BMS Training Script with Voice Instructions
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@Dan said in BMS Training Script with Voice Instructions:
@SemlerPDX
I asked for volunteers on this training mission and Microsoft Zira and David were the only ones to raise their hands, so I don’t want to upset my new IP or crew chief after they’ve already done the work .Maybe on future training missions, we can solicit other ‘IP’s’ or ‘crew chiefs’ with nicer voices, but for this first mission, I feel obligated to let them serve, for now!
@Micro_440th
I decided that the logical thing to do was also the simplest… to simply turn the Comm1 volume down or up (in the script), to speak to the ATC as necessary, so they wouldn’t disrupt the training session. (It’s working, so far.)Regarding the backup UHF and Comm2, see page 14, section 5 and page 20 of the training Manual. Later in the mission, in the Arming Area, the user is directed to change to the Tower frequency using channel 3 of the comms ladder (page 32), so maybe that will have to be enough of an intro to the ladder, for only this first training mission. As we know all too well, at some point, the pilot still has to read the manuals to get a complete understanding of this sim, aircraft and their capabilities.
FYI, I’m also re-writing the script to require the pilot trainee to push the buttons, switches, toggles, etc. so they can actually “do it” for themselves and not just watch the Ramp Start. It’s a lot more work, but better, in the end, I think. (Thanks for the feedback @Todd1215 !) They’ll be hard-pressed to get to the takeoff on time (1:32 comes awfully quick so the Tower probably won’t be happy…), but at least they’ll be able to “learn it by doing it”.
Cool! Keep in mind that we will have in U2 all “Normal Procedures” from the new checklists. So maybe its also worth to mention in your script
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@Micro_440th
It sounds like U2 is making more changes to the first training mission than I thought, so I’ll set the script aside for now, until you’ve got the new mission 1 training instructions ready for distribution.Regarding these new mission and instruction changes, I had a few ‘checklist’ questions…
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Am I safe to assume the ‘pre-mission’ cockpit configuration won’t change, like page N-4?
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BEFORE STARTING ENGINE, N-7, item 1 lists the canopy and spider being closed BEFORE power is turned on. How does that work? Shouldn’t the canopy & spider be closed AFTER N-7, item 7, like the existing mission?
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Are you adding ‘set position lights to flash’ to the instructions for the EPU test (N-18, 7d)?
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After Engine start, if we set QNH before EGI-ALIGN NORM (N-20, item 8h), will an ATC call be added to the instructions, to get that info?
Thanks for the heads up!
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Hi Dan!
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Correct
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No, thats the correct procedure. BATT is not needed for canopy/spider like in RL
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I will check. Maybe typo.
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No thats no step/procedure which is the checklists.
Cheers and keep up the good work!
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NEW!
See the top of the thread for the “new and improved” 4.37-U1 BMS Ramp Start Training Script!Now, YOU actively do the Ramp Start, including full user interaction, while the voice guidance from the IP tells you what to do next, without having to go back and forth to the Training manual!
It’s a great way to memorize and learn this process.Enjoy!
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@Dan superb work there Dan !!!
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I cant do step 2 the master light to normal I cant see the knob
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@Snoutmaster
I’m assuming you can’t see the Master Light switch because the pilot’s body is in the way.If so, go into Setup/Graphics before entering the mission and make sure the pilot model is checked.
If you don’t have it checked, the script will ADD the pilot model instead of removing it. -
UPDATE for 4.37-U2!
Check the top of the thread again for the next “new and improved” 4.37-U2 BMS Ramp Start Training Script!
It’s updated to reflect the changes in the newer, U2 mission (more packages, longer taxi), and now uses the trigger button on the stick to pause and continue. (Listen carefully for the trigger prompts!) I also updated some of the dialog to clarify some things in the script.
Happy Training!
Enjoy! -
Hello all!
First THANK YOU for such work!! It is great, being really new in the BMS, Flight Sims and avionics world, I have A LOT to learn! I currently know nothing (acronyms, jargon, etc.!). Just starting off…
The script functionality within BMS is super!! Wonder why the game doesn’t come with these already provided with (?).
After briefly having tried the script (with 4.37 U2), if I may share, here are my initial thoughts and comments:
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Regarding the need to “keep the total timing within the 20-minute window” as a few seem to talk about, as a newbie, I certainly DO NOT want to be timed on this. I need whatever time I can use! If the tower “yells” at me because I’m too slow, that’s fine. Maybe there’s a way to “deactivate” this while learning? If not, not a problem for me.
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I don’t like the fact that the script zooms in so much on controls (which is fine!), but prevents us from zooming OUT to get a better view of the overall and look around.
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It would be handier if the control to manipulate would be circled, as it is, but remained circled until the user actions it. Some are, but I think some aren’t. It goes away after X time… It makes things go by too quickly sometimes.
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We should be able to manipulate other controls, even when it’s not the control we’re supposed to be touching. Why? Simply because if we mistakenly set a wrong position of something, the script will still move to next step and prevent us from correcting. I initially saw this when I needed to set the ANTI-COL to 1. I had placed it to 2 with wrong mouse click and couldn’t correct until further down in training.
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I LOVE the fact that there is voice! Would it possible to also have the text displayed though? The problem with voice is that sometimes we need to hear the instructions / explanations another time. Is there a way we could “replay” it? If not, then displaying a text, on top of the voice, would help a lot too!
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I know this is pushing it, but in the displayed text for each control (if it’s possible with the voice), it would be nice to get a very brief description as to what the control does, perhaps say what the acronym is short (for example, I have no clue what MSL, ILS, TACAN, etc. mean). Perhaps a reference to the “TO 1F-16CMAM-1 BMS.pdf” maybe? I a bit overwhelmed with it all… But perhaps it would also be difficult not to clutter the screen with information text too.
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I did come across another guy’s training script for GroundOps that uses only text for brief instructions. Although meant for 4.36, it seems to work, but with its flaws too. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the URL where I found it, but I’ve made it available through here for download if you @Dan or whomever else is interested. To check out or not for ideas. Perhaps a mixture of both or something. Just some thoughts from a newbie trying to figure out the best way to learn it all
Nevertheless, I really appreciate all the effort you’ve placed into this so far. Beginners like myself can really appreciate such work!
Cheers! Patrick
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@ravenlost
Thank you for your feedback and I’m glad that my GroundOps script is helping you get started with Falcon BMS .
The available scripting language functions and options are quite limited (see the BMS Technical Manual, Section 14-213), so this was the best I could do for now, with the tools available.
(If you didn’t already know, these basic and rudimentary Falcon scripting tools are from the “original” Falcon 4.0, so they’re about 25 years old! - A modernization of this tool by the devs would be awesome, but we’ll just have to wait and see.)
I’ll try to answer your questions or comments as best I can, within the limitations of the scripting language capabilities.- My latest 4.37-U2 script typically will wait for you to act on almost all of the physical button, switch and dial commands. Now with pause commands inserted to start and stop the sim , the “20-minute window” isn’t as much of a problem anymore (don’t forget to use the trigger when you need to continue in later parts of the script). Take as much time as you need and practice until it’s second nature and you’ll be fine.
- To point your view to a specific location in the cockpit, I have to use the old “2D view” to get you there and hold it steady so you can press a button, then change the view to the next step. 3D view won’t hold it steady (see BMS Technical Manual 14-233, SetPanTilt function notes), but if you want to look around, you can still use the views, but they will be in 2D mode.
- I’ll check on the “action circles”, but they should be waiting for you to act, then go out. That said, there are still a few other circles that are just to ‘get your attention’, but not necessarily do anything (ie. watch the green JFS start light come on).
- I know what you mean about that one! I’m not sure how to solve that problem in the code but as a fix, when I mis-press a dial like that, once I get to the NEXT “action ring” (and before pressing that new button) I can change the view back to where I made the wrong setting and correct it, then return to the latest “action ring” view and continue.
- Text can be added, but the size is so small and not adjustable. On 1080p screens or larger (me-4k), it’s not as easy to read. When 4.37-U3 comes out, I’ll see if I can add a new voice instruction replay capability.
- Go ahead… push all you want!
Personally, I’d love to be able to simply insert a picture of a page from the training manual (or other descriptive pictures/info) into the script for this purpose, but alas, there are no scripting functions to do it at this time . And you’re right, the screen gets cluttered quickly with too much text. - Anytime I find bits and pieces of Falcon scripting like this, I keep them in a file for reference. I always learn more when I see the work of others, so thank you to that industrious person! I’m going to test some of these methods and see if I can make them work for my script too.
Happy Flying!
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A few remarks to start with…
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It does seem to wait indeed. I just doesn’t wait when the control / knob is already properly set to start with. Then it’ll go by right through it (i.e. Verify CNI switch to BACK UP).
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Regading the views, I understand better now, thanks. However, depending on where / at what point you change view to say 3D, move around, sometimes going back to 2D will be in wrong position, thus making the circle indicators not at all on the right spots. I think to switch view to a 3D position, better to do it only when we’re paused and have a circled control to manipulate… Then you can switch view, move around to look, and come back to 2D and it’ll be okay.
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Regarding the display of text, would it be possible to add (on top of the voice instructions) things like:
Print 900 "Main power switch to BATT"
This is what the other script that found was doing and I didn’t find the text too small (?). I’m running in 2560x1440… but it’s just an idea. -
I didn’t expect to have to have pictures and whatnot in the game from the manual lol. But rather just a text “IFF Panel: see chapter xyz in file.pdf” type of thing. Again, just a suggestion, but maybe it would get too crowded.
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Lastly, but the most problematic issue for me: I simply cannot get passed the EPU section “Remove EPU safety pin by ground crew”. It tells me all to press ‘T’ then ‘1’, and when it’s no longer displayed on top/right - red text, then hit the trigger when ready. The trigger part does nothing at all for me. I get stuck there…
I have a Saitek X52Pro. I’ve chosen its keyfile in the alternative launcher and all. Didn’t change any mappings. If I go then in the Setup / Controller section in game, hitting my trigger displays as if it was assigned.
Any ideas as to what’s going on with the lather issue? I believe it’s from this line in your script?
WaitInput 2 SimTriggerFirstDetent //press the trigger to continue
I tried hitting all my buttons, and also ctrl/slash which I think is also the trigger (?). Nothing does it…Again, much thanks for your efforts and help on all of this.
Regards, Pat.
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@Dan It seems like the “trigger” problem I had is resolved. It’s like setting keyfile to X52 within Alternative Launcher doesn’t properly apply. I needed to simply Load the keyfile from within the game’s setup > controller menu. Odd …
Final notes: yes we can change view to say 3D interior, but it’ll mess up the script at some point regarding the white target circles and whatnot. It’ll get lost at some point if you toggle too much / or at the wrong time between 2D and 3D.
So, I’m just gonna stick to NOT switching views
Still, I think a small phrase showing the verbal instructions would be handy as well (without describing too much or overwhelming the screen).
Cheers! Pat
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This is absolutely amazing for a new pilot like me! I’ve been doing the ALT-TAB method of following videos on Youtube and this is heads and shoulders above that.
It really highlights things that I need to learn more about.Thank you!
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This is great I just came to BMS from DCS and missed the scripted training missions from DCS and was thinking of making them myself, glad to have found this to show the sims scripting capabilities.
Looking at the script and reading about your process Im sure I could make a helper program for easier script making.
Will post later once it is completed. -
@Arbitur
Looking forward to seeing more interest in the expansion of training scripting by others in the community. Best of luck with your “helper” program!