[TG] [TG11] Creating custom data pages on Lighthouse 2 and Lighthouse 3 MFDs

[Tom - Raymarine - Moderator]

WORK IN PROGRESS

It is a little-known but pretty cool feature of Raymarine's recent LH2 and LH3 MFDs that it's possible to create custom data pages to display any data that the MFD has available in a very flexible way.

This capability was originally created for our Digital Switching vessel-automation projects, but can in fact be used by anyone, whether you have a digital switching system or not.

ATTENTION DIGITAL SWITCHING USERS: Do not follow this process under any circumstances.
If you upload new custom graphics you will overwrite your existing Digital Switching graphical configuration, possibly meaning that you can no longer monitor or control your vessel's systems!

NOTE THAT THIS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK and Raymarine cannot create these custom pages for you or offer detailed support for the process.

This is considered a power-user capability and although it can be very powerful, it's not an officially supported feature that we are able to provide the normal backup for.

The process

1. Download, install and run Empirbus Graphic (go to Configuration > Empirbus Graphic)
2. From the same page, download the Empirbus Graphic Manual for future reference
3. Start a new project
4. Import the attached (blank) .EBP project file
5. Configure the Width and Height of your MFD's screen, referring to the table of resolutions in the manual above.
6. Press Data Item to add the data you're interested in. For Instanced data types, remember to select the correct instance number (Primary Instance.) Add as many data items as you like. Freely add custom graphics and text boxes.
7. Save your configuration as an RMDS .zip file.
8. For Lighthouse 2 MFDs, simply copy the RMDS file to a MicroSD card and import via Home > Setup > System Settings > External Devices > Switch Panel Setup > Install Config File.
9. On LH2 MFDs, create a new page shortcut to the Switch Panel app which is where the new page will show up.
10. For LH3 MFDs, the RMDS file needs to be converted to an RMDC file, which can be be done online at https://cloud.empirbus.com (registration required.) Once converted, copy to a MicroSD card and import via the Dashboard app > Menu > Settings > Import custom pages.
11. Power the MFD off and back on to complete the installation of the new pages, test and enjoy.
    

We strongly recommend that you use graphics tools such as the free Gnu Image Manipulation Program and Inkscape or similar to create or modify graphics such as analogue gauge backgrounds, boat logos and images etc.

The quality and detail level of the dashboard pages you can create is limited by your imagination, please post back images or config files of your best work so that we can all see what you've achieved!

Updates
EBP blank config file now attached.

RAYFAQ#