TransX Keyboard and Mouse Interface

You can start TransX either from the Orbiter MFD menu, if you're using a panel, or by calling it up using its keyboard shortcut, which is Shift-J .

The picture on the left shows the button menu of the TransX MFD. There are twelve buttons, and each of them has a keyboard equivalent

FN -(Sh-F) - Select Function

This switches between the three functions that the TransX MFD possesses. These functions are Eject, Cruise, and Orbit Eject. I will cover these functions in detail later. Because switching between Functions effectively resets the MFD, TransX will sometimes ask you to confirm a reset before allowing you to change functions. This prevents you changing function unintentionally.

VW (Sh-W) - Select View

Each function has a number of different views which each show different aspects of the manoevre that you're currently engaged in. This button cycles through these different views.

MAJ (Sh-R) - Set Major body

The Major body is always the big, heavy body that lies at the centre of your area of interest. If you're planning an Interplanetary trip, it'll be the Sun, but if you're navigating between moons, you should set it to be the planet the moons orbit around. TransX autoselects the most gravitationally dominant body to be the major body, but you can always change it to something else. Selecting a major body automatically resets the Minor and Target bodies (see below)

MIN (Sh-M) - Set Minor body

The Minor body is always smaller and lighter than the Major body, and orbits around it. It is usually the body that your spacecraft is currently either landed on, or orbiting. It's usually your departure point. You do not have to set a minor body.

TGT (Sh-T) - Select Target body

The target body is also a body that orbits the major body. This is usually the place you want to go to. However, you do not have to set a target body.

NT (Sh-N) - No Target

This, as it says, unsets the target body.

VAR (Sh-V) - Next Variable

Each TransX function has its own set of variables that comes with it. There are currently up to eleven of them in a single function - future upgrades could add even more. Each view has a set of variables that is assigned to it which you can cycle through. This button cycles through the variables, which are always shown on the right hand side of the MFD screen.

-VR (Sh-B) - Prev. Variable

This button runs through the same set of variables in the opposite direction.

ADJ (Sh-J) Set adjustment method

This button, where applicable changes the adjustment sensitivity of the current variable.

++ (Sh - +) Increment variable

This button, when pressed, causes the numerical value of a variable to increase. You can press and hold the button in many cases to cause the number to rise continuously. If the variable is not numeric, this button will still change the variable's value. The size of the change in value can be reduced by adjusting the sensitivity with the ADJ (Sh-J) button.

-- ( Sh - _) Decrement variable

This button allows you to adjust the variable in the opposite direction.For non-numeric variables, it does the same thing as the increment button.

RST (Sh-X) Reset

This button returns all the variables for a function to their default values.

Visual conventions in TransX

A thick green line is the path of your craft. This is where TransX thinks you will go if you do nothing.
A thin green line is the path of some other body - probably a planet.
A yellow orbit is a hypothetical orbit. This is an orbit that you have specified using variables, and may perhaps choose to manoevre your craft into.
A yellow line marks a place where you either plan to carry out a manoevre, or the places where you and your current target come closest together.
A grey line marks the place where two orbital planes cross one another. This intersection is often a useful place to carry out certain manoevres.
A grey circle represents the surface of a planet.

 

Next: The eject function

Orbiter Mars - (C) Duncan Sharpe 2003