ACE TM

(AVIATION CHECKLIST EDITOR)

User’s Guide
 RECORD OF REVISION

Record of Revision
Revision Date Affected Pages Description
A June, 2004 i-13 Initial release
Updated and made applicable to all Integrated
B December, 2007 i-13
Flight Deck Systems
Updated and made applicable to G3X, G300,
C November, 2010 1, 5, 6
GDU 37X, and GPSMAP 696 units

190-00348-00 Rev. C Garmin ACE User’s Guide i

 RECORD OF REVISION

Blank Page

ii Garmin ACE User’s Guide 190-00348-00 Rev. C

 COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2010 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.

This manual reflects the operation of the Garmin Aviation Checklist Editor (ACE) software application version 2.2. Some differences
in operation may be observed when comparing the information in this manual to earlier or later software versions.

Garmin International, Inc., 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, U.S.A.
Tel: 913/397.8200 Fax: 913/397.8282

Garmin AT, Inc., 2345 Turner Road SE, Salem, OR 97302, U.S.A.
Tel: 503/391.3411 Fax 503/364.2138

Garmin (Europe) Ltd., Liberty House, Bulls Copse Road, Hounsdown Business Park, Southampton S040 9RB, U.K.
Tel: 44/ (0) 870.8501241 Fax: 44/ (0) 870.8501251

Garmin Corporation, No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan
Tel: 886/02.2642.9199 Fax: 886/02.2642.9099

Website Address: [Link]

Except as expressly provided herein, no part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, disseminated, downloaded or
stored in any storage medium, for any purpose without the express written permission of Garmin. Garmin hereby grants permission
to download a single copy of this manual and of any revision to this manual onto a hard drive or other electronic storage medium to
be viewed for personal use, provided that such electronic or printed copy of this manual or revision must contain the complete text
of this copyright notice and provided further that any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual or any revision hereto is
strictly prohibited.

Garmin® is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries, ACE™ is a trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. These
trademarks may not be used without the express permission of Garmin.

Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.

November 2010 Printed in the U.S.A.

190-00348-00 Rev. C Garmin ACE User’s Guide iii

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1: Installing ACE.................................................... 1 2.3 Building ACE Documents........................................... 7

Groups, Checklists and Entries......................................... 7
Section 2: Using ACE. ........................................................... 3 Groups...................................................................... 7
2.1 Interface Description................................................. 3 Checklists.................................................................. 7
Menu Bar........................................................................ 4 Entries....................................................................... 7
Frames............................................................................ 4 Creating Groups.............................................................. 8
Toolbar........................................................................... 4 Creating Checklists......................................................... 8
Status Bar....................................................................... 4 Creating Entries.............................................................. 8
2.2 Working with ACE Files............................................. 5 Cutting, Copying and Deleting Groups, Checklists, or
Creating a New ACE File................................................. 5 Entries............................................................................ 9
Opening an Existing ACE File........................................... 5 Pasting Groups, Checklists, or Entries............................... 9
Saving an ACE File.......................................................... 5 Editing Properties............................................................ 9
Closing an ACE File......................................................... 5 Editing Entry Properties................................................... 9
Checking or Editing File Properties................................... 6 Text......................................................................... 10
Transferring ACE Files to ACE compatible products .......... 6 Response................................................................. 10
Entry Type................................................................ 11
Justification. ............................................................ 11
Number of Blank Lines to Follow Entry. .................... 11
2.4 Using the Help Menu............................................... 12

iv Garmin ACE User’s Guide 190-00348-00 Rev. C

 INSTALLING ACE

Section 1: Installing ACE 3. A window containing the End User License

Agreement (EULA) is displayed. After carefully
The Garmin Aviation Checklist Editor (ACE) software reading the terms of this agreement, select
application is designed to help build and customize aircraft the option ‘I accept the terms in the license
checklists for the G3X, G300, GDU 37X, GPSMAP 696, agreement’ if you agree with the terms, then
and Integrated Flight Deck systems. This Garmin software click ‘Next’.
application resides on a CD-ROM and can be installed 4. A window containing a default destination
on any PC that uses a Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, XP, folder for the ACE software application is
or Vista operating system (OS). G900X customers may displayed together with an option to select
also download the software from [Link], G3X a different destination folder. Once the
customers may download the software from [Link]. destination folder has been set, click ‘Next’.
NOTE: Reference to ‘ACE compatible products’ 5. Before the software installation starts, a
throughout this document apply equally to window is displayed, prompting the user
the G3X, G300, GDU 37X, GPSMAP 696, and to either review the installation settings by
Integrated Flight Deck systems. clicking ‘Back’ or proceed with the installation
by clicking ‘Install’. Click ‘Install’ to install the
NOTE: Additional Microsoft downloads may be ACE software application.
needed for Vista compatibility. If needed, Vista
will provide instructions on how to download 6. After the software application has been
these plug-ins. successfully installed, a window is displayed,
prompting the user to exit the InstallShield
Installing the ACE software application: Wizard. Click ‘Finish’ to exit the installer file.
1. Insert the ACE CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive NOTE: Figure 1-1 shows the various windows
of the PC on which this software application that are displayed during the ACE software
is to be installed. If auto-run is enabled, the application installation process.
installer file should automatically start running.
If this file does not start, click the ‘Start’ menu Launching the ACE software application:
button, select ‘Run...’, then type in the drive 1a. If the option to ‘Launch the program’ appeared
letter of the CD-ROM drive and click ‘OK’. checked in the last InstallShield Wizard installer
2. Once the installer file is running, the InstallShield window, the ACE software application should
Wizard window is displayed for a few seconds be automatically launched right after the user
while the installer verifies the version of the exits the installer file (this option is checked by
operating system, then an Aviation Checklist default).
Editor (ACE) – InstallShield Wizard window is 1b. If the ‘Launch the program’ option has been
displayed, prompting the user to continue the unchecked, go to the selected destination
installation process. Click ‘Next’. folder for this software application and double-
click the file named “[Link]”.

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 INSTALLING ACE

Once the installer file starts running (Step 1),

InstallShield Wizard automatically checks the OS Version Step 2

Step 3 Step 4

Step 5 Step 6

Figure 1-1 Installing ACE

2 Garmin ACE User’s Guide 190-00348-00 Rev. C
 USING ACE

Section 2: Using ACE

2.1 Interface Description

The ACE user interface (Figure 2-1) is an aviation
checklist building platform composed of a menu bar and
two (2) user-sizable frames. ACE can also be configured
to display a toolbar as well as a status bar.

Menu Bar Toolbar

Status Bar Figure 2-1 ACE Interface

Working Frame Preview Frame

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 USING ACE

Menu Bar NOTE: When the mouse cursor is placed over a

The menu bar features the following menus (menu command icon, a tag describing the command
options are listed in parentheses): icon in question appears below the mouse
cursor.
• File (New, Open, Save, Save As, Exit)
• Edit (Undo, Redo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Add NOTE: The toolbar cannot be customized.
New Group, Add New Checklist, Add New Entry,
Group Properties, Checklist Properties, Entry Status Bar
Properties, File Properties) The status bar can either hidden or shown at the
• View (Toolbar, Status Bar) bottom of the interface by clicking the ‘View’ menu, then
• Help (ACE Help, About ACE) by selecting ‘Status Bar’. When the status bar is shown, a
check mark is displayed in the ‘View’ menu to the left of
Frames
the ‘Status Bar’ menu option. Conversely, no check mark
ACE displays two (2) vertically tiled frames. The is displayed to the left of this menu option if the status bar
left frame—the working frame—contains the document is hidden.
outline from which the user can build the aviation checklist
NOTE: The status bar displays information on
file, while the right frame—the preview frame—shows a
the mouse cursor location. For instance, if the
document preview and can only be modified through the mouse cursor is placed over the ‘Cut’ icon, the
left frame. words ‘Cut the Item’ appear in the status bar.
Toolbar NOTE: When the mouse cursor is not over an
The ACE toolbar helps to expedite action commands active part of the interface (i.e., if it is neither
and is composed of fifteen command icons, as shown in over the menu bar commands, nor over the
Figure 2-2. The ACE toolbar can either be hidden or toolbar icons), the status bar displays the word
shown below the menu bar by clicking the ‘View’ menu, ‘Ready’.
then by selecting ‘Toolbar’. When the toolbar is shown,
a check mark is displayed in the ‘View’ menu to the left
of the ‘Toolbar’ menu option. Conversely, no check mark
is displayed to the left of this menu option if the toolbar
is hidden.
Add New Properties

Checklist Checklist
New Open Save Cut Copy Paste Delete Undo Redo Group Entry Group Entry

Figure 2-2 ACE Toolbar

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 USING ACE

2.2 Working with ACE Files Saving an ACE File

To save an ACE file, click the ‘File’ menu, then select
NOTE: G1000 ACE files provided by the aircraft
the ‘Save’ menu option, or click the ‘Save’ icon located on
manufacturer should not be edited by the
the toolbar.
customer.
An ACE file can also be saved with a new file name by
Creating a New ACE File clicking the ‘File’ menu and selecting the ‘Save As...’ menu
To create a new ACE file, click the ‘File’ menu, then option.
click ‘New’, or click the ‘New’ icon located on the toolbar. NOTE: Neither a new blank ACE file, nor an
ACE displays a new file composed of a working frame already saved ACE file can be saved with the
containing the highlighted character string ‘<End of ‘Save’ menu option; the ‘Save As...’ menu option
Groups>’ (preceded by a grayed-out group icon) and a is the only save menu option available in this
blank, gray preview frame, as shown in Figure 2-3. case.
NOTE: When the ACE application is opened, a NOTE: All ACE files names end in the extension
new ACE file entitled “chklist” is automatically “.ACE”.
presented to the user.
NOTE: Before uploading the ACE checklist file
to a Secure Digital (SD) card for the purpose of
transferring the checklist to an ACE compatible
product, consult the appropriate OEM or Garmin
documentation for applicable file name.

Figure 2-3 New ACE Document Closing an ACE File

ACE files can only be closed by closing the ACE
NOTE: Only one file can remain open at a
application or by opening another ACE document. To
time. Thus, if an ACE file is already open and
the user opens or creates another ACE file, ACE close ACE, click the ‘File’ menu, then click ‘Exit’, or click
first closes the opened file before opening or the ‘x’ icon located at the top right corner of the application
creating the newly requested one (a prompt to interface.
save the displayed file is presented beforehand,
as appropriate).

Opening an Existing ACE File

To open an ACE file, click the ‘File’ menu, then click
‘Open...’, or click the ‘Open’ icon located on the toolbar.
NOTE: Links to the last four (4) distinct opened
ACE files are displayed in the ‘File’ menu, above
the ‘Exit’ menu option.

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 USING ACE

Checking or Editing File Properties Transferring ACE Files to the ACE compatible
product
The following information may be entered in the Ace
ACE files can be transferred to the system via the SD
Properties window:
card (Integrated Flight Deck Systems must use the SD card
• Checklist Name that contains terrain information).
• Aircraft Make and Model
• Aircraft Information To transfer ACE files to an SD card:
(i.e., aircraft-specific identification) 1a. If the ACE file is open, use the ‘Save’ or ‘Save
• Manufacturer Identification As...’ File menu option to save the ACE checklist
• Copyright Information to the root directory of the SD card.
• Default Group 1b. If the ACE file is not open, copy this checklist
• Default Checklist file via the file browser application to the root
All of the user-selected information that appears on the directory of the SD card.
Ace Properties window is displayed on the ACE compatible NOTE: In order to be recognized by the ACE
product display once the corresponding ACE file has compatible product System, the ACE file must
been loaded onto the system. For example, the group be named according to the applicable OEM or
and checklist selected as default items are automatically Garmin documentation.
displayed when the ACE checklist is first accessed on the
Uploading ACE files onto the Integrated
ACE compatible product.
Flight Deck System:
Opening the Ace Properties window (Figure
1. Ensure that the system is powered off before
2-4):
inserting the SD card.
1. Click the ‘Edit’ menu. 2. Insert the SD card to which the desired ACE
2. Select the ‘File Properties...’ menu option. checklist file has been copied into the SD card
slot (bottom slot for Integrated Flight Deck
systems (Figure 2-5).

I n s e r t S D c a rd
(bottom card slot
for Integrated
Flight Deck units)

Figure 2-4 Ace Properties Window Figure 2-5 SD Card Insertion

6 Garmin ACE User’s Guide 190-00348-00 Rev. C

 USING ACE

2.3 Building ACE Documents Entries

An entry is a subset of a checklist and can be formatted
Groups, Checklists and Entries in various ways depending on the type of information that
To build an aviation checklist file, the user should it is meant to present.
create a number of groups, checklists, and entries. The following entry types are available:
Groups • Plain Text – used for paragraphs that do not
A group is a set of checklists such as that containing constitute notes, subtitles, warnings, cautions, or
preflight procedures or in-flight operations. challenges.
• Note
NOTE: The group containing the emergency
procedures should ALWAYS be the first group
• Subtitle – title of a section within a checklist.
that appears in the ACE file working frame • Warning
hierarchy so that this group can be the group • Caution
that is automatically displayed on the MFD when • Challenge – if appearing without a response, a
the EMERGCY softkey of the Checklist Page is challenge represents an action to be taken, as in “2.
pressed. Maintain directional control with the brakes and
rudder.” A challenge can also be the title of an action
Checklists if it appears with a response. For instance, “4. Boost
A checklist is a subset of a group and is typically Pump” could be a challenge and “OFF” could be its
composed of more than one entry. An instance of a response.
checklist title under the “In-Flight” group could be
“Climb”, as shown in Figure 2-6.

Group
Checklist
Entry

Working Frame

Figure 2-6 Groups, Checklists and Entries

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 USING ACE

Creating Groups Creating Checklists

ACE offers the following ways to create groups: ACE offers the following ways to create checklists:
• By clicking the ‘Edit’ menu, then by selecting the • By clicking the ‘Edit’ menu, then by selecting the
‘Add New Group...’ option. ‘Add New Checklist...’ option.
• By right-clicking a group, then by selecting the ‘Add • By right-clicking a checklist, then by selecting the
New Group...’ option. ‘Add New Checklist...’ option.
• By clicking the ‘Add New Group’ icon located on • By clicking the ‘Add New Checklist’ icon located on
the toolbar. the toolbar.
‘Add New Group’ Icon ‘Add New Checklist’ Icon

NOTE: In order to create a new group, a group NOTE: To create a checklist at the end of the
must be highlighted in the left frame. When any sequence of checklists, highlight the ‘<End
group is highlighted, options associated with Of Checklists>’ character string by clicking
groups are selectable by the user, while options it. To create a checklist before a specific
associated with checklists and entries are grayed checklist, highlight the latter and use one of the
out and thus not available to the user. aforementioned checklist creation procedures.

NOTE: Upon the creation of a group, a new Creating Entries

checklist containing a new entry is automatically
created under the new group. ACE offers the following ways to create entries:
• By clicking the ‘Edit’ menu, then by selecting the
NOTE: To create a group at the end of the ‘Add New Entry...’ option.
sequence of groups, highlight the ‘<End Of
• By right-clicking an entry, then by selecting the ‘Add
Groups>’ character string by clicking it. To
create a group before a specific group, highlight New Entry...’ option.
the latter by clicking it and use one of the • By clicking the ‘Add New Entry’ icon located on the
aforementioned group creation procedures. toolbar.
‘Add New Entry’ Icon

NOTE: To create an entry at the end of the

sequence of entries, highlight the ‘<End Of
Entries>’ character string by clicking it. To create
an entry before a specific entry, highlight the
latter and use one of the afore-mentioned entry
creation procedures.

8 Garmin ACE User’s Guide 190-00348-00 Rev. C

 USING ACE

Cutting, Copying and Deleting Groups, Editing Group, Checklist, and Entry Properties
Checklists, or Entries ACE offers the following ways to edit properties related
When selected/highlighted, a group, checklist, or entry to groups, checklists, or entries:
can be cut, copied, or deleted in the following ways:
• By clicking the ‘Edit’ menu, then by selecting the
• By clicking the ‘Edit’ menu, then by selecting the ‘Group Properties...’, ‘Checklist Properties...’, or
‘Cut’, ‘Copy’, or ‘Delete’ option. ‘Entry Properties...’ option.
• By right-clicking, then by selecting the ‘Cut’, ‘Copy’, • By right-clicking the group, checklist, or entry of
or ‘Delete’ option. interest, then selecting the ‘Properties’ option.
• By clicking the ‘Cut’, ‘Copy’, or ‘Delete’ icon located • By double-clicking the group, checklist, or entry of
on the toolbar. interest.
• By using the appropriate keyboard key or keystroke • By clicking the properties icon of the highlighted
combination (i.e., “Ctrl-X”, “Ctrl-C”, and “Del” item (i.e., group, checklist, or entry).
respectively).
‘Group Properties’ Icon
Pasting Groups, Checklists, or Entries
‘Checklist Properties’ Icon
When a group, checklist, or entry has been copied
(and is still in the memory buffer), it can be pasted in the ‘Entry Properties’ Icon
following ways:
• By clicking the ‘Edit’ menu, then by selecting the Editing properties
‘Paste’ option. 1. Use one of the methods listed above to open
• By right-clicking, then by selecting the ‘Paste’ the Properties window of a group, checklist, or
option. entry.
• By clicking the ‘Paste’ icon located on the toolbar. 2. Edit properties as appropriate.
• By using the “Ctrl-V” keystroke combination.
3. Click ‘OK’ to apply the properties and close the
Properties window.

Figure 2-7 Group Properties Window Figure 2-8 Checklist Properties Window

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 USING ACE

Editing Entry Properties Text

All keyboard characters and digits may be entered
Whereas group and checklist properties are limited in the Text box. However, ACE does not recognize the
to the group and checklist names respectively, entry following symbols:
properties (Figure 2-9) include the following items:
` = [ ] ~ @ ^ { } |
• Text
• Response NOTE: If the Text box is left empty upon
• Entry Type clicking ‘OK’ in the Entry Properties window,
• Justification ACE automatically enters the word “Entry”
• Number of blank lines to follow entry in the Text box. On the preview window, the
ACE-inserted word “Entry” is preceded by
NOTE: By default, a new entry is always formatted
“NOTE: “,“WARNING: “, or “CAUTION: “, if
as a left-justified Challenge with no blank lines
appropriate.
to follow the entry and with the words “New
Entry” in the Entry Properties Text box. Response
The Response box should contain text associated with
the response to a challenge. For example, if “1. Mixture”
is entered in the Text box of a Challenge entry, “CUTOFF”
could be entered in the Response box.

NOTE: The Response box is only usable if the

entry type has been set to ‘Challenge’. When
other types of entries are selected, the Response
box is grayed out.

NOTE: A challenge does not necessarily need to

be accompanied by a response.

Figure 2-9 Entry Properties Window

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 USING ACE

Entry Type Justification

The following text formatting options are available The following text justification options for the entry
from the Entry Type pulldown list (Figure 2-10): types are available from the Justification pulldown list
(Figure 2-11):
• Plain Text – white text
• Note – gray text preceded by the word “NOTE: ” • Left Justified
• Subtitle – white text in boldface format • Indent 1 Level – corresponds to one (1) left tab
• Warning – yellow text preceded by the word • Indent 2 Levels – corresponds to two (2) left tabs
“WARNING: ” • Indent 3 Levels – corresponds to three (3) left tabs
• Caution – white text preceded by the word • Indent 4 Levels – corresponds to four (4) left tabs
“CAUTION: ” • Center (not available for the ‘Challenge’ entry
• Challenge – cyan text preceded by a hollow white type)
box (text entered in the ‘Response’ box always
Number of Blank Lines to Follow Entry
appears right-justified on the checklist).
A number from zero (0) to ninety-nine (99) can be
NOTE: Capitalization is user-defined, except
entered in the ‘Number of blank lines to follow entry’ box
for the words “NOTE”, “WARNING” and
“CAUTION”, which automatically precede
in order to add blank lines between checklist entries.
the text entered for the ‘Note’, ‘Warning’ and
‘Caution’ entry types.

Figure 2-10 Entry Type Pulldown List Figure 2-11 Justification Pulldown List

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 USING ACE

2.4 Using the Help Menu

The Help menu contains the following menu options:
• ACE Help (Figure 2-12) – activates the Help
capability.
• About ACE (Figure 2-13) – displays the ACE
software version number.

Figure 2-12 ACE Help

Figure 2-13 About ACE

12 Garmin ACE User’s Guide 190-00348-00 Rev. C

 Garmin International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street
Olathe, KS 66062, U.S.A.
p: 913.397.8200 f: 913.397.8282

Garmin AT, Inc.

2345 Turner Road SE
Salem, OR 97302, U.S.A.
p: 503.391.3411 f: 503.364.2138

Garmin (Europe) Ltd.

Liberty House, Bulls Copse Road
Hounsdown Business Park
Southampton, SO40 9RB, U.K.
p: 44/ (0) 870.8501241 f: 44/ (0) 870.8501251

Garmin Corporation
No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road
Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan
p: 886/2.2642.9199 f: 886/2.2642.9099

[Link]

© 2010 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries 190-00348-00 Rev. C