Support software for PSX (PFPX & topcat)

[nicolas]

Hi All,

great to see that PSX development is coming to an end! In order to prepare myself properly, I am thinking to purchase PFPX for flight planning. Is it possible to upload PFPX flight plans into the FMC of PSX?

Also, I already own TOPCAT for performance planning. Is it compatible with PSX?

Many thanks!
Nic

[Pierre Theillere]

Hello Nicolas!

Of course, PSx natively handles PFPX file plans. And of course you may plan takeoffs and landings according to TOPCAT calculations: it matches quite fine!

[nicolas]

Very good. Thanks Pierre!
Nic

[evaamo]

I wonder if the source for Winds Aloft information being used by PSX is the same in use by PFPX? Even if it's not, it would be awesome if Wind Aloft data could be imported from PFPX into PSX via ACARS link. One can only hope ;-)

cheers
-Enrique

[Hardy Heinlin]

ACARS does not change the atmosphere in PSX. ACARS is a tool to display text on the CDU for the crew.

Add-ons have the possibility to inject weather data directly into the PSX atmosphere, including tropopause temp, altitude, and wind.

PFPX does not do this. But PFPX users can store a PFPX route in PSX's Routes folder, so that the route appears in PSX's dispatch database or on-board database as an FMC company route.


Cheers,

|-|ardy

[evaamo]

Hi Hardy! perhaps I should have better rephrased my post. I understand what ACARS is and does, it's just that there's a feature found in PMDG 777 (FSX) where you can actually "read" Winds Aloft data from an external file (emulating a connection via ACARS datalink).

In the case of FSX and the PMDG 777, the weather conditions are usually injected by an external software add-on called Active Sky. However, since PSX has its own world and weather engine built in, my question was around the possibility of using PFPX Winds Aloft export functionality to feed PSX Winds Aloft information on its built-in weather engine (and then later retrieved via datalink using the FMS in the cockpit).

From your reply, I reckon this is indeed possible in PSX but not with the actual state of PFPX.  However if the protocol/interface/variables for doing so are documented in the PSX manual (and I'm sure they are!), I suppose it's just a matter of building a small utility to perform the task.

In other words, release it already so we can start hacking!!! ;-)

cheers
-Enrique

[CarlBB]

Hope ok to ask on this thread.....
Presume one just configs PFPX to send to the PSX folder? A bit like how I config PFPX to output automatically to the FF 757?
Sounds that way....
Topcat, can't recall as my Mobo is awol at the moment, but when in pfpx we sent to topcat does it get auto-populated with the metar from PFPX (which should be same as PSX)....
Thanks
Carl

[Hardy Heinlin]

Yes, just save a normal PFPX route file in PSX's Routes folder. There is no special file format from PFPX to PSX. PSX reads the regular PFPX format. The format contains a header, some legs, and some airways at the end.


Cheers,

|-|ardy

[falconeye]

Yes, just save a normal PFPX route file in PSX's Routes folder. There is no special file format from PFPX to PSX. PSX reads the regular PFPX format. The format contains a header, some legs, and some airways at the end.

Help please!
I am not able to export a route file from PFPX to PSX. The routes in PFPX are stored inside a database and you can export it to other programs, but there is no option to export to PSX.
So I don't understand what you mean with normal PFPX route file. I think you cannot save one route as a file and copy it elsewhere. You always have to save the route inside the database and then export it to an Add-On. I also tried to save the complete flightplan as textformat and copied it in the route folder. But it was not readable by PSX.

Cheers

[Will]

Hello Falconeye, there's an option in PSPX to "Save" the route, not export it, and that's what you want to do. Then you should have no problems. Go to the PSPX Routes folder, sort by date, and the newest one (the one you just made) is always there, right on top. Then copy it into your PSX Routes folder and you should be good to go.

[GodAtum]

What aircraft model do you use in PFPX and topcat?

[falconeye]

Thank you Wil.
Ok, now I got it. :roll:  My problem was that I could not find the PSPX route folder, because it is not under the aerosoft folder. It is hidden very well on the harddisk and the manual tells you nothing about the location.

@GodAtum
I use the standard 747-400 with the CF6 engines. Nothing special.

Cheers

[GodAtum]

In Topcat, what configuration did you use as there are a few? High, mid, dual, tri etc.

[LawyerPilot]

Thank you Wil.
Ok, now I got it. :roll:  My problem was that I could not find the PSPX route folder, because it is not under the aerosoft folder. It is hidden very well on the harddisk and the manual tells you nothing about the location.

@GodAtum
I use the standard 747-400 with the CF6 engines. Nothing special.

Cheers

Care to share that uber secret location?? :mrgreen:

[John Golin]

Enrique

G'day!

Can you please reduce the size of your avatar to below 150x150... it messes up formatting in some browsers... thanks!

[falconeye]

Thank you Wil.
Ok, now I got it. :roll:  My problem was that I could not find the PSPX route folder, because it is not under the aerosoft folder. It is hidden very well on the harddisk and the manual tells you nothing about the location.

@GodAtum
I use the standard 747-400 with the CF6 engines. Nothing special.

Cheers

Care to share that uber secret location?? :mrgreen:

I can share, but I run XP so for most of the people it will be different and moreover my language is German.

C:Dokumente und Einstellungen/All Users/Gemeinsame Dokumente/PFPX Data/Routes

[falconeye]

In Topcat, what configuration did you use as there are a few? High, mid, dual, tri etc.

Sorry, I don't use Topcat at the moment. I have bought it some years ago but now I only use PFPX. Perhaps I will give it a try again when PSX will become boring :mrgreen:

[torrence]

Care to share that uber secret location?? :mrgreen:

In Windows environment it is stuck in the 'user' area:  Go to root C:/Users/Public/Public Documents/PFPX Data/Routes    Whew!  Anyone else remember DOS?  Don't know how Apple handles PFPX.

Cheers
Torrence

[torrence]

PS - I think I did find the Routes folder path in the manual somewhere.
Torrence

[falconeye]

As far as I know PFPX is only for Windows.