ACS-GPS gauges family for FS98/FS2000/FS2002 By Alain Capt / acapt@worldcom.ch / Switzerland URL: http://www.acsoft.ch ("Produits" chapter) ----------------------------------------------- ********************************** * VERSION 2.00 / November - 2001 * ********************************** PRELIMINARY REMARKS ------------------- Please read "install.txt" for installation instructions. DON'T TRY TO INSTALL BEFORE YOU READ THIS FILE !!! Version 1.90 and upper has three different sets of GPS gauges for FS98, FS2000 and FS2002. It include now also a full FS2000 database files set, thanks to Olivier Guth and Jean-Pierre Bonnefon precious work. This release also include now the GNC250XL GPS model which was made for the famous and well known Pilatus Porter made by authors Jim Goldman, Yannick Lavigne, Steve Small and Fred Banting. For FS2000 and FS2002, versions 1.90 and upper include now a COUPLING TO AVIONIC POWER BUS. for all GPS gauges (with the exception of Concorde gauge). This mean that if avionic power bus fall under a certain voltage, GPS gauge will have a power failure (GPS stop working and all electrical display disappear). This function was already implemented, via IPC COM block in previous versions. It remain also in this one. IPC power failure has the priority. For FS2000 and FS2002, versions 2.00 and upper correct the following weakness: Power failure, due to avionic power bus low voltage, do not happen anymore at A FIXED VOLTAGE, but when avionic power bus voltage fall under the half of the maximum voltage measured during normal operation. This avoid GPS never powered on aircraft using low voltage system. ATTENTION !!! Flight Simulator 98 users, to work properly, ACS-GP98 gauges family need a FULLY UPDATED FS98. This mean you must have installed the two Microsoft official updates: "FSCONV98" and "Patch Set No1". You can freely download these stuffs on Microsoft Internet site or several other Internet sources. No special requirement is needed for FS2000 or FS2002 version. Concorde version is included in the form of a separate package "Concorde.zip". Please refer to included "readme.txt" within this archive to know all about this version, especially how to install it within your Concorde panel. ATTENTION, this set of gaugeS IS NOT for the FS2000 Concorde !!! Usage of the Data Manager is described into file "acsgpsDA.txt". Developers will found interesting information's in "FINAL REMARKS" section. DESCRIPTION ----------- ACS-GPS is a versatile set of GPS gauges. You should find a version suitable for almost every kind of aircraft. V1, V2, V4 are CRT-like gauges. V3 is a replacement gauge for the standard FS98 Bendix Transponder gauge which offer both transponder and GPS functions. KLN90B is a custom gauge which was developed for Seneca panel of Alexander Lawrence, but, of course, suitable for many other aircraft of this category. Same for the LEARJET version and the GNC250XL. At last, CONCORDE version is a special version divided in 3 differents gauges. I made it for the commercial version of the FS98 Concorde aircraft add on. ACS-GPS is a full featured programmable GPS. Up to 99 destinations can be loaded into GPS memory from a data file, in an easy editable text format. This is done automatically, when gauge is loaded by FS. These datas for the GPS gauge can be managed with "ACS-GPS Data Manager". You can run this extension direct from GPS gauge or from outside FS. Data Manager will let you create, modify etc... as many programs for the GPS as you want. These programs can be then loaded into GPS memory, directly from the Manager. Data Manager include a database with all Airports and Navaids of FS98 and FS2000 that you can use to create your GPS Program's. This database is made of a set of text files. Therefore user should be able to modify database contain with a simple text editor or more powerful programs like Access or Excel. Data Manager database call buttons can be also fully customized. GPS can work in two modes: A "tour" mode, where all loaded destinations are considered as a sequence of "Wpts" for the flight, or a "Single-Destination" mode. In this last mode, GPS will not switch automatically to next waypoint, when destination reached, but execute the selected destination behavior: Simply switch GPS to "standby" (disconnected from autopilot) and continue, circle over destination or switch to "standby" and activate "pause" of FS. Of course, in "tour" mode, destination behavior will occur on last waypoint. GPS always display current airplane coordinates (long/lat) and current waypoint coordinates. Display of them can be toggled between standard mode (Deg Min Sec) or FS98 mode (Deg* Min.decimal). GPS also display, of course, the heading to waypoint, the distance to waypoint in [nm], the ETA (Estimated Time to Arrival). All GSP gauges master wind drift compensation. This feature is built around a true mathematical model (no use of some well known approximate simple equations). The model will assume all cases, even such "Kamikaze" situations, like a wind of 120 KNOT with an ULM flying at 40 KNOT! This mean, of course, that GPS have to manage cases where the compensation is not anymore possible. You will see how in chapter "WIND DRIFT COMPENSATION USAGE AND BEHAVIOR". External applications can communicate with ACS-GPS using IPC shared memory block technic. ACS-GPS use two of these blocks for this purpose. These communication channels can be used not only to read all GSP datas, but also to remotely control the GPS, including forcing a program reload. Even power failure can be simulated through this channel. You can test these features with the included "IPCTest.exe" program. For more details, also please consult file "IPC_com.h". HOW TO IMPLEMENT ACS-GPS GAUGES INTO PANELS ------------------------------------------- If you are not an experienced user on the matter of panel modification, I recommend to you to download the Microsoft Flight Simulator SDK. This "Software Development Kit" will give you all the information you need to manage panel modifications. With this version, I made the effort to include a basic "Tutorial.txt" which should put a newcomer on the right track about what to do to include new windows and gauges into a panel. Sorry, but this document is not a complete detailed course on how to modify panels! However, with the basic information's it contain, you should normally be able to discover the rest on your own. If you do not have the courage to plunge into panel editing, you can found a lot of nice panels on Internet which feature ACS-GPS. Gauge V3 was designed with the meaning to facilitate implementation in the case it can take the place of FS98 "Bendix_King_Radio.Xpndr.gau". Here after, an example on how to do that: Let say we want implement ACS-GPS98-V3 on the FS98 Cessna Skylane 182S panel: Please open file "panel.cfg" for this aircraft with a simple text editor like the NotePad (File location: YOUR-FS98-INSTALLDIR\AIRCRAFT\C182\PANEL). Seek for the line: gauge04=Bendix_King_Radio.Xpndr, 0, 188 Edit the file this way: ;gauge04=Bendix_King_Radio.Xpndr, 0, 188 gauge04=ACS.GPS98-V3, 0, 188 Save your work and go on !!! Now, when you will fly your Cessna Skylane 182S and you press on the button to display the radio stack, you will see ACS-GPS98-V3 instead of the Bendix Transponder. To know how to use it, read chapter "USAGE OF ACS-GPS98-V3". This simple way of doing should always work. The only problem, with custom panels using a very small sized version of Transponder will be you cannot read anymore the GPS gauge. IMPORTANT !!! Do not forget a gauge is NOT ACTIVE if the windows using it is not displayed. Therefore, when GPS is linked to autopilot, THE RADIO STACK WINDOW MUST REMAIN OPEN IN ORDER THE GPS CAN CONTINUE TO CONTROL AIRCRAFT. You may also test ACS-GPS KLN90B with the same method on the same panel: This time, seek for the line: gauge01=Bendix_King_Radio.Nav_Comm_2, 0, 57 Edit the file this way for original CRT version: ;gauge01=Bendix_King_Radio.Nav_Comm_2, 0, 57 gauge01=ACS.GPS98-KLN90B_CRT, 0, 57 Or for alternative LCD version, this way: ;gauge01=Bendix_King_Radio.Nav_Comm_2, 0, 57 gauge01=ACS.GPS98-KLN90B_LCD, 0, 57 Of course, this implementation remove an important gauge. But this is just a test to let you try the gauge. WIND DRIFT COMPENSATION USAGE AND BEHAVIOR ------------------------------------------ Wind drift compensation is fully integrated into GPS computation. As soon as the plane enter into a wind layer, GPS will start to include wind parameters into all calculations. GPS behavior will depend on the GPS status. If GPS is ACTIVE (linked to AP), status display of GPS will immediately reflect that wind drift compensation has been activated. GPS heading display will continue to show the "theoretical" heading to destination, but you will remark that the heading sent to autopilot by the GPS is compensated. For all cases where it is impossible to compensate wind action, in order to be able to join destination, status display will start to blink between green and red color. But the GPS will continue trying to do its best. This mean in fact the plane will be maintained toward the wind (plane take the wind heading [Note: the direction from where the wind is coming]). Suppose you are flying to a destination with a very heavy wind coming from right behind. Obviously, GPS will compensate with an increase of the theoretical heading to destination (turning plane to right). Suppose now you reduce more and more power. The will reduce airspeed and therefore the plane will compensate more and more to the right, in direction toward the wind. When plane reach the wind heading, we have the maximum possible compensation. If speed continue to decrease, "GONE WITH THE WIND !!!" warning will start to blink, to let you know destination cannot anymore be reached. If GPS is on STANDBY when entering into a wind layer, nothing apparent occur on GPS. But you have a mouse spot, which let you toggle heading display between destination heading (red color) and compensated heading (orange color). This may be useful for those who want to fly manually. When compensated heading start to blink, this mean of course, compensation is not anymore possible. This heading toggle spot obviously work only if you are inside a wind layer. ETA calculation TAKE CARE OF WIND DRIFT COMPENSATION. Obviously, when aircraft fly into a wind layer, speed to destination do not simply correspond to plane speed. A further mouse spot will show, for 4 seconds, the true ground speed to destination, instead of ETA time display. This is the speed used to compute ETA. This new mouse spot always work, when you have a valid ETA displayed. It does no matter if you are or not into a wind layer. Refer to gauge usage description to precisely locate these mouse toggles. USAGE OF THE GPS GAUGES V1, V4 ------------------------------ V1 is the first GSP gauge I have created. V4 is the last one and is identical to V1, but designed for my new MD-11 version 2.0 package. V4 use the "pixel to pixel" technic and should be used only in panel with 1024x768 full screen resolution. Magnification factor in gauge definition must be set to 186. The first line on the GPS gauge is the title. It is also the hidden button to launch the ACS-GPS data Manager extension, which let you create and manage as many GPS program you want. Read "readmeDA.txt" for a full detailed description of this extension. In the case you uninstall the data Manager, this hidden button will let you simply reload data file. When the gauge is loaded by FS and if a valid ACS-GPS.dat is found, data will be already be automatically loaded. If the data file was not found or contain syntax error, the gauge will be in data error mode. This mean all data fields will be invalid and the GPS cannot be activated. the id: field will indicate "ERROR" and the following line, which normally contain the name of waypoint destination, will indicate the error. For syntax errors, "item number" and "line number" of item will be indicated followed by an "error number" (see here after syntax error description). Then, we have a first group of information, between two lines. In this first block are grouped destination waypoints information's. You can see "id:" of waypoint, followed by a full line to indicate the "name" of waypoint. "Wpt:" indicate which waypoint is now active (displayed). You can toggle between "Tour" mode and "Single-Destination" mode by clicking on "Wpt:". You will know which mode is selected by looking on how waypoint is indicated. If indicated with the format "01/08" THIS INDICATE TOUR MODE and will also tell you that you are on first waypoint of 8 waypoint in all. If the format is "03-SD", you will know YOU ARE IN "SINGLE-DESTINATION" MODE with the third item of the data file. Under the name of waypoint, two last lines of this group, labeled "Long:" and "Lat:" indicate coordinates of waypoint. "Long:" and "Lat:" text's are also hidden button to navigate back and forward into GPS memory of waypoints. Following, is the central group indicating the heading to waypoint destination and the ETA (Estimated Time to Arrival). "HDG" label is a mouse toggle to change between destination heading (red color) and compensated heading (orange color) in case of wind drift compensation. "ETA" label is an other mouse spot to display during 4 seconds, ground speed used to calculate ETA. In the next group, we have first the distance to waypoint ("Dist to Wpt:"), followed by the actual plane position. You can use the hidden button over text "Long:" and "Lat:" of this group, to toggle the display mode of coordinate between "Standard" or "FS98" formats. The last group let you switch GPS between "STANDBY" and "ACTIVE" by clicking on label "GPS status:". When GPS is in "standby", it is simply not connected to FS98 autopilot. When switched to "active", GPS will take the control on autopilot. Therefore you will not be able to change heading on autopilot nor to deactivate autopilot heading. You can still switch off autopilot. In this case, GPS will automatically be set in standby mode. When you switch GPS back to standby, using hidden "GPS status:" button of GPS, autopilot WILL NOT BE SWITCHED OFF. All remain "in the state" except that now, GPS is not anymore connected on autopilot. At least, on the right down corner, you will found the indicator of "destination behavior". "Of" indicate "Off mode" where the GPS will be simply returned automatically to "standby" when destination reached. "Ps" behavior will also put GPS in "standby" but also activate FS98 "Pause". "Ci" behavior will let the plane circle over destination. To switch between those different modes, simply click on the indicator. USAGE OF GPS GAUGE V2 --------------------- This gauge is a compact version of basic V1. Therefore usage is almost the same, except the following: To gain place, this gauge suppress the two lines display for destination coordinates. But this information is not lost, because the two lines which display in V1 version, only the actual position coordinate, can, in this version, also display the destination coordinate. Over this coordinate, you will found a virtual button which let you toggle between local or destination coordinates display. In order you do not confuse which coordinate is displayed, the coordinate will turn in orange color (same as destination string color) when displaying destination. In V1, label for destination coordinates was also virtual buttons to change waypoints (increment or decrement waypoints). As these two lines disappear, the virtual buttons to change waypoints are now over the waypoint name string. On left decrement waypoint, on right increment. USAGE OF GPS GAUGE V3 (Bendix like GPS-Transponder with buttons) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Functionality's are the same like for GPS V1 or V2. Like for V2, coordinates of actual position or destination are in toggle on the same display position. To gain more place, this GPS V3 toggle also line with "Wpt No" and "Ident" and line with "Wpt Name". Every mouse click spots are obviously on buttons for this version which is not a CRT display. As this version is intended to take the place of the standard FS98 Bendix Transponder gauge, ACS-GPS98-V3 include this functionality too. Some of the buttons (NXT,PRV and numeric buttons 1 to 7) have a different usage, depending if you are in GPS mode or in Transponder setting mode. I had to make it this way to not have too much buttons. Schema of buttons: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- | NXT | ----- ----- ----- ----- | PRV | | HDG | / \ ----- ----- | XPONDER | ----- | CMD | | SPD | \ / ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- | 0 | | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 | | 5 | | 6 | | 7 | | AP | ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How to set the Transponder code: By default, the gauge is in GPS mode. GPS calculated heading is displayed in the up right corner, just over the XPONDER round button. If you click on the round button, up right corner will display the transponder actual setting for 4 seconds. Then display return to GPS heading display. If you click the round button again, BEFORE display has returned to heading display, you will enter into Transponder setting mode. The Transponder code will turn to green color and the first digit (left most) will blink in the waiting of your input. Doing nothing will let return automatically the gauge to GPS mode after 16 seconds. When in Transponder setting mode, clicking on one numeric button will set the blinking digit to this value, while the next digit start to blink. Therefore, you will need only 4 mouse clicks to set you code. You can also use buttons NXT / PRV to change selected digit up or down. 16 seconds out-timer is rearmed every time you click one of these buttons used for transponder setting. Supposing you have now the right needed code displayed, this code is STILL NOT ACTIVATED. Therefore, if you wait 16 seconds, gauge will exit automatically the Transponder setting mode WITHOUT HAVING MODIFIED THE PREVIOUS SETTING. To ACTIVATE IT, you must simply press the round button, when still into Transponder setting mode. GPS mode, where are the functions ? I will not here after describe the purpose of every functionality's, but just tell you on which buttons they are set. Please consult basic V1/V4 GPS usage documentation for this purpose NXT / PRV buttons This pair let you select next or previous program waypoint or destination. BUTTON 0 Select the destination behavior mode which is displayed just over the button. BUTTON 1 Toggle first display line between ["Wpt No" / "Ident"] and ["Wpt name"]. BUTTON 2 Only if first line display ["Wpt No" / "Ident"], will let you toggle between "Tour" mode or "Single destination" mode. BUTTON 3 Toggle the two coordinates display between standard MN/DEG/SEC and FS98 MN/DEG.DECIMAL modes. BUTTON 4 Toggle the two coordinates display between "actual position" (red color) and destination position (orange color). BUTTON 5 No function for GPS. BUTTON 6 Reload data file function (if Data's Manager not used). Call the Data manager before to reload data file when this extension is available. BUTTON 7 No function for GPS. BUTTON AP GPS Mode toggle between ACTIVE (this version display "ON" or "ON W") and STANDBY. BUTTON SPD Display 4 seconds ground speed instead of ETA only if a valid ETA is displayed. BUTTON HDG Toggle Heading display between theoretical heading to destination (red color) and compensated heading (orange color). Will work only if aircraft is inside a wind layer. USAGE OF GPS GAUGE KLN90B ------------------------- This GPS is proposed in two versions: With a "CRT" like display (bright green characters over black background), conform to original GPS and with a more spectacular "LCD" like display (Black characters over enlightened green background). Functionality's are the same like for GPS V1, V2. Like for V2, coordinates of actual position or destination are in toggle on the same display position. To gain more place, this GPS KLN90B toggle also line with "Wpt No" and "Ident" and line with "Wpt Name". Every mouse click spots are obviously on buttons for this version which is not a CRT display. This version display coordinates only in standard notation "DEG/MIN/SEC", Therefore no toggle button exist to change coordinates to FS98 "DEG/MIN.DECIMAL" notation. THIS GPS MUST BE SWITCHED "ON" BEFORE TO BE OPERATIONAL. Use button "GPS ON" for this purpose. Doing this will lit the display. Switched OFF, really mean the GPS is OFF. Internally, no more computation occur. Except button "GPS ON", all other buttons don't work. Schema of buttons: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- GPS | | ON --- ------ ------ | CRSR | | CRSR | ------ ------ ----- ----- / \ / \ | MODE | | PREV | | SELECT | ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- | NEXT | \ / | MSG | | ALT | | D | | CLR | | ENT | \ / ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Main purpose of this version is to "look like" the real Bendix KLN90B GPS. But it remain first an ACS-GPS, in term of functionality's of the gauge. We think ACS-GPS is better adapted to what remain a simulator games, than a strict and pure simulation of the real GPS would be. The consequence of this, is that button labels have almost no meaning in regard to the ACS-GPS functions which have been allocated to them. But after all, most of the time these labels are so small on panel that they are in fact unreadable. Where are located ACS-GPS KLN90B functions ? I will not here after describe the purpose of every functionality's, but just tell you on which buttons they are set. Please consult basic V1/V4 GPS usage documentation's for this purpose. ROUND BUTTON "GPS ON" Let you switch ON or OFF the GPS gauge. ROUND BUTTON "PREV/NEXT" This pair let you select next or previous program waypoint or destination. BUTTON "CLR" Select the destination behavior mode which is displayed just over the button. ROUND BUTTON "MODE" Toggle first display line between ["Wpt No" / "Ident"] and ["Wpt name"]. LEFT BUTTON "CRSR" Only if first line display ["Wpt No" / "Ident"], will let you toggle between "Tour" mode or "Single destination" mode. RIGHT BUTTON "CRSR" Toggle the two coordinates display between "actual position" and "destination position". You will know when destination coordinates are displayed, as values will not changes until you select an other waypoint. BUTTON "D" Reload data file function (if Data's Manager not used). Call the Data manager before to reload data file when this extension is available. BUTTON "ENT" GPS Mode toggle between ACTIVE (button will lit) and STANDBY (button is not lit). BUTTON "ALT" Display 4 seconds ground speed instead of ETA only if a valid ETA is displayed. BUTTON "MSG" Toggle Heading display between "theoretical" heading to destination (label HDG) and compensated heading (label WHG). Will work only if aircraft is inside a wind layer. USAGE OF GPS GAUGE LEARJET -------------------------- Gauge "ACS.GPS98-LEARJET.gau" is not documented in this package. Just here for upgrade purpose. Please refer to http://www.virtual.icom-web.com, the Web site of Alexander Lawrence. You will found there the famous Lear Jet panel for which this gauge was built. USAGE OF GPS GAUGE GNC250XL --------------------------- Gauge "ACS.GPS98-GNC250XL.gau" is not documented in this package. Just here for upgrade purpose. Please refer to http://www.flightsim-developers.com, the Web site of the Pilatus Porter or the documentation of this aircaft add'on. USAGE OF GPS GAUGES SET FOR THE CONCORDE ---------------------------------------- This gauges set is included in the form of a separate package "Concorde.zip". Please refer to included "readme.txt" within this archive to know all about this version, especially how to install it within your Concorde panel. DATA FILE FORMAT, SYNTAX AND ERROR MESSAGES ------------------------------------------- Data file is a simple text file. It must be named "ACS-GPS.dat" and placed into installation directory of FS98 (alternatively also C:\ root). The file can contain a maximum of 32 records, each records is composed of four items for waypoint parameters (one per line), followed by a "blank" line (separator line). Here is the record description: IDENT waypoint identification (max 5 char, will be truncated if longer) NAME waypoint name (max 20 char, will be truncated if longer) LONG Longitude of waypoint into FS98 format (see syntax here after) LAT Latitude of waypoint into FS98 format (see syntax here after) SEP A maybe blank separation line (line is ignored) Syntax for LONG and LAT: - First character must be "E" or "W" for longitude "N" or "S" for latitude (must be capital). - All further non numeric characters are then skipped. - First numeric character to next non numeric character taken as degree, must be under or equal to 180, for longitude and under or equal to 90, for latitude. - Then skip again to next numeric char. - All next numeric char taken. - Then, if a "." char is found it will also be taken and almost one numeric char must, in this case, follow the point. Further more numeric characters taken, until first non numeric char (if any). This second numeric value is taken as "minutes.decimal" (FS98 format). Must be zero if previously specified degrees was 180 for longitude, or 90 for latitude. - Rest of the line will be ignored (if any). Every line of file must be not longer than 255 characters. this syntax mean that all following examples are legal: E0 0 W115* 12.123456 Minutes // high precision South latitude: 23 degree 34.28 minutes-decimal N 46* 23.45 W118*3.8 etc... Here are the meaning of error messages that might be returned: ER_LineIsTooLong 100 Encounter a line over 255 char ER_InvalidOri 101 First char of longitude different of "W" or "E" or different of "N" or "S" for latitude. ER_PrematureEndOfLine 102 A longitude or latitude line ended before all needed data found. ER_DegLongInvalid 103 Invalid degree for longitude. ER_DegLatInvalid 104 Invalid degree for latitude. ER_MinInvalid 105 Invalid minute. ER_DegNotFound 106 On longitude or latitude line, no numeric char found for degree. ER_MinNotFound 107 On longitude or latitude line, no numeric char found for minutes. ER_NotNumAfterPoint 108 point is followed by non numeric. ER_TooMuchRecords 109 32 records limit overpass. ER_PrematureEndOfFile 110 File end encountered inside a record. ER_SystemIO 999 System read file error occur. FINAL REMARKS ------------- ATTENTION, like every other gauges in FS, if the window which carry the gauge is not displayed, THE GAUGE IS NOT ANYMORE ACTIVE. Gauges and Data Manager were written in Visual C++ 5.0 using the Microsoft panel SDK reference. Internal design was programmed to be as less as possible computing consuming and FS drawing refreshing. For example, 3D vectors computation for heading is "ticked" to occur only every second instead of standard 18 Hertz FS ticker. Unfortunately, "strings" in gauge, especially with 3DFX full screen mode, are not fully proportional. I mean, depending on the magnification factor of the gauge, string may vary in size and placement onto gauge area. Therefore, for a successful panel implementation I recommend the following method: First of all, seek the magnification factor for the gauge, according to the resolution used in the panel, in order to have an optimal looking gauge (all string with the good size and well placed). This will determine the size the gauge must have. Then you can design (or modify) you panel to receive the gauge. ACS-GPS98-V1 is optimized on 1280x960 panel resolution with a magnification factor of 250 and for ACS-GPS98-V2 (compact version), factor is 240. COPYRIGHTS ---------- ACS-GPS PACKAGE IS FREEWARE AND NO MONEY SHOULD EVER BE MADE WITH IT !!! WRITTEN PERMISSION OF AUTHOR IS NEEDED TO COPY THIS PACKAGE OR PART(S) OF IT, ON EVERY MEDIA LIKE CD-ROM, DISKETTE, BBS, INTERNET SITES ETC..., IN THE CASE USERS MUST PAY TO ACCESS THIS MEDIA OR HAVE TO BUY IT. I DO NOT GIVE THE RIGHT TO ANYBODY, WITHOUT MY PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION, TO USE ANY ACSOFT PRODUCTION COPYRIGHTED FILES (SEE FILE PROPERTY OR DOCUMENTATION), EXECUTABLE OR NOT, IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE OR MODIFIED WITH UTILITY SOFTWARES LIKE GAUBMP.EXE, GAUMOD98.EXE ETC..., INTO A PANEL OR OTHER APPLICATIONS INTENDED TO BE PUBLISHED, EVEN IF PUBLICATION WILL BE A FREEWARE. CREDITS ------- Thanks to Thierry HEEB, a really "big mathematics head" who create for me, a mathematical model for the computation of GPS heading, based on "analytic geometry in space" theory, plus a true model for wind drift compensation. Many thanks to Olivier Guth and Jean-Pierre Bonnefon, authors of all FS2K database files now officially integrated in this release. I am sure this is an enhancement which will be much appreciated by all user. Microsoft Corporation, for the publication of Flight Simulator 98+FS2K SDK. AUTHOR ------ Alain Capt 35 ch. des Passiaux CH-1008 PRILLY SWITZERLAND Tel + Fax: 41-21/ 648 38 37 E-Mail: acapt@worldcom.ch URL: http://www.acsoft.ch (look on "Produits" chapter to found FS98 pages) Have nice GPS flight with ACS-GPS !!!