New add-on: Central Maintenance Computer for PSX (CMC-PSX)...now v1.12

[Avi]

In the classic (747-100/200/300) cockpit there were several push buttons above the engines gauges to test several systems. You can see them in this picture.
Pilots, in the past, maybe did use them (although they do look hidden).

Cheers,

[Britjet]

In the past there was quite a bit of pre-flight testing going on. When I was on 707's I should think about half of the stuff we did pre-flight was pushing test switches and buttons. It proved very little except that pilots were a very paranoid lot in those days...(and of course now we have "self-testing").
Peter.

[Avi]

Hi all,

With the release of PSX v 10.1.1 I'm releasing an update for CMC-PSX (v 1.5).

There are 3 modifications in this version:
1.   CMC fault messages were modified to agree with the modified Flap Control Malfunction in PSX version 10.1.1.
2.   Input Monitoring for the different Equip Cooling Valves position (E/55/270/0) was modified to agree with PSX. Also, each valve now has its own response timing. *
3.   Eng X Ignitor Y status messages (inside CMC-PSX) are now defined as latched.


* In the latest PSX version Hardy added the Equip Cooling Valves position to the Analysis / Misc page. The valve positions can also be seen in CMC-PSX (under Input Monitoring function **).
However, while in PSX you can see only Open/Close positions, in CMC-PSX you can see Open, Not Open, Close and Not Close (2 bits display).
Also, in CMC-PSX each of the valves has its own time to response and to move from Open to Close so when the system configuration changes the display is very dynamic.

To learn how the Input Monitoring system works please refer to the CMC-PSX User Guide pages 77-82.
The bits for the Equip Cooling Valves are listed here:



** Input Monitoring function can be found under OTHER FUNCTIONS option in the CMC menu page 2.

To install the new version all you need is to download the new jar file and override the old one.

Have fun,

[andrej]

Thanks Avi!

[kamro_]

Using the latest version, I'm experiencing what appear to be random sim freezes after CMC-PSX is connected.
After disconnecting the addon, PSX works normally.

Anyone else experiencing the same?

[Avi]

Hi,

What is your PSX version?

[kamro_]

Hi,

Sorry, I should have added that. I'm using version 10.1.1

[Avi]

OK,

What do you mean by random freezes? Does it freeze and after few milliseconds unfreeze?
Does it unfreeze only after you disconnect CMC-PSX?
What does happen if you reconnect again?
Does it happen to you every time you start / connect CMC-PSX?

Thanks.

[kamro_]

Hi,

Deleting the ini file and letting CMC-PSX create a new one from scratch may have fixed all my issues.
I'll get back to you if the problem persists.

[kamro_]

Hi,

I think there's still something going on...

For testing I mainly used the situation "Basic 001 - On ground and IRS aligned" but the problem appeared during other situations as well.

What do you mean by random freezes? Does it freeze and after few milliseconds unfreeze?

Initially I thought the freezing was completely random but I may have found something relevevant.
Here's a screenshot of the center cdu after CMC-PSX is connected and the LSK L6 was clicked:
https://imgur.com/a/ooJAr

The CMC menu should open up, but as you can see, that doesn't happen. At this point, it is still possible to click things but after some seconds (maybe 10-15s, the time varies a lot) PSX freezes up completely and doesn't update or handle input of any kind. The freezing appears to be permament.

Does it unfreeze only after you disconnect CMC-PSX?

Yes, disconnecting or quitting CMC-PSX seems to be the only way to unfreeze the sim.

What does happen if you reconnect again?

The situation described above repeats. The total freezing usually happens a lot sooner than the first time.

Does it happen to you every time you start / connect CMC-PSX?

Yes, but this problem seems to be specific to v 1.5. I haven't had any problems with v.1.0.1.


I think I've found a workaround for this problem. After PSX freezes:
- quit CMC-PSX
- delete FaultHistory.log
- restart and reconnect CMC-PSX

After that, CMC-PSX appears work correclty until the end of the session. After a CMC-PSX restart, the problem is back again.
Initially I thought it might have been a file permission issue but I have read/write permission to all the files in the directory.

If there's something I should further clarify or test something else, please let me know.

[Avi]

I highly doubt file reading has anything to do with it since I didn't change anything since V1.0 (when you deleted the ini file CMC-PSX didn't connect to PSX automatically so this may be the reason why you thought everything was ok).

It may have something to do with DEMAND vars but I will look into it only at the weekend.

Thanks,

[kamro_]

Yeah, thinking back, deleting the ini file probably had nothing to do with it.
Deleting the  FaultHistory.log does help, though. But I'm unsure what the reason is...
I hope you'll find something out. I appreciate your work!

[farrokh747]

Thanks, Avi..!

[Avi]

kamro_,

Since it doesn't happen on my side I'm a little bit in the dark here.
I made a minor change and I want you to test it.
Note the file name is CMC-PSXa.jar so run it or rename it.
Also note on the title version 1.5a

Does it work correctly?

Thanks,

[kamro_]

Hey Avi,

After a quick test, v.1.5a seems to work correctly!
I'll try using it more to see if anything comes up, but the freezing doesn't seem to happen anymore.

[Avi]

Great,

I'll wait a day or two and make it an official version.

Thanks,

[andrej]

Dear Avi,

I tested the v1.5 as well and I also had similar problem. When I started CMC, I had the option to slected CMC-PSX in the CDU C. When I clicked on it to active CMC-PSX, line 6L stated: CMC-PSX <ACT> and nothing did happen.

With the CMC-PSXa.jar everything works as previously (i.e. menu shows up and I can run tests).

Thanks!
Andrej

[kamro_]

Avi,

I've run the sim and the addon for several hours now, and I've had no problems whatsoever.
I'd say the issue has been resolved.

Thanks again for your work!

Just out of interest, do you think the freezing had something to do with the demand vars like you suspected?

[Avi]

The problem was not with the demand vars themselves but with the way I handled one of them and this is what I changed.

I succeeded to reproduce the problem when selecting CMC-PSX in the CDU I didn't get the MENU page when I started CMC before PSX (but PSX kept working) but it worked ok when I started CMC after PSX.

I hope it will be ok now. I will release it as an official version on Monday.

Thanks,

[Avi]

Hi,

Since the test version runs without any problem, I'm officially release v1.5a.
This version fixes a freeze problem some users had.

Just download the new jar file and override the old one.

Have fun,