XPlaneCDU 1.4

XPlaneCDU is a remote control interface designed for interacting with the Control Display Unit (CDU) within X-Plane 11 simulators. The purpose of this application is to facilitate CDU control through Android-based devices, specifically tablets and phones. It is important to note that XPlaneCDU does not include a Flight Management System (FMS); rather, it serves as a mechanism to manage the existing CDU functionality. Presently, it is compatible with the Zibo Boeing 737 and SSG 747 aircraft models.

When considering the prerequisites for XPlaneCDU, it is imperative to fulfill the following requirements:

• X-Plane 11 installation
• Acquisition of the ExtPlane v2 plugin from http://waynepiekarski.net/extplane, including the subsequent extraction and placement of the directory within Resources/Plugins
• Presence of either Zibo's Boeing 738 or SSG's Boeing 748 aircraft
• Configuration of TCP port 51000 in the Windows firewall settings for ExtPlane operations
• Activation of multicast support within your network environment for automated detection processes

XPlaneCDU includes an automatic detection feature for your X-Plane simulation instance under the assumption that multicast functionality is operational. Certain routers may encounter challenges with proper multicast support. In such cases, manual configuration of the X-Plane hostname or IP address can be adjusted by selecting either the connection text or CDU screen.

The ExtPlane v2 plugin must be installed within the Resources/plugins directory of your X-Plane 11 installation. This plugin integrates port 51000 for external control capabilities. To prevent interruptions, ensure that the Windows firewall does not obstruct this port. It is crucial to obtain the ExtPlane v2 binaries from http://waynepiekarski.net/extplane, as exclusive utilization of the original ExtPlane v1 plugin is discouraged due to known issues related to string datarefs.

Notably, this application operates under an open-source framework and conforms to the GNU Public License version 3 (GPLv3). Detailed information and access to the source code are accessible through https://github.com/waynepiekarski/XPlaneCDU. Developed using Kotlin programming, XPlaneCDU serves as a functional illustration showcasing techniques for implementing intricate screen layouts across various device sizes. The plugin's source code can be found at https://github.com/waynepiekarski/ExtPlane, derived from its original counterpart located at https://github.com/vranki/ExtPlane (licensed under GPLv3).

Potential integration with alternative aircraft models via XPlaneCDU necessitates accessible datarefs for CDU text strings. It should be acknowledged that default X-Plane 737 aircraft lack this support, while other payware options exhibit non-standard dataref implementation. While compatibility with Flight Factor 757/767 aircraft seems plausible, these models already offer a web-based CDU solution.

I welcome any feedback concerning encountered challenges or issues with XPlaneCDU. Address bug reports via the GitHub repository available at https://github.com/waynepiekarski/XPlaneCDU.

A crucial reminder: Extract the plugin from http://waynepiekarski.net/extplane into your Resources/plugins directory and verify that TCP port 51000 remains unblocked by the Windows firewall.