Last Updated: December 14, 2023
This is a quick setup guide for a basic triple monitor display array for X-plane 11 or 12 individual views.
Before we get started, it is helpful to know how our displays are oriented in Windows display settings.
[ X-Plane re-represents the same layout, only all of the displays are not visible at the same time.]
• Right-click a blank area of the Windows desktop and choose "Display settings."
As we can see from this example, #3 (left) is the primary display, and the #2 (center) and #1 (right) displays are to the right of #3.
• Open the X-plane 11 settings menu
• Click the Graphics tab
Navigating the Graphics tab:
• You will need to enable the secondary displays - depending on which display is your "Primary Display" in Windows, this will already be enabled as "Full-Screen Simulator".
•• To bring your other displays into view, the UI implements two scroll bars a vertical scroll bar pictured above and a horizontal scroll bar at the bottom of the page. (Left-click and hold to drag the vertical scroll bar all the way to the bottom to reveal the horizontal scroll bar - yes very tedious.)
... you will need to use these scroll bars to bring your other displays into view going back and forth between the two scroll bars.
We know from our Windows display settings that display #3 is the primary display, and we now know that displays #2 and #1 are to the right of display #3. So we click and drag the vertical scroll bar all the way to the bottom of the page and then drag the horizontal scroll bar until we see the right edge of display #2 - then we use the vertical scroll bar to scroll back up to make view settings visible
•• Once you have the next scenery display in the view, click the drop-down and select "Full-Screen Simulator"
• Click the plus signs to the left of "Field of View" and "Visual Offsets"
Measure the inside angles from your center display to the outer display.
Use the measured values and input them as shown below - the angle is 60 deg in this example. Note that your left display's Lateral rotation offset will be a negative value while the right display will be the same value positive.
• FOV
As mentioned in the graphic, start your FOV value close to your lateral offset value and adjust as it looks right for your display size and your distance from the screen(s). This will be a little different for everyone, depending on your setup's resolution, size, angles, and distance. But this should get you in the ballpark. Load a flight and enjoy your new views.
** An advanced tip:
You can adjust the FIELD OF VIEW on the left, center, and right displays by adding or subtracting in .5 degree increments (or even .25) to correct for the bezel thickness of your displays so the scenery appears to "pass behind" the bezels. Feel free to play around with these values until it looks right to you.
Again, this is a simple guideline to get you in the ballpark. For a more in-depth deep dive into setting up multiple views, I highly recommend this video from Russ Barlow.
Happy flying.