❗ NEW to MobiFlight? Read this first!

[snow agate]

If you are new to MobiFlight and want to learn how it works and how to configure things, start here:

Mobiflight Documentation

Also, try using the search on the support channels, many times there are older threads where a certain topic has been discussed and answered many times.

Also - if you can't find your answer, ask away on #1028767888242376794 and #1028408626643214336 (if it is a MSFS2020 question) - but be sure to specify three things:

• What simulator are you running
• What specific aircraft are you using (as they are all built with different simvars and events)
• What is it that you are trying to do?

If you find an existing post that you feel is related to your issue, please start your own separate post. Every case is different, and asking on an already solved post can go unnoticed since they get marked with the "solved" tag. You can "copy message link" to refer to an existing post if you feel it's very similar to yours.

Happy building and learning!

The moderators

NEW to MobiFlight and simulator building?

NEW to MobiFlight? Read this first!

[snow agate]

Canned responses for moderators

These are written as cut and paste code with formatting (hence the \backslashes in the message, so the links and list items work by cut and pasting, otherwise they just turn into unformatted text that wont work when copying from the clipboard. So if you add more of these, please keep that in mind. I also added these responses only to the pinned "READ THIS" message on #1028767888242376794 to avoid having to maintain them in two places.

Need more information:

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**To help us to better help you, please also share the following:**

- What simulator do you use? (MSFS2020, X-Plane 12, etc - use the dedicated forum (https://discord.com/channels/608690978081210392/1028408626643214336) for MSFS2020-specific issues.)
- What exact add-on aircraft are you using. and if several, does the issue happen with all of them or just one?
- What are you trying to do in general? ("I want to show the APU exhaust gas temperature in a stepper motor gauge" for example)
- Which MobiFlight version do you use? (latest, stable vs beta)
- If hardware related, what type of board do you have (Arduino type, RP2040 Pico)

Please use [Github for confirmed bug reports](https://github.com/MobiFlight/MobiFlight-Connector/issues/new/choose\).

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[vapid ruin]

Github Wiki has many tutorials and examples
Visit the Github Wiki pages to see the available tutorials and examples
https://github.com/MobiFlight/MobiFlight-Connector/wiki

Want to learn how to dig up events in MSFS2020?
This guide shows you the basics of using Developer Mode in MSFS2020 to find out the code used in control events of any aircraft.
https://www.badcasserole.com/uncovering-input-events-using-the-msfs2020-model-behavior-dialog/

[vapid ruin]

The Mobiflight Introductory Video 2023 by Sebastian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS8KGfYRNrY&t=27s&ab_channel=MobiFlight

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How to post images in Discord
We often ask to post screenshots of your configs, in order to understand better your issue.
Here are several ways to post images in the Discord channels.

1. Drag a picture file and drop it on the Discord chat line.
2. Press Win-Shift-S or use the windows Snipping Tool to select a region on your screen. Then paste into Discord with Ctrl-V.
3. Right click on image in your web browser and select copy image. Then paste into Discord with Ctrl-V.
4. Press Alt-PrtScn to copy the active window to the clipboard. Then press Ctrl-V to paste it into the Discord chat.

[vapid ruin]

How to blank 7-segment displays
There are several ways to achieve blanking a 7 segment display.

1. Using preconditions. Have a precondition deactivate writing to the display and another contrary precondition that activates an output config that writes blanks to the same field where the deactivated config writes values.
2. **Using a Transform. ** Have a transform that uses the battery status as a config reference value, such that if the battery is off, change the value of this config to blanks ('___').
3. Using Brightness reference. Use the brightness reference parameter in the display set to zero. This last one is probably the most convenient, as setting the brightness reference to zero, can blank all the 7-segment displays with one change in value.

[vapid ruin]

Having power issues with your Max7219 7-segment modules?
Max7219 modules are known to be sensitive to power line noise. The most recommended fixes for max7219 power issues include:

1. Connect VCC wire always in parallel to each module.
2. Power from external supply if you have more than two modules.
3. Install an electrolytic 10uf capacitor at each module across VCC and GND. Most modules have an empty connector where this capacitor can be soldered in.
4. Make sure to have tight connections. Soldered connections are the best.

[vapid ruin]

Transform tips

1. Convert Zulu time in seconds to HHMMSS with this formula
   Floor($/3600)*10000+Floor($/60)%60*100+$%60
2. Alternating values between 0 and 1 with button presses. Use this simple formula in the Value field 1-$.
3. Use Round($,0) to get rid of the decimal part in a float number. Alternatively, use Floor($) or Truncate($) if rounding is not desired.
4. Set string values with if(#=1,'ABC','DEF')
5. **Setting a fixed value **to a config, just use a Transform with the value. No formula, no placeholders, just the value.

[vapid ruin]

Preconditions tips:

1. Preconditions do not change the value of any output. This is a common misconception. In other words, you cannot turn off a Led by deactivating it via a precondition.
2. Preconditions are used to setup different behavior of input or output configs based on the value of the criteria. This requires setting up multiple inputs or outputs bound to the same input or output device.
3. Preconditions usually require to be mutually exclusive. In other words, only one set of inputs or outputs must be active at any given time.
4. Flickering Leds or 7-segment displays is often caused by misconfigured preconditions where two outputs are writing to the same display at the same time.

[vapid ruin]

Wiring digits to Max7219 chip
The digit groups are normally numbered with D1 being the leftmost position. However, the max7219 Dig0 pin refers to the rightmost position in the display. This means the pins in the digits need to be wired in reverse order with respect to the max chip.
For example, two 4-digit groups should be wired like this:

Digits   1 2 3 4  1 2 3 4
Max7219  7 6 5 4  3 2 1 0

This is not limited to two 4-digit groups. For example a 3+5 grouping is perfectly possible

Digits   1 2 3   1 2 3 4 5
Max7219  7 6 5   4 3 2 1 0

[snow agate]

‼NEW to MobiFlight? Read this first!