OpusFSI Release Version 5.22.5 Available

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Beta Version 4.43.6 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI_v443_Beta.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogues. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

Modified GRIB download software to accommodate changes at the NOAA site and also to check for more historic GRIB data cycles.

Regards
Stephen

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSX Beta Version 3.52.1 and an updated OpusFSI Beta Version 4.43.6 are now available for download on our website.

Modified GRIB download software to accommodate changes at the NOAA site and also to check for the most recent GRIB data cycle over the past 7 days. This is a re-posting of the previous beta to extend the GRIB download checks to 7 days, necessary due to the current maintenance at the NOAA site.

Regards
Stephen :smile:

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Beta Version 4.43.7 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI_v443_Beta.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogues. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

GRIB data extraction has been modified to accommodate all non-specific and incomplete GRIB cycle data allowing additional data download server options and data access methods to be used.

The FSISERVER program will now accept a FULLGRIB command line argument. When used it will force the Live Weather Engine (LWE) to download the full GRIB data cycle data from the appropriate NOAA server and extract all relevant forecast data from the downloaded file. The full GRIB data file is typically five times the size of the file used in selective update requests but is available via a different NOAA server so can be used at times when the Usual server is undergoing maintenance.

You can add the program arguments in any order, for example you can run the FSISERVER.EXE program as follows,

FSISERVER.EXE FSX FULLGRIB

or,

FSISERVER.EXE FULLGRIB FSX

Regards
Stephen

P.S.

We are also considering automatically downloading the FULL GRIB data file at times when no GRIB file is available for the previous X hours (typically 48 hours) via the normal 'query' server.

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Release Version 4.43.8 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogs. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

Release version.

The GRIB download will now automatically revert to downloading the FULL GRIB data file if the selective download from the 'Query' server fails to download any cycle data for the previous 24 hour period. This mode of operation can still be overridden using the FULLGRIB command line argument.

Due to the time it takes to download the full sized GRIB data file, the downloaded GRIB data will now be deemed still valid if the forecast cycle is less than 12.5 hours old, previously this was set to 9.5 hours.

The message box warning of an invalid sim folder configuration is now displayed after the FSISERVER form has been displayed. The FSISERVER Configure dialog has been changed to recommend the OpusPDK Interface on Prepar3D systems and also include a Help button to display the OpusPDK Setup Guide.

Regards
Stephen

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Beta Version 4.44.1 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI_v444_Beta.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogues. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

Extra ambient temperature targets and Dynamic Wind Control have been added to model the typical conditions within the Tropopause Boundary Layer up to 20km altitude, and all Stratospheric Levels above that up to 50km altitude. The Opus Dynamic Wind Control (DWC) requires FSUIPC4 to be installed and will only model the typical wind speeds above FL440.

All on-screen weather reports have been modified to show the new temperature and wind targets when above 44000 feet altitude. The OpusWeatherReport.txt (GRIB) report file in the OpusFSI\Weather folder has been amended to show the temperature and wind targets for both the top of the Tropopause (65,600 feet) and the top of the Stratosphere (164,000 feet). The Sim Friendly options are now automatically reset when a Cruise Altitude between 4000 and 12000 feet has been specified.

 

We have modified turbulence strength to increase low level turbulence in windy or gusty conditions and also take into account the Less and More Turbulence options in the user's DHM settings. The DHM Bump Aircraft has been re-enabled for non-Prepar3D systems (people are advised to use this with caution and it is still recommended to use the coordinated 'in sim' turbulence and wind shear data).

Prepar3D systems using the OpusPDK Interface will now perform a smooth camera transition from the current eye point position when either changing or resetting a Live Camera view.

 

Corrected a problem with camera editing when scrolling back and forward and using OK to submit changes to a view.

 

Regards
Stephen

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Beta Version 4.45.1 is now available for download on our website.

 

Remember when installing the OpusFSI_v445_Beta.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogues. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

 

Global Weather Themes (First Phase) ...

 

The Weather dialog has been modified to include a Global Weather Theme section. The OpusFSI Global Weather Themes can be used to save the current global weather (METARs and GRIB forecast data) for the Zulu time specified when saving a user specified global theme. Each global theme consists of two files, a text file containing the world's current METAR reports and a data file containing the world's current GRIB forecast data.

 

Global Weather Themes can only be saved after the weather has been Updated in the simulator by the Live Weather Engine and can only be loaded and used by the OpusFSI Live Weather Engine. All global theme files are stored in the \OpusFSI\Weather\Themes folder. Prior to saving a global theme the user is required to confirm or adjust the current Zulu time in HH:MM format. Options are provided to reset the time to reflect the current Zulu time in either the Simulator or the Computer. This time can also be adjusted by the user prior to saving the Global Weather Theme data.

 

Global Weather Themes can be loaded by first ticking the 'Enable Global Weather Theme' option in the Weather dialog, the theme filename box will then change to a green colour, then entering or identifying the required theme filename (no path or extension required), and finally clicking on the 'Update Weather' button in the usual manner.

 

Alternatively global themes can be loaded via the simulator's Addon menu. First select the Load Global Weather Theme option within the Live Weather menu. The displayed window will provide a directory of all Global Weather Theme filenames along with their saved Zulu date and time. Use the 'Display Previous' and 'Display Next' options to navigate the pages. Click on the required filename to load the global weather and perform a weather update.

 

Regards

Stephen

 

N.B.

 

The current Beta does not save or load the GRIB forecast data, the current GRIB forecast will be used when the Global Weather Theme file is loaded.

 

Oculus Rift continues in Alpha testing mode which is now suspended until we receive our Development DK2 device.

 

[Opus Software 84]

The term Global (World) Weather Theme in the above case meaning that the whole world's current METARs are saved, so when you reload them at a later stage you will be able to use the Live Weather Engine to fly anywhere in the world !

 

You can move your aircraft to any airport, anywhere on the globe, and the LWE will be able to construct its 800 x 800 weather map using the saved 'worldwide weather' data. Once we add the GRIB forecast data then the whole world will be covered, all surface conditions and all meteorological parameters from the ground up to 50km altitude (the top of the Stratosphere).

 

The LWE will use this saved data to extract all METARs and GRIB forecast data necessary to construct its localised weather map. So you can fly anywhere in the world using the world wide (global) weather that was saved at that historic moment in time.

 

in the next Beta these will be called World Weather Themes just in case users confuse the Global term thinking it's the same weather everywhere, as in our use of a GLOB METAR when Importing. We decided not to use the word Static in case they were confused with the very limited simulator's own Static themes.

 

Stephen :-)

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Beta Version 4.45.2 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI_v445_Beta.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogues. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

The Enable Low Level GRIB Data and Stabilised GRIB Data options have now been removed from the Weather Downloads dialog and are now assumed TRUE and FALSE respectively.

The Include Wing Flex Data option has now been removed from the Weather Preferences dialog and now has an assumed setting of TRUE.

World Weather Themes (includes GRIB data) ...

Previous Global Weather Themes are now referred to as World Weather Themes.

The GRIB forecast data has now been added to the world Weather Themes, saved in a separate data file. A typical World Weather Theme will now consist of two files (provided the GRIB Data option is enabled). The worlds METARs stored in a text file, typically 375Kb in size, and the worlds GRIB forecast data stored in a data file 9.25Mb in size.

Warning - The World Weather Theme's GRIB data file is needed. Without it you will not get any GRIB data loaded into the Live Weather Engine. Previous saved World Weather Themes should now be deleted as they will now longer provide GRIB forecast data.

Regards
Stephen

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Beta Version 4.45.3 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI_v445_Beta.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogues. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

The Include Wing Flex Data option has been put back in by request.

If a World Weather Theme does not include any GRIB forecast data (i.e. the theme's data file is missing) then the Download GRIB Forecast Data option in the Weather Downloads dialog will determine whether the current GRIB data cycle should be downloaded and used.

Both Import METARs From File and Enable World Weather Theme options are validated prior to updating or refreshing the weather. The options are automatically turned OFF if no valid file has been specified.

Loading a World Weather Theme via the Addon menu will automatically display the Weather Report menu ready for the user to check the loaded theme weather and GRIB forecast data prior to flight.

The LWE now saves the previous downloaded GRIB forecast data files so that reverting back to current data after loading a World Weather Theme will not result in a repeated lengthy GRIB data download.

A GRIB Data Validity Period option has been added to the Weather Downloads dialog to allow users to specify the assumed validity period for their downloaded GRIB cycle data. Each GRIB cycle contains 15 days of forecast data. The validity period can be adjusted between 12 hours and 240 hours in increments of 3 hours. Recommended setting is 18 or 24 hours.

Regards
Stephen

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Release Version 4.45.3 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogs. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

Release version.

Regards
Stephen

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Release Version 4.46.0 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogs. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

Release version.

The on-screen Upper Atmosphere Weather Report is now forced onto the screen at the start of a GRIB data download whenever either of the Lower or Upper reports are not on the display. This automatic measure forces the user to monitor the progress of the GRIB or FULL GRIB data download and prevents users from thinking something is wrong. Once the download is in progress the progress report also displays the estimated percentage complete.

Regards
Stephen

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Beta Version 4.47.0 is now available for download on our website.

 

Remember when installing the OpusFSI_v447_Beta.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogues. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

 

Accesses the New NOAA GRIB Query Server to greatly reduce GRIB forecast data download times. Querying the new GRIB server results in typical GRIB data file sizes of only 4.1Mb, compared with the typical FULL GRIB data file size of about 19.3Mb.

 

Regards

Stephen :-)

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Beta Version 4.47.1 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI_v447_Beta.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogues. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

A Save World Weather Theme option has been added to the Live Weather Addon menu. This option can be used to save the current 'active' weather into a World Weather Theme file named WWT_yyyymmdd_hhmm. If historic weather is loaded then the simulator's current Zulu time will be assume, otherwise the LWE will download the current real-world Zulu time over the Internet, defaulting to the computer's current Zulu time on failure.

World Weather Themes cannot be saved before the weather has been generated, nor can they be saved when either of the 'Import METAR Data From File' or 'Enable World Weather Themes' options are ticked.

Regards
Stephen

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Release Version 4.47.3 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogs. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

Release version.

 

The Less Turbulence option in the DHM dialog now reduces the strength of all wind related turbulence.

Corrected a problem effecting weather generation in the middle of ocean expanses.

Regards
Stephen

[Opus Software 84]

OpusFSI Beta Version 4.48.0 is now available for download on our website.

Remember when installing the OpusFSI_v447_Beta.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSI installation folder). After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogues. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

Corrected a problem with the 6DOF and zoom controls when the new OpusPDK Interface is employed, the 6DOF control was inoperative on Live View client systems. Improved the consistency of coarse and fine zoom adjustments during all camera transitions to account for varying fine zoom offsets.

The current mode of operation within the Weather dialog is now highlighted by turning the Import or World Weather boxes green to indicate active. The Adjust Sim Friendly Option is no longer set by default in the Weather dialog, and the Scan Import File frequency is now set to 3600 seconds.

A Weather Relocation option has been added to the Weather dialog consisting of an enable checkbox and separate FROM and TO textboxes for the user specified aerodrome ICAO codes. When enabled, all weather will be relocated or offset in latitude and longitude to move or relocate the weather using the specified FROM and TO locations. The ICAO code for either the point of departure or the destination would typically be specified in the TO box. To aid entry, an empty TO box will automatically be filled in with the nearest aerodrome details whenever the FROM box is edited.

The Local, Lower, Upper, Destination, and all Alternate on-screen weather reports have been modified to identify relevant aerodrome (either the nearest, or the destination/alternate aerodrome). These reports also show the correct weather at the location even when the weather has been relocated.

The on-screen Flight Plan En-Route weather reports and generated flight plan text and report files are currently disabled in Weather Relocation mode.

The Enable Cloud Associations option has been re-introduced within the Weather Preferences dialog for users who may wish to minimise the generated cloud layers. The default condition is enabled (ticked).

Improved surface elevation checks during weather generation including in Weather Relocation mode.

Regards
Stephen