Handler Livery Issues

[specialistjon]

Hi, I just bought GSX recently and I'm loving the features. However, I've been having some issues customizing the handler selection process. I've read through the paintkit manual and I'm confused as to how the point system works with the list that pops up prompting you to select a handler, as well as the gate-specific parking codes.

In the manual, it says that a vehicle livery will "win" if it has the most points compared to other vehicle liveries. Does "winning" merely mean that it will appear on the list, have a [GSX default choice] tag in the list, or be automatically selected without showing the list?

For example, I was trying to add Swissport to all gates at CYVR. I downgraded all AirCanada and WestJet vehicles to have a code of just CY, and upped all Swissport vehicles to have a code of CYVR. With only ACA entered in the gate customization dialogue, AirCanada would have a score of 2.5 while Swissport would have a score of 4, therefore Swissport would "win" at that gate right? However, when I request handling services, it automatically selects AirCanada as my handler. To have Swissport appear, I must add _SWP to the gate. When both ACA and _SWP are added to the gate, they would then both appear on the selection list and AirCanada would have a [GSX default choice] beside it on the list.

So, at the moment it seems that if I want any specific handler to appear at any gate, I must add their ICAO code to the gate. Is this normal? It would then be counter-intuitive to alter the sim.cfg for each vehicle because it doesn't seem to affect GSX handler choices in any way.

A weird thing also happens with catering:
For example, I wanted only LSG and Gate Gourmet to appear at CYVR. I added CYVR to all LSG and Gate Gourmet catering vehicles to ensure that it was going to be one or the other that would appear, because no other liveries have a C or CY in their ICAO prefixes line. But for some reason, other catering services such as NewRest would be selected.

Also, has the PMDG 777 pushback rudder jerking issue been rectified in any way?

Other than that, I'm super happy with GSX and am looking forward to your reply.

[virtuali]

In the manual, it says that a vehicle livery will "win" if it has the most points compared to other vehicle liveries. Does "winning" merely mean that it will appear on the list, have a [GSX default choice] tag in the list, or be automatically selected without showing the list?

The list will present all candidates that "won" with an equal score. What is labeled as a default choice, which is what will be selected automatically if you don't touch the menu and just wait for a couple of seconds more, it's just a random selection amongst those candidates.

The only time there will be no list menu, is when there's only one winner, so it wouldn't make much sense to present a menu with just one choice, so the menu is skipped in that case.

To have Swissport appear, I must add _SWP to the gate. When both ACA and _SWP are added to the gate, they would then both appear on the selection list and AirCanada would have a [GSX default choice] beside it on the list.

We found a bug in the override parking function: the first code is always ignored, so you must put at least 2 codes to have it working. We fixed it already in our internal version, which will appear in the next update.

For example, I wanted only LSG and Gate Gourmet to appear at CYVR. I added CYVR to all LSG and Gate Gourmet catering vehicles to ensure that it was going to be one or the other that would appear, because no other liveries have a C or CY in their ICAO prefixes line. But for some reason, other catering services such as NewRest would be selected.

Cannot offer a meaningful reply unless I see your whole set of catering SIM.CFG file.

Also, has the PMDG 777 pushback rudder jerking issue been rectified in any way?

That's not a GSX issue or an issue that could be fixed by GSX. If we "fixed" (in the wrong way), the result would be the front gear won't turn anymore, which is not any better than having the rudder animation flickering.

Only PMDG can fix it, by stopping their hydraulics simulation that prevents the gear to be turned by an external force when GSX is pushing, thus simulating the effect of a real bypass pin, see there thread here:

http://www.fsdreamteam.com/forum/index.php/topic,13365.msg99492.html#msg99492

As you can see, I contacted PMDG proposing this solution back in 2014, but never got any reply.

In the meantime, we made an even better bypass pin interface available to developers, so if they simulated a bypass pin in their simulation, it can connect with GSX. It was made in cooperation with FS Labs so, currently, the FSL A320 is the only plane that supports this.

[specialistjon]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I did some further testing but the liveries still don't seem to work like you described.

I added both ACA and WJA to the gate, so now there's two codes. The list that pops up now shows both AirCanada and Westjet, but Swissport still doesn't show, even though it has a score of 4 while the others have a score of 2.5.

I've attached the sim.cfg files for each catering vehicle.

[virtuali]

I've attached the sim.cfg files for each catering vehicle.

Catering vehicles have their own set of liveries, they are not bound by the choice made for the ground handler (ground handlers are vehicles that starts at the parking, and catering is not one of them).

I see you modified the files to add LSG and Gate Gourmet at CYVR and CYYZ, so I guess this is what you should get now.

I added both ACA and WJA to the gate, so now there's two codes. The list that pops up now shows both AirCanada and Westjet, but Swissport still doesn't show, even though it has a score of 4 while the others have a score of 2.5.

That's correct. Swissport HAD a score of 4 by default, by if you do an override, it really means "override" (not "enhance"), meaning your override has now took over entirely the default, so the only two operators with a score of 4 are the ones you set, the default assignment has been entirely removed for that parking (or the airport, or the terminal, depending how much stuff you selected when you made the change).

If you still wanted Swissport, you must add it in the override field as well.

[specialistjon]

Yes, I added CYVR and CYYZ to both LSG and Gate Gourmet so that either one of those services will appear at those airports and not any others. However, this is not the case and I still get other catering companies such as NewRest and Gate Aviation for some reason.

I was under the impression that adding codes to the gate only served to add 0.5 to their score, as outlined in the paintkit manual. I guess this is not the case anymore and they now function as overrides? So by that logic, if I leave the field blank at all gates, I would be able to select from AirCanada, WestJet, and Swissport? Since those are the default assignments.

However, I have another problem. GSX isn't letting me leave the override field empty. I'd click apply on the gate editor and call GSX services, but what would happen is the previous saved line of codes would restore itself when I call. Do I have to manually clear the codes from the airport AFCAD to prevent GSX from restoring the codes?

[virtuali]

I was under the impression that adding codes to the gate only served to add 0.5 to their score, as outlined in the paintkit manual.

This referes ONLY to the codes in the scenery AFCAD.

I guess this is not the case anymore and they now function as overrides?

The override function in the GSX parking editor is quite new and, in fact, it's called "override" for a reason...

So by that logic, if I leave the field blank at all gates, I would be able to select from AirCanada, WestJet, and Swissport? Since those are the default assignments.

You cannot leave the field blank. If the program allowed to do that, it would be you want to override the parking with NO handler, which will result in problems ( a random handler, most likely )

However, I have another problem. GSX isn't letting me leave the override field empty. I'd click apply on the gate editor and call GSX services, but what would happen is the previous saved line of codes would restore itself when I call. Do I have to manually clear the codes from the airport AFCAD to prevent GSX from restoring the codes?

That's not a problem, a blank override doesn't mean anything. If you don't want to override, the codes in the scenery AFCAD will be used instead.

[normanblackburn]

Hi,

Currently at EGAA I am served by Aer Lingus for ground handling, despite them not being at the airport.  Despite running through the documentation I am unable to find where to change this, for example to Swissport or another.  Any pointers would be appreciated thnaks.

[virtuali]

Despite running through the documentation I am unable to find where to change this, for example to Swissport or another. 

GSX Manual, Page 28/29, the explanation of the "Airline Code" field in the parking customization page.

[normanblackburn]

Thanks Umberto.  Shall look when I get home.

[normanblackburn]

Despite running through the documentation I am unable to find where to change this, for example to Swissport or another. 

GSX Manual, Page 28/29, the explanation of the "Airline Code" field in the parking customization page.

Hi Umberto,

Thanks, I had already looked at that option however per the original post Aer Lingus are not at EGAA so looking where is this information read from so that it can be changed en mass please?  I would rather do it for a whole airport in one place rather than every stand / piece of equipment.

[virtuali]

Thanks, I had already looked at that option however per the original post Aer Lingus are not at EGAA so looking where is this information read from so that it can be changed en mass please?  I would rather do it for a whole airport in one place rather than every stand / piece of equipment.

[virtuali]

I would rather do it for a whole airport in one place rather than every stand / piece of equipment.

The GSX editor supports multiple selections, of course. You can select multiple parkings by CTRL+Click on the list, you can select a whole terminal, by clicking on the terminal node, and you can select the whole airport by clicking the ICAO node at the top.

When multiple parkings are selected, everything you change in the page, will by applied to all selected parkings at once, and the editor will display how many parkings will be affected.

[normanblackburn]

Fantastic thanks.  I will try that now.

[normanblackburn]

Hi Umberto,

Using the GUI sadly did not work.   I can happily enter an ICAO for an airline such as RYR or EZY but neither of those self handle.  Adding Swissport (or Menzies or Servisair) failed to work however DNATA does.

I ended up going through each and every cfg looking for the following:

EGAA (to remove from the EI airports) and entering EGAC
Swissport to add in EGAA.

Of course at the next update all my additions will be wiped.  Can you please check about adding Handling Agents in the GUI.

Thanks

[virtuali]

Using the GUI sadly did not work.

It surely works.

I can happily enter an ICAO for an airline such as RYR or EZY but neither of those self handle.

You are NOT supposed to enter an ICAO there, you must enter the operators codes only. Maybe you are being confused by my "ICAO" reference, but that was to explain that, if you CLICK the root node, which is named "ICAO", you can select the whole airport at once, and apply changes to all parkings in a single pass. That doesn't mean you have to "enter an ICAO" anywhere in the page. The ICAO used will the airport you are in.

Adding Swissport (or Menzies or Servisair) failed to work however DNATA does.

Surely because you must have used the wrong codes:

- The correct code for Swissport is _SWP

- The correct code for Menzies is Menzies

- The correct code for is _SVS

I ended up going through each and every cfg looking for the following:

Totally unnecessary, with the ability to set the airline codes in the parking editor. And, potentially very dangerous, because if you do a small mistake, the whole program might stop working.

Of course at the next update all my additions will be wiped.

Which is why you should do it in the parking editor.

Can you please check about adding Handling Agents in the GUI.

They work just fine. Of course, you must enter the proper codes.

Thanks
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