MobiFlight interfaces with X-Plane using native X-Plane DataRefs and commands. Understanding what DataRefs and commands are, and how to find them, is key to configuring MobiFlight for X-Plane.

DataRefs and commands

X-Plane provides two ways to interact with the simulator:

DataRefs

DataRefs are simulator variables that provide access to state information from the aircraft, cockpit, and simulator, such as speed, altitude, altimeter reading, and warning lights. Use DataRefs in output configurations to read values from X-Plane. Some DataRefs are also writable, which allows them to be used in input configurations to set a specific value.

Commands

Commands are for input actions only. They are simpler to use than writable DataRefs because they do not require a value to be specified. For example, a heading bug increment or decrement command does not require you to calculate the new heading value.

Both DataRefs and commands are identified by a path-structured name, for example:

• DataRef “Autopilot heading” - sim/cockpit2/autopilot/heading_dial_deg_mag_pilot
• Command “Boeing 737 autopilot heading decrement” - laminar/B738/autopilot/heading_dn

Finding DataRefs and commands

HubHop presets

The easiest way to find X-Plane DataRefs and commands is through the HubHop presets built into MobiFlight. When configuring an input or output, use the Search, Vendor, Aircraft, and System filters to find the preset you need.

X-Plane includes thousands of DataRefs and commands provided by Laminar Research, which appear with Vendor set to Laminar Research and Aircraft set to Generic.

DataRefTool

For cases where the HubHop presets do not have what you need, the DataRefTool plugin by Lee Baker provides an interactive way to identify DataRefs and commands as you interact with your aircraft in the virtual cockpit.

To install DataRefTool:

1. Download the zip file from the DataRefTool website.
2. Extract the contents to your X-Plane Resources/Plugins folder, ensuring the DataRefTool plugin directory contains a 64 folder.
3. Restart X-Plane and load into a flight.
4. Click Plugins > DataRefTool > Search to open the DataRefTool window.

To find a DataRef or command using DataRefTool:

Use the buttons in the top-right area of the DataRefTool window to filter the list:

• Click the last button to toggle between showing only DataRefs (dat) or only commands (Cmd).
• Click the second-to-last button to show only currently changing values (ch or CH). This lets you interact with the aircraft and see which DataRefs and commands respond to your actions.

You can also filter the list by name using terms like “radio” or “freq” to narrow down the results.

Configuring MobiFlight for X-Plane

Reading values from X-Plane

To read a value from X-Plane and display it on a device, use the X-Plane DataRef output variable type in your output configuration.

Sending commands and writing values to X-Plane

To send a command or write a value to X-Plane in response to a device input, use the X-Plane (all versions) input action type in your input configuration.

To write a value directly to a DataRef, enable Show Preset Code, select DataRef from the preset code type dropdown, and enter the DataRef path.

Migrating from XPUIPC

Before the native X-Plane integration, MobiFlight supported X-Plane through XPUIPC, which mirrored FSUIPC’s offset-based approach. There is currently no automated migration path from XPUIPC configurations to native X-Plane DataRef and command configurations.

To migrate an XPUIPC configuration:

• Standard FSUIPC offsets: Look up the corresponding DataRef or command using DataRefTool, as these offsets are built into XPUIPC and are not listed in a configuration file.
• Custom offsets in XpuipcOffsetConfig.cfg: Look up the DataRef or command name in your configuration file.