[24JUN22] Happy Friday - Update Released for PMDG 737-700 for MSFS.

[rsrandazzo]

Captains,

Happy Friday and welcome to the weekend!

To kick things off properly, we have a few things for you today.

PMDG 737-700 for MSFS Update to 3.00.0024
This week's update for the 737 includes a significant amount of "behind the panel" work to prepare it for rollout of our new lateral flight path model. We are very close to turning that new feature on for you, but there are some other pieces and bits that need adjusting so that has been the main thrust of work leading up to this update.

We have also spent an enormous amount of time investigating laggy animation problems. This involved testing across a range of machines and visual settings in order to induce lag in the animations by loading up the processor and the gpu to see what effect our adjustments and changes were having. It is a painstakingly slow process, but we think we have made good progress in stabilizing some of the laggier items such as the control columns and throttles. We also put quite a bit of time into correcting the trim wheel animation and sound model.

One item still in the research pool is the windshield wipers. We made a small amount of improvement here, but we are finding that the wipers move so fast (even at their slow setting) that they simply don't render smoothly and we are still working to see if we cannot devise a way to make that work more effectively. Stay tuned for more there.

In this process of cleaning up animations, we have found that some of the techniques we used well on other platforms don't work well in the MSFS environment across the entire spectrum of performance capabilities. There are a range of techniques we use, so apparently there is still a bit of learning to do here and we are mapping out a sweep through the cockpit animation to be sure we clean up laggers and improve smoothness in as many places as possible. This will take place over a couple of update cycles.

Other changes are encapsulated in the change list here:

0011475: [Main Panel - General/Unsure] Removing non working Color changing options from FMC (abashkatov)
0011474: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Screw on upper display unit floating in space (vscimone)
0011468: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] Landing Gear lever animation missing through the OFF position (hvanrensburg)
0011320: [General - Suggested/Missing Features] ARPT_RWY.dat size is zero, ie empty on some customers (abashkatov)
0011330: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Typos on flight kit stowage placards (vscimone)
0011345: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] Transponder Scroll issue (abashkatov)
0011374: [Systems - Fire Protection] Fire Bottle Discharge lights do not come on for almost 20 seconds after discharge (rsrandazzo)
0011376: [FREEZES - All Types] RTA waypoint sequencing or deletion provisions (emvaos)
0011381: [External Model - Geometry] Belly light bleed through cabin (jbrown)
0011382: [General - Documentation] aircraft.cfg text - use of coma error (rsrandazzo)
0011384: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Poly clipping on ceiling (vscimone)
0011391: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] VC gap, outiside eviroment visible (vscimone)
0011393: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Main Panel indicator housing needs more detail (vscimone)
0011395: [External Model - Geometry] Wet touchdown Water Spray from Main wheels is reversed Left/Right (jbrown)
0011399: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Throttle Screw texture alignment off (vscimone)
0011411: [Systems - Flight Controls] LE Flaps and Slats retract with B system off after Alternate Flap Extension (rsrandazzo)
0011413: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Glareshield geometry wrongly changed on latest update (vscimone)
0011417: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] F/O side window cable clipping (vscimone)
0011419: [External Model - Geometry] BBJ Texture flickering on left side beneath the cockpit (jbrown)
0011422: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Stab trim cutout switched texture needs a touch up (vscimone)
0011389: [General - Documentation] Tutorial Typo Errors (hvanrensburg)
0011392: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Front window serial Number sticker shows only when there is a solid object in front of the plane (vscimone)
0011397: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] Bank Angle selector no longer works with Mouse Wheel and cannot be rolled to the right except from the FO side. (hvanrensburg)
0011429: [External Model - Geometry] Cabin windows have a rainbow effect applied (jbrown)
0011431: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] HGS panel on pedestal is not back-lit (hvanrensburg)
0011444: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] Many switches and knobs animate instantly and should be slowed down (hvanrensburg)
0011473: [Systems - Flight Controls] throttle animation requires algorithmic improvement to animation function (rsrandazzo)
0011472: [Systems - Flight Controls] Control column/yoke animation requires algorithmic improvement to animation function (rsrandazzo)
0011471: [Systems - Flight Controls] Trim Wheel Animation incorrect and not working as expected (rsrandazzo)
0011443: [Sounds - Internal/Cockpit] Trim sounds not working (rsrandazzo)
0011445: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Overhead GEN panel texture updates and improvements (vscimone)
0011449: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] HGS Display on FO Main panel does not protrude enough (vscimone)
0011460: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Various text spacing issues on CB panels (vscimone)
0011461: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Erroneous space on smoke hood placard (vscimone)
0011459: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Window stickers disappear with sky in background (vscimone)
0011457: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Text missing on captain's emergency rope hatch (vscimone)
0010424: [Systems - Fire Protection] Extinguisher TEST Switch and Fault/Inop and Overheat/Fire TEST Switch should be spring-loaded to center. (hvanrensburg)
0011387: [General - Unsure] Popup key commands should be added to documentation (hvanrensburg)
0011451: [External Model - Geometry] COMM/EXT Power panel issues (jbrown)

How to Update:
You can get the latest update simply by running the PMDG Operations Center and pulling down the AIRCRAFT AND LIVERIES tab, then selecting PRODUCT UPDATES. If you don't see an update notification already, press the CHECK NOW button (top left) and that will get you going in the right direction.

Please don't forget that one of the little quirks about C++/WASM projects within MSFS is that the first time after installation or after a major product update, when you run the the 737 and select an aiframe MSFS does an entire recompilation process to get the airplane ready for your use. How long this takes depends upon both your processor speed, but also upon how much memory you have installed. It is just something the sim needs to do for C++/WASM projects, so select your airplane before running out for a snack or something. (And bring us some, we're hungry!)

What is Next for 737?:
This coming week is going to figure heavily on control axis related issues. I am preparing a short video to offer some recommendations on getting your controls configured correctly for proper control feel, and we will be working on seeing if we cannot get the rudder axis to play nicely with twist-for-steer sticks and game controllers. Hopefully we will be able to make some progress here.

There is quite a bit of work going on elsewhere in the airplane preparing it for the new lateral flight path, for rollout of the 737-600, and also integration of the tablet is coming along swimmingly. Oh- and there are rumors of a very good looking 737-800 being spotted around the PMDG test flight area...

Oh- I nearly forgot: Why did the 737 jump from build 20 to build 24? You will notice that the build numbers will move in steps, but not all of them will get released to public. This is normal as we build out beta versions of the 700 for testing, and also add the 600 and 800 airplanes to the development cycle. Anything that gets handed to you or to the testing team gets a build number so that we can keep track of them.

Stay tuned for more info on all of these things, and more.

[Want2BFlyin]

Thanks for the update, Robert!

[Gerardius]

Thank you very much for your hard work and happy Friday and weekend to you too. 👌😊

[Alexander P.]

Sounds good. While looking at the wiper animations do you think it's possible to make them actually wipe away water a la the Fenix A320?

[Dannnnn]

They're waiting for a native implementation as far as I am aware. I read somewhere SU10 we can expect this functionality. (Not that it's a big deal anyway at the moment, the rain drops barely obscure vision anyway. Hopefully when wipers are implemented they can turn the rain onto a realistic level so wipers are needed much like real life)

[fakeflyer737]

Thanks!

Can you please comment on the airplanes ability (or lack there of) to fly RF legs with the new LNAV/FD update?

Some are stating that this LNAV update will have 2 phases and the initial phase we be such that we'll still not be able to correctly fly RF legs on approaches.

Some clarity would be welcome.

[JOM4021]

Yes, please please please !!! It is more than time that we get the ability to fly those more and more common RNP-AR approaches ;-)

[rquick]

Great news. Thanks Robert.

[S3rg1o]

just when I was about to shutdown the rig, after another 737 flight I notice the update news on discord!
Regarding cockpit animations, did anything changed also in the gear lever!
thanks for the update and all the work! Happy friday for all!

[NegativeApproach]

? Number three on the list above, man.

[Pablo Vazquez]

Thank you, Sir! :-)

[AirBadger]

Are any of the following bugs in the queue to be addressed?

• A/P dropping 100 - 120 feet during slow, tight turns in ALT HLD mode
• EGT is always 250+ on start
• HDG on MCP not saving with panel states - always defaults to the heading of the plane when it spawns in
• Marker beacon sound goes off even with the MKR volume knob off.

Thanks,

[Reynolds Number]

Dear all,

In addition to the updates that Robert posted, this update also includes a number of sound fixes, updates and improvements - here are the main changes:

- Current cockpit and custom wing view bass sound layers volumes increased

- New cockpit and custom wing view bass layer to complement the existing bass layers - overall, the bass volumes are noticeably louder than in all previous versions

- All sounds that are accessed via our custom wing views have been significantly redesigned for better audio immersion and realism - be it in front of the engines, to the side of the engines, over the wing and behind the wing - all sound layers now playback more realistically based on the selected view

- The redesign of all custom wing views also includes fixing the sounds of the engines if you choose to customise the views that we have provided via the camera.cfg - in theory, any repositioning of the views will now deliver the appropriate realistic sound behaviour relative to the modified custom view position

- Three of the five pack sound layers volumes are now proportional to engine power / duct pressure - the unique 737 characteristic of the pack sounds volumes increasing when applying small amounts of thrust from idle is now more noticeable in the cockpit and wing views

- Cockpit and wing view rattling sounds while on the ground have been redesigned - the first improvement is that the rattle sounds play more often at lower ground speeds, and secondly, the algorithms that control these sounds have been further randomised to provide a more unpredictable audio experience while taxiing and at higher ground speeds

- Numerous other small tweaks and improvements that will hopefully improve the audio experience even further!

[Pilot53]

"- Three of the five pack sound layers volumes are now proportional to engine power / duct pressure - the unique 737 characteristic of the pack sounds volumes increasing when applying small amounts of thrust from idle is now more noticeable in the cockpit and wing views"

Thank you for that one! This is something I've wanted for years now, and its been missing from just about every simulation out there.

[vin747]

and yet no engine shut down sounds yet?? it just abruptly shuts off to silence..

[MarkusGX]

Thanks Robert and team for the update and sound improvements!

[Vee One]

Thanks Captain Randazzo! In these cases when there's a "major update", I will uninstall the whole PMDG B737-700 software, download the new version and "clean-install" it again. I imagine that in MSFS you don't need to deactivate the software in the FMC, right? I don't see the option for that...

[rsrandazzo]

Andreu- Probably not the best use of your time. You will find we don't always update the version in distribution. So you'll wind up back where you started. :-) - RSR

[Vee One]

Thanks Captain. I just downloaded the file again from the shop but I see it's still the 3.0.20 version? Haven't you uploaded the new version there yet?

[Supersix2]

Great news! Sad to hear the controller fixes for axis didn't make it, but glad to see an update! I was just about to do a flight over in EUR and thought I should get a livery and saw the update!

[rsrandazzo]

James- It is being a bit problematic. It would be most helpful if we had some documentation on it- but that doesn't seem to be forthcoming... - RSR

[HDR10]

Very good update.

I haven't noticed any drop in performance despite the smoother animations.

[SPBurt]

Thanks for the update. The trim wheel motion is much better, such a minor thing but a huge immersion factor. The attention to detail is why I love the product.

[rsrandazzo]

Sean- You have no idea how hard it is to make something so simple move fluidly in simulation. I'm delighted that the 777 and 747 don't have any of the bloody things. - RSR

[samsunjax]

@RSR, I get soo excited every time I hear you mention ........777 & 747, it makes me quiver inside!!!


Patrick Dionne

[redsonssi]

When will the effect of wiping rain with wipers be updated?
And I'm using the rudder with my keyboard. I'd appreciate it if you could also check the rudder sensitive issue.

[rsrandazzo]

Kim- Asobo has indicated that they have wiper effect on their task list for the simulation. We decided it is smarter to wait and let them do the effect, as it will be far more efficient than modeling it independently as we have done in P3D. We have worked hard to ensure good performance with the 737, and this is one area that creates great performance concern. - RSR

[redsonssi]

Thank you~

[cmakris]

Are any of the following bugs in the queue to be addressed?

• A/P dropping 100 - 120 feet during slow, tight turns in ALT HLD mode
• EGT is always 250+ on start
• HDG on MCP not saving with panel states - always defaults to the heading of the plane when it spawns in
• Marker beacon sound goes off even with the MKR volume knob off.

Thanks,

Alex.

The A/P alt is known and in the development team queue to be fixed.

For the EGT you can create a new panel state after waiting the EGT temp to be lowered after shutdown.

For the Heading, this is an intentional design decision in order to accommodate the manner in which MSFS loads the airplane in flight. Since we do not have direct control over the heading in which the airplane spawns, we set the heading bug to the spawned heading in order to prevent violent disruption of the airplane's flight path when the airplane is loaded in flight. We have an open request with Asobo for some changes that will allow us to make this feature smarter, but until they have time to handle that request, we feel this is the best middle-ground solution as it provides the least potential for dynamic disruption of the simulation experience.

The marker beacon playing without regard to the switch position is a defect Asobo has acknowledged on their end. We have been told it is being addressed, but we have not been given an ETA for that fix.

[DrVenkman]

Thanks for the very detailed and informative reply to the poster’s comments. Insights like these are great to learn and really help foster good will in the community. Thank you for sharing them.

[UKAviator]

Just in time for a full days schedule of flying Robert. Thankyou 👍

[Reynolds Number]

Hi Vinod,

We do have engine shutdown sounds, however, we have also mentioned here that we are working with Asobo to address a software problem with their code that causes the engine sounds to fade out quicker than expected during shutdown. Once they are able to fix this problem from their side, then the engine shutdown sound sequences will improve - stay tuned!

[Ausflight]

Very nice Robert and team all is going nice and swimmingly.

[Bart]

Thanks for the update Robert.

Can anyone else confirm if thier PMDG mouse profile is working correctly? I can't get the right click function to work since the update. I have tried to re-install the three files into thier relevant aircraft folders and re-booted MSFS but I have the same result. Left click works as does the mouse wheel, but no function for a right click.

EDIT 1 : I managed to get it to work by swapping airframes to the cargo version then back to the standard 737-700 pax. All good now.

EDIT 2 : Excellent update. The new trim wheel effects are great and the sound now matches the wheel rotation! which is brilliant. Really adds to the immersion in the 737.

[Argus23]

In Cockpit Camera option for the Mouse, try unassigning TOGGLE COCKPIT FOCUS MODE. Somehow it was assigned to my right mouse click button.

Mike Brodersen KAFW

[TOMASZIMA44]

Thank you Robert.

[Max Rate]

0011397: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] Bank Angle selector no longer works with Mouse Wheel and cannot be rolled to the right except from the FO side. (hvanrensburg)

Question: I thought this behaviour was introduced in the previous patch explicitly to prevent inadvertent bank angle selector changes when using the scroll wheel to operate the heading selector. Now it seems we're back where we started. Why the reversion?

[cmakris]

Question: I thought this behaviour was introduced in the previous patch explicitly to prevent inadvertent bank angle selector changes when using the scroll wheel to operate the heading selector. Now it seems we're back where we started. Why the reversion?

This was not introduced on the previous version to prevent what you wrote. It was introduced by accident.

[osnildo Pfutzenreuter]

Bom dia, alguma previsão para inclusão do radar??

[Max Rate]

This was not introduced on the previous version to prevent what you wrote. It was introduced by accident.

From the 3.00.0020 release notes:

0011274: [AFDS - Roll Modes] Disable mouse wheel scrolling for HDG SEL Bank Angle limiter (hvanrensburg)

Maybe it was an accident, but I'd label it a happy accident in that case. It was pretty annoying to keep changing the bank angle selector inadvertently, and disabling the mouse wheel for that particular knob looked like a reasonable solution (it's not exactly a control that sees constant use during flight, whilst the heading selector does).

[cmakris]

Bom dia, alguma previsão para inclusão do radar??

Please add a signature to your profile in order to ensure that your posts are signed, real name first and last.. You were advised/agreed to this requirement when initially establishing an account. Unsigned posts will be removed without warning.
Thank you!

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-fo...pdated-25feb19


This needs to wait for Asobo to unlock this capability. According to them they are planning to start allowing this on SU10

[Cedhric]

Thanks for the update. Yoke and throttle animations are much smoother on my modest Core-i7 3.4GHz gaming laptop (I know, I know.... ), but I still see a jump when retracting the gear lever.

Looking forward to the rudder axis fix.

[cmakris]

From the 3.00.0020 release notes:



Maybe it was an accident, but I'd label it a happy accident in that case. It was pretty annoying to keep changing the bank angle selector inadvertently, and disabling the mouse wheel for that particular knob looked like a reasonable solution (it's not exactly a control that sees constant use during flight, whilst the heading selector does).

I had missed that entry change on .20. I checked both internal tickets. It seems that the chnage that we made to .20 was not popular, looking for the amount of tickets we had asking us to revert this change..

I am afraid this is one of the option that no matter what we do some percentage of users will not be happy. I checked with the developer if this can be made as an option but since this is handled by code this is to feasible.

[Max Rate]

Fair enough. Thanks for the update.

[dave_paige]

Hi Chris, I am in the camp that would prefer that the bank angle limiter not be changeable with the scroll wheel so I preferred the way it was previous to this latest patch. Two comments that might help the discussion. One, inadvertently changing the bank angle is probably why there are so many reports of the plane's low turn rate, folks just don't realize that they've rotated the knob when changing the heading selector. Two, the comment in the but report that the bank angle selector could only rolled to the right from the FO side was incorrect, I was able to roll it left or right using left click or right click all from the captains side. I for one, strongly recommend reverting back to the way it was in the 3.00.0020 version.

[phrgflyer419]

Excellent update, thank you Robert.