Help File: FS
and FS Multiplayer Tips & Shortcuts
Getting more out of FS and Multiplayer
Speeding it Up
- Reboot
your computer -- As you might guess,
running FS with no other programs open keeps the
maximum amount of resources available to your
system. You should also remember that if your
computer has been on for awhile, it's quite
possible your machine is running with less than
the maximum amount of resources, as some
applications use up system resources and don't
give them all back when you close the program. If
you are running a really fast, powerful machine
it may not matter much, but if you are looking
for a painless way to squeeze out a bit more
performance, this could be one. You can always
use the Resource Meter, found in the Start menu
under Programs > Accessories > System
Tools, to see how much resources you have at any
given time. You can also:
- Shut down any programs such as
screen savers, virus scanners, etc that might be
running in the background on your system. After
rebooting your computer, Hit ctl-alt-delete as if
you were going to reboot your system, highlight
the program or application from the Close Program
list, and click End Task. Try leaving only
Rundll, Explorer and Systray running.
- FS
settings -- It may seem obvious, but if
you find that Multiplayer slows down your
computer, you may have to play with the FS
settings to try and reclaim some speed. Try
turning off aircraft shadows to start. Turning
down the scenery complexity may also help. In the
Multiplayer settings you can also deselect "Send
/ Receive Detailed Aircraft Model." This
will make your plane look funny when taxiing
though, as the landing gear will not show up, and
if you are in an ATC session, the Tower
controller may ask you to check that your gear is
down. Bringing down the Scenery Complexity is
also a good way to speed up FS.
Shortcuts, etc -- Here are a few tips and
keyboard shortcuts for you:
- Switch to
map view -- A quick way to switch to the
FS map view is to hit ctl-S. If the instrument
panel is in the way, just hit the W key to toggle
it on or off. I haven't seen this keyboard
shortcut elsewhere, so I duplicated it below...
- Open /
close the Chat Window -- When in FS
Multiplayer, you can quickly open and close the
Chat Window (to see how many people are in the
session, for example) by hitting ctl-enter on the
keyboard. Just be careful you don't hit alt-enter,
as this will switch between 3D mode and windowed
mode...
- Keep the
top menu visible -- When in 3D mode, FS
covers up the Windows 95 taskbar at the bottom of
the screen, so you have to use alt-tab to cycle
over to another application such as your Web
browser, or a communications program such as
Roger Wilco. This alt-tab function is the
standard keyboard shortcut for switching between
Windows programs. The alt key (press and release)
is also used to activate the standard Windows
menu without using the mouse, so if the FS main
menu (the standard top of screen menu) is set to
be hidden, you may find that trying to use alt-tab
will activate the menu without taking you to your
other application. It shouldn't happen, but you
may find it does. Right-click on the instrument
panel and make sure Hide Menu Bar is unchecked.
This will show the FS top of screen menu at all
times. If you find switching between programs
becomes easier for you with the menu displayed,
try keeping it that way.
Views and Windows
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- Can't see
over the panel? -- First, make sure that
your main viewing window isn't taking up the
whole screen. Click and drag the panel off to the
side and look at the window underneath. The
bottom of that window shouldn't extend all the
way down to the bottom of your screen. If it
does, it will be very hard to see over the
instrument panel. Click on the bottom of the
window to resize it so the bottom of the window
comes to the top of your panel.
If you still can't see the runway over the panel
and you are trying to land, make sure you are
flying at a reasonable approach speed for the
type of plane you are flying, i.e. not too slow,
and you are not trying to land with full fuel.
Both of these conditions will require a greater
angle of attack than usual just to keep the plane
in the air, making it harder to see over the nose.
If you don't know the approach speed of your
aircraft, then check the stall speed in landing
configuration and multiply it by 1.3 as a
ballpark number. Fly at the proper approach
speed, at a reasonable landing weight. If you
still can't see over the panel, try a different
one...
- Switch to
map view -- A quick way to switch to the
FS map view is to hit ctl-S. If the instrument
panel is in the way, just hit the W key to toggle
it on or off.
Miscellaneous Tips
- Use a
panel and sound manager -- Managing your
aircraft and assigning panels and sounds to them
can be a big headache without a panel manager. A
popular one is called Jab98. With this freeware
package, it is possible to install sounds or
panels to their own separate folders so they can
be shared among more than one aircraft. It is
also possible to group aircraft into "hangars"
which can be turned on or off, which speeds up
aircraft loading if you have many planes
installed. Assigning a panel or sound to an
aircraft can be done with a single mouse click.
- Use Paint
Shop Pro for screen shots -- Paint Shop
Pro is a shareware graphics program that assigns
a hot key for screen captures, so screen shots of
FS aircraft or scenery can be done with a single
keystroke if you have PSP running. It works very
well under all conditions and makes attractive
screenshots very easy. The latest version of PSP
is available at www.jasc.com. Earlier 32-bit
versions, PSP 5 and PSP 4.14, are no longer
available at the Jasc website, but can be found
on sites that offer shareware programs. Go
here
for a tutorial on doing good-looking screen
captures using PSP, with links to download sites
for PSP 4.14, the smallest 32-bit version.
- Blue Skies
in FS -- The default purplish sky for FS
is not very attractive. A small shareware utility
called Blue Sky for FS will change the sky to a
very nice, rich blue, making day VFR flights much
more pleasant. Aircraft and scenery are
unchanged, the sky just looks more realistic
after installing this small file.
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