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The latest version of this guide will always be available here. At the top of the left sidebar there is a version option if you are running an older version of EdgeTX or OpenTX and need the docs for that specific version.

This guide covers the development of user-written scripts for R/C transmitters running the EdgeTX 2.4 operating system with Lua support. Readers should be familiar with EdgeTX/OpenTX, the OpenTX Companion, and know how to transfer files the SD card in the transmitter.

Part I of the guide shows how to enable Lua support for Taranis and includes basic examples of each types of script.

Part II is a programming guide that introduces the types of EdgeTX Lua scripts and how to use them.

Part III is the EdgeTX Lua API Reference

Part IV addresses common issues in converting Lua scripts that were originally written for OpenTX 2.0

Part V addresses common issues in converting Lua scripts that were originally written for OpenTX 2.1

Part VI covers advanced topics with examples

Overview

Telemetry scripts are used for building customized screens. Each model can have up to three active scripts as configured on the model's telemetry configuration page. The same script can be assigned to multiple models.

Please note: Telemetry scripts are only available on radios with telemetry screens, such as e.g. FrSky Taranis models (including Xlite), Radiomaster TX12 and and Jumper T12.

Lifetime

• Telemetry scripts are loaded when the model is selected.

• init function is called one time when the script is loaded

• background function is periodically; both when the telemetry screen is visible and when it is not.

• run function is called periodically only when the telemetry screen is visible

• script is stopped and disabled if it misbehaves (e.g. run-time error or low memory)

• all telemetry scripts are stopped if a one-time script is running (see One-time scripts)

File Location

Scripts are located on the SD card in the folder /SCRIPTS/TELEMETRY/<name>.lua. File name length (without extension) must be 6 characters or less (this limit was 8 characters in OpenTX 2.1).

Interface

Every script must include a return statement at the end, defining its interface to EdgeTX. This statement returns a table with the following fields:

• init function (optional)

• background function (optional)

• run function

Example

local function init()
  -- init is called once when model is loaded
end

local function background()
  -- background is called periodically
end

local function run(event)
  -- run is called periodically only when screen is visible
end

return { run = run, background = background, init = init }

Notes:

• The event parameter indicates which transmitter key has been pressed (see Key Events).

WARNING - Running a One-Time script will suspend execution of all other currently loaded Lua scripts (Custom, Telemetry, and Functions)

Overview

One-Time scripts start when called upon by a specific radio function or when the user selects them from a contextual menu. They do their task and are then terminated and unloaded. Please note that all persistent scripts are halted during the execution of One-Time scripts. They are automatically restarted once the One-Time script is finished. This is done to provide enough system resources to execute the one time script.

Lifetime

Script is executed when user selects Execute on a script file from SD card browser screen.

Script executes until:

• it returns value different from 0

• is forcefully closed by user by long press of EXIT key

• is forcefully closed by system if if it misbehaves (e.g. run-time error or low

  memory)

File Location

Place them anywhere on SD card, the folder /SCRIPTS/ is recommended. The only exception is official model wizard script, that should be put into /SCRIPTS/WIZARD/ folder that way it will start automatically when new model is created.

Interface

Every script must include a return statement at the end, defining its interface to EdgeTX. This statement returns a table with the following fields:

• init function (optional)

• run function

Example

local function init()
  -- init is called once when model is loaded
end

local function run(event)
  -- run is called periodically only when screen is visible
  -- A non-zero return value will halt the script
  return x
end

return { run=run, init=init }

Notes:

• The event parameter indicates which transmitter key has been pressed (see Key Events).

• A non-zero return value from run will halt the script.

This section includes Acknowledgments and Getting Started.

WARNING - Do not use Lua Custom scripts for controlling any aspect of your model that could cause a crash if the script stops executing!

Overview

Each model can have several custom scripts associated with it, and these scripts are run periodically. They behave similarly to standard OpenTX mixers, but at the same time they provide a much more flexible and powerful tool. Custom scripts take one or more values as inputs, do some processing in Lua code, and output one or more values.

Please note: the firmware must be compiled with the option LUA=YES for Custom scripts to be available.

Please note: the scripts should be as short as possible, to avoid delays. It is also important to keep in mind that other loaded Telemetry and Function scripts can add to the response time, or worse: hang the system!

Typical uses

• replacement for complex mixes that are not critical to model function

• complex processing of inputs and reaction to their current state and/or their history

• filtering of telemetry values

Limitations

• cannot update LCD screen or perform user input.

• should not exceed allowed run-time/ number of instructions.

• custom scripts are run with less priority than built-in mixes. Their execution period is around 30ms and is not guaranteed!

• can be disabled/killed anytime due to logic errors in script, not enough free memory, etc...)

Lifetime

• Custom scripts are loaded from SD card when model is selected

• init function is called first

• run function is called periodically (about 30 times per second)

• the script is killed (stopped and disabled) if it misbehaves (e.g. run-time error or low memory)

• all Custom scripts are stopped while a One-Time script is running (see Lua One-time scripts)

Disabled script

If the script output is used as a mixer source , and the script is killed for whatever reason, then the whole mixer line is disabled ! This can be used for example to provide a fallback in case Lua Custom script is killed.

Example where Lua mix script is used to drive ailerons in some clever way, but control falls back to the standard aileron mix if script is killed. Second mixer line replaces the first one when the script is alive:

CH1  [I4]Ail Weight(+100%)
  := LUA4b Weight(+100%)

File Location

Place them on SD card in folder /SCRIPTS/MIXES/. File name length (without extension) must be 6 characters or less (this limit was 8 characters in OpenTX 2.1).

Interface

Every script must include a return statement at the end, defining its interface to EdgeTX. This statement returns a table with the following fields:

• input table (optional)

• output table (optional)

• init function (optional)

• run function

Example

local input =
  {
    { "Strength", SOURCE},           -- user selects source (typically slider or knob)
    { "Interval", VALUE, 0, 100, 0 } -- interval value, default = 0.
  }
    
local output = { "Val1", "Val2" }

local function init()
  -- Called once when the script is loaded
end

local function run(Strength, Interval) -- Must match input table
  local v1, v2
  -- Called periodically
  return v1, v2                        -- Must match output table
end

return { input=input, output=output, run=run, init=init }

Input table

The input table defines what values are available as input(s) to custom scripts. There are two forms of input table entries.

{ "<name>", SOURCE }

SOURCE inputs provide the current value of a selected OpenTX variable. The source must be selected by the user when the script is configured. Source can be any value that EdgeTX knows about (inputs, channels, telemetry values, switches, custom functions etc.). Note: the typical input range is -1024 thru +1024. Simply divide the input value by 10.24 to convert to a percentage from -100% to +100%.

{ "<name>", VALUE, <min>, <max>, <default> }

VALUE inputs provide a constant value that is set by the user when the script is configured.

• name - maximum length of 8 characters

• min - minimum value of -128

• max - maximum value of 127

• default - must be within the valid range specified

• Maximum of 6 inputs per script (was 8 in 2.1)

Output table

The output table defines only name(s), as the actual values are returned by the script's run function.

{ "<name1>", "<name2>" }

Note: the above names are only visible as source values on the radio screen when the script is running. If the model is edited in Companion, then the values show as LUA1a and LUA1b etc.

TODO: Need to determine status of wizard in 2.2

This section provides more specifics on the EdgeTX Lua implementation. Here you will find syntax rules for interface tables and functions.

Downloading OpenTX Companion

OpenTX Companion 2.2 is available for download at http://www.open-tx.org/downloads.html

Updating firmware with Lua option selected

If you intend to use mixer scripts, when updating the firmware on your transmitter you need to make sure the lua option is checked in the settings for your radio profile (Main menu -> Settings ->Settings...) as shown below. This is not required if you only intend to run telemetry, one-time and function scripts, support for those is included by default.

Also note that the SD Structure path should contain a valid path to a copy of your transmitter's SD card contents, although that's not specific to Lua.

The EdgeTX team has no intention of making a profit from their work. EdgeTX is free and open source and will remain free and open source. But EdgeTX is more expensive to maintain than most open source projects. The reason is that there is a never ending flood of hardware to integrate and maintain code for. Hardware that costs.

Overview

Most of the time, widget scripts show some info in a zone either in the top bar or in one of the user defined main views, and they cannot receive direct input from the user via key events like e.g. Telemetry scripts.

But widgets on the main views can also be shown in full screen mode, where they take over the entire screen area. And here they receive user input via key events, and for radios with touch screen, also touch events.

Each model can have up to five main views, with up to 8 widgets per screen, depending on their size and layout. Each instance of a widget has his own options table.

Please note: Widget scripts are only available on radios with color screens, e.g. FrSky Horus models, Radiomaster TX16 and Jumper T16.

Lifetime

All widget scripts on the SD card are loaded into memory when the model is selected; even widgets that are not used. This has the side effect that any global functions defined in a widget script will always be available to other widget scripts. It also means that any script on the SD card will consume part of the radio's memory - even if it is not being used. Therefore, it is important to either keep widget scripts small, or to use Lua's loadScript() function to load code dynamically.

They can be added to the top bar or a main view through the telemetry setup menu. When a widget has been added to a screen, then the widget functions are called as follows:

• create is called once when the widget instance is registered (started).

• update is called when widget settings are changed by the user.

• background is called periodically when the widget instance is not visible. Note: this is different from the way that telemetry scripts are handled.

• refresh is called periodically when the widget instance is visible. Note: if you want background to run when the widget is visible, then call it from refresh.

• A widget script is stopped and disabled if it misbehaves (e.g. too long runtime, run-time error, or low memory)

• All widgets are stopped while a One-Time script is running (see ).

File Location

Widgets are located on the SD card, each in their specific folder /WIDGETS/<name>/main.lua (<name> must be in 8 characters or less).

Interface

Every script must include a return statement at the end, defining its interface to EdgeTX. This statement returns a table with the following fields:

• name string

• options table

• create function

• update function

• background function (optional)

• refresh function

Example

Notes

• The name must be max. 10 characters long.

• options is passed to create and then stored in Lua. Changing it has no effect on EdgeTX.

• If options is changed by the user in the Widget Settings menu, then update will be called with a new options table, unaffected by any changes made by Lua code to the old options table.

• Maximum five options are allowed, with names of max. 10 characters, and no spaces.

• If local variables are declared outside functions in the widget script, then they are shared between all instances of the widget.

• Therefore, local variables that are private for each instance should be added to the widget table in the create function before returning the widget table to EdgeTX.

• When the widget is not in fullscreen mode, then both event and touchState are nil.

• The size of the widget's screen area is as follows:

  • Fullscreen mode: LCD_W by LCD_H

  • Not fullscreen mode: zone.w by zone.h

Introduction

Lua was chosen for OpenTX, and hence also EdgeTX, because it is a small language designed to be highly extensible by libraries written in C and C++, so it can be integrated into other systems like EdgeTX. It is also relatively efficient, both in terms of memory and CPU usage, and hence well suited for the radios.

In addition to the provided libraries, Lua has a very elegant mechanism for loading new Lua code modules during run-time. A lot of the elegance comes from the way that the loading mechanism meshes with another concept supported by Lua: first class functions with closures.

First Class Functions

Computer science pioneer Christopher Strachey introduced the concept of functions as first-class objects in his paper F from 1967. What it means is that functions can be treated as other variables: as arguments passed in function calls, as results returned from function calls, and a function identifier can be re-assigned to another chunk of function code, just like a variable ca be assigned to a new value.

In Lua, a function declaration is really "syntactic sugar" for assigning a variable to the chunk of code that is called when the function is invoked, i.e.

local function f(x) return x + 1 end

is the same as

local f = function(x) return x + 1 end

You can even add functions to Lua tables, i.e.

t = { f = f }

will add the above function to the table t, as a field that is also called f. Does that look familiar to the return statement required at the end of a Lua script?

Yes indeed, because a script is really an anonymous function that returns a list of functions to the system. The function declarations assign variables to chunks of function code, these variables are added to the list returned at the end of the script, and the system then calls the functions periodically to run the script. So the script itself is run one time initially, and subsequently the functions returned by the last statement are called periodically.

Closures

Another important concept that goes with first-class functions, is closures. This is the environment of the function with the variable names that the function can see. Please consider the following function counter that returns another function:

The function is returned directly without being assigned to a variable name. The closure of the function returned is the body of the function counter, containing both the arguments start and step, and the local variable x. So if c1 = counter(1, 1) then c1() will return 1, 2, 3, ... when called repeatedly, and if c2 = counter(2, 3) then c2() will return 2, 5, 8, ...

Likewise, the local variables that you declare outside the functions of your script can be used by all of the functions in your script, and they persist between function calls, but they are not visible to other scripts.

Functions with Variable Number of Arguments

Please consider this function:

if event == EVT_VIRTUAL_ENTER or event == EVT_VIRTUAL_EXIT then

can be replaced by

if match(event, EVT_VIRTUAL_ENTER, EVT_VIRTUAL_EXIT) then

You can also use ... directly as a comma separated list of values, e.g. local a, b, c = ... will assign the three variables to the three first arguments following x, or nil if none are given.

References

The function will load a script from a the file and return a function that is the body of the script, as described in the previous section. So you could have the following Lua script file saved on the SD card:

You can load and use the above file with the following code:

So here we put together what we learned in the previous section. The body of the script is an anonymous function returned by loadScript and stored in the variable chunk. It returns the function f when it is called. The local variable c in the script is assigned to the first vararg passed to the call. Since a new closure is created every time we call chunk, f1 and f2 have different closures with different values of c.

TODO

Overview

Function scripts are invoked via the 'Lua Script' option of Special Functions configuration page.

Typical uses of Function scripts are:

• specialized handling in response to switch position changes

• customized announcements

Please be aware that:

• all function scripts are stopped if a One-Time Lua script is running

• Function scripts DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO LCD DISPLAY

Lifetime

• init function is called once when the model is selected

• depending on the switch associated with the Special Function, either the run function (switch = on) or the background function (switch = off) is called periodically

• the script is stopped and disabled if it misbehaves (e.g. run-time error or low memory)

File Location

Scripts are located on the SD card in the folder /SCRIPTS/FUNCTIONS/<name>.lua. File name length (without extension) must be 6 characters or less (this limit was 8 characters in OpenTX 2.1).

Interface

Every script must include a return statement at the end, defining its interface to EdgeTX. This statement returns a table with the following fields:

• init function (optional)

• run function

• background function (optional)

Example

local function init()
  -- Called once when the script is loaded
end

local function run()
  -- Called periodically while the Special Function switch is on
end

local function background()
  -- Called periodically while the Special Function switch is off
end

return { run=run, background=background, init=init }

This section describes the Lua libraries, functions and constants that are provided by EdgeTX.

TODO

TODO

There are two types of color constants: one that is an index into a table holding a palette of theme colors, and one that is just a color.

Indexed colors

These are the theme colors plus CUSTOM_COLOR, and they can be changed with the function lcd.setColor(color_index, color). Please note: if an indexed color is changed, then it changes everywhere that it is used. For the theme colors, this is not only in other widgets, but everywhere throughout the radio's user interface!

• COLOR_THEME_PRIMARY1

• COLOR_THEME_PRIMARY2

• COLOR_THEME_PRIMARY3

• COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY1

• COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY2

• COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY3

• COLOR_THEME_FOCUS

• COLOR_THEME_EDIT

• COLOR_THEME_ACTIVE

• COLOR_THEME_WARNING

• COLOR_THEME_DISABLED

• CUSTOM_COLOR

Literal colors

These color constants cannot be changed:

• BLACK

• WHITE

• LIGHTWHITE

• YELLOW

• BLUE

• DARKBLUE

• GREY

• DARKGREY

• LIGHTGREY

• RED

• DARKRED

• GREEN

• DARKGREEN

• LIGHTBROWN

• DARKBROWN

• BRIGHTGREEN

• ORANGE

Deprecated color constants

These should no longer be used, but they are included for backwards compatibility. The old OpenTX API had a large number of indexed theme colors, and these have been mapped to the new theme colors as follows:

• ALARM_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_WARNING

• BARGRAPH_BGCOLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY3

• BARGRAPH1_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY1

• BARGRAPH2_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY2

• CURVE_AXIS_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY2

• CURVE_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY1

• CURVE_CURSOR_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_WARNING

• HEADER_BGCOLOR -> COLOR_THEME_FOCUS

• HEADER_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY1

• HEADER_CURRENT_BGCOLOR -> COLOR_THEME_FOCUS

• HEADER_ICON_BGCOLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY1

• LINE_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_PRIMARY3

• MAINVIEW_GRAPHICS_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY1

• MAINVIEW_PANES_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_PRIMARY2

• MENU_TITLE_BGCOLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY1

• MENU_TITLE_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_PRIMARY2

• MENU_TITLE_DISABLE_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_PRIMARY3

• OVERLAY_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_PRIMARY1

• SCROLLBOX_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY3

• TEXT_BGCOLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY3

• TEXT_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY1

• TEXT_DISABLE_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_DISABLED

• TEXT_INVERTED_BGCOLOR -> COLOR_THEME_FOCUS

• TEXT_INVERTED_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_PRIMARY2

• TITLE_BGCOLOR -> COLOR_THEME_SECONDARY1

• TRIM_BGCOLOR -> COLOR_THEME_FOCUS

• TRIM_SHADOW_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_PRIMARY1

• WARNING_COLOR -> COLOR_THEME_WARNING

Change the working directory

@status current Introduced in 2.3.0

Parameters

• directory (string) New working directory

Return value

none

This functions allows for sending telemetry data toward the TBS Crossfire link.

When called without parameters, it will only return the status of the output buffer without sending anything.

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0, retval nil added in 2.3.4

Parameters

• command command

• data table of data bytes

Return value

• boolean data queued in output buffer or not.

• nil incorrect telemetry protocol.

The key event mechanism

Each time a key is pressed, held and released a number of events get generated. Here is a typical flow:

• when a key is pressed a FIRST event is generated

• if the key continues to be pressed, then after a while a LONG event is generated

• if the key continues to be pressed, then a REPEAT events are being generated

• when the key is released a BREAK event is generated

Couple of examples:

• a short press on key would generate: FIRST, BREAK

• a longer pres on key would generate: FIRST, LONG, BREAK

• even longer press: FIRST, LONG, REPEAT,REPEAT, ..., BREAK

This normal key event sequence can be altered with the killEvents(key) function. Any time this function is called (after the FIRST event) all further key events for this key will be suppressed until the next key press of this key. Examples:

• kill immediately after the key press would generate: FIRST

• kill after the long key press would generate: FIRST, LONG

Constants

The event parameter in the Telemetry and One-Time scripts run function actually carries two pieces of information:

• key number

• type of event

The two fields are combined into one single number. Some of these combinations are defined as constants and are available to Lua scripts:

Radios with rotary encoder (X7 and Horus) have also:

Virtual events

Given the large number of radios supported by OpenTX, and the large difference in keys available on those, a set of VIRTUAL KEYS has been defined and are mapped to best fit available hardware

The following touch events are passed in the event argument to the widget script refresh function (when in full screen mode), just like the key events. The following touch events are provided:

In addition to the above touch events a touchState table is passed to refresh with the following addional data fields:

Notes:

• touchState is nil if event is not a touch event. This can be used to test if we have a touch event or a key event.

  • Since Lua evaluates a nil value to false and everything else to true:

  • if touchState then we have a touch event.

• x, y are present for all touch events.

• startX, startY, slideX, slideY are only present with EVT_TOUCH_SLIDE.

• swipeUp / swipeDown / swipeLeft / swipeRight may be present only withEVT_TOUCH_SLIDE.

Get channel assigned to stick. See Default Channel Order in General Settings

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• stick (number) stick number (from 0 to 3)

Return value

• number channel assigned to this stick (from 0 to 3)

• nil stick not found

Get stick that is assigned to a channel. See Default Channel Order in General Settings.

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• channel (number) channel number (0 means CH1)

Return value

• number Stick assigned to this channel (from 0 to 3)

Pops a received Crossfire Telemetry packet from the queue.

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0

Parameters

none

Return value

• nil queue does not contain any (or enough) bytes to form a whole packet

• multiple returns 2 values:

  • command (number)

  • packet (table) data bytes

Return current system date and time that is kept by the RTC unit

Parameters

none

Return value

• table current date and time, table elements:

  • year (number) year

  • mon (number) month

  • day (number) day of month

  • hour (number) hours

  • hour12 (number) hours in US format

  • min (number) minutes

  • sec (number) seconds

  • suffix (text) am or pm

Returns gray value which can be used in LCD functions

@status current Introduced in 2.0.13

Parameters

none

Return value

• (number) a value that represents amount of greyness (from 0 to 15)

Notice

Only available on Taranis

This functions allows for sending SPORT / ACCESS telemetry data toward the receiver, and more generally, to anything connected SPORT bus on the receiver or transmitter.

When called without parameters, it will only return the status of the output buffer without sending anything.

@status current Introduced in 2.3

Parameters

• module module index (0 = internal, 1 = external)

• rxUid receiver index

• sensorId physical sensor ID

• frameId frame ID

• dataId data ID

• value value

Return value

• boolean data queued in output buffer or not.

Returns (some of) the general radio settings

@status current Introduced in 2.0.6, imperial added in TODO, language and voice added in 2.2.0, gtimer added in 2.2.2.

Parameters

none

Return value

• table with elements:

  • battWarn (number) radio battery range - warning value

  • battMin (number) radio battery range - minimum value

  • battMax (number) radio battery range - maximum value

  • imperial (number) set to a value different from 0 if the radio is set to the

    IMPERIAL units

  • language (string) radio language (used for menus)

  • voice (string) voice language (used for speech)

  • gtimer (number) radio global timer in seconds (does not include current session)

Flags

Patterns

Return detailed information about field (source)

The list of valid sources is available:

@status current Introduced in 2.0.8, 'unit' field added in 2.2.0

Parameters

• name (string) name of the field

Return value

• table information about requested field, table elements:

  • id (number) field identifier

  • name (string) field name

  • desc (string) field description

  • 'unit' (number) unit identifier

• nil the requested field was not found

Get RSSI value as well as low and critical RSSI alarm levels (in dB)

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0

Parameters

none

Return value

• rssi RSSI value (0 if no link)

• alarm_low Configured low RSSI alarm level

• alarm_crit Configured critical RSSI alarm level

Get available memory remaining in the Heap for Lua.

Parameters

none

Return value

• usage (number) a value returned in b

Return the time since the radio was started in multiple of 10ms

The timer internally uses a 32-bit counter which is enough for 497 days so overflows will not happen.

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

none

Return value

• number Number of 10ms ticks since the radio was started Example:

  run time: 12.54 seconds, return value: 1254

Return flight mode data.

@status current Introduced in 2.1.7

Parameters

• mode (number) flight mode number to return (0 - 8). If mode parameter

  is not specified (or contains invalid value), then the current flight mode data is returned.

Return value

• multiple returns 2 values:

  • (number) (current) flight mode number (0 - 8)

  • (string) (current) flight mode name

Return current RTC system date as unix timstamp (in seconds since 1. Jan 1970)

Please note the RTC timestamp is kept internally as a 32bit integer, which will overflow in 2038.

Parameters

none

Return value

• number Number of seconds elapsed since 1. Jan 1970

Return the RAS value or nil if no valid hardware found

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0

Parameters

none

Return value

• number representing RAS value. Value bellow 0x33 (51 decimal) are all ok, value above 0x33 indicate a hardware antenna issue.

  This is just a hardware pass/fail measure and does not represent the quality of the radio link

Notice

RAS was called SWR in the past

Return rotary encoder current speed

@status current Introduced in 2.3.10

Parameters

none

Return value

• number in list: ROTENC_LOWSPEED, ROTENC_MIDSPEED, ROTENC_HIGHSPEED

  Copy

    return 0 on radio without rotary encoder

Return the internal GPS position or nil if no valid hardware found

@status current Introduced in 2.2.2

Parameters

none

Return value

• table representing the current radio position

  • lat (number) internal GPS latitude, positive is North

  • lon (number) internal GPS longitude, positive is East

  • 'numsat' (number) current number of sats locked in by the GPS sensor

  • 'fix' (boolean) fix status

  • 'alt' (number) internal GPS altitude in 0.1m

  • 'speed' (number) internal GPSspeed in 0.1m/s

  • 'heading' (number) internal GPS ground course estimation in degrees * 10

  • 'hdop' (number) internal GPS horizontal dilution of precision

Get percent of already used Lua instructions in current script execution cycle.

@status current Introduced in 2.2.1

Parameters

none

Return value

• usage (number) a value from 0 to 100 (percent)

Stops key state machine. See Key Events for the detailed description.

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• key (number) key to be killed, can also include event type (only the key part is used)

Return value

none

Return OpenTX version

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0, expanded in 2.1.7, radio type strings changed in 2.2.0, os name added in EdgeTX 2.4.0

Example

This example also runs in OpenTX versions where the function returned only one value:

local function run(event)
  local ver, radio, maj, minor, rev, osname = getVersion()
  print("version: "..ver)
  if radio then print ("radio: "..radio) end
  if maj then print ("maj: "..maj) end
  if minor then print ("minor: "..minor) end
  if rev then print ("rev: "..rev) end
  if osname then print ("osname: "..osname) end
  return 1
end

return {  run=run }

Output of the above script in simulator:

version: 2.4.0
radio: tx16s-simu
maj: 2
minor: 4
rev: 0
osname: EdgeTX

Parameters

none

Return value

• string OpenTX version (ie "2.1.5")

• multiple values (available since 2.1.7):

  • (string) OpenTX version (ie "2.1.5")

  • (string) radio type: x12s, x10, x9e, x9d+, x9d or x7.

    If running in simulator the "-simu" is added

  • (number) major version (ie 2 if version 2.1.5)

  • (number) minor version (ie 1 if version 2.1.5)

  • (number) revision number (ie 5 if version 2.1.5)

    Since EdgeTX 2.4.0, sixth value added

  • (string) OS name (i.e. EdgeTX or nil if OpenTX)

This function reads/writes the Multi protocol buffer to interact with a protocol².

@status current Introduced in 2.3.2

Parameters

• address to read/write in the buffer

  @param (optional): value to write in the buffer

Return value

• buffer value (number)

Returns radio timers

@status current Introduced added in 2.3.0.

Parameters

none

Return value

• table with elements:

• gtimer (number) radio global timer in seconds

• session (number) radio session in seconds

• ttimer (number) radio throttle timer in seconds

• tptimer (number) radio throttle percent timer in seconds

Generate haptic feedback

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0

Parameters

• duration (number) length of the haptic feedback in milliseconds

• pause (number) length of the silence after haptic feedback in milliseconds

• flags (number):

  • 0 or not present play with normal priority

  • PLAY_NOW play immediately

Return value

none

Load a Lua script file. This is similar to Lua's own loadfile() API method, but it uses OpenTx's optional pre-compilation feature to save memory and time during load.

Return values are same as from Lua API loadfile() method: If the script was loaded w/out errors then the loaded script (or "chunk") is returned as a function. Otherwise, returns nil plus the error message.

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0

Example

  fun, err = loadScript("/SCRIPTS/FUNCTIONS/print.lua")
  if (fun ~= nil) then
     fun("Hello from loadScript()")
  else
     print(err)
  end

Parameters

• file (string) Full path and file name of script. The file extension is optional and ignored (see mode param to control which extension will be used). However, if an extension is specified, it should be ".lua" (or ".luac"), otherwise it is treated as part of the file name and the .lua/.luac will be appended to that.

• mode (string) (optional) Controls whether to force loading the text (.lua) or pre-compiled binary (.luac) version of the script. By default OTx will load the newest version and compile a new binary if necessary (overwriting any existing .luac version of the same script, and stripping some debug info like line numbers). You can use mode to control the loading behavior more specifically. Possible values are:

  • b only binary.

  • t only text.

  • T (default on simulator) prefer text but load binary if that is the only version available.

  • bt (default on radio) either binary or text, whichever is newer (binary preferred when timestamps are equal).

  • Add x to avoid automatic compilation of source file to .luac version.

    Eg: "tx", "bx", or "btx".

  • Add c to force compilation of source file to .luac version (even if existing version is newer than source file).

    Eg: "tc" or "btc" (forces "t", overrides "x").

  • Add d to keep extra debug info in the compiled binary.

    Eg: "td", "btd", or "tcd" (no effect with just "b" or with "x").

• env (integer) See documentation for Lua function loadfile().

Return value

• function The loaded script, or nil if there was an error (e.g. file not found or syntax error).

• string Error message(s), if any. Blank if no error occurred.

Notice

Note that you will get an error if you specify mode as "b" or "t" and that specific version of the file does not exist (eg. no .luac file when "b" is used). Also note that mode is NOT passed on to Lua's loader function, so unlike with loadfile() the actual file content is not checked (as if no mode or "bt" were passed to loadfile()).

Raises a pop-up on screen that shows a warning

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0

Parameters

• title (string) text to display

• event (number) the event variable that is passed in from the Run function (key pressed)

Return value

• "CANCEL" user pushed EXIT key

Notice

Use only from stand-alone and telemetry scripts.

Raises a pop-up on screen that allows uses input

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• title (string) text to display

• event (number) the event variable that is passed in from the Run function (key pressed)

• input (number) value that can be adjusted by the +/­- keys

• min (number) min value that input can reach (by pressing the -­ key)

• max (number) max value that input can reach

Return value

• number result of the input adjustment

• "OK" user pushed ENT key

• "CANCEL" user pushed EXIT key

Notice

Use only from stand-alone and telemetry scripts.

Play a file from the SD card

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0, changed in 2.1.0

Parameters

• path (string) full path to wav file (i.e. “/SOUNDS/en/system/tada.wav”)

  Introduced in 2.1.0: If you use a relative path, the current language is appended

  to the path (example: for English language: /SOUNDS/en is appended)

Return value

none

@param num (optional): maximum number of bytes to read. If non-zero, serialRead will read up to num characters from the buffer. If 0 or left out, serialRead will read up to and including the first newline character or the end of the buffer. Note that the returned string may not end in a newline if this character is not present in the buffer.

Reads characters from the serial port. The string is allowed to contain any character, including 0.

@status current Introduced in 2.3.8

Parameters

none

Return value

• str string. Empty if no new characters were available.

Returns the value of a source.

The list of fixed sources:

In OpenTX 2.1.x the telemetry sources no longer have a predefined name. To get a telemetry value simply use it's sensor name. For example:

• Altitude sensor has a name "Alt"

• to get the current altitude use the source "Alt"

• to get the minimum altitude use the source "Alt-", to get the maximum use "Alt+"

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0, changed in 2.1.0, Cels+ and Cels- added in 2.1.9

Parameters

• source can be an identifier (number) (which was obtained by the getFieldInfo())

  or a name (string) of the source.

Return value

• value current source value (number). Zero is returned for:

  • non-existing sources

  • for all telemetry source when the telemetry stream is not received

  • far all non allowed sensors while FAI MODE is active

• table GPS position is returned in a table:

  • lat (number) latitude, positive is North

  • lon (number) longitude, positive is East

  • pilot-lat (number) pilot latitude, positive is North

  • pilot-lon (number) pilot longitude, positive is East

• table GPS date/time, see getDateTime()

• table Cells are returned in a table (except where no cells were detected in which case the returned value is 0):

  • table has one item for each detected cell:

  • key (number) cell number (1 to number of cells)

  • value (number) current cell voltage

Notice

Getting a value by its numerical identifier is faster then by its name. While Cels sensor returns current values of all cells in a table, a Cels+ or Cels- will return a single value - the maximum or minimum Cels value.

Play a tone

@status current Introduced in 2.1.0

Parameters

• frequency (number) tone frequency in Hz (from 150 to 15000)

• duration (number) length of the tone in milliseconds

• pause (number) length of the silence after the tone in milliseconds

• flags (number):

  • 0 or not present play with normal priority.

  • PLAY_BACKGROUND play in background (built in vario function uses this context)

  • PLAY_NOW play immediately

• freqIncr (number) positive number increases the tone pitch (frequency with time), negative number decreases it. The frequency changes every 10 milliseconds, the change is freqIncr * 10Hz. The valid range is from -127 to 127.

Return value

none

Resets the radio global timer to 0.

@status current Introduced in 2.2.2, param added in 2.3

Parameters

• (optional) : if set to 'all', throttle ,throttle percent and session timers are reset too

  Copy

                if set to 'session', radio session timer is reset too
                if set to 'ttimer', radio throttle timer is reset too
                if set to  'tptimer', radio throttle percent timer is reset too

Return value

none

@param str (string) String to be written to the serial port.

Writes a string to the serial port. The string is allowed to contain any character, including 0.

@status current Introduced in 2.3.10

Parameters

none

Return value

none

Set baudrate for serial port(s) affected to LUA

@status current Introduced in 2.3.12

Parameters

baudrate Desired baudrate

Return value

none

Pops a received SPORT packet from the queue. Please note that only packets using a data ID within 0x5000 to 0x50FF (frame ID == 0x10), as well as packets with a frame ID equal 0x32 (regardless of the data ID) will be passed to the LUA telemetry receive queue.

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0

Parameters

none

Return value

• nil queue does not contain any (or enough) bytes to form a whole packet

• multiple returns 4 values:

  • sensor ID (number)

  • frame ID (number)

  • data ID (number)

  • value (number)

Play a numerical value (text to speech)

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• value (number) number to play. Value is interpreted as integer.

• unit (number) unit identifier [Full list]((../appendix/units.html))

• attributes (unsigned number) possible values:

  • 0 or not present plays integral part of the number (for a number 123 it plays 123)

  • PREC1 plays a number with one decimal place (for a number 123 it plays 12.3)

  • PREC2 plays a number with two decimal places (for a number 123 it plays 1.23)

Return value

none

This functions allows for sending SPORT telemetry data toward the receiver, and more generally, to anything connected SPORT bus on the receiver or transmitter.

When called without parameters, it will only return the status of the output buffer without sending anything.

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0, retval nil added in 2.3.4

Parameters

• sensorId physical sensor ID

• frameId frame ID

• dataId data ID

• value value

Return value

• boolean data queued in output buffer or not.

• nil incorrect telemetry protocol.

Raises a pop-up on screen that asks for confirmation

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0, changed from (title, event) to (title, message, event) in 2.3.8

Parameters

• title (string) title to display

• message (string) text to display

• event (number) the event variable that is passed in from the Run function (key pressed)

Return value

• "CANCEL" user pushed EXIT key

Notice

Use only from stand-alone and telemetry scripts.

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0

Parameters

• id Id of the sensor, valid range is from 0 to 0xFFFF

• subID subID of the sensor, usually 0, valid range is from 0 to 7

• instance instance of the sensor (SensorID), valid range is from 0 to 0xFF

• value fed to the sensor

• unit unit of the sensor

• precision the precision of the sensor

  • 0 or not present no decimal precision.

  • != 0 value is divided by 10^precision, e.g. value=1000, prec=2 => 10.00.

• name (string) Name of the sensor if it does not yet exist (4 chars).

  • not present Name defaults to the Id.

  • present Sensor takes name of the argument. Argument must have name surrounded by quotes: e.g., "Name"

Return value

• true, if the sensor was just added. In this case the value is ignored (subsequent call will set the value)

Notice

All three parameters id, subID and instance can't be zero at the same time. At least one of them must be different from zero.

Play a time value (text to speech)

@status current Introduced in 2.1.0

Parameters

• duration (number) number of seconds to play. Only integral part is used.

• hourFormat (number):

  • 0 or not present play format: minutes and seconds.

  • != 0 play format: hours, minutes and seconds.

Return value

none

Set all inputs to defaults

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

none

Return value

none

Clear all flightModes

@status current Introduced in 2.3.10

Parameters

none

Return value

none

Delete line from specified input

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• input (unsigned number) input number (use 0 for Input1)

• line (unsigned number) input line (use 0 for first line)

Return value

none

Remove all mixers

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

none

Return value

none

Get Custom Function parameters

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0, TODO rename function

Parameters

• function (unsigned number) custom function number (use 0 for CF1)

Return value

• nil requested custom function does not exist

• table custom function data:

  • switch (number) switch index

  • func (number) function index

  • name (string) Name of track to play (only returned only returned if action is play track, sound or script)

  • value (number) value (only returned only returned if action is not play track, sound or script)

  • mode (number) mode (only returned only returned if action is not play track, sound or script)

  • param (number) parameter (only returned only returned if action is not play track, sound or script)

  • active (number) 0 = disabled, 1 = enabled

Delete all Inputs

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

none

Return value

none

Return current global variable value

Example:

  -- get GV3 (index = 2) from Flight mode 0 (FM0)
  val = model.getGlobalVariable(2, 0)

Parameters

• index zero based global variable index, use 0 for GV1, 8 for GV9

• flight_mode Flight mode number (0 = FM0, 8 = FM8)

Return value

• nil requested global variable does not exist

• number current value of global variable

Notice

a simple warning or notice

Return input data for given input and line number

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0, curveType/curveValue/carryTrim added in 2.3, inputName added 2.3.10, flighmode reworked in 2.3.11

Parameters

• input (unsigned number) input number (use 0 for Input1)

• line (unsigned number) input line (use 0 for first line)

Return value

• nil requested input or line does not exist

• table input data:

  • name (string) input line name

  • inputName (string) input input name

  • source (number) input source index

  • weight (number) input weight

  • offset (number) input offset

  • switch (number) input switch index

  • curveType (number) curve type (function, expo, custom curve)

  • curveValue (number) curve index

  • carryTrim (boolean) input trims applied

  • 'flightModes' (number) bit-mask of active flight modes

Return input data for given input and line number

@status current Introduced in 2.3.10

Parameters

• index (unsigned number) flight mode number (use 0 for FM0)

Return value

• nil requested input or line does not exist

• table input data:

  • name (string) input line name

  • switch (number) input switch index

  • fadeIn (number) fade in value (in 0.1s)

  • fadeOut (number) fade out value (in 0.1s)

  • trimsValues (table) table of trim values:

    • key is trim number (zero based)

    • value is trim value

  • trimsModes (table) table of trim mode:

    • key is trim number (zero based)

    • value is trim mode

Get Logical Switch parameters

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• switch (unsigned number) logical switch number (use 0 for LS1)

Return value

• nil requested logical switch does not exist

• table logical switch data:

  • func (number) function index

  • v1 (number) V1 value (index)

  • v2 (number) V2 value (index or value)

  • v3 (number) V3 value (index or value)

  • and (number) AND switch index

  • delay (number) delay (time in 1/10 s)

  • duration (number) duration (time in 1/10 s)

Get Curve parameters

Note that functions returns the tables starting with index 0 contrary to LUA's usual index starting with 1

@status current Introduced in 2.0.12

Parameters

• curve (unsigned number) curve number (use 0 for Curve1)

Return value

• nil requested curve does not exist

• table curve data:

  • name (string) name

  • type (number) type

  • smooth (boolean) smooth

  • points (number) number of points

  • y (table) table of Y values:

    • key is point number (zero based)

    • value is y value

  • x (table) only included for custom curve type:

    • key is point number (zero based)

    • value is x value

Delete mixer line from specified Channel

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• channel (unsigned number) channel number (use 0 for CH1)

• line (unsigned number) mix number (use 0 for first line(mix))

Return value

none

Return number of lines for given input

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• input (unsigned number) input number (use 0 for Input1)

Return value

• number number of configured lines for given input

Get the number of Mixer lines that the specified Channel has

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• channel (unsigned number) channel number (use 0 for CH1)

Return value

• number number of mixes for requested channel

Get servo parameters

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0

Parameters

• index (unsigned number) output number (use 0 for CH1)

Return value

• nil requested output does not exist

• table output parameters:

  • name (string) name

  • min (number) Minimum % * 10

  • max (number) Maximum % * 10

  • offset (number) Subtrim * 10

  • ppmCenter (number) offset from PPM Center. 0 = 1500

  • symetrical (number) linear Subtrim 0 = Off, 1 = On

  • revert (number) irection 0 = ­­­---, 1 = INV

  • curve

    • (number) Curve number (0 for Curve1)

    • or nil if no curve set

Get RF module parameters

Type values:

• 0 NONE

• 1 PPM

• 2 XJT_PXX1

• 3 ISRM_PXX2

• 4 DSM2

• 5 CROSSFIRE

• 6 MULTIMODULE

• 7 R9M_PXX1

• 8 R9M_PXX2

• 9 R9M_LITE_PXX1

• 10 R9M_LITE_PXX2

• 11 R9M_LITE_PRO_PXX1

• 12 R9M_LITE_PRO_PXX2

• 13 SBUS

• 14 XJT_LITE_PXX2

subType values for XJT_PXX1:

• -1 OFF

• 0 D16

• 1 D8

• 2 LR12

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0

Parameters

• index (number) module index (0 for internal, 1 for external)

Return value

• nil requested module does not exist

• table module parameters:

  • subType (number) protocol index

  • modelId (number) receiver number

  • firstChannel (number) start channel (0 is CH1)

  • channelsCount (number) number of channels sent to module

  • Type (number) module type

  • if the module type is Multi additional information are available

  • protocol (number) protocol number (Multi only)

  • subProtocol (number) sub-protocol number (Multi only)

  • channelsOrder (number) first 4 channels expected order (Multi only)

Get model timer parameters

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0, name added in 2.3.6

Parameters

• timer (number) timer index (0 for Timer 1)

Return value

• nil requested timer does not exist

• table timer parameters:

  • mode (number) timer trigger source: off, abs, stk, stk%, sw/!sw, !m_sw/!m_sw

  • start (number) start value [seconds], 0 for up timer, 0> down timer

  • value (number) current value [seconds]

  • countdownBeep (number) countdown beep (0­ = silent, 1 =­ beeps, 2­ = voice)

  • minuteBeep (boolean) minute beep

  • persistent (number) persistent timer

  • name (string) timer name

Get current Model information

@status current Introduced in 2.0.6, changed in 2.2.0

Parameters

none

Return value

• table model information:

  • name (string) model name

  • bitmap (string) bitmap name (not present on X7)

Insert a mixer line into Channel

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0, parameters below multiplex added in 2.0.13

Parameters

• channel (unsigned number) channel number (use 0 for CH1)

• line (unsigned number) mix number (use 0 for first line(mix))

• value (table) see model.getMix() for table format

Return value

none

Insert an Input at specified line

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0, curveType/curveValue/carryTrim added in 2.3, inputName added 2.3.10

Parameters

• input (unsigned number) input number (use 0 for Input1)

• line (unsigned number) input line (use 0 for first line)

• value (table) input data, see model.getInput()

Return value

none

Set Curve parameters

The first and last x value must -100 and 100 and x values must be monotonically increasing

@status current Introduced in 2.2.0

Example setting a 4-point custom curve:

  params = {}
  params["x"] =  {-100, -34, 77, 100}
  params["y"] = {-70, 20, -89, -100}
  params["smooth"] = true
  params["type"] = 1
  val =  model.setCurve(2, params)

setting a 6-point standard smoothed curve

 val = model.setCurve(3, {smooth=true, y={-100, -50, 0, 50, 100, 80}})

Parameters

• curve (unsigned number) curve number (use 0 for Curve1)

• params see model.getCurve return format for table format. setCurve uses standard lua array indexing and arrays start at index 1

Return value

• `` 0 - Everything okay

  Copy

     1 - Wrong number of points
     2 - Invalid Curve number
     3 - Cuve does not fit anymore
     4 - point of out of index
     5 - x value not monotonically increasing
     6 - y value not in range [-100;100]
     7 - extra values for y are set
     8 - extra values for x are set

Reset model timer to a startup value

@status current Introduced in TODO

Parameters

• timer (number) timer index (0 for Timer 1)

Return value

none

Get configuration for specified Mix

@status current Introduced in 2.0.0, parameters below multiplex added in 2.0.13

Parameters

• channel (unsigned number) channel number (use 0 for CH1)

• line (unsigned number) mix number (use 0 for first line(mix))

Return value

• nil requested channel or line does not exist

• table mix data:

  • name (string) mix line name

  • source (number) source index

  • weight (number) weight (1024 == 100%) value or GVAR1..9 = 4096..4011, -GVAR1..9 = 4095..4087

  • offset (number) offset value or GVAR1..9 = 4096..4011, -GVAR1..9 = 4095..4087

  • switch (number) switch index

  • multiplex (number) multiplex (0 = ADD, 1 = MULTIPLY, 2 = REPLACE)

  • curveType (number) curve type (function, expo, custom curve)

  • curveValue (number) curve index

  • flightModes (number) bit-mask of active flight modes

  • carryTrim (boolean) carry trim

  • mixWarn (number) warning (0 = off, 1 = 1 beep, .. 3 = 3 beeps)

  • delayUp (number) delay up (time in 1/10 s)

  • delayDown (number) delay down

  • speedUp (number) speed up

  • speedDown (number) speed down

Reset Telemetry Sensor parameters

@status current Introduced in 2.3.11

Parameters

• sensor (unsigned number) sensor number (use 0 for sensor 1)

Return value

• nil

Get Telemetry Sensor parameters

@status current Introduced in 2.3.0

Parameters

• sensor (unsigned number) sensor number (use 0 for sensor 1)

Return value

• nil requested sensor does not exist

• table with sensor data:

  • type (number) 0 = custom, 1 = calculated

  • name (string) Name

  • unit (number) See list of units in the appendix of the OpenTX Lua Reference Guide

  • prec (number) Number of decimals

  • id (number) Only custom sensors

  • instance (number) Only custom sensors

  • formula (number) Only calculated sensors. 0 = Add etc. see list of formula choices in Companion popup