====== LVAR Support Installation ======

===== General =====

To support LVAR access from within SPAD.neXt it is necessary to install the SPAD.neXt Bridge into the Simulator. 
The bridge will allow SPAD.neXt to query LVAR and set values. However it might be possible that an LVAR change is not being picked up by the simulator, because it is a read-only value.

===== Prerequisites =====

==== C++ 2013 Redistributable ====

To function correctly the LVAR bridge requires the [[https://www.fsgs.com/download/vcredist_x86.exe|Microsoft Visual Studio C++ 2013 redistributables]] to be installed on the computer running the simulator.
You will need to have the x86 version installed. 
If you installed SPAD.neXt using the installer, it will be installed automatically for you, if necessary.

==== SimConnect 10.0.61259.0 ====

To communicate with the simulator internally the LVAR bridge uses SimConnect version 10.0.61259.0.
Even if you are running Prepar3D you will need to install this SimConnect version. 
You can grab the [[http://www.fsgs.com/download/SimConnect.zip|installation files]] and follow the readme to install it on the simulator computer.

===== Manual Installation =====

Generally the installation should be done by the configuration wizard, but if necessary you can also done by manually

==== Simulator and SPAD.neXt on same computer ====

  * Open the windows explorer and navigate to the SPAD.neXt installation folder ( ''C:\Program Files\SPAD.neXt'' by default )
  * now navigate into the sub-folder ''simmodule''
  * Click into the address-line , mark the whole line and copy it to the clipboard (''CTRL-C'')
  * To ease up thing, you should now paste the text from the clipboard into a temporary textfile/notepad, so you can pick it up later again.

==== Simulator and SPAD.neXt on different computers ====
  * On the client open the windows explorer and navigate to the SPAD.neXt installation folder ( ''C:\Program Files\SPAD.neXt'' by default )
  * now navigate into the sub-folder ''simmodule''
  * Copy the file //SPDBridge.dll// to the server ( computer running the simulator ) to a place of your convenience. e.g. ''Simulator maindir\Modules''
  * remember the path where you copied it for later use.
<alert danger>If the bridge is updated by a SPAD.neXt update, you will have to update your copy on the server manually!</alert>

===== Configuring dll.xml =====

  * In the address-line of the windows explorer enter ''%APPDATA%'' and hit enter

FSX
  * Navigate to the sub-folder **Microsoft\FSX**

FSX:SE
  * Navigate to the sub-folder **Microsoft\FSX-SE**

Prepar3D v2
  * Navigate to the sub-folder **Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v2**

Prepar3D v3
  * Navigate to the sub-folder **Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v3**

  * if there is no file ''dll.xml'' in this directory skip the next steps and continue here: [[lvar_support_installation#new_dllxml|New dll.xml]]

==== Dll.xml exists ====

  * First make a backup-copy of the file ''dll.xml''. Copy it (''CTRL-C CTRL-V'') and rename the copy as "//dll.xml.BEFORE_SPAD_NEXT//"
  * Now open the file ''dll.xml'' in any text editor (notepad preferably, but not word or wordpad!)
  * Scroll to the end of the file, and look for the text ''</SimBase.Document>''
  * insert the following snippet into the text just before the located text:
<code>
    <Launch.Addon>
        <Name>SPAD.neXt Bridge</Name>
        <Disabled>False</Disabled>
        <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
        <Path>YOUR_LOCATION_HERE\SPDBridge.dll</Path>
    </Launch.Addon>
</code>
  * Replace the text "**YOUR_LOCATION_HERE**" with the text you copied from the address-line earlier.
  * the result should look like this (your path exchanged of course): 
<code>
    <Launch.Addon>
        <Name>SPAD.neXt Bridge</Name>
        <Disabled>False</Disabled>
        <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
        <Path>C:\Program Files\SPAD.neXt\simmodule\SPDBridge.dll</Path>
    </Launch.Addon>
 </SimBase.Document>
</code>
  * save the file.
  * Restart your simulator, load an aircraft, and confirm that in the Addons-menu you have an entry "//SPAD.neXt//" now.

==== New dll.xml ====

  * If the file ''dll.xml'' does not exist, create a new textfile with the following content:
<code>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?>
<SimBase.Document Type="Launch" version="1,0">
  <Descr>Launch</Descr>
  <Filename>dll.xml</Filename>
  <Disabled>False</Disabled>
  <Launch.ManualLoad>False</Launch.ManualLoad>
  <Launch.Addon>
        <Name>SPAD.neXt Bridge</Name>
        <Disabled>False</Disabled>
        <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
        <Path>YOUR_LOCATION_HERE\SPDBridge.dll</Path>
  </Launch.Addon>
</SimBase.Document>
</code>

  * save the file.
  * Restart your simulator, load an aircraft, and confirm that in the Addons-menu you have an entry "//SPAD.neXt//" now.