What is HawgTouch?
HawgTouch is a light-weight software which enables external panels/gauges for your A-10 simming experience.

Starting out as only plain MFCD frames, with the help of this community, HawgTouch grew more and more to support better features.

Version 1.3 is the biggest update of HawgTouch to date. With features like data export and vector-drawn gauges, HawgTouch brings you closer to the real thing. Try it out and see for yourself.

Version 1.3 features
Here are some of the key features brought by HawgTouch 1.3:

* Rotary Switches with customizable positions & keystrokes
* 2 & 3 State Switches now support default start position
* Notepad tab for all your mission relevant data
* Data import from DCS-A10.
* ClickButton control expanded to support events from the simulator. Check the supplied NMSP control (thanks paulrkiii) by loading the 1.3 Features.xml profile
* 10 unique gauges, including Fuel Gauge, Flaps Indicator, VVI (Variometer), Engine Temperature, Oil Pressure and more! Check out the 1.3 Features.xml profile to see them all!
* Resize the gauges at your will. These vector-drawn gauges can be scaled to any size and retain full detail.
* Brand spankin' new look!


There is plenty more in this version! Check it out for yourself!

Gauge Pack
All gauges in HawgTouch are provided in a separate module called HawgTouch.GaugePack.dll. The reason these modules are separated is to allow independent maintenance.

HawgTouch Gauge Pack contains 10 gauges


Flaps Indicator Gauge
Variometer (VVI)
Fuel Gauge
Engine Fan RPM
Engine Fuel Flow
Engine Temperature
Engine Oil Pressure
Engine RPM
APU RPM Gauge
APU Exhaust Gas Temperature Gauge


Adding gauges to current profiles is very easy.

Here is a simple gauge definition in the XML:
<Gauge>
<Name>FUEL</Name>
<Type>HawgTouch.GaugePack.Gauges.A10FuelGauge</Type>
<DataImportID>GAUGE_FUEL</DataImportID>
<SizePercent>50</SizePercent>
<Y>0</Y>
<X>420</X>
</Gauge>

For available types of gauges, take a look inside the provided profile 1.3 Features.xml.

Notice here the SizePercent property is now independent to the gauge itself. The default gauges size is 400x400, this parameter is percentage. So 50 would cause the gauge to be drawn in the size of 200x200.


Data Export
HawgTouch now supports data import from the simulator straight into HawgTouch. This allows better interactivity between the simulator and the program.

The provided NMSP control (graphics by paulrkiii) demonstrates exactly how data export works.

FULL LIST OF SUPPORTED EVENTS

HawgTouch data export is enabled by a single click. Notice that it will back up your current Export.lua file.

You can disable data export at any time.


Important Stuff
SUPPORTED KEY SHORTCUTS LIST
OLD HAWGTOUCH THREAD WITH KEY INFORMATION


Download
HawgTouch 1.3 requires Microsoft .NET 4.0 to be installed!
Download .NET 4.0

HawgTouch 1.3 with Gauge Pack [1.3MB] [Download]

HawgTouch 1.3 [1.2MB] [Download]

Gauge Pack [116KB] [Download]


Extract anywhere and run! If you are adding the gauge pack later, check the instructions provided in the zip file!


I hope you enjoy HawgTouch as much as I had fun making it!

Looks good, thanks! I'll try this out later. Wonder how it "competes" with Helios.

helios is a bit more complete but its $70 + $20 for gauges. I think Hawg touch will give helios a run for its money very soon.

great work clear dark

I should be getting my 7" touchscreen delivered in the next couple of days, I can't wait to try this out!

For us newbies is there anyone preparing a dummies guide on how to use this program?

Also, does it have to be run in windows mode or can you use full screen?

I'm working on extensive documentation on how to use HawgTouch. But it will take some time.

To make things easier, The application comes with 2 demo profiles which show ALL of HawgTouch capabilities. It involves some XML editing and isn't to complex to understand once you get your hands dirty. This method will have to do until I complete the profile editor.

I am willing to help anyone who wishes to create profiles to HawgTouch with any question they might have. I'm providing full tech support over at the ED forums and I don't mind doing it here as well. Any question, suggestion or tip you might have is welcome and will be answered promptly.

You can run HawgTouch while running DCS-A10 in full screen mode as long as you dont export the MFCDs. If you do, DCS-A10 requires you to run in Windowed mode and this enforcement is beyond HawgTouch scope.

Cleardog

I liked your answer. My computer is too old to use window mode and full screen is OK. What I did for the MFD's is that I have them on the lower right and left of my 20" main monitor and to save FPS, I turned of the MFD's in the cockpit. This seems to work OK for me. I found this method on the ED forum and with some help I actually got it to work with decent FPS.

Now that you tell me that this program can run on a second monitor (sans MFDs), that is fine with me. I can leave the MFD's on my main monitor in full screen and put some of the gauges on my second monitor. So I will eagerly await your bible of info unless you can be me a quick summary of how to do it in full screen without the MFDs.

thanks

To get started easily:

1. Download HawgTouch with Gauge Pack and run it
2. Enable Data Export from the main window
3. Select 1.3 Features.xml profile and load it
4. Once the profile is loaded, select the Gauges tab
5. Move the window around by click and holding the most left button at the top. Drag it to the desired location on your 2nd monitor.
6. Click the x button to see the exact panel coordinates and save them
7. Close HawgTouch and open 1.3 Features.xml in notepad
8. Hit CTRL+F in notepad and search for "1.3 Gauges" without the quotes
9. Under the <PanleImage> tag there will be <X> and <Y> tags. Type the relevant data that you saved earlier here and save the profile.
10. Start HawgTouch and run the 1.3 Features profile
11. Start DCS-A10C and enjoy the ride!

This quick start guide also sets the starting location of the panel to your liking without moving it around every time you load the profile. If you are eager to hop in and test you can skip steps 6 to 9.

Hope this helps

Cleardark, thank you thank you thank you....Hawgtouch and a cheap touchscreen kit of ebay have turned the A10 experience from really very good to totally amazing. All I have is the UFC profile running below my two TM MFD panels on a second screen and it makes the whole thing fantastically immersive. Now with the gauges and the potential to have them running on a second networked PC, I can pretty much keep my hands and eyes free of the keyboard.

Highly recommended guys, cant praise CD's work enough.



but.....:-)....I cant get HawgT' to run on either my Windows 7 second PC or on my Vista Laptop. both present with the same error when I click the exe "hawgtouch has stopped working" tried with admin rights in both cases. it does work really well on my main Vista premium PC so this is only a minor gripe mate (Well not a gripe really as i have no doubt Im doing something wrong) Any ideas ?

Edit re touch screen kit it was £30 from Hong Kong and after 20 minutes of popping screws and a bit of double sided tape, best 30 quid (48 bucks at todays US dollar rate) I spent for a long time. Software link ws e-mailed by the vendor and is quite a neat little package that includes Multi monitor support.

Answered your query on the ED forums Enjoy HT!

He's only fixed it folks ! Great thanks for your help mate

Nick

Any youtube vids or similar of this in action?

Thanks for the link. Looks very smart.