PC App to Create/Mod Gauge Layouts?

[Mikla]

Is there such an app? If not, is the data available that would allow someone to make one? If I knew the file structure and had a list of all the associated parameters, I could probably throw something together and make it available.

Doing it while sitting in the Jeep is a PITA.

[mikel]

no, it has to be done in the tool....thats how I make the preloaded layouts

[gizmodo]

<--- Would be willing to write the program.

[mikel]

I honeslty dont know that it could even be done in windows...

[mikel]

biggest issue being there is no way to cache a giant list of 100s of pids for every supported vehicle, so you'd have no way to know what PIDs you have available or which ones would work for your PCM.

[Mikla]

Why would you have to cache the data? Couldn't it just be in a big database that is either a flat file associated with the app or a real rational database?

The database included things like:
Year, Make, Model, Option, Engine, PID, PID Description, Units

It wold be a little more complex than that, but I think it would work. If you want to force the user to have an internet connection, you could have it ping an online database for the info.

Pretty positive you would get several folks trying to write something for free... I see gizmodo put his hand up...

Just a thought...

biggest issue being there is no way to cache a giant list of 100s of pids for every supported vehicle, so you'd have no way to know what PIDs you have available or which ones would work for your PCM.

[Mike_Levy]

I've been asking for this for years. MSD had it with the DashHawk, so its definitely possible.

[Mikla]

All I need is the format of the TDS file (at least I think that is the gauge file). It is complicated somewhat since it seems to encrypted. But there has to be a document somewhere...

[gizmodo]

TDS files appear to be XML. It really wouldn't be that tough, but I can see where DS may not want to give the PID database out. If a decision is made though I'd be happy to do the coding.

[sota]

guess the question is, what's the worst that can happen if you create a layout with a PID that's unsupported for the platform being used? short of it letting the Magic Smoke out of the tool can it really do anything evil? given an xls table with the needed info bits even I could cobble something together (i've done far worse for phones and their contact lists!)