Question external HUD

[maxmiztejm]

Hello. I have a question: is it possible to make a 'external HUD' add-on to Oriter?
I need it to build simpit. In the primary screen must stay view outside from cockpit withou any tools, only things outside cockpit. On secondary display will be external MFDs. On third display must be external HUD. Only HUD lines on the black background.
Is it possible?
Thank you very much for info!

 

[agentgonzo]

What about using SurfaceMFD? That does much the same job as the HUD.

 

[asbjos]

Try to go open Orbiter Launchpad. There you find a folder on the right named Modules. At the bottom, theres' something called ExtMFD. When you start playing Orbiter, press Ctrl+F4, and activate it.

 

[maxmiztejm]

Hello. Thank you for ideas. I already tried external MFD, but they didnt solve my problem. I want build simpit with real HUD. The space inviroment will be shown on external big screens. But inside the cockpit infront of the windows i want install glass which reflect HUD information. For that i need add-on, which allow me have external window with HUD information on black background. Will be great if it will be have mirroring setups.

 

[orb]

There is possibility to do it from an external graphics client, but you'd need to ask one of graphics clients developers to implement it, or somebody who knows how to do it, to fork a specialized graphics client for you.

 

[maxmiztejm]

Orb, thank you! Do you know somebody, who can do this?

 

[orb]

Do you know somebody, who can do this?

Jarmonik is the developer of D3D9Client, Glider and Asmi are developers of D3D11Client, and there is also D3D7Client, which are all open source (https://bitbucket.org/face/ovp/wiki/Home). You can ask them if it's possible, but anyone with Direct3D programming knowledge (which I'm not) can take a look at sources and try to modify them to move rendering of the HUD surface to a separate window.

 

[Hielor]

It might be much easier to use Orb:Connect and write a HUD display program from scratch--IIRC, I'd coded a prototype HUD mode for RemoteMFD, since I'd had a similar idea as you.

There's still a few kinks to work out, notably having the HUD respond to externally-requested mode changes and target changes (like with the docking/orbit/surface HUDs), but those are probably doable.

 

[maxmiztejm]

Thank you for info! Hielor, do you have any working prototype? How it looks like? Also a question: do external HUD can be displayed without displayed ordynary HUD on primar screens?

 

[Hielor]

Thank you for info! Hielor, do you have any working prototype? How it looks like?

Not of the HUD specifically, no--I never solved the problems I presented above of needing to sync up with mode/target changes. I never tried, though, and I haven't looked at it since the 2010 API came out, so it might be doable or even easy now. I only got as far as making an MFD mode for RemoteMFD that was a passable "HUD" display.

Also a question: do external HUD can be displayed without displayed ordynary HUD on primar screens?

Can't you turn off the normal HUD? Sorry, it's been a while since I've investigated it...

 

[orb]

Not of the HUD specifically, no--I never solved the problems I presented above of needing to sync up with mode/target changes.

In such case it may actually be easier to modify the graphics client, and in case of DirectX clients, use multiple swap chains to render the HUD to different window instead of the main Orbiter window (as I could find by searching for "directx rendering to multiple windows"). It's possible for both D3D9 and D3D11 clients.

 

[Hielor]

In such case it may actually be easier to modify the graphics client, and in case of DirectX clients, use multiple swap chains to render the HUD to different window instead of the main Orbiter window (as I could find by searching for "directx rendering to multiple windows"). It's possible for both D3D9 and D3D11 clients.

Certainly that's a possibility that exists now that didn't exist when I was working on my project. If you don't need/want the ability to customize the looks of the HUD, and the default rendering is fine--that might be the best way to go.

 

[jonmatifa]

The SpaceX Dragon addon has a HUD in the 3D cockpit view, whatever they've done to implement that may be useful. I think the easiest solution would be to create a HUD MFD then put it in the external MFD viewer.

 

[orb]

The SpaceX Dragon addon has a HUD in the 3D cockpit view.

You mean, like standard HUD in the virtual cockpit, or something else?

I haven't used [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=5442"]SpaceX launch vehicles and Dragon[/ame] and I can't check it in Linux right now.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

It's a seperate screen with the HUD shown on it. You can also activate an external camera if you have CameraMFD installed.

 

[Hielor]

The stock DG also has a HUD in the 3d cockpit view--IIRC the API has the ability to designate a surface as a "HUD surface" for drawing. Don't know if you can use that for an external thing, though...

 

[maxmiztejm]

The SpaceX Dragon addon has a HUD in the 3D cockpit view, whatever they've done to implement that may be useful. I think the easiest solution would be to create a HUD MFD then put it in the external MFD viewer.

That's interesting. I will look at, if it will be useful. Thank you!

 

[Glider]

Hello. Thank you for ideas. I already tried external MFD, but they didnt solve my problem. I want build simpit with real HUD. The space inviroment will be shown on external big screens. But inside the cockpit infront of the windows i want install glass which reflect HUD information. For that i need add-on, which allow me have external window with HUD information on black background. Will be great if it will be have mirroring setups.

It is possible with an external graphics client. For example, moving of HUD and MFD rendering in glass cockpit mode to second and third windows can be done by using 3 (or more) swap chains and then modifying existing overlay rendering function of D3D11Client. (See attached screenshot) So you can have external view without any MFD, panels, HUD etc in glass cockpit view. Something also can be done with VC view by HUD and MFD surfaces but in that case you have to turn of rendering of VC mesh.

The SpaceX Dragon addon has a HUD in the 3D cockpit view, whatever they've done to implement that may be useful. I think the easiest solution would be to create a HUD MFD then put it in the external MFD viewer.

the same thing can be done for any VC. Dragon's HUD is made by using transparent quad mesh before third MFD screen (which used for CameraMFD). Main problem here is VC mesh and that not all vessels uses VC. (VC HUD surface updated only in VC mode)

 

[maxmiztejm]

hello Glider. Thats exactly, what i need. Pity, that i am not familiar with Orbiter core. And i am not a programer. Maybe my friend can help with this.Thank you! P.s. Is there a possibility make this changes like a plugin?

 

[orb]

P.s. Is there a possibility make this changes like a plugin?

Graphics clients are actually plug-ins, but they can be only run from the Orbiter_ng, which is non-graphics version of Orbiter.