This tutorial is designed to help a novice user install any panel into Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 or Microsoft Flight Simulator X. The reader is expected to have a basic understanding of files and folders within the Windows operating system and a basic understanding of file compression programs that are commonly used to package panel files. This tutorial will cover the basics of installing panels, the structure of the panel file, and what is needed to have a fully functioning add-on panel.

SimAirline.net provides several panels that can be downloaded from each virtual airline's Fleet page. These panels are then installed into an existing aircraft and used to complete the flights from each virtual airline's schedule. This makes it possible to use a more realistic panel for each aircraft you fly.

Installing Panels into Flight Simulator
For the purposes of this tutorial, it is assumed that you have already downloaded the correct panel and are ready to install it. I will use the 757/767 Panel (low detail) by Ken Mitchell for this tutorial.

Note: This tutorial does not cover the directory structure of Flight Simulator add-on aircraft and panels. Please make sure you have read the Aircraft Installation Tutorial before attempting to install a panel.

The Panel Folder
Every aircraft must have some sort of panel or you would have no instruments or flight controls with which to fly it. The panel folder must contain a panel.cfg, which is the panel configuration file. If the aircraft has its own panel then those additional files should also be included in this folder. It is important to note that some aircraft will use a panel from some other aircraft, and if that is the case the panel.cfg will have what is called an "alias" to the panel that will be used for the aircraft. For example, if you installed an add-on 747 and wanted to use the default 747-400 panel from Microsoft, you could install your aircraft and edit your panel.cfg in Notepad so that it contained only the following:

[fltsim]
alias=b747_400

This configures your aircraft to use the panel that the aircraft installed in the b737_400 directory does.

Most panels will come with their own files, which normally include images that make up the panel views and the gauges that will display within the panel. Custom gauges are not required, as most panels will use a combination of custom gauges and default gauges, but if your panel does use custom gauges then the panel developer should include them and give you instructions on how to use them.

The Gauges Folder
Flight Simulator stores all of the files used for Gauges in the following directory:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9 [or Flight Simulator X]\Gauges

Gauges have a .gau extension, and most gauges will reside in this folder, regardless of what panel they are used for. This is so that only one standard path is used for gauges, and panel developers don't have to worry about gauges scattered all over your computer in unknown places. If your panel includes custom gauges, then they will normally be included in a gauges folder within the panel download. If you install the panel but fail to install the gauges, you will likely have a blank spot where a gauge should be on your panel, or worse, the panel won't load at all.

Installing the Panel
Always back up your existing panel folder in case something goes wrong. You can rename your existing panel folder to panel.old and then simply rename it back if you want to restore your original panel. Now that you know the file structure for a panel and where everything should go, you can begin installing the panel.

If you open the file “panel_757_767low.zip,” you can see that it contains two folders, a panel folder and a gauges folder. This panel contains all the files you need for your panel as well as the custom gauges discussed in the previous section. All you need to do is put the files in the right places.

Note: Before you start though it is always a good idea to look for a readme.txt file or other text file that is included by the author. This will contain important information on how to install the panel into the simulator.

Using what you have learned above, move the panel folder into the appropriate aircraft folder, and the gauges into the Gauges folder. The aircraft you choose to move it to is important, as you must make sure the panel is installed into the right aircraft. If you’ve read the Aircraft Installation Tutorial, you should already be experienced at installing aircraft and know exactly which aircraft folder you need to choose.

Testing
To make sure your panel works, start your Flight Simulator and select the aircraft that you just installed the panel for. Once the aircraft is loaded, you should see your new panel and should also hear the engines (if you start your aircraft with the engines running). Make sure all of the gauges are present and appear to operate as they should. It may take a flight or two before you're sure that all of the gauges are functioning properly. 

If no panel displays, then you've done something wrong and you should make sure your aircraft has a panel folder and the panel.cfg does not have an alias to some other folder. Make sure that the required panel files are in the panel folder. Panel files will be bitmap images of an aircraft panel but will contain no gauges. They should have a .bmp extension and can be viewed with any picture viewer.

If the panel displays but some gauges are missing, then you've probably forgotten to copy the gauges to the Gauges folder, or you put them in the wrong place. The example panel has several different custom gauges, and it will not work without them.

Conclusion
You should now be able to install add-on panels with relative ease. If you’re having problems with a particular panel, you can usually narrow the problem down to a specific area by simply knowing what all of the required pieces are. If you follow this tutorial and are still having problems with a particular panel, please contact the appropriate Virtual Airline Manager or one of our Panels Managers, and they should be able to assist you. If you have done the testing that is in this tutorial, then they should be able to assist you much more easily if you let them know the results of your tests.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions about this tutorial, please ask on our Message Boards.

This tutorial was originally written by Don Geddes.