Simviation Forum - Help with API Macros

Apr 10^th, 2003 at 8:31am

USMC_Col_Ret Offline
Colonel
The Gray Baron

Posts: 10

I am using Airport 2.60 for scenery design and would like to place personal repainted aircraft into scenery.
Is there a method of converting the textures to API format for this program? I have also tried the Stacfs11 program with no success. Any help or advice will be appreciated.

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Reply #1 - Apr 10^th, 2003 at 11:22am

Hagar Offline
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My Spitfire Girl
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Posts: 33159

Hi Col. You can convert existing 3rd party aircraft into static API macros with M98toBGL from the Scenery Design section. These can then be imported into Airport in the usual way. The textures will remain in their original AF or BMP format.

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Reply #2 - Apr 10^th, 2003 at 8:53pm

USMC_Col_Ret Offline
Colonel
The Gray Baron

Posts: 10

Thank you Hagar. Got the M98toBGL program and have
been successful in creating API macros. However, when
I place the aircraft, it does not show up. I placed the texture files into the texture folder of the scenery file
but the aircraft still does not show up. The instructions are not clear and simple enough for such an old one
as I. Can you possibly explain to me how to get the textures to show up?

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Reply #3 - Apr 11^th, 2003 at 1:30am

Hagar Offline
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My Spitfire Girl
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There are 2 ways to do this. You can create a standalone BGL from within M98toBGL or save in macro format. As you're using Airport the latter should be easiest. First import the model. Then click the green Api button & save the file. There should be no problems. If the API was created successfully & scenery including it is exported from Airport without error messages it should work just like any other macro.

I don't know which sim you're using this for. You will find earlier FS5/FS98 designs work best in M98toBGL. More complex designs will not convert properly.

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Reply #4 - Apr 12^th, 2003 at 10:55pm

USMC_Col_Ret Offline
Colonel
The Gray Baron

Posts: 10

ARRRRGGGGGGGHHH.........
HELP!!!!
I converted the repainted aircraft with M98toBgl.
Got a nice colorful API. Installed same. Placed the
textures into the scenery texture folder. Started up
CFS. Lo and behold.......when I got within 10 miles
of my base, CFS locked up tighter than Dicks'
hatband. Tried to enter at base coordinates.....
CFS locked up again. Took out the API and CFS
now works fine. Perhaps CFS does not like my
repaints. Is there a SIMPLEsolution to
this problem???

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Reply #5 - Apr 13^th, 2003 at 3:06am

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
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Posts: 33159

You should have no problems providing

1. The macro is created from M98toBGL without error messages.
2. The aircraft + texture format are compatible with the sim.
For CFS1 this would be a Flight Shop (FS5) or AF99 (FS98 or CFS1) design with AF or standard 256 x 256 x 8 bit BMP textures. The only way I can figure this out would be to try it myself. Tell me exactly where to download the original of the aircraft you're using so I can check it out. Using a process of logical deduction - if that works it must have something to do with your repaint (or some unrelated bug in the new scenery).

PS. It might have some bearing on the method you're using to install the macro.
Quote:

I converted the repainted aircraft with M98toBgl.
Got a nice colorful API. Installed same.

M98toBGL will create either API macros or BGL standalone files. API macros cannot be installed direct to the sim. They would need to be imported into Airport or FSSC & exported in a scenery area in the usual way. Using this method it should be possible to include an AFD BGL so the new scenery is listed on the CFS1 Airfield menu.

Here's an example of a JSF API macro I fixed for another member of this forum only yesterday. This was converted with M98toBGL & added to an existing airport using FSSC. This shot was taken in FS2002 but it's an FS98 aircraft with AF textures & works just as well in CFS1.

« Last Edit: Apr 13^th, 2003 at 5:26am by Hagar »

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Reply #6 - Apr 13^th, 2003 at 6:49am

USMC_Col_Ret Offline
Colonel
The Gray Baron

Posts: 10

Hagar....Many thanks for the offer to assist again.
The APIs were installed in Apt2.60 into the scenery
BGL. Layout was created in CFSmap. The aircraft
I am trying to install are as follows:
Default P47d
Imported aircraft are available here in CFS Aircraft.
Mosquito FB VI, page 11
P-38J, page 20
Bell Airacobra P-39D, page 21
The textures were repainted and placed back into
the aircraft texture folder. Nothing else was changed.
I went through the conversion procedure again.
Same result......CFS lockup.
If you are able to resolve this FUBAR, I owe you a
cold one.

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Reply #7 - Apr 13^th, 2003 at 7:27am

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
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Posts: 33159

OK Col. I have no experience with CFSmap but can check out the 3rd party aircraft with M98toBGL & FSSC. I'll post the results later.

The default P47d is the most likely cause of your problem. It's not possible to convert default aircraft into API macros with M98toBGL or import them into Airport, FSSC or any other standard design program. Defaults would need treating separately & placed in the scenery with the onboard CFS1 Scenery Editor or Chuck Dome's Stacfs12. I think the textures used by the static library objects are in the CFS1\Texture folder, not those in the actual aircraft. These are the ones you would need to edit for them to display in different markings. It might be a lot easier to find a 3rd party P-47 & paint that. IMHO

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Reply #8 - Apr 13^th, 2003 at 9:30am

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
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Posts: 33159

Col, I tried the aircraft you listed & must admit to being puzzled.
Quote:

Imported aircraft are available here in CFS Aircraft.
Mosquito FB VI, page 11
P-38J, page 20
Bell Airacobra P-39D, page 21

It should be impossible to convert all but one with M98toBGL. ???
The P-38j is basically a repaint of the default AI Only P38. Like the P47d, the MDL file cannot be read or converted by M98toBGL. You need an original 3rd party design. I find old FS5 or unanimated FS98 aircraft ideal for this purpose.
I got an error message with the P-39D. Also tried converting it with the later MDLtoBGL with the same result. Some aircraft don't convert for some reason. maybe it's too complex or it might be a bug caused by the animation. A different version of the P-39 might be OK if you can find one. Look in the FS98 section for the original Eric Johnson version.
That leaves the Mossie which converted without problems. Here's a shot on my test airfield in CFS1.

.
Hope this is some help. I think you're a tad confused on the basic principles of all this. I can mail you my Mossie API macro if you wish.

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Reply #9 - Apr 13^th, 2003 at 4:27pm

USMC_Col_Ret Offline
Colonel
The Gray Baron

Posts: 10

???"Confused" is putting it mildly. I tried to tell 'em
I'm a pilot, not a scenery designer. At least we got us
a nice runway and a hangar. Thanks again for helping.
I would certainly like to have the API for the 'Skeeter'.
We can have one, at least. My e-mail:

okpilot1@yahoo.com

Thanks again,
Otha Kemp, Colonel, USMC (Ret)

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