x52 Pro MFD Programming?

ellF · Post by **ellF** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:13 am

Hi all,

Yes, the x52 Pro MFD can be written to via an API that Saitek provides. I have written a small application that reads in data from Evochron Legends and allows it to be written out to the MFD in real-time. It's not configurable like the Falcon app, but for a weekend or so of work it's fairly useful.

Currently, the app requires a custom version of the Evochron .exe file, which Vice has provided to me. The latest incarnation has a few bugs that I need to work with him on; I've sent an email today and will be in touch as soon as I have a build that is ready for testing. Should be a few days at most.

Cheers,
Kevin

ryuu · Post by **ryuu** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:47 am

sounds like you've put a lot of work into this, i hope it works well

mic · Post by **mic** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:58 am

BUMP

is there any news update to this?

R-T-B · Post by **R-T-B** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:09 pm

I know this is an old thread to bump, but I made a plugin that does this in a very simple form. It works with Mercenary but should work with any Evochron that exports to a text file (Mercenary is all I own) with some minor updates.

It does the following:

4 pages of information including coordinates and fuel usage, some pilot and money/rating info, cargo contents, and a primitive damage and shield report.

Also, the display will warn you of an incoming missile with flashing red leds and a message on the screen that can't be easily ignored.

Here it is:

http://PhoenixTerrainMod.com/EvochronMFD.zip

Instructions in the ZIP.

EDIT: Fixed link.

[Edited on 7-21-2011 by R-T-B]

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:59 am

Sounds cool, only problem is that I do not have the Pro, just the X52....LOL...

R-T-B · Post by **R-T-B** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:20 am

Yeah, I plan on doing some more work on it, this is just a demo of sorts. If I get it to a more advanced state a X52 Pro may just become a little more valuable for this game (as it was, you might as well have gotten an X52

).

Current bugs I've noticed in using it myself: If you move plug your joystick into more than one USB port on your computer (swap it in and out or something), it will only work on the first port you plugged it into (the one you loaded the driver on). This is because it attatches to the "first" joystick plugged in, regardless of whether it is present or not. Windows in it's brilliance seems to treat each port as a seperate joystick, lol.

That'll be the first bug to fix. Otherwise it seems to work good.

[Edited on 7-22-2011 by R-T-B]

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:42 am

Hello R-T-B, Welcome to the forum and the Sim. Have fun and hope to see you in Multi-Player sometime.

-Darkhorse- · Post by **-Darkhorse-** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 4:18 am

Welcome R.T.B.

soulsacrifice · Post by **soulsacrifice** » Sat Jul 23, 2011 4:51 pm

Hi R-T-B,

I downloaded and installed according to instructions. When I launch the shortcut the game launches but I get an error.

"Directory decteceted as file:///c:/sw3dg/evochronmercenary/.
Launching Application...

Unhandled Exception: System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at EvochronLauncher.Program.Main<String{} args>"

Any ideas what's gone wrong? I'm keen to try it out. . Thanks.

P.S. In the instructions you mention "EvochronLegends.exe" where I think you mean "EvochronLauncher.exe

R-T-B · Post by **R-T-B** » Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:17 am

Yeah, I did make that typo, thanks. Does it also actually say "Dectected?" Oops.

As for the null reference exception error, it sounds as though you either don't have an X52 Pro (you need the pro) or you don't have the official Saitek windows drivers installed. Try reinstalling them maybe? Never seen that error myself.

[Edited on 7-24-2011 by R-T-B]

soulsacrifice · Post by **soulsacrifice** » Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:47 am

Don't worry, deteceted was my typo.

Yup, I definitely have the pro version & latest official drivers. Will try reinstalling them anyway. Thanks.

[Edited on 24-7-2011 by soulsacrifice]

R-T-B · Post by **R-T-B** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 3:37 pm

DId it work? It may be possible that it's because I compiled it on 64-bit windows, dunno.

soulsacrifice · Post by **soulsacrifice** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:09 pm

Afraid not.

Yeah, I'm on XP so that's likely it.

Buckaroo · Post by **Buckaroo** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:34 pm

From post: 111071, Topic: tid=6104, author=R-T-B wrote:I know this is an old thread to bump, but I made a plugin that does this in a very simple form. It works with Mercenary but should work with any Evochron that exports to a text file (Mercenary is all I own) with some minor updates.

It does the following:

4 pages of information including coordinates and fuel usage, some pilot and money/rating info, cargo contents, and a primitive damage and shield report.

Also, the display will warn you of an incoming missile with flashing red leds and a message on the screen that can't be easily ignored.

Here it is:

http://PhoenixTerrainMod.com/EvochronMFD.zip

Instructions in the ZIP.

EDIT: Fixed link.

[Edited on 7-21-2011 by R-T-B]

Hello,
This link seems to be down, and I'd love to be able to use the MFD profile. Can someone re-post a link please?

Thank you.

Nova_Solo · Post by **Nova_Solo** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:36 pm

From post: 130916, Topic: tid=6104, author=Buckaroo wrote:
From post: 111071, Topic: tid=6104, author=R-T-B wrote:I know this is an old thread to bump, but I made a plugin that does this in a very simple form. It works with Mercenary but should work with any Evochron that exports to a text file (Mercenary is all I own) with some minor updates.

It does the following:

4 pages of information including coordinates and fuel usage, some pilot and money/rating info, cargo contents, and a primitive damage and shield report.

Also, the display will warn you of an incoming missile with flashing red leds and a message on the screen that can't be easily ignored.

Here it is:

http://PhoenixTerrainMod.com/EvochronMFD.zip

Instructions in the ZIP.

EDIT: Fixed link.

[Edited on 7-21-2011 by R-T-B]
Hello,
This link seems to be down, and I'd love to be able to use the MFD profile. Can someone re-post a link please?

Thank you.

That makes two of us. My x52 PRO is on order, it'll be HOME in about a week *giddy with happy

:P:P

Capt_Caveman · Post by **Capt_Caveman** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:45 pm

yep broken link

soulsacrifice · Post by **soulsacrifice** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 4:58 pm

Wouldn't mind trying this again myself, as i've now moved to windows 7. Unfortunately I have searched and don't seem to have the file on my computer (must have deleted it when it didn't work for me). Doesn't look like R-T-B will be back either...

Buckaroo · Post by **Buckaroo** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 5:26 pm

From post: 131020, Topic: tid=6104, author=soulsacrifice wrote:Wouldn't mind trying this again myself, as i've now moved to windows 7. Unfortunately I have searched and don't seem to have the file on my computer (must have deleted it when it didn't work for me). Doesn't look like R-T-B will be back either...

Yep, looks like he hasn't been on for a while. Anyone else have it?

soulsacrifice · Post by **soulsacrifice** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:17 am

So...

I decided to use some file recovery software in an attempt to locate the EvochronMFD.zip. Was a long shot since it was quite a while ago and the space on the harddrive had most likely been re-written to but I thought it was worth a try anyway. After 5 hours of it scanning my files I was able to look through the deleted files that still existed on the drive, about 50,000+ files, but at least I could narrow it down using the dates from when I posted here.

After about an hour of looking through I can be pretty sure the .zip is no longer on my harddrive.

soulsacrifice · Post by **soulsacrifice** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:27 am

Now, here's the funny part.

...

Then I went searching through my Evochron Mercenary folder and what do I find. Yup, that's right, the source code.

(would have been very handy if some of the files within had MFD within the name but oh well, I found it so i'm happy).

Copy the contents of SOURCECODE\\EvochronLauncher\\EvochronLauncher\\bin\\Release into your Evochron Mercenary folder and launch the game with Evochron Launcher.exe. He doesn't seem to be around anymore but many thanks to R-T-B! I've tested and it seems to be working great.

Download Here!

[Edited on 19-2-2012 by soulsacrifice]

Capt_Caveman · Post by **Capt_Caveman** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:15 am

fantastic much thanx

Nova_Solo · Post by **Nova_Solo** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:13 pm

Great job on locating the mod soulsacrifice! 4 more days until my x52 pro arrives and i can test this puppy out

Buckaroo · Post by **Buckaroo** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:24 am

From post: 131062, Topic: tid=6104, author=soulsacrifice wrote:Now, here's the funny part.

...

Then I went searching through my Evochron Mercenary folder and what do I find. Yup, that's right, the source code.

(would have been very handy if some of the files within had MFD within the name but oh well, I found it so i'm happy).

Copy the contents of SOURCECODE\\EvochronLauncher\\EvochronLauncher\\bin\\Release into your Evochron Mercenary folder and launch the game with Evochron Launcher.exe. He doesn't seem to be around anymore but many thanks to R-T-B! I've tested and it seems to be working great.

Download Here!

[Edited on 19-2-2012 by soulsacrifice]

Rock!

thanks.

Capt_Caveman · Post by **Capt_Caveman** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:32 pm

wont work for me, anyone else?
the game has changed greatly sinse this was made, mabee the launcher is not compatible anymore ?

soulsacrifice · Post by **soulsacrifice** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:01 pm

Are you on a 32bit OS? Never worked for me at the time but now I am on windows 7 (64 bit version) it's working exactly as intended.

If you are did you try the version in:

\\SOURCE CODE\\EvochronLauncher\\EvochronLauncher\\obj\\x86\\Release

That bulld might work.

[Edited on 20-2-2012 by soulsacrifice]