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can someone offer advice? (Read 1752 times)
Oct 28th, 2007 at 5:56pm

RitterKreuz   Offline
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Here is my scenario.

Several of the small General Aviation airports i frequently visit in real life are robust GA hubs with a lot of wonderful activity and unique scenery.

specifically some of the grass strips!

unfortunately, many of the ones i visit in FSX / FS2004 are little more than a green strip of land... no hangars, no parked airplanes etc.

because there is so much that needs to be done to a few specific airports of interest to myself (and probably very few other people), i would like to get into scenery design on my own.

the only question is... where do i begin?

is there a program that will allow me to take the default scenery for a grass strip and add a parking area, and perhaps some parked J3 cubs and a hangar or two?

any help would be great?
 
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Reply #1 - Oct 28th, 2007 at 8:53pm

Felix/FFDS   Offline
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I'll be moving this to the SCenery Design forum, which is the more logical place to be.

However, there are several ways you can "spruce"  up an existing airport.   If what you want to do is add objects,  possibly the easiest way is to use Abacus'  free (yes, free) Scenery Shortcut

WHich takes advantage of the Object Placement Tool that comes with the FS-X SDK (requires you to have FS-X Deluxe)

The following is a quick description:

Quote:
The Object Placement Tool
The Mission Builder component for designing scenery is called the Object Placement Tool. This is a flexible utility that lets you select and place 3D objects in the mission with "drag and drop" ease.

When you "drop" a 3D object into your scenery, you see it "live" in Flight Simulator X on the screen. You can then "drag" the object around within the landscape until it is at the desired position. As you adjust the various aspects of the object: it's orientation or scale for example, you also see the modified object reflect the changes.

When adding a second 3D object, the live preview lets you you'll adjust its position relative to the first. So the Object Placement Tool gives you true "what you see is what you get" scenery.

When you've completed your scenery, you'll save the Mission which retains the position and characteristics of all of the 3D objects.

The drawback of the Object Placement Tool is that the 3D scenery appears only for the duration of a mission. So if you are not flying the mission, you won't be able to see the scenery.

Scenery Shortcut to the Rescue
Since the Mission Editor saves all of the information about these 3D objects, we need a way convert the mission scenery into a true FSX scenery file.

Here's where Scenery Shortcut comes to life. This clever program converts the mission scenery files into true FSX scenery files ready to fly and to share with others.


OF course there are other ways, (the creator of EZ-Scenery for Abacus "crossed over"  to Flight1 and they put out a similar package for FS-X).

 
Felix/FFDS...
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Reply #2 - Oct 28th, 2007 at 11:47pm

dave3cu   Offline
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Quote:
is there a program that will allow me to take the default scenery for a grass strip and add a parking area, and perhaps some parked J3 cubs and a hangar or two?


Freeware for 'easy' enhancement of FS scenery. I'll let the download/product descriptions speak for themselves.

FS2004:
*Airport design-Afcad 2.21..add your taxiways and parking areas
*Object Placement-Rwy12..add your static cubs and hangers.

FSX
*Airport design-Airport Design Editor, John 'Scruffyduck' Masterson, in development. Requires FSX Deluxe/SDK
*Object Placement-as Felix mentions, 'Scenery Shortcut' if you have FSX Deluxe/SDK

You might also want to poke around the Scenery Hall of Fame Design pages. A good source for scenery design programs, utilitiel and tutorials.

Also FSDeveloper.com-Several of the works in developement for scenery design in FSX are available and discussed here.

I'll also mention 2 payware programs by Flight 1. Both provide 'live view' (you work in the sim flight window) design. Both work in FS9 and FSX (Standard or Deluxe version). Both have demo's available that provide full function within 50 mi. of Seattle.

*Airport design-Airport Facilitator X
*Object placement-Instant Scenery

Dave
 
At that time [1909] the chief engineer was almost always the chief test pilot as well. That had the fortunate result of eliminating poor engineering early in aviation.          Igor Sikorsky

I intend to live forever....so far, so good.         Steven Wright

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Reply #3 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 12:51am

RitterKreuz   Offline
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well i have downloaded and am currently trying to get Scenery Shortcut to work

but so far there is no "TOOLS" menu option like in the demo video

i have installed the SDK and modified the dll.xml as directed but no luck
 
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Reply #4 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 12:30pm

BFMF   Offline
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RitterKreuz wrote on Oct 29th, 2007 at 12:51am:
there is no "TOOLS" menu option like in the demo video

i have installed the SDK and modified the dll.xml as directed but no luck


Same here. I've tried everything I could think of, but no luck either...
 
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Reply #5 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 1:30pm

RitterKreuz   Offline
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perhaps this is a vista thing?
 
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Reply #6 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 2:28pm

BFMF   Offline
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Don't see how that would make a difference...

I've been looking through the SDK documentation, but I havn't found any solutions to this issue
 
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Reply #7 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 3:07pm

RitterKreuz   Offline
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really too bad - it looks like such an easy program to use.  Embarrassed
 
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Reply #8 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 3:25pm

BFMF   Offline
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I'm sure someone will be able to shed light on the matter, but we're just gonna have to be a little patient... Wink
 
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Reply #9 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 6:34pm

Fr. Bill   Offline
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Make sure that the path you put in the dll.xml file matches the actual path perfectly. Also, make sure you put in the FULL PATH, including the drive letter.  The "relative path ..\" that the sample files show don't work reliably...

For example:

Code:
  <Launch.Addon>
    <Name>Object Placement Tool</Name>
    <Disabled>False</Disabled>
    <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
    <Path>C:\FSX_SDK\SDK\Mission Creation Kit\object_placement.dll</Path>
  </Launch.Addon>


In the above case I have installed the SDK to a shorter path: C:\FSX_SDK instead of the rediculously long path that ACES has specified for the default...

 
Bill
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Reply #10 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 6:57pm

Felix/FFDS   Offline
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In my case, since I installed the SDK per the ridiculously long Microsoft default path:

Code:
  <Launch.Addon>
    <Name>Object Placement Tool</Name>
    <Disabled>False</Disabled>
    <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
    <Path>..\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Mission Creation Kit\object_placement.dll</Path>
  </Launch.Addon>

 
Felix/FFDS...
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Reply #11 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 7:16pm

RitterKreuz   Offline
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Hmm no dice - no matter how i do it  Undecided

i have...

<Launch.Addon>
    <Name>Object Placement Tool</Name>
    <Disabled>False</Disabled>
    <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
    <Path>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Mission Creation Kit\Object_Placement.dll</Path>
  </Launch.Addon>

only without the word wrap
 
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Reply #12 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 7:34pm

Hagar   Offline
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RitterKreuz wrote on Oct 29th, 2007 at 7:16pm:
Hmm no dice - no matter how i do it  Undecided

i have...

<Launch.Addon>
   <Name>Object Placement Tool</Name>
   <Disabled>False</Disabled>
   <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
   <Path>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Mission Creation Kit\Object_Placement.dll</Path>
 </Launch.Addon>

I see one small difference from the above examples. Object_Placement.dll
Could this be case-sensitive?
 
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Reply #13 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 10:27pm

RitterKreuz   Offline
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changed the case... double checked the path... made sure there were no missing characters

nada.

Uninstall FSX/Scenery shortcut and try again?

hmm
 
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Reply #14 - Oct 29th, 2007 at 11:04pm

BFMF   Offline
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I don't think it has anything to do with the Scenery Shortcut program. It's probably a problem with the SDK itself...
 
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Reply #15 - Oct 30th, 2007 at 12:19am

Fr. Bill   Offline
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Quote:
I don't think it has anything to do with the Scenery Shortcut program. It's probably a problem with the SDK itself...


It is most definitely not a "problem with the SDK..."

If it were, it wouldn't be working for mostly everyone else...  Tongue

It is most certainly a PEBKAC problem...  Shocked
 
Bill
... Gauge Programming - 3d Modeling Eaglesoft Development Group Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600-4GB DDR2 Crucial PC6400-800 GB SATA-ATI Radeon HD2400 Pro 256MB DX10 NOTE: Unless explicitly stated in the post, everything written by my hand is MY opinion. I do NOT speak for any company, real or imagined...
...
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Reply #16 - Oct 30th, 2007 at 12:27am

Fr. Bill   Offline
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Hagar wrote on Oct 29th, 2007 at 7:34pm:
I see one small difference from the above examples. Object_Placement.dll
Could this be case-sensitive?


If it were case-sensitive, mine wouldn't work. The original file is mixed-case: Object_Placement.dll
 
Bill
... Gauge Programming - 3d Modeling Eaglesoft Development Group Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600-4GB DDR2 Crucial PC6400-800 GB SATA-ATI Radeon HD2400 Pro 256MB DX10 NOTE: Unless explicitly stated in the post, everything written by my hand is MY opinion. I do NOT speak for any company, real or imagined...
...
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Reply #17 - Oct 30th, 2007 at 9:08am

dave3cu   Offline
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Don't have the SDK so just taking a shot in the dark....  

Do either of you have the FSX Recorder Module installed?  

I encountered a problem when the Recorder installer's entry in the 'dll.xml' was not properly formatted. The Recorder would appear (in the Add-ons menu) and run fine if it was the only addon 'active' in the dll.xml. If there were other 'active' entries (Instant Scenery and AFX in my case) none, including the Recorder would work.

I simply formatted the Recorder entry (with Enters and Tabs/Spaces) so it appears as the others and everything works fine.

Dave
 
At that time [1909] the chief engineer was almost always the chief test pilot as well. That had the fortunate result of eliminating poor engineering early in aviation.          Igor Sikorsky

I intend to live forever....so far, so good.         Steven Wright

You know....you can just rip up a to-do list.
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Reply #18 - Oct 30th, 2007 at 12:28pm

RitterKreuz   Offline
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dont have the recoreder module.

and it probably is a PEBKAC issue  Roll Eyes

here is what i did.

1. Installed FSX (ages ago)

2. Installed Scenery designer

3. Read the readme file for instructions on the use of the program

4. Readme file indicated that i have to have the SDK installed

5. Installed the SDK

6. Readme continued... have to modify DLL file

7. Located and modified DLL file exactly as the text in the readme specified

8. Opened FSX

9. Opened the included instructional video

10. Went to click the "tools" menu as the video instructed, but there was nothing there  Huh

11. Came here for help, and took a few suggestions

repeat step 11 about 10 times now
 
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Reply #19 - Oct 30th, 2007 at 8:59pm

RitterKreuz   Offline
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got it working

sort of

as the instructions are for XP and im using vista i think something is getting lost in the translation. Sad im able to place all the pretty scenery, but when i follow the instructions in the video for saving my scenery and making it permanent within FSX... i get nothing... the airport reverts back to its stock scenery.

i dont get it

any help would be spectacular
 
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Reply #20 - Oct 31st, 2007 at 12:02am

Fr. Bill   Offline
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A. Log in as Administrator

B. Disable UAC

C. Disable DEP

E. Now you have given yourself "pemission" to make any changes you want on your own bloody computer...

UAC and DEP are mostly there to prevent owners from screwing up their systems by doing something stupid...  Roll Eyes
 
Bill
... Gauge Programming - 3d Modeling Eaglesoft Development Group Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600-4GB DDR2 Crucial PC6400-800 GB SATA-ATI Radeon HD2400 Pro 256MB DX10 NOTE: Unless explicitly stated in the post, everything written by my hand is MY opinion. I do NOT speak for any company, real or imagined...
...
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Reply #21 - Oct 31st, 2007 at 3:09am

BFMF   Offline
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RitterKreuz wrote on Oct 30th, 2007 at 8:59pm:
got it working

sort of


So what was your trick to getting the tools menu to show up?
 
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Reply #22 - Oct 31st, 2007 at 10:04am

RitterKreuz   Offline
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I uninstalled Scenery shortcut, i unsinstalled the SDK and i uninstalled FSX.

then i reinstalled in this order...

1. FSX
2. SDK
3. Scenery shortcut

4. Modified the dll as it said in the readme
5. ran FSX

plan to put SP1 on soon but have not done that yet.

i think my initial error was installing the SDK after installing scenery shortcut - perhaps you already have to have the SDK BEFORE hand?
 
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Reply #23 - Oct 31st, 2007 at 11:32am

BFMF   Offline
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I installed the SDK without the Scenery Shortcut program. I still havn't installed it...
 
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