFS, Nvidia driver: 391.35, Oculus runtime: public test channel, FlyInside 1.8013 beta

Beta tester and site mod
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Re: FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide)

Postby Sharkku » Sun Sep 06, 2015 9:20 pm

DodoSim 206:
eyepoint = 3.6, 0.87, 1.25
world scale 1-2 clicks increase
CPU: i7-7700K @4.6 GHz, GPU: GTX1080Ti, RAM: 16 GB, OS: Win10 64-bit, HMD: Rift CV1
Software: FSX:SE, FFS, Nvidia driver: 391.35, Oculus runtime: public test channel, FlyInside 1.8013 beta

Beta tester and site mod
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Re: FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide)

Postby admin » Mon Sep 07, 2015 12:41 am

I've stickied this topic, thanks for putting together a really quality post :mrgreen:

In the future I'll be improving view-point and world scale configuration. For now I'm focusing on the items that are impossible to use rather than the settings which are annoying, but I understand what you're saying about world-scale configuration being lacking.
Your friendly neighborhood developer!
Contact Me: dan@flyinside-fsx.com
admin
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Script to update all aircraft eyepoints in one go

Postby JFDee » Fri Jun 17, 2016 3:38 pm

Feel free to move this to the respective topic (which is locked).

I've cobbled together a TCL script to automatically adjust the eyepoint in all listed aircraft cfg files.

The attached data file "view_correction.txt" is a 1:1 select/copy/paste from flibberflops' forum post to a simple text file (e.g. using Windows' "notepad"). The only correction I made was for the "Trike" where the "eyepoint" parameter name was missing.

Get a TCL interpreter (google 'ActiveTcl' or 'freewrap freewish').
Rename the other attached file "view_correction_tcl.txt" to "view_correction.tcl".
Put both data and TCL file right into your "FSX" folder. Run the TCL file.

All original files will be copied to *.bak at the first run and read for every following run; that means you can run this script as often as you like, e.g. after re-editing the data file. You can add more aircraft in the same format as in flibberflops' forum post.

view_correction.txt
The data file
(5.56 KiB) Downloaded 1224 times

view_correction_tcl.txt
The script file
(1.73 KiB) Downloaded 1178 times
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Re: FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide)

Postby Sharkku » Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:08 pm

Fantastic work, JFDee! Moved post as requested!
CPU: i7-7700K @4.6 GHz, GPU: GTX1080Ti, RAM: 16 GB, OS: Win10 64-bit, HMD: Rift CV1
Software: FSX:SE, FFS, Nvidia driver: 391.35, Oculus runtime: public test channel, FlyInside 1.8013 beta

Beta tester and site mod
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FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide) (small bug fixed)

Postby tmcd » Tue Aug 23, 2016 9:50 pm

User JFDee created a nice tool to update all the eyepoints via a script viewtopic.php?f=10&t=282#p10137

Script to update all aircraft eyepoints in one go
Postby JFDee » Fri Jun 17, 2016 12:38 pm

Feel free to move this to the respective topic (which is locked).

I've cobbled together a TCL script to automatically adjust the eyepoint in all listed aircraft cfg files.

The attached data file "view_correction.txt" is a 1:1 select/copy/paste from flibberflops' forum post to a simple text file (e.g. using Windows' "notepad"). The only correction I made was for the "Trike" where the "eyepoint" parameter name was missing.


However, though he meant to update the Trike too:
The only correction I made was for the "Trike" where the "eyepoint" parameter name was missing.

the file he uploaded omitted this fix. I have attached a corrected version. (I could not add it to the main post as it is locked.)

P.S. The Trike is fun scary way up in the sky with no seatbelt in VR :-)
Attachments
view_correction with trike fix.txt
(5.57 KiB) Downloaded 1143 times
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Re: FSX Cockpit Default view Position (Guide) (small bug fix

Postby tmcd » Wed Aug 24, 2016 10:31 am

Actually, the eyepoints in the guide do NOT work for FSX Acceleration!

Surprisingly, given that they are said to work with FSX Steam, they are way off. For the Bell 206 you end up sitting in the middle of the aircraft and well behind the rotor.

Example for the Bell 206:
eyepoint = 1.6, 1.45, 2.2 original
// eyepoint = -6.453, 0.7, 1 from the auto update stuff

Admin - could you move this to the locked topic please?
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