PSX Layout Example: Updated for 2024

[Will]

Ten years ago(!) I posted an "annotated example" of PSX layouts. Much has changed since then, and perhaps the biggest changes are the fact that I got new monitors, and also, thanks to Gary's PSX.NET.WASM, I'm using MSFS with PSX.

With that in mind, I thought I'd update my post about layouts.

One thing that hasn't changed in the last 10 years is my enthusiasm for this layout concept. In sum, I set up a hat switch to move through the layouts, with each layout being well-suited for a particular task or phase of flight. The larger monitor (3840 x 2160) means that the displays are that much more beautiful, but the concept remains the same.

Here is the Cruise layout, accessible any time by a layout "home" button:



I call it "Cruise," but it's suitable for any task where you want to see the navigation displays and upper EICAS. The larger monitor means I don't have to use any sub-windows to get the effect I want. Also, both NDs are visible, which means I can see radar and terrain at the same time. Note that MSFS is running is a thin bar across the top, where the windshield display of PSX would be. I know that some people prefer to fly with MSFS maximized and PSX overlying it, but I'm not doing that. 

I'll point out that it's easy to taxi with this layout; if the yellow line passes though the right-most digit on the MCP airspeed display, then the nosewheel is perfectly centered on it.

This is the Hand Flying layout, accessible by a "Hand Flying" button:



This one has larger flight instruments, with the captain's PFD close to the center. Standby instruments, clock, and upper EICAS are there as well. I know someone will probably object to the EICAS sitting on the left now, but this actually works for me, as my joystick is a right-handed Warthog and I use my left hand for the throttles. So it's ergonomic (my knuckles point right at the EICAS on the monitor when I'm holding the throttles), and it works, even if some suspension of disbelief is necessary.

Note that the MCP is in exactly the same place, and is exactly the same size, as the "Cruise" layout, so taxying is still simple: the nosewheel will be centered right on top of whatever is underneath the right-most digit on the MCP airspeed display.

Moving the hat switch "up" from the Cruise layout shows the overhead:



Notice here that PSX is now using the entire monitor, and MSFS is no longer visible--that's okay, you can't see outside very well anyway when you eyes are up on the overhead. This display also has the upper and lower EICAS displays for monitoring engine starts. (I have mechanical switches for the fuel control switches, so I don't need to display those on the monitor anymore.)

Moving the hat switch "down" from Cruise displays the center console:



This is once again a full screen display, no MSFS visible, because your head is down. In previous versions I had the Captain's ND and the EICAS screens here for convenience, but I got rid of them because I realized I only use this layout for the center console, and I was never looking at the other parts of the cockpit. I go back and forth about this because it may be convenient to be able to watch the radar display while changing the tilt and gain. Still, moving back to view  the radar is a simple pull "up" on the hat switch, so you don't lose much by having a simplified center console display. You can tell me what you think.

Moving the hat switch "left" and "right" from Cruise displays the whole left and right sections of the cockpit respectively, with the MSFS window visible once again. The left seat and right seat panorama views are suitable for preflight activity, and for accessing things like the PFD and ND brightness controls, that lie far to one side.

Left Seat Panorama:



Trim and parking brake switch are visible above.

Right Seat Panorama:



That just leaves the far overhead, accessible by moving the hat switch "up" from the overhead...



And P6, moving "up" from that.



But now there's one BONUS screen, for entering and leaving the runway:



This one has the MSFS window visible again, so you can taxi without running into the weeds. You access this screen by going "up" from the "Hand Flying" layout. Notice that it contains an abbreviated overhead, from the APU down to the packs and exterior lights, and a snippet from the center console. This window lets you click on the APU, packs, exterior lights, TCAS, trim, and autobrakes, which lets you do the final configuration for takeoff, or the after landing checklist, while taxying. Moving "down" from this screen takes you back to Hand Flying.

So that's it.

I hope this is helpful to someone!

Here is they layout file if anyone wants it. Note that if your monitor isn't 3840 x 2160, then this probably won't work for you without massive changes.

Code Select Expand

[Aerowinx Precision Simulator - Layouts]
[Version 10.173]

[Layout 1]
title=P6
screenX=-3840
screenY=14
screenW=2560
screenH=1440
dividerUpperX=3.90625E-4
dividerLowerX=3.90625E-4
dividerLeftY=0.60694444
dividerRightY=0.99904215
zoomUpperL=0.92335474
xScrollUprL=728.01526
yScrollUprL=-1437.2896
zoomUpperR=0.68739575
xScrollUprR=-1359.8406
yScrollUprR=-1614.4513
zoomLowerL=0.46084285
xScrollLwrL=245.76767
yScrollLwrL=-583.4597
zoomLowerR=1.2001562
xScrollLwrR=3583.075
yScrollLwrR=27.266146

[Layout 2]
title=Far Overhead
screenX=-3840
screenY=14
screenW=2560
screenH=1440
dividerUpperX=0.3382812
dividerLowerX=0.3382812
dividerLeftY=0.36275434
dividerRightY=0.99930555
zoomUpperL=0.6823687
xScrollUprL=959.6413
yScrollUprL=5395.238
zoomUpperR=0.62233484
xScrollUprR=845.7804
yScrollUprR=4149.9575
zoomLowerL=0.67757666
xScrollLwrL=-94.53541
yScrollLwrL=5364.362
zoomLowerR=0.70648104
xScrollLwrR=949.47504
yScrollLwrR=-2115.003

[Layout 3]
title=Overhead / Engine Start
screenX=-3840
screenY=14
screenW=2560
screenH=1440
dividerUpperX=0.6626302
dividerLowerX=0.6626302
dividerLeftY=6.9444446E-4
dividerRightY=0.12859878
zoomUpperL=0.8146237
xScrollUprL=846.08765
yScrollUprL=-1975.252
zoomUpperR=0.6548627
xScrollUprR=-148.01912
yScrollUprR=597.7636
zoomLowerL=0.60119987
xScrollLwrL=847.5945
yScrollLwrL=2606.96
zoomLowerR=0.68826324
xScrollLwrR=261.80096
yScrollLwrR=390.99768

[Layout 4]
title=Cruise
screenX=-3840
screenY=523
screenW=2560
screenH=930
dividerUpperX=0.99960935
dividerLowerX=0.99960935
dividerLeftY=0.99892473
dividerRightY=0.99892473
zoomUpperL=0.59877086
xScrollUprL=1617.5618
yScrollUprL=572.54083
zoomUpperR=0.5597955
xScrollUprR=-13.577759
yScrollUprR=1469.1884
zoomLowerL=0.59902537
xScrollLwrL=1285.6343
yScrollLwrL=197.2154
zoomLowerR=0.59877086
xScrollLwrR=342.0675
yScrollLwrR=111.56465

[Layout 5]
title=Center Console
screenX=-3840
screenY=14
screenW=2560
screenH=1440
dividerUpperX=3.90625E-4
dividerLowerX=3.90625E-4
dividerLeftY=0.13541667
dividerRightY=6.9444446E-4
zoomUpperL=0.64844126
xScrollUprL=61.286835
yScrollUprL=599.3055
zoomUpperR=0.42654443
xScrollUprR=1280.7954
yScrollUprR=1899.3756
zoomLowerL=0.65448594
xScrollLwrL=434.58786
yScrollLwrL=411.33905
zoomLowerR=0.74180007
xScrollLwrR=1281.3232
yScrollLwrR=-1851.5508

[Layout 6]
title=Left Seat Panorama
screenX=-3840
screenY=523
screenW=2560
screenH=930
dividerUpperX=0.05
dividerLowerX=0.05
dividerLeftY=0.6182796
dividerRightY=0.99892473
zoomUpperL=0.7015449
xScrollUprL=622.72015
yScrollUprL=-1153.4879
zoomUpperR=0.59877086
xScrollUprR=1805.8291
yScrollUprR=572.3295
zoomLowerL=0.3987755
xScrollLwrL=275.61493
yScrollLwrL=-568.84283
zoomLowerR=0.59877086
xScrollLwrR=1799.0741
yScrollLwrR=112.29132

[Layout 7]
title=Right Seat Panorama
screenX=-3840
screenY=523
screenW=2560
screenH=930
dividerUpperX=0.9997396
dividerLowerX=0.9997396
dividerLeftY=0.99892473
dividerRightY=0.99892473
zoomUpperL=0.59877086
xScrollUprL=752.28125
yScrollUprL=572.8254
zoomUpperR=0.63076866
xScrollUprR=-720.8375
yScrollUprR=1094.3295
zoomLowerL=0.59877086
xScrollLwrL=750.9215
yScrollLwrL=111.578865
zoomLowerR=1.2001562
xScrollLwrR=-3335.9062
yScrollLwrR=402.60114

[Layout 8]
title=Taxi
screenX=-3840
screenY=523
screenW=2560
screenH=930
dividerUpperX=0.21054687
dividerLowerX=0.21054687
dividerLeftY=0.5300271
dividerRightY=0.6042206
zoomUpperL=0.5729872
xScrollUprL=832.076
yScrollUprL=1995.2876
zoomUpperR=0.5982686
xScrollUprR=1003.54
yScrollUprR=1678.0532
zoomLowerL=0.9302112
xScrollLwrL=816.0559
yScrollLwrL=-1454.76
zoomLowerR=0.70197874
xScrollLwrR=1000.9356
yScrollLwrR=-2209.133

[Layout 9]
title=Hand Flying
screenX=-3840
screenY=523
screenW=2560
screenH=930
dividerUpperX=0.99960935
dividerLowerX=0.2125
dividerLeftY=0.21549474
dividerRightY=0.21549474
zoomUpperL=0.59877086
xScrollUprL=1617.402
yScrollUprL=572.4866
zoomUpperR=0.63242173
xScrollUprR=-663.9407
yScrollUprR=185.65945
zoomLowerL=0.7558509
xScrollLwrL=269.7575
yScrollLwrL=418.51184
zoomLowerR=0.8834547
xScrollLwrR=2396.2026
yScrollLwrR=407.23538

[End of file]

[Dirk Schepmann]

Thanks Will, I always find it inspiring to see other's layouts compared to mine. I especially like the "runway entering screen", that's a very good idea. My setup is generally very similar, except that my cruise setup permanently shows the FMC on the right side. And my approach view shows the engine displays on the right as I'm used to it. My PFD is therefore not exactly centered as it should be. *grin* But I took the time and measured the dimensions of the PFD and ND with a ruler, they are almost exact the same size as on the real aircraft on my 32" monitor. It really makes fun to takeoff or land with the large  (and perfectly smooth!) displays directly in front of me.

Where do you access the FMC on your views? There is only one tiny FMC visible on one of your layouts. Or do you use an iPad or tablet for this purpose?

Best,
Dirk

[Will]

Thanks for the reminder to mention the FMC! I have a hardware MDCU from Flight Deck Solutions that I use for the captain's FMC, so there's no longer a need to put it on the main monitor anymore.

I'd like to think my PFD is close to life size, but I had some trouble finding out the size of the real display (8 inches across?) and the distance it sits from the captain's nose. If you can tell me those two numbers from real life, I'll do the trigonometry and let you know how far off my "Hand Flying" layout is.

[voipmeister]

Hello Will, thanks for sharing these layouts (again). I was already using your previous layouts as a base for my current setup. I will look at these too, to see if I can improve stuff. I switched to 2 monitors that are mounted above eachother recently, but in general these layouts seem very useful!

[Dirk Schepmann]

I'd like to think my PFD is close to life size, but I had some trouble finding out the size of the real display (8 inches across?) and the distance it sits from the captain's nose. If you can tell me those two numbers from real life, I'll do the trigonometry and let you know how far off my "Hand Flying" layout is.

Yes, 8 x 8 inches (or 20.3 x 20.3 cm) is correct. The distance between pilot and displays is a bit variable, I think. But 80 cm should be a good approximation judging from many videos. Perhaps Kim can take one of the infamous IKEA tape measures with him on the next flight? 

[Will]

Thanks, Dirk. I tweaked the Hand Flying Layout just a little. Given the real-life 20.3 cm width of the PFD and an eye distance of 80 cm, I now have a PFD of 18 cm across on the monitor, which needs an eye distance of 71 cm for things to look right. And that is just about where I would sit for takeoff and landing, so it checks out.

[funkyhut]

Thanks Will!

[United744]

I use the CDU on an iPad. It's awesome!

[Speedbird]

Thank you so much Will! I Love your layouts, they helped me so much. I added only the FMC to the cruising page, because I love this to see it.

After a couple of years of absence, this is a great place to start with and it helped me to get back very quickly.

Again many thanks,

Peter

[Will]

Peter, thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you found this useful.

[Holger Wende]

Hi,
Thanks for sharing your layouts
I used similar mixed height layouts, but I had some isses:

Whenever I use a layout file containing mixed full 100% screen height sub-layouts (as in your overhead layout) and reduced ~50% height sub-layouts (as in your cruise layout) then switching from a full height layout back to a reduced height layout it does not appear at the bottom of the screen but appears moved up apporx 10% of the screen.
To realign the layout I have to explicitly reload all layouts (Ctrl 0) to realign it with the lower edge of the screen.
Does anyone else see such a behaviour? I could share screenshots if my description is not clear.
Thanks
Holger

[Will]

Holger,
I don't much to offer, but you might verify that your half-screen layouts specify reasonable Y and H values in your 9pack file. For example, in my 9pack file:

  [Layout 4]
  title=Home
  screenX=-3840
  screenY=780
  screenW=3840
  screenH=1390

Call your monitor's vertical resolution h. You'd want h = screenH + screenY.

That means your PSX portion starts screenY pixels down from the top, and extends downwards for screenH pixels, which should reach to the bottom of your monitor. If your numbers here make sense, then I'm afraid I can't be of much help.

[Holger Wende]

I will verify these values, but I guess they are all good because when starting PSX each of the 9 layouts appear as expected.
Position of the half height layouts only appear shifted off the original position when I switch from a full size layout to a half size layout.
Switching between and to the full height layouts never caused any shift.
I now created a new 9pack file that only contains half size layouts with the full size layouts overwritten by some half size layouts. Here switching does not cause any issue.
Strange.

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

I guess here but it may be the known effect that "Windows full size" != "Windows full screen" != "Windows normal size but manually extended to fill the whole screen."

PSX does not recognize "Windows full size" (the square button) and instead stores it as "Normal". This may make a tiny difference with the decorations, especially with newer Windows that for example drops the rounded corners of windows when they are maxed out against an edge. And it also drops the resize borders when maxed. This may be just enough for PSX to get confused.

[Holger Wende]

Thanks Will and Jeroen

@Will, from your screenshots above it seems you do not used the full height of your screen.

Apparently the positioning of the reduced approx half height layouts get confused only if lower edge of the layout overlaps the taskbar, whether the taskbar is displayed or not.

On my screen I need to leave a gap of 25 pixels between screen bottom edge and layout bottom edge. This is almost eactly the height of my task bar.
Also enabling or disabling the Preferrences->Screen->Show title, border and buttons of the flight deck frame does not seem to have an impact on the beaviour.

I did not test layout configurations with a taskbar on the left or right screen edge (yet).

I use Win10, and a 1920x1080 secondary monitor which extends the main screen. Originally my taskbar was OFF on this secondary screen.
After I adapted the screenY and screenH values to leave the 25-pixel gap at te bottom switching between different layout sizes does no longer cause any layout offsets 

Cheers, Holger

[Will]

I do use the full height of the screen, by which I mean, PSX always extends to the bottom of the monitor with no unused gap. In full screen layouts ("overhead", "center console," etc.) PSX takes up the full screen. In the other layouts, PSX starts 1/3 of the way down and extends to the bottom of the screen with no gap.

Interesting about the 25 pixels. I have a 3-monitor setup, and PSX and MSFS are running on a monitor that does not have a Windows taskbar. The Windows taskbar is on monitor #1, and PSX/MSFS are on monitor #2.

[Holger Wende]

Hello again Will,

I thought you would not use the full 3840 x 2160 resolution because in your layout file you use:

Code Select Expand

screenW=2560
screenH=1440

But this might be a result of Windows app and text scaling when multiple monitors with different resolutions are attached.
I received my new 4K monitor a few days and updated my layout file accordingly.
And my full height/width layout sections show the following width and height values:

Code Select Expand

screenW=2567
screenH=1415
These are also quite a bit away from the physical screen resolution but very close to what you shared.
And these values make sense with Windows 150% app scaling.

I will check whether I still need to maintain the task bar gap...

Cheers
Holger

[Will]

Yes, I'm using Windows 150% scaling. If I use 100%, then the desktop icons are too small to see comfortably.

I recall that there are ways within Java to have Java apps either play along with Windows scaling, or exempt themselves from it. This has caused me some difficulties in the past when setting PSX up on a new computer--which I did this past January, and then three or four years before that. Since it's only something I ever do rarely, I tend to forget all about the details. I'm only mentioning this in case your layout display looks wildly off of what you expect. (It wouldn't explain a 25 pixel gap.)

[Will]

Hi Holger,

I looked into this. On the last computer, I had a performance hit running PSX at 4K (58 fps down to 30 fps), so I went with 150% scaling, running PSX (as you correctly noticed) at:

Code Select Expand

screenW=2560
screenH=1440
Which is what was in the layout file I linked above.

However, the new computer in January has a more muscular CPU and so I'm now running PSX in full 4K:

Code Select Expand

screenW=3840
screenH=2170
To do this without changing the screen for other apps (i.e., keeping the other apps at 150% scaling for readability of icons and menus), you can right-click java.exe and go to Properties > Compatibility and select High DPI settings. Then click the bottom button that lets you select Application as the source for the resolution, instead of System. More info or step-by-step directions if you need it.

Note that this may affect multiple java programs, including for example RealTraffic, which has smaller menus. Looks crisper, but smaller.

Here is the complete layout file for 4K:

Code Select Expand

[Aerowinx Precision Simulator - Layouts]
[Version 10.181]

[Layout 1]
title=P6
screenX=-3840
screenY=0
screenW=3840
screenH=2170
dividerUpperX=0.005724694
dividerLowerX=0.005724694
dividerLeftY=0.60694444
dividerRightY=0.99951553
zoomUpperL=0.92335474
xScrollUprL=1048.2646
yScrollUprL=-1268.2896
zoomUpperR=1.0319129
xScrollUprR=-2054.4758
yScrollUprR=-2433.7925
zoomLowerL=0.46084285
xScrollLwrL=566.0171
yScrollLwrL=-414.45972
zoomLowerR=1.2001562
xScrollLwrR=3882.8254
yScrollLwrR=195.80444

[Layout 2]
title=Far Overhead
screenX=-3840
screenY=0
screenW=3840
screenH=2170
dividerUpperX=0.33411455
dividerLowerX=0.33411455
dividerLeftY=0.3523377
dividerRightY=0.9340278
zoomUpperL=1.0313846
xScrollUprL=1431.1702
yScrollUprL=8214.046
zoomUpperR=0.91432804
xScrollUprR=1284.4088
yScrollUprR=5976.833
zoomLowerL=1.0204781
xScrollLwrL=-160.5162
yScrollLwrL=8061.6636
zoomLowerR=1.3115362
xScrollLwrR=1873.9835
yScrollLwrR=8979.45

[Layout 3]
title=Overhead
screenX=-3840
screenY=0
screenW=3840
screenH=2170
dividerUpperX=0.6626302
dividerLowerX=0.6626302
dividerLeftY=6.9444446E-4
dividerRightY=0.12399048
zoomUpperL=0.8146237
xScrollUprL=846.08765
yScrollUprL=-1975.252
zoomUpperR=0.96152216
xScrollUprR=-257.66235
yScrollUprR=877.34564
zoomLowerL=0.9053658
xScrollLwrL=1267.244
yScrollLwrL=3923.6077
zoomLowerR=1.0154747
xScrollLwrR=389.6197
yScrollLwrR=585.2143

[Layout 4]
title=Home
screenX=-3840
screenY=780
screenW=3840
screenH=1390
dividerUpperX=0.99960935
dividerLowerX=0.99960935
dividerLeftY=0.99892473
dividerRightY=0.99892473
zoomUpperL=0.8944195
xScrollUprL=2420.0476
yScrollUprL=855.2349
zoomUpperR=0.5597955
xScrollUprR=-13.577759
yScrollUprR=1507.1884
zoomLowerL=0.59902537
xScrollLwrL=1285.6343
yScrollLwrL=235.2154
zoomLowerR=0.59877086
xScrollLwrR=342.0675
yScrollLwrR=149.56465

[Layout 5]
title=Center
screenX=-3840
screenY=0
screenW=3840
screenH=2170
dividerUpperX=0.2265625
dividerLowerX=0.2265625
dividerLeftY=0.41180554
dividerRightY=6.9444446E-4
zoomUpperL=1.1354289
xScrollUprL=1799.2404
yScrollUprL=462.7747
zoomUpperR=0.42654443
xScrollUprR=991.2954
yScrollUprR=1899.3756
zoomLowerL=1.1731595
xScrollLwrL=1914.8656
yScrollLwrL=-2401.4028
zoomLowerR=1.0972866
xScrollLwrR=1175.2477
yScrollLwrR=-2744.5264

[Layout 6]
title=Left
screenX=-3840
screenY=780
screenW=3840
screenH=1390
dividerUpperX=0.05
dividerLowerX=0.05
dividerLeftY=0.6182796
dividerRightY=0.99892473
zoomUpperL=1.0105228
xScrollUprL=880.90027
yScrollUprL=-1630.536
zoomUpperR=0.8944195
xScrollUprR=2678.829
yScrollUprR=855.3295
zoomLowerL=0.5275361
xScrollLwrL=362.55972
yScrollLwrL=-772.2763
zoomLowerR=0.59877086
xScrollLwrR=1799.0741
yScrollLwrR=112.29132

[Layout 7]
title=Right
screenX=-3840
screenY=780
screenW=3840
screenH=1390
dividerUpperX=0.9997396
dividerLowerX=0.9997396
dividerLeftY=0.99892473
dividerRightY=0.99892473
zoomUpperL=0.8944195
xScrollUprL=1142.2812
yScrollUprL=854.8254
zoomUpperR=0.8944195
xScrollUprR=-720.8375
yScrollUprR=1094.3295
zoomLowerL=0.59877086
xScrollLwrL=750.9215
yScrollLwrL=111.578865
zoomLowerR=1.2001562
xScrollLwrR=-3335.9062
yScrollLwrR=402.60114

[Layout 8]
title=Config
screenX=-3840
screenY=780
screenW=3840
screenH=1390
dividerUpperX=0.21054687
dividerLowerX=0.21054687
dividerLeftY=0.5300271
dividerRightY=0.6042206
zoomUpperL=0.9567309
xScrollUprL=1362.9338
yScrollUprL=3512.1475
zoomUpperR=0.94178253
xScrollUprR=1481.7211
yScrollUprR=2667.099
zoomLowerL=1.126981
xScrollLwrL=1185.7808
yScrollLwrL=-1802.563
zoomLowerR=0.9668821
xScrollLwrR=1443.0051
yScrollLwrR=-3047.7378

[Layout 9]
title=Hand Flying
screenX=-3840
screenY=780
screenW=3840
screenH=1390
dividerUpperX=0.99960935
dividerLowerX=0.2595052
dividerLeftY=0.21549474
dividerRightY=0.21549474
zoomUpperL=0.8944195
xScrollUprL=2420.0476
yScrollUprL=855.2349
zoomUpperR=0.8944195
xScrollUprR=-663.9407
yScrollUprR=185.65945
zoomLowerL=1.3327724
xScrollLwrL=484.44214
yScrollLwrL=544.2299
zoomLowerR=1.3396078
xScrollLwrR=3631.219
yScrollLwrR=570.77167

[End of file]