Hardware Multiple monitors

[ceauke]

Hi guys

For some reasons I cannot find the threads in this forum (which I know must exist) on how to run orbiter on multiple screens.

I get windows to display multiple desktops on the laptop screen and a secondary screen but I cannot ge the orbiter window to display graphics on the second screen.

i don't know if it's more about windows or orbiter config.

Where can I search for help with this?

 

[TSPenguin]

That is mostly a driver/directx limitation.
You can try running it in windowed mode and see if that works. Otherwise you would need to look into solutions like TripleHead2Go or ATIs Eyefinity.

You can find some information here: http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=5036

 

[dbeachy1]

Also, take a look here.

 

[Hielor]

Short answer: No. Orbiter can't display across multiple monitors.

 

[ceauke]

Hi guys

Thanks for the links so far.
now that I've read a bit etc I can rephrase my question and answer it:
Q: How can I make better use of multiple monitors in Orbiter:
A1: You can start by using external MDF. You can run orbiter in a window on the one screen and lots of MDFs on the other screen.

A2: Further what I discovered is that you cannot just assume that orbiter will 'know' what to do with multiple screens:
a) Which adaptor: Windows seems to give 3 display adaptors when I have multiple screens rather than 2. Only one of them allows graphics in a window on multiple screens.
b) How should orbiter know what to do with multiple monitors. Should it see it as one large one (this seems to be the only option when running in windowed mode). What orbinauts normally want is to have the ship dashboard on one and the eyecandy on another. But that obviously will require some recognition of multiple screens by Orbiter. (In my multidisplay in a single application window orbiter just stretches the dash to unfriendly dimensions)
c) screen resolution: My two screens are in different resolutions. Poor orbiter never had a chance to do anything fancy with all these variables.

So back to A1. Quick 'upgrade' for my in my orbiter experience is to use external MDF to make better use of multi screens. :thumbup:

 

[Messierhunter]

b) How should orbiter know what to do with multiple monitors. Should it see it as one large one (this seems to be the only option when running in windowed mode). What orbinauts normally want is to have the ship dashboard on one and the eyecandy on another. But that obviously will require some recognition of multiple screens by Orbiter. (In my multidisplay in a single application window orbiter just stretches the dash to unfriendly dimensions)

When I use multiple monitors what I usually do is set it to windowed mode and an orbiter resolution of about 1920x1525. At that resolution I can position the orbiter window such that the eye candy is on my LCD screen at 1920x1080 while the dash is on a second monitor set to "vertical spanning" running at a resolution 1024x768 (I set the dash settings on the XR2 to the 1024 setting to make it fit perfectly along with the DG-IV dash). The result is that almost all of the eye candy fits on the LCD while the dash fits on the lower monitor (with room left over on the bottom of the lower monitor, of course). A little bit of forward view is still visible on the bottom monitor between the primary and secondary HUD buttons on the XR2 (same for DG-IV I think) but generally I find it works to great effect. Technically I think it's stretching the view on the top monitor for some strange reason as if it took a 4:3 aspect ratio and expanded it to 16:9, but I can live with it. YMMV

 

[dansteph]

I have two 1280x1024 monitor set on "large desktop" in winxp parameters.
I can run Orbiter in 2048x1024 in windowed mode or 2048x768 in fullscreen (2048 is the largest that support Orbiter)

With nvidia right click on desktop choose "Nvidia" panel and set monitors to "Width desktop"

Dan

 

[Moach]

you can use a secondary to display stuff like external MFD and other dialogs... but the renderer won't stretch there... unless you got some type of voodoo going on...

if you have a triple-head setup, it should work as well, since the matrox thingy is recognized by windows as a single, very wide monitor...

but if you have a setup like mine (main and secondary) then we're stuck with using the secondary just for additional stuff - which isn't really a problem, specially when your primary is a 22'' widescreen :thumbup:

 

[Hielor]

if you have a triple-head setup, it should work as well, since the matrox thingy is recognized by windows as a single, very wide monitor...

Problem with that plan is that DX7 has a maximum horizontal resolution of something like 2800 pixels, so a TH2G wouldn't be fully utilized.

 

[Moach]

that's a shame...

however, with the new graphics clients, this shouldn't be a problem... provided you're willing to "go beta"

 

[Hielor]

well you are wrong
it can be run in multiple screens
i will share pic today

So, picture?

 

[jedidia]

Not sure if this is a violation or not, since I'm not adding relevant information. But it seemed more sensible to use an existing thread than to make a new one. If the mods would rather have me create a new thread in such cases, do tell, I'll stick to it in the future.

Anyways, my Wife retired her stoneage Mac to server status, working on the new laptop instead, so I got to inherit her monitor. Which I was very happy about, because finally I'll have a place for sticking external MFDs, spreadsheats, the Orbiter Navigator aso.

Of course it didn't work out yet. I followed the links here but have not yet been able to resolve the problem. In short, orbiter launches in windowed mode on the primary monitor, and works quite flawlessly as far as I can tell from the sound coming out of my speakers, it just doesn't display. All I get is a grey window, which of course is not fun.

It does run in fullscreen mode (it shows up on the other screen, but I could remedy that by switching the cables), but that's not very practical, since then clicking on the other screen minimises the aplication.

From what I've read, it IS possible to use Orbiter in the way I intend, so I wonder where my error lies. The video settings for windowed mode are unaltered and the same as they have always been. The two monitors are set as extended desktop. They have different resolutions and aspect ratios (pretty normal, I guess) but the same color dept. Anyone got an Idea how to remedy the situation?

 

[TSPenguin]

There are several ways of making orbiter work on a particular screen. The easiest would be to define the screen as the primary screen. This should also remedy you of a similar problem you most likely have with directshow based video players.

Depending on your system it might be possible to simply choose the other screen in the video tab of the orbiter launchpad. Usualy the two device entries have an identical name, but each one is specific for one screen.

Running orbiter in fullscreen while working on the second screen is not possible at all without additional hardware.

 

[jedidia]

This is a bit confusing... When I set my secondary monitor (i.e. secondary card exit) to primary, I suddenly have two devices to choose from in the orbiter launchpad. When I set my primary to primary, I only can choose secondary in the launchpad.

Whatever, if I set my secondary as primary, Orbiter runs... on the primary desktop (i.e. the secondary monitor), no matter which device I choose. This all wouldn't be so bad (I could simply switch the monitors) if windows wouldn't insist on displaying what is supposed to be the primary desktop on the enhanced desktop (i.e. the secondary monitor that is hanging on the primary port of the graphics card, i.e. NOT the same monitor I told it to use as primary). I hope this made sense somehow, it's rather confusing sitting in front of it already...wned:

edit: ok, I managed to convince windows to display the desktop on the now primary monitor. Everything seems to work fine now. Thanks.

 

[dbeachy1]

BTW, you can always just select "Direct3D T&L HAL" as your Orbiter device -- that always refers to your primary monitor. :thumbup:

 

[aevdokimenko]

Maximum screen resolution?

Hello,

I have Orbiter 2010-P1 running with TH2G. But no, it cannot be run when monitors set at maximum resolution.

Since there were two different answers,

2048 is the largest that support Orbiter

and

Problem with that plan is that DX7 has a maximum horizontal resolution of something like 2800 pixels, so a TH2G wouldn't be fully utilized.

I'm wondering what is the "official" maximum screen resolution?

Also, is there a way to overcome the limitation?

Thanks!

 

[dbeachy1]

It's a DirectX 7 limitation, so the only potential way around it would be to use one of the other graphics clients, such as DX9 or OGLA. They're still in development, however.

 

[orb]

I'm wondering what is the "official" maximum screen resolution?

Also, is there a way to overcome the limitation?

Thanks!

Here are answers to your questions.

 

[aevdokimenko]

Thanks!

 

[jedidia]

Just for information of everyone who might not be aware of it: Windows 7 CAN display the main Orbiter Window over several monitors when you run it in Windowed mode.