Flight Simulator Force Feedback and Wing Leveller Utility
Version 3.1.0 - January 2007
(For use with FSX / FS2004 / FS2002)

The Force Feedback and Wing Leveller Utility will allow you to add or remove Force Feedback code and remove the Wing Leveller function for any Aircraft in Flight Simulator. 

Wing Leveller:
==============
When you activate the Autopilot in Flight Simulator the Wing Leveller is automatically enabled and there is no way to disable it from the Aircraft Panel.  For those of you who like to fly using the Autopilot solely to maintain a constant altitude I've developed this little utility to modify Flight Simulator Aircraft.cfg file(s) to remove the Wing Leveller function.  To do this the Aircraft.cfg file is modified to add information that will disable the default Bank (wings level) and the default Pitch (Aircraft attitude, nose up, nose down or level).  The default setting for the Wing Leveller Utility is to disable both the bank and the pitch.  If you are an advanced user and you would like to decide which functions to disable, you can use the "Advanced" button to select your options.

Force Feedback:
===============
Sometimes when you download a new Aircraft and take it out for a spin, you'll notice that your Force Feedback Joystick almost shakes out of your hand as you begin to taxi.  The reason is the Aircraft.cfg file does not contain the instructions for Flight Simulator to set the forces for your Force Feedback Joystick.  So, I developed this utility to make the job of adding Force Feedback code to the Aircraft.cfg file as simple and painless as possible.  

Installation:
=============
To start the installation open the FFWLUtil312.zip file and click on theInstall_FFWLUtil.exefile.  Follow the on screen instructions for the default installation.  To keep the size of the download to a minimum I have not included the VB6 runtime files. You may have them on your system already, if not, they are available at FlightSim.com in the "Must Have" files section.  If you're not sure, go ahead and run FFWLUtil.exe, if it starts up you have the VB6 runtime files installed on your system.  If not, and the program complains, just go to FlightSim.com and download the VB6 runtime file.

Selecting your Flight Simulator Aircraft Directory:
===================================================
Not much to learn here.  Just use the drive dialog windows in FFWL Utility to select Flight Simulators Main Aircraft directory. (In the case of FSX it will be the SimObjects/Airplanes directory).  Be sure to double click on each folder to have it "open".  When you have selected the Aircraft directory you will be presented with a list of all the Aircraft that have the Wing Leveller function presently activated and a list of all the Aircraft that DO NOT have the Force Feedback code.

NOTE:
=====
If you are not using a Force Feedback Joystick you can disable the FF detection from the File Menu.  Click on File, Setup then click on  Disable FF Detection.  To restore the Force Feedback detection just repeat the steps above and click to uncheck Disable FF Detection.  

Removing or Restoring the Autopilot Wing Leveller
=================================================
Not much to learn here, and only one thing to remember.  Just use the drive dialog window to select Flight Simulators "Aircraft" or Airplanes directory. (Be sure to double click on each folder to have it "open").  When you have selected the Aircraft directory you will be presented with a list of all the Aircraft that have the Autopilot Wing Leveller function enabled.  To remove it simply click on the check boxes beside the Aircraft Names to select them.  Then click on the "Modify" Command Button and the Autopilot Wing Leveller function will be removed from all the selected Aircraft. (You can also use the "All" button to select all Aircraft in the list or use the "Clear" button to clear the list).  If you want to put the Wing Leveller back then just click on the "Restore" Button, select the Aircraft you want to restore and then click "Modify".  

Oh! ...and just one more thing to remember.  Run this Utility BEFORE YOU START Flight Simulator!!!  If you're already in Flight Simulator you can do it "on the fly" but you'll have to re-select the aircraft again before the changes will take effect.  That's all there is to it!  

Adding Force Feedback Code:
===========================
To add the Force Feedback code simply click on the check boxes beside the Aircraft Names to select them.  Then click on the "Modify" Command Button and the code will be added to all the selected Aircraft.  (Use the "All" button to select all Aircraft in the list or use the "Clear" button to clear the list).  That's all there is to it.

Removing Force Feedback Code:
=============================
Same procedure as above really.  The only difference is that you need to click on the "Remove FF" Option button first.  Then the list will show all the aircraft that have the FF Code installed.  Click on the Check Boxes beside the Aircraft Names to select them.  Then click on the "Modify" Command Button and the code will be removed from all the selected Aircraft.

Using Custom Force Feedback Code:
=================================
When FFWL Utility starts up it checks for the presence of a file named "FFCode.txt".  If it finds the file it will use the FF Codes contained in that file instead of the default Flight Simulator FF codes . If it can't find the file it will use the default Flight Simulator codes.  When custom codes are used the FFWL Utility Title bar will display "Custom FF Code".  I've supplied a sample FFCode.txt file named "xxFFCode.txt", it is located in your default FFWL Utility directory.  (C:\Program Files\FF and Wing Leveller Utility\xxFFCode.txt .  If you want to experiment with the forces just remove the "xx" from the filename to enable it.  This sample file is just a copy of the default Flight Simulator codes so unless you edit it and change the parameters there is no point using it.  ...and before you ask, sorry, but I can't support questions regarding the FF codes.  You'll have to search that out on your own.  (Try the Microsoft Flight Simulator SDK's)

Removing the FFWL Utility:
==========================
To remove FFWL Utility from your system use the "Add/Remove Prgorams" feature in the Windows Control Panel.  The FFWL Utility does not write to any information to the Windows Registry upon installation.

Oh! ...and just one more thing to remember.  Run this Utility BEFORE YOU START Flight Simulator!!!  If you're already in Flight Simulator you can do it "on the fly" but you'll have to re-select the aircraft again before the changes will take effect.  That's all there is to it!  

Thank you for trying FFWL Utility.  I hope you find it useful and easy to operate.  Send your questions or comments to,

Dave Westbury

Victoria Harbour, Ontario
digiwest2002@rogers.com
digiwest2002@hotmail.com

Copyright and Distribution
==========================
This program is released as Freeware. Copyright (C) Dave Westbury. As freeware you are permitted to distribute this archive subject to the following conditions,
- The archive must be distributed without modification to the contents of the archive. Redistributing this archive with any files added, removed or modified is prohibited.
- The inclusion of any individual file from this archive in another archive without the prior permission of the author is prohibited.
- No charge may be made for this archive other than that to cover the cost of its distribution. If a fee is charged it must be made clear to the purchaser that the archive is freeware and that the fee is to cover the distributor's costs of providing the archive.
- The authors' rights and wishes concerning this archive must be respected.
