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XPL_GaugeSwitcher is a user-friendly program developed to help Logitech FIP X-Plane Plugin users to quickly switch between multiple FSX Times Gauges (say from C172SP to B58 or vice versa) to match with the aircraft being used or to be used in X-Plane 11.

DO NOTE THAT:

1)    XPL_GaugeSwitcher will not run if NO FSX Times Gauge is present.   Other than that, it can handle up to 60 Profiles mixed with non-FSX Times Gauges.

2)    XPL_GaugeSwitcher is based on Logitech’s 64-bit X-Plane plugins 8.0.132.0.   Newer version is also supported.

3)    XPL_GaugeSwitcher (Version 1) WILL NOT RUN when X-Plane is active.  In other words, gauge switching is ONLY POSSIBLE when X-Plane is not running.

Edit:
3)    The XPL_GaugeSwitcher has been updated to version 1a.   It CAN NOW switch gauge profiles while X-Plane is active.   See new User Guide here.
Also, you can use the same download link sent with your purchase to get the new version if you haven’t done so.

The using of the XPL_GaugeSwitcher is pretty simple.   Users just need to spend a little time with this manual to familiarize how to run it; or even better to follow the instructions described below once or twice.

 

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INSTALLATION

1)    Unzip the program package and put the “XPL_GaugeSwitcher.exe” into the following folder: “\X-Plane 11\Resources\plugins\XSaitekProFlight\Data”

2)    Create two shortcuts of the program and put them in the “Start Menu” and “Task Bar”, so that the program can be accessed easily.

3)    Run XPL_GaugeSwitcher.

4)    The first Gauge Profile “ORIGINAL_XPL_LogiPlugin” based on the current setup (from “XPL_LogiPlugin.xml” and “XSaitekFip.xml“) will be created automatically.

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The switching of FIP gauges by the XPL_GaugeSwitcher is mainly carried out thru the different Profiles created by the program itself or by users manually.
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By using the program’s DUPLICATION, ADDITION and DELETION features described below, one can easily create up and manage to 60 different Gauge Profiles for quick switching.

 

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PROFILE DUPLICATION

Profile Duplication is sometimes needed.

• For example, the name of the very first Profile (“ORIGINAL_XPL_LogiPlugin”) is a bit vague.   It is therefore a good practice to create (or more precisely, to duplicate) a new Profile with a clearer name for easy recognition in future switching.
• Also, since this XPL_GaugeSwitcher has no rename function, Profile Duplication can be used to create new Profiles with different names, say after entered a wrong Profile name or when another name is desired.

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1)    Run XPL_GaugeSwitcher, if it has been closed after the installation.

2)    Click on the dimmed [ADD] Button in the lower left hand corner of the utility.

3)   Ignore the WARNING page and click [PROCEED] to continue.

4)    Enter a name desired (e.g. XPL_C172SP) in the space provided.

5)    Click [CONFIRM] to create.

6)    Two Profiles are now listed on the drop-down menu.

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Switching between the “ORIGINAL_XPL_LogiPlugin” and “XPL_C172SP” Profiles is now possible.    However, as the two Profiles were created from the same FIP setup actually, switching between them will not have any noticeable difference.

NOTE again that Profile Duplication should be used ONLY WHEN
– NO new gauges are added; AND
– NO changes are made to the “XPL_LogiPlugin.xml”

 

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PROFILE ADDITION

When new gauges have been installed or the “XPL_LogiPlugin.xml” was modified — such as after deleting some of the gauges, or after changing the order on which FIPs the gauges are displayed — Profile ADDITION can be used to create new Profiles to reflect the change.

In general, the Profile Addition process is more or less the same as described in the Profile Duplication process above, except that the Profile ADDITION process MUST BE CARRIED OUT AFTER an active flight session with all FIP Gauges set up properly.  Otherwise, errors will occur.

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1)    After installing new Gauges or after modifying “XPL_LogiPlugin.xml”

2)    Start up X-Plane.

3)    Load a flight session.

4)    Press up/down buttons on each FIP to select the correct gauge to display.

5)    Quit X-Plane.

6)    Run XPL_GaugeSwitcher.

7)    Click on the dimmed [ADD] Button in the lower left hand corner of the utility.

8)   Click [PROCEED] to leave the WARNING page.

9)    Enter a name desired (e.g. XPL_B58) in the space provided.

10)   Click [CONFIRM] to create.

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In practice, the Profile Addition process (from Step 6 to 10) is identical to the Profile Duplication process.

However, since the “XSaitekFip.xml” (which stores the connecting information of which gauges to be displayed on which FIPs) only updates itself after X-Plane runs and quits, Steps 2 to 5 listed above are therefore necessary to ensure the saving of the updated FIP connecting information to the new Profile.

Fail to carry out steps 2 to 5 above, Profiles created will not contain information about which gauges to be displayed on which FIP.   In other words, errors occur.

Again, when creating new Profile after
– New gauges are added, OR
– Changes have been made to the “XPL_LogiPlugin.xml”
– The Profile ADDITION process MUST BE CARRIED OUT ONLY AFTER X-Plane runs and quits with the desired FIP gauges set up correctly.

 

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PROFILE DELETION

1)    Run XPL_GaugeSwitcher.

2)    Select the Profile to delete from the drop-down menu.

3)   Move cursor to the dimmed [DEL] Button in the lower left hand corner.

4)    Click [CONFIRM] to delete.

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Note that current Profile being used cannot be deleted.

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PROFILE SWITCHING

Once Profiles were created, switching between them is intuitive.   But note again that switching is only possible when X-Plane is not running.

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1)    Run XPL_GaugeSwitcher.

2)    Select the Gauge Profile required.

3)    Click [CONFIRM] to switch.

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If needed, one can also select the current Profile and [CONFIRM] to load it again.

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That’s all.   By using the program’s DUPLICATION, ADDITION and DELETION features described above, one can easily create and manage up to 60 different Gauge Profiles for quick switching.

Contact me if further help is needed.

Tom Tsui
FSX Times