New project - MSFS C++ USB interface

[Demon]

Step 1, made 2 identical programs in 32 and 64 bits, that turn the light ON/OFF only on their side.




Step 2, get them to turn ON/OFF both sides.

... insert cool pic here on soonday ...

Robert

[Demon]

Wow, talk about a roller-coaster (memory getting fuzzy now about exact sequence):

- back in early 2023, I get a basic C++ WinForm GUI running with MSFS SDK, not even knowing what type of program I create (from youtube video).

- decide on upgrading to HIDmaker FS2 to generate PIC and C++ USB code.

- generate USB C++ code, I chose C++ MFC cause I recently saw that in the MSFS SDK docs, compile in x86 ok.

- compile in x64, cause I just saw that again in the MSFS SDK docs, compile failed!

- google migrating C++ x86 to x64, looks like the apocalypse to me.

- figure I'll make a x64 program between the x86 C++ code and the MSFS SDK code.

- start googling, quickly narrow in on Inter Process Communication.- eventually IPC Shared Memory between x86 and x64 stands above the crowd.

- turns out the BOOST group have been working on that, some programmers report success, but never sharing a complete sample.

- I try it using the sample from Boost.org, fail miserably, so I made a rather lengthy post on Stack Overflow asking for help.

- as backup, I find out Adontec produces exactly what I need, just for $400USD, sent then a message to confirm it'll work under my criteria.

- as I'm reviewing the MSFS SDK docs, I notice they say x64 MFC app if you're interfacing "directly" with MSFS, but you can use an ordinary console app if you don't.

- Nothing to lose, so I switch back to C++ Winform, turns out I'm not, I'm just playing with a DLL.

- generate the C++ x86, then compile using x64, and BOOM! The darn thing compiled.


So yeah, been an up-and-down last few days. Hopefully things keep going my way.

Robert


"just a blind man running with a huge smile on his face!"

[Ioannis]

Seems you are very persistent person! And wow, you did an amazing trip through all these environments...!

Respect from me.

Ioannis

[Demon]

I prefer the term "obnoxiously stubborn and willfully oblivious".

Note to future-self, ALWAYS put the Windows INCLUDE at the top of the list. Argh, the multitude of insane errors and hours of google searches...


Status of the day; didn't get as far as I planned with that stupid include problem, but I did get to compile the generated code with USB components in 64-bits, and connect to MSFS, that last part was my do-or-die moment of the day.



EDIT: Oh yeah, the single button in the interface works fine; changing between a 0 and a 1 when I press a button on the Lab-X1. Haven't implemented anything else yet.

[Demon]

Men can find joy from the simplest things.

Landing light ON-OFF from the Lab-X1 via USB.



Robert

[Ioannis]

Men can find joy from the simplest things.

Landing light ON-OFF from the Lab-X1 via USB.

Oh, yeah! I understand that feeling... Especially after the long trip to finally manage that damn thing to flip!

Ioannis

[Demon]

YAY! I can finally detect a change in Engine RPM. And this is why I absolutely wanted to have Code Debugging working.



Now I just have to learn how to use structures and variables in C++. I kept trying to peek at that data, but I just couldn't get to see anything meaningful.

Good thing we have google tutorials. Worse case, I'll ask on the Dev forums, but I want to try to get there on my own.

Robert