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added: Sun, 16th October 2005 | 2392 views | 0x in favourites
feed url: http://www.scenery.org/rss_design_feed.xml
Scenery design tools & utilities for all versions of Microsofts Flight Simulator.
We are very pleased to announce the release of an Update to ADE. This update will bring either 1.20 or 1.22 up to 1.25. There is no need to remove the 1.22 update before applying the new one. This version deals with a number of bugs and also adds some significant new functionality. Full details available at the authors website. http://www.airportdesigneditor.co.uk/
From Jon Masterson
Have you ever been flying a Helicopter and spotted a building or ship upon which you wished to land but it’s surface would not support your craft and you ended up sinking out of sight? This Tutorial will show you how to easily “harden” such surfaces so you can land on them with confidence.
From: David "Opa" Marshall
ExcBuilder for FSX - is a small freeware program that helps you to create different types of exclude files. With this tool you can delete default taxiway signs, generic buildings, windsocks and many other objects through user-friendly interface without knowing anything about programming.
From Paavo Pihelgas
“How did I overlook the FSX version of this time-honored FS2004 tool?” - Webmaster.
This is a small update for Airport Design Editor 1.20. It fixes a bug where users with some regional settings could not run the program. It also adds thumbnails for land class courtesy of Holger Sandmann and the ability to add terrain vector elements such as roads, streams etc. Stock objects at an airport that are display only in version 1.20 can now be moved, modified or deleted. Users can also choose to keep the XML file after compiling. For full details please see the change log after installation. IMPORTANT - this is an update and you must have installed 1.20 before running this program. From Jon Masterson
FSDSxTweak Edit - this freeware tool is an ADD-ON for FSDSXTweak (below). Making complex material tweaks using FSDSxTweak config files can be problematic, due to having to look up all the keywords, and the occasional typo causing havoc. This is a graphical editor for config files, allowing you to easily make and edit tweaks.
This program integrates with FSDSxTweak_Plugin v1.3 or later (below).
Note: This editor is completely compatible with your existing .cfg files - you should be able to open and save them as they are.
From Dave Nunez
v1.3 Added:
Support to call FSDSXTweak_Edit directly for cfg files
- Added the backup cleanup feature
Note: for a complete description and feature complement, please see our Website.
From Dave Nunez
Updates in Build 28:
The User Interface has been completely redesigned to set a new standard in FSX airport CAD applications. The intention is to make FSX Planner a much more user friendly and professional looking application. There are several new displays within the menus that we hope will make creating your airport easier. These include the ability to visually select runway types, taxiway types, specific parking locations. In addition the secondary menu options are now more obvious, such as connecting to FSX, the various plane makes available, etc. The tool tips have also been significantly expanded so that they are much more of a help option, rather than a simple tool tip. These enhanced tool tips are shown to help you understand how a tool works, and what it is meant to do. With all these aspects of the new interface we hope that FSX Planner succeeds in setting a new standard of ease of use, thereby making airport design as fast and easy as possible.
You can now rotate the airport display. To do so hold down the shift key while moving the scroll button on the mouse. Alternatively you can click on the rotating North icon and enter a specific value in the properites display.
From zBlueSoftware
Airport Design Editor (ADE) is a freeware graphical design tool to create and enhance airports for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. It takes it's inspiration from the excellent AFCAD2 developed for FS9 by Lee Swordy. ADE does for FSX what AFCAD does for FS9 and adds support for new FSX features such as fences and jetways.
ADE sets out to achieve two things in designing and enhancing airports. First to make the enhanced airport look good, and second to make it work properly. Airport design must address both aspects - the visible and the invisible. The design philosophy goes further in assisting users of all levels to get things right from the start. Error checking and 'common sense' are built in. At the same time it is important to allow users flexibility.
Note: This a significant upgrade to the Program and contains many fixes and functional enhancements. It also merges the Home and Pro Edition functionality. As of version 1.20 there is only one edition of ADE.
From Jon Masterson
v1.6 - Added:
Audit mode.
Added version reporting for compatability with FSDSXTWEAK_plugin - use "/version <filename>"
Note: for a complete description and feature complement, please see our Website.
From Dave Nunez
v1.2 Added:
Support for the 'audit' feature of fsdsxtweak 1.6.
The 'check for updates' functionality (also checks id fsdsxtweak is up to date).
The 'go to FFDS forum' button to make it quicker to post queries!
Note: for a complete description and feature complement, please see our Website.
From Dave Nunez
FSDSxTweak Plugin - this freeware tool is an ADD-ON for FSDSXTweak. FSDSXTweak is all good and well, but using the command line to build your models sucks. This tools allows you to set up the paths filenames and so on needed for your project, save those parameters, and then build your model with a single button press. It can also be used as a plugin to FSDS, so that you can build everything from inside that application.
From Dave Nunez
This tutorial will provide step-by-step instructions on how to use background images in ADE to add and modify elements at an existing stock FSX airport.
From: Bob Keeshan
This tutorial will provide step-by-step instructions on how to create and to modify paths, parking, and aprons at a stock airport. To follow along, you will first need to install Airport Design Editor Home Edition (ADE) by following the steps outlined in the Installation & Configuration Tutorial below. You should also have read through the ADE manual and be familiar with the various functions within ADE.
From: Bob Keeshan
A relatively inexpensive way to soup-up your Flight Simulator setup without spending hundreds of dollars in the process.
Note: This guide is merely a suggestion as to how one can make the most of their FS setup without the need for expensive modifications. Thanks to the hard work of many individuals, setups like this are entirely practical and won’t have you sitting in the “FS doghouse” with your significant other. The goal of this guide is to provide you the ability to run your Flight Simulator setup on your primary PC and your FS “peripheral programs” (using a few software tools) on a sidekick PC.
From: Mark R. McCoy
Setting backgrounds in Max is not all that difficult once you figure it out. The hard part is figuring it out. The key is, like most efforts, getting off on the right foot. Attention to detail at the beginning will go a long way towards helping in the end. The way I demonstrate here is by far, not the only way of doing this. It is, I believe, the simplest, while at the same time leaves you with the most accuracy and flexibility.
From: Kevin Ryan
Note: This is a version 1.4 Bug-fix.
FSDSxTweak - this freeware tool allows Abacus FSDS users (from version 3.5.1 onwards), to add certain features into their models which FSX permits (such as bump mapping), but which the FSDS interface does not allow. It is designed to be used from the command line, allowing it to be integrated (via batch files of whatever) into your workflow, with as little human interaction as possible.
FEATURES:
FSDSxTweak has been updated to add the following into a .x file:
• Set dynamic shadows in the VC (the ShadowMapReady switch)
From Dave Nunez
FSDSxTweak - this freeware tool allows Abacus FSDS users (from version 3.5.1 onwards), to add certain features into their models which FSX permits (such as bump mapping), but which the FSDS interface does not allow. It is designed to be used from the command line, allowing it to be integrated (via batch files of whatever) into your workflow, with as little human interaction as possible.
FEATURES:
FSDSxTweak has been updated to add the following into a .x file:
• Set the source and destination functions for the framebuffer blending function
• Set the Emissive blend mode (useful for giving proper advanced night lighting to your VCs, etc).
From Dave Nunez
Installing and Configuring Tutorial:
In this tutorial, you will learn how to properly install ADE Home Edition on your computer and how to configure it with your installation of the FSX Software Development Kit (SDK). Airport Design Editor will not work properly without the SDK. To obtain the SDK, you must purchase the Deluxe Edition of FSX because Microsoft does not make the SDK available via download. Once you purchase FSX Deluxe Edition, you will need to upgrade to the latest SDK version by visiting fsinsider.com
From: Bob Keeshan
This guide clearly explains the basic steps necessary to "Enhance" your FSX installation. An first-rate reference sheet.
A wonderful secondary feature of Microsoft Flight Simulator ® (MSFS) is the user's ability to enhance and expand simulations by adding features such as aircraft, sceneries, panels, sounds, and flight plans.
These enhancements are done by installing certain operational files to appropriate locations inside the program. The simulator sees these additions and reflects them in the selections menus. Some tweaking is necessary sometimes to help the simulator see these files.
From: Bill Stack
FSDSxTweak - this freeware tool allows Abacus FSDS users (from version 3.5.1 onwards), to add certain features into their models which FSX permits (such as bump mapping), but which the FSDS interface does not allow. It is designed to be used from the command line, allowing it to be integrated (via batch files of whatever) into your workflow, with as little human interaction as possible.
ADDED FEATURES:
• Base material properties - set to use FS9 style alphas, precipitation effects, specular power etc
From Dave Nunez
FSDSxTweak - this freeware tool allows Abacus FSDS users (from version 3.5.1 onwards), to add certain features into their models which FSX permits (such as bump mapping), but which the FSDS interface does not allow. It is designed to be used from the command line, allowing it to be integrated (via batch files of whatever) into your workflow, with as little human interaction as possible.
FEATURES:
Currently, FSDSxTweak can add the following into a .x file:
• Diffuse map filename
• Specular map filename
• Ambient map filename
• Emissive map filename
• Reflection map filename
• Shininess (glosiness) map filename
• Bump map filename
• Displacement map filename
• Detail map filename
• Fresnel map filename
• Environment level scale - you can set how reflective your parts (as Alpha channels used to so under FS9)
• Detail scale - the relative scale of your detail map (usefule to give smaller detail without larger textures)
• Bump scale - the relative scale of your bump map (usefule to give smaller bumps without larger textures)
• Enhanced material properties - set to cast no shadows (very usefuil for glass anf props), z-write tweak etc.
From Dave Nunez
Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License. With that said Jonathan Harris has developed these Blender scripts to allow the import, export of FSX MDL models to and from Blender. What follows is a brief description:
Blender is an open source 3D object editor for Windows, Mac and UNIX. These Blender scripts import and export FSX MDL models to and from Blender.
Requirements:
• Windows 2000 or later.
• FSX Acceleration or SP2 SDK.
• Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0.
• Blender 2.45 or later - download and run the "Installer" build of Blender.
Tutorials:
This document is a reference and assumes familiarity with Blender. You may find it easier to get started using the following documents, and come back to this document later:
• Blender3D: Noob to Pro
• The Blender Manual
From Jonathan Harris
Flight Simulator X introduces a new method for adding generic bridges. This document explains the concepts and methods for creating extrusion bridges in your projects Very sorry - no support of any kind is offered.
From: Luis Féliz-Tirado
Excerpt: "I use SBuilderX to change the Airport Background Masking on some airports which show a sand type background instead of grass. I would suggest and recommend at this point that one should get the SBuilderX_FSX_Tutorial_V1.zip and read it a few times to get the feel of what the program does and in this way it is easier to understand the particular function above which I will try to outline in my simple terms which is what I use as a guide for myself when I forget what I read in the Tutorial mentioned above".
From: Toni O'Kelly
We have just made version 1.05 available via the online updater. Please note that versions 1.03 and 1.04 were for beta testers only so 1.05 is the current public release.
This primarily fixes reported problems and adds one or two minor enhancements:
* ADE will now write XML for Marker headings of 0.0 correctly
* Users can no longer select an UNKNOWN type for Approach Lights. Any UNKNOWN light types loaded into ADE will be changed to NONE.
* Guidelines can now be hidden if created in current session
* Taxisigns can now be hidden or shown via View menu
* Jetway Gate and Number now update when Gate details changed
* Bug fixed where Parking retains selected color when Jetway added altho jetway is selected item
* Airport Reference Point color now user definable
* Fixed bug where runway links got a designator index other than -1
* Towers located at 0,0 are now moved to the Airport Reference Point
* Added application logging. See below.
* Improvements to memory management
* New checks done to ensure that FSX and BglComp exist
* New check to ensure that airport and navaid database records point to valid locations
* Cancel option is now available when changing airports or closing ADE. This is available in those cases where no file dialog is used otherwise cancelling the dialog cancels the change
* Modified method by which the taxipath tools remember the last link properties
Application Logging
ADE now generates logging information to help diagnose problems. There are three levels of logging that can be set by the user on the Settings General Tab. The default is Normal and should be used unless a problem is encountered. Levels of Detail and Full can be set if required. Full will generate a lot of information so should only be used when requested. ADE will remember the log level you have set from session to session. A single log will be created in the application folder. This will roll over when 15,000 entries are reached.
From Jon Masterson
Now that Autodesk no longer supports Gmax, there is uncertainty about getting a registration key online. This is what the crack is for. This is a work around [probably made by the company] that has been around for quite some time for those who have difficulties in obtaining the registration key for Gmax. This crack requires Gmax v1.2. Please see the "Read Me" file for information on how to use the crack [it's simple] and on ways to restore your computer in case anything happens [this crack adds an entry to the system registry in windows].
From Jessy Corrales
WCVT2POV is a freely distributable program that allows 3D files to be converted from one format to another. It was originally intended to be used primarily by POV-Ray users, but has been expanded over time to be useful by a large variety of users.
This version supports the following formats:
• Wavefront (*.obj) File
• Neutral File Format (*.nff)
• RAW (*.raw) File Format
• TPoly (*.tpo) File Format
• AutoCad (*.dxf) Files
• AOFF (*.geo) File Format
• 3D Studio (*.3ds, *.asc) File Format
• Pov SB (*.psb) File Format
• Povray (*.pov, *.inc) Files
• TrueType Font (*.ttf)
• Virtual Reality Markup Language (*.wrl)
Note: with special thanks to; Richard Dorman, Steve Anger & Todd A. Prater
From Keith "Unknown"
GmaxSLGab script is a simple binary that will grab the full text buffer from the maxscript listener and save it to a file of your choosing. Use it along with the included YaFray to render and export ( yes , I said render!) your gmax scenes.
Note: The gmax render kit contains both GmaxSLGab and YaFray programs -Plus- the maxscript and the "walkthrough "tutorials.
From Unknown
.MD3 Exporter script is the key to using gmax to model for games that don't directly support gmax, so it's a must have!
Note: Unzip this and put it in the stdplugs folder C:\gmax\stdplugs inside gmax to enable .md3 export from gmax.
From Unknown
Autocad .DXF Importer Script for importing Autocad .DXF files.
The .DXF format is a popular industry standard CAD (Computer Aided Design) format and is provided as an export option by most 3D modeling packages.
Features:
• Objects can be created from layers or colors
• Welding of coincident vertices
• Unification of face normals
• Auto-smoothing of faces
Note: With Special Thanks to Milan Lisner
From Chris Cookson
3DS Importer Script for importing Autodesk .3DS files.
The 3DS file format is one of the most widely used for 3D models, so you'll have no trouble finding modeling programs and utilities that can export to it.
It's never been easier to get your favorite models into gmax!
Features:
• Works in 3DSMAX R4 (but not previous versions)
• Keyframer support! Animated models are now fully supported (NEW)
• Object hierarchies (NEW)
• Basic light import (NEW)
• Full import of mesh geometry with texture co-ordinates
• Material import with textures (see screenshot)
• Smoothing groups
From Chris Cookson
CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs)
Here are just a few ways you can use this software:
• You can use it to create demonstration videos for any software program
• Or how about creating a set of videos answering your most frequently asked questions?
• You can create video tutorials for school or college class
• You can use it to record a recurring problem with your computer so you can show technical support people
• You can use it to create video-based information products you can sell
• You can even use it to record new tricks and techniques you discover on your favorite software program, before you forget them
From Nick Smith
XnView is a freeware utility for viewing and converting graphic files.
It has the following features:
• Import about 400 graphic file formats
• Export about 50 graphic file formats
• Multipage TIFF, Animated GIF, Animated ICO support
• Image IPTC, EXIF metadata support
• EXIF auto rotation support
• IPTC editing
• Resize, rotate, crop support
• Lossless rotate & crop (jpeg) support
• Adjust brightness, contrast...
• Auto levels, contrast
• Modify number of colors
• Apply filters (blur, average, emboss, ...)
• Apply effects (lens, wave, ...)
• Fullscreen mode
• Slide show with effects
• Batch convert, batch rename
• Create WEB page easily
• Screen capture
• Create contact Sheet
• Create or edit Multi-page file (TIFF, DCX, LDF)
• TWAIN & WIA support (Windows only)
• Print support (Windows only)
• Drag & Drop support (Windows only)
• Compare image side by side
• Filmstrip layout
• 44 languages support (Windows only)
• And many many other things...
• No Adware, No Spyware
From Pierre-E Gougelet
FS Scenery Configurator is a freeware utility which can perform a lot of operations on the FS "scenery.cfg" file where information on scenery layers is stored. It can insert or remove scenery paths (layers), it can change priority of layers, it can search for a installed scenery etc. It allows easy installation of complete scenery containing folders by processing special batch files. Program can be used with FS 2004 as well, old version is not required.
From Michael Heise
FS Model Checker will scan a selected folder and its subfolders for models. The models that are found will be analyzed to determine their Flight Simulator and SDK version. While written to identify old models in FSX, it can be used with any version of Flight Simulator. You must have the .Net Framework version 2.0 installed. This version fixes the bug while scanning without logging enabled.
From Daniel van Os
"Thought to be lost to the FS community when “George Ioannu” Website came to an end. I recently had the good fortune to have the software resurface after a prolong absence. Now freely available again in our archive".
- Tom Gregor, Sr.
Webmaster
FS Regen - FS Scenery Regeneration - an interesting "Swiss army knife" freeware program. This utility will let you place effects, lights, windsocks and library objects in scenery created with gmax. Will also let you create lights, flexing wings and shadow optimization in airplane designs. You can at last have them chimneys smoking and flashing. Plus, the following tools: Library/bgl browser, Library compiler.
Note: apply the 031b update to the base 20b full program for the latest available version.
From George Ioannu
V1.1 - Fixed some bugs in v1 which lead to 'uncompilable' .x files:
Added environment_level_scale parameter
Added detail_scale and bump_scale parameter
From Dave Nunez
Seasons test file is a BGL that can be used to simplify setting FSX seasons for viewing seasonal terrain texture variants within FSX. The file covers North America except Alaska. By setting the FSX date to Jan-May, a specific season is specified for all areas in the US and Canada.
From Scott Smart
Simply save your FSX flights at a customizable interval of time (minutes). You can indicate the name of flight that will be saved and if it has to be overwritten each time or create a new, indexed, file.
From: Omar Damiani
Release 27b of FSX Planner is now available. This fixes one issue that some people have reported when opening certain bgl files. FSX Planner would sometimes habng when attempting to read some NDBs. This problem has been fixed in this release.
The update is available via the update feature of FSX Planner. A new installer will be available soon on the website.
From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
Released via the online updater. This addresses issues reported over the past four or five days.
This is a required update. If you still have version 1.00 then you do not need to update to 1.01. 1.02 is cumulative and includes any fixes in 1.01.
Fixed runway link bug in fault finder that caused links to be reported against the wrong runway.
Fault Finder Options Dialog now appears on top of the other windows.
Fault finder no longer reports link off runway if link is on overrun or blastpad.
Fixed ADE uses single parking size if settings are not saved.
Fix for error where ADE not finding the path for ade files correctly.
Fixed Runway Start dialog not being displayed on top when called from Fault finder.
Fixed problem where property dialog always shows CAT II for ILS with CAT II or CAT III.
Possible fix for CTD experienced when changing airports.
ILS Hold Shorts are now drawn.
From Jon Masterson
Instant Scenery is a commercial payware tool for adding 3D objects to Flight Simulator scenery in a very easy way. It allows you to enhance scenery without leaving Flight Simulator. Easily add, move and delete objects and see the results of your actions directly in the Flight Simulator view without having to reload scenery every time. This allows you to place every object correctly on the very first attempt. And if you still don't like the result of an editing action, there is an unlimited undo/redo.
• Seamless integration into Flight Simulator
• Easy and intuitive user interface
• Works with FSX and FS2004
• Uses all libraries - FSX and FS2004
• Advanced settings
• Full Undo/Redo
• FSDiscover! points of interest
• Creates scenery that works for everyone
From Flight One Software, Inc.
What's new in release 27:
Updates:
* Improved the graphics engine to provide for better performance when scrolling. This varies from about 2x to 10x faster than the previous versions, and is much more apparent at big airports.
* Improved the graphics engine to allow for clip rectangles to be used when dragging certain items. This provides for approximately a 2x to 4x improvement when dragging these items. This is more apparent when multiple items are displayed on the screen at once.
* Taxiway paths can now be highlighted by clicking on the Highlight Taxiway Path button in the Taxiway Path properties display. This option will highlight every taxiway path that has the same name as the currently selected taxiway path.
* The open dialog displayed when opening BGL files now returns to the last directory used when it is displayed.
* The text area in the compile dialog now displays which elements of the airport were included in the BGL file so that you can easily ensure the BGL file contains the appropriate elements.
* There is now an option in the Compile Dialog to create an additional airport elevation bgl file. This small bgl file is necessary if you change the elevation of the airport. If you select this option, FSX Planner will automatically create the BGL file and place it in the specified folder, which by default is the Scenery\World\scenery folder within your FSX installation directory.
* A new object count display is now available. Selecting Edit -> Display Counts will show a window that displays the current totals of each type of object (aprons, runways, etc). This window is constantly updated whenever a new object is added or removed from the airport, allowing you to easily see the total number of objects being used.
* Fonts can now be customized by the user via the Fonts tab in the Preferenmces Dialog. Fonts for the following items can be specified: Menus; the Latitude and Longitude coordinates drawn on the map; the Parking Location descriptions; the Jetway descriptions; the ILS ICAO codes; the Scenery descriptions; the VOR ICAO codes; and the NDB ICAO codes. Note that font sizes are scaled up or down based upon the current scale of the map. Data is not displayed if the resulting font size is less than 6 point.
* Object locking can now be controlled from the object properties display as well as the Object Locking dialog. Clicking the padlock icon will lock or unlock the object. If the padlock is locked then the object cannot be moved. If the padlock is unlocked then the object can be moved.
* Parking locations are now color coded to their airline code. If no airline code is associated with the parking location then the default green color is used. If more than one airline code is associated with a parking location, then the color of the first airline code is used. A new 'Select' button is now included next to the airline code text field. Clicking this button displays the airline code chooser. This chooser can be used to easily select the airline code associated with over 6,000 different airlines.
* Right click popup menus have been added to all text fields. The popup menu allows you to cut, copy, paste and select all text in the text field.
* Exclusion Rectangles now save whether or not they should be displayed as a border only or as a full rectangle.
Bug Fixes:
* Fixed a bug which created duplicate scenery objects, windsocks, etc, when saving a file that had been created from either decompiling a bgl file that contained more than one airport, or from opening an xml file that contained more than one airport. This bug would manifest itself in xml files that would double in size every time you saved the airport.
* Fixed a bug that caused negative altitudes to be incorrectly read from bgl files.
From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
Airport Design Editor (ADE) is a freeware graphical design tool to create and enhance airports for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. It takes it's inspiration from the excellent AFCAD2 developed for FS9 by Lee Swordy. ADE does for FSX what AFCAD does for FS9 and adds support for new FSX features such as fences and jetways.
ADE sets out to achieve two things in designing and enhancing airports. First to make the enhanced airport look good, and second to make it work properly. Airport design must address both aspects - the visible and the invisible. The design philosophy goes further in assisting users of all levels to get things right from the start. Error checking and 'common sense' are built in. At the same time it is important to allow users flexibility. There will therefore be two editions. The Home Field Edition for those users who want to enhance their local airport and the expected Pro Edition for those who want to make more complex enhancements
From Jon Masterson
FSDSxTweak - this freeware tool allows Abacus FSDS users (from version 3.5.1 onwards), to add certain features into their models which FSX permits (such as bump mapping), but which the FSDS interface does not allow. It is designed to be used from the command line, allowing it to be integrated (via batch files of whatever) into your workflow, with as little human interaction as possible.
FEATURES:
Currently, FSDSxTweak can add the following into a .x file:
• Bump map filename - you can add a bump map filename to a material
• Specular map filename - you can add a specular filename to a material
From Dave Nunez
It is very easy to create your very own high-resolution, custom (photo-real) ground textures. This document explains the concepts and techniques and illustrates the use of SBuilderX with which you can quickly and easily download aerial images and make this type of scenery. So, why hesitate? Make Flight Simulator scenery as real as it gets!. Very sorry - no support of any kind is offered. Please do not write. For any questions, please post in the Avsim Scenery Design Forum.
From: Luis Féliz-Tirado
Menu Mate - This freeware utility is designed to give you quicker access to many (but alas not all) FSX menu items without the need to "drill down" into various menu/sub-menu layers (over 60 menu items supported). This can be handy if-as a developer, beta tester or power-user you need to repeatedly select a particular FSX menu item for any reason. You can also assign up to 20 different menu items as button short-cuts:
• Access most FSX Menu items (Over 60 items supported)
• Assign up to 20 button short-cuts
• Floats on top of FSX (Windowed mode only)
• By default snaps to top of screen to blend with FSX title bar
• Can optionally be positioned anywhere on the screen
From Fermin Fernandez
EASYNAVS - EasyNavs FS9/FSX is an utility that can extract VOR and NDB data from any FS9 and FSX BGL file (with associated Scenery objects), edit and save them (via a dedicated database manager) and rebuild an updated XML file that can be compiled with the BGLComp Microsoft compiler. This utility will allow an update of all default FS Navaids files (FS9 and FSX), including associated scenery objects and recalculation of updated magnetic variation. Comments are welcome.
From Hervé Sors
The original tutorial was pretty much all there was back when GMAX was the next new thing. Nowadays there are a huge amount of GMAX resources available on the web, and Microsoft even contributed their own tutorial for FS2004, but the demand for this Godzone tutorial has refused to go away. I've therefore updated and expanded it for FS2004 and FSX.
From: Robin Corn
Excerpt: "FSX planner is a graphical editing tool intended to allow its users to easily modify all aspects of an airport for use within Microsoft’s Flight Simulator X, both visible and invisible. The visible parts of an airport that can be modified include everything from the runways and taxiways to the taxiway signs and windsocks and scenery objects, as well as everything in between. The unseen parts of an airport that can be modified include everything from the airport services and fuel triggers to the communication frequencies and navigation information.".
From: zBlueSoftware
Excerpt: "FSX Planner provides the user with three ways of connecting to FSX: local connection using auto port discovery; local connection where you specify the port; and remote connections. This guide will discuss each in turn.
The type of connection used is set up in the FSX Connection dialog, accessible by selecting SimConnect -> FSX Connection Status. This dialog lets you choose either of the three connection types and then test the connection.".
From: zBlueSoftware,
Excerpt: "FSX Planner provides you with tools to easily create and edit boundary fences and blast fences.
To create a new fence you select either the boundary fence or blast fence editing tool from the toolbar. Once this tool is selected, you left click once at the location you'd like to place each vertex of the fence. The fence is draw in real time as you place each vertex. To finish your fence, you should double click when placing the last vertex. You will know that the fence is finished because the last vertex will become selected, thereby highlighting it and placing it latitude and longitude in the Vertex Position text fields in the Fence Data display.".
From: zBlueSoftware
The purpose of this tutorial is to give an idea of the principals and the process of creating the animations. It is not intended to provide information on the creation of 3d objects. It is deemed that the reader is capable of using 3d creation software such as 3ds max and Gmax and have experience of importing scenery objects into FSX. 3ds max 7 was used to create the authors FSX scenery and this animation tutorial. I believe that the Gmax process should be similar.
From: Serdar Nuzhet
Whisplacer a freeware tool developed to show how the simconnect API can be used to insert live scenery objects in FSX. The author decided to make it a full featured object placer because he felt globally dissatisfied with SDK's object placement tool and wanted a tool that can be used remotely on a second computer.
Whisplacer is an XML object placer with the following features:
• TopDown map view
• open/save XML files
• open/save BGL files (experimental)
• Live preview of inserted library objects in FSX
• Insert/Edition of beacons, windsocks and effects
• See a thumbnail of library objects
New in version 0.7
* Added grid color chooser to configuration dialog
* Workaround for pitch angle wrapping in live preview
* Saving scenery.xml also save included .mdl files
* Fixed menu items appearance bugs
* Fixed "cancel" item behaviour in line/poly fill
* Adder "fencing" line filling mode
* Easier simconnect configuration
* Some code cleanups
* LibraryExtract standalone tool
From lc0277
ADE is being developed as two versions. The Home Field Edition focuses on providing those things of most use to users who want to enhance their local field and/or other smaller airports. It tries to make this process as safe and easy as possible. This means that the program does not allow certain things that don't generally make sense to do or that are more advanced (for example approaches). This does not mean that it is a limited tool. It will do just about everything that AFCAD2 does for FS9 and some extra things as well. During testing it has also been used successfully to work on large and complex airports - some of which are available on AVSIM.
The Home Field Edition has now reached Release Candidate status. This means that it is pretty much complete but requires a few more bits and pieces and some more testing to ensure it is stable. The main remaining task is to complete the manual - that is currently about 50% done. We hope to make a public release in the next few weeks (Version 1.00).
We also have a Pro Edition in the pipeline. This version will include proper access to some variables and properties that the Home Field Edition does not plus extra tools to handle things like approach data. This is still a few months away.
From Jon Masterson
Webmasters comment: If you haven’t yet tried ADE - Airport Design Editor you're in for a treat. Its visual WYSIWYG approach to Airport design is easily mastered. All control options fall readily to hand and allow for a rather intuitive approach. I highly recommend ADE. Tom Gregor, Sr.
Release 26 of FSX Planner is now available. This release is mainly aimed at two improvements in FSX Planner. The first is to do with the bgl file decompile process, and the second is to do with simconnect.
Hopefully these changes will make FSX Planner faster and easier for everyone.
Here are the changes:
* The SimConnect functionality has been improved.
* Improved handling of memory during the decompiling process so that less memory is required to decompile the file.
* Significantly increased the speed with which stock airports are opened through the Find Airport dialog.
* Parking locations now display the gate name and number, parking location type and airline codes when you zoom in close enough. This make it easy to quickly see if the parking location is assigned correctly without having to select it.
Bug fixes:
* Fixed a bug that prevented certain navigation aids, such as NDBs and VORs, as well as certain scenery items such as windsocks, from being properly displayed at some airport.
* Fixed bug which caused memory not to be reclaimed after opening large bgl files. From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
Excerpt: "There are two ways to refuel your plane in FSX. You can either call a fuel truck, or stop your plane within the limits of a fuel trigger. A fuel trigger is invisible within FSX, but is usually placed in conjunction with a fuel parking space, which usually has a fuel scenery object adjacent to it. This how-to-guide will discuss creating a refueling point through the use of a fuel trigger". From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
Excerpt: "After you have finished creating or modifying an airport you will want to create a BGL file that the simulator can read and display. FSX Planner provides many options, all aimed at providing you with very fine control over what goes into your BGL file, as well as options to help you debug your airport". From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
An remarkable assortment of some marvelous 3D Graphic and CAD Software programs. A number of these are well know to the FS developer community. A few are little known, in all cases, all are worth a look. If you can contribute to our short list we would like to hear from you. From: Tom Gregor, Sr. - Webmaster
FSX Registry Utility a Freeware program that will help you sort out any FSX registry problems and avoid the need to reinstall FSX, such as when manually copying a FSX installation to another drive or when the registry entry goes missing for any reason.
• Reports the FSX path in the Windows Registry
• Repairs the FSX path in the Windows Registry
• Handles both LOCAL_MACHINE and CURRENT_USER root registry keys
• Checks the path to make sure the fsx.exe file is present
• Warns if the registry path is missing
• Sets the registry path(s) to the fsx.exe file
• Sets the registry path(s) to the CDROM drive
• Warns if the fsx.exe is not in folder on clicking the "Set" button
• Avoids the need to reinstall FSX in the event of registry corruption
• Automatically scrolls and searches for the FSX Reg key in the Windows RegEdit program #
• AutoCheck (Developer Mode) automatically checks the FSX registry entry
From: Fermin Fernandez
This interesting handy reference document contains thumbnail images for all available 3D objects in FSX. Images have been generated automatically, so they may not be perfect, and some of them are totally out of bounds. Some others are not textured or invisible due to bad models or fancy reference points. Note that geolocked objects (most landmarks) are not present since you cannot use them safely in your own scenery. From: lc0277's
Release 25 of FSX Planner is now available. This features some new functionality, as well as several bug fixes.
Updates in Build 25
* Exclusion rectangles can now be drawn as just outlines, by selecting the Display Border Only checkbox in the Exclusion Rectangle Data display. This allows you to have multiple exclusion rectangles over each other and still be able to select and work with all of them.
* There is now an option to display the lighting of the airport. This is available by selecting Navigation -> Display Lighting. All taxiway and runway lighting will then be displayed.
* Approach Transition Legs can now be edited. Transitions are displayed in a third table in the Approach Editing Dialog. You can double click on a transition to edit it in a similar fashion to editing an approach.
* Moving an exclusion rectangle is now an undoable event.
* Improved the display of Helipads to properly show closed, transparency, circles, H, medical and square helipad markings.
* Adding a fuel trigger, scenery object or ILS beam using the buttons in the object data display now sets the display option for the items (ie fuel triggers, scenery objects or ils beams) to be turned on to ensure you can see the newly created object.
* After exiting the Background Images dialog, the display flag for background images is now turned on the ensure you can see the background images.
* FSX Planner now checks for background images in a folder called FSXPlanner located within your My Pictures folder. Note that FSX Planner does not automatically put images in this folder, instead it leaves them in their original location. However, if they are not found in their original location, then FSX Planner checkes the above folder for them.
Bug Fixes:
* Fixed some bugs associated with the selection and dragging of the vertices of exclusion rectangles.
* Fixed a bug that caused the helipad closed flag to be incorrectly decompiled from bgl files.
* Fixed a bug that prevented Runway Fixed Distance marks from being correctly read from and written to the xml files.
* Fixed a bug that caused meter or feet measurements to be incorrectly changed if you selected Meters from a combobox that was already set to Meters; or Feet from a combobox that wa already set to Feet.
* Fixed a bug that caused measurements to be incremented by varying multiples of 3.28 if more than one airport was open at a time, or if more than one airport had been open at any time since FSX Planner was opened.
* Fixed a bug that caused some VASI types to be incorrectly decompiled form bgl files. This could result in compile time errors stating that the VASI did not have a valid type assignment. From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
ADE is based on the Scenery Design Engine and provides a 2D CAD type designer/editor for airport facilities. The easiest way to describe it is to say that it aspires to do for FSX what AFCAD2.2 does for FS9. AFCAD is an excellent program and a very hard act to follow. ADE reads and writes Bgl format with no requirement for intermediate Xml and links directly to FSX so that you can use the position of the aircraft to position things. Be aware that the program is currently not complete and there is no operating manual (although there are operating notes and most functionality is discussed in the forum) Note: This tool is under constant development and may well have numerous bugs. The author would be grateful if you can help in reducing the number of bugs, by reporting any anomalies. Compatibility with future versions, not guaranteed! - use at your own risk. This version contains a number of fixes, changes and additions. Please check the version history document archived with the program for details. From Jon Masterson
Louis Sinclair, the inventor of FS Design Studio has added new and improved features to the most widely used commercial design tool for Flight Simulator. Here's a partial list of the new FS2004 / FSX features in the upgrade:
• New FSX compatiblity. Use XToMDL and BGLComp tools to provide robust FSX feature set
• New FSDS V3 compatibility. Use MakeMDL to maximize backward modeling capabilities
• New Scenery compatible with FSX Libraries
• New Enhanced boolean operations provide powerful way to cut and split parts
• New Animation capabilities per FSX SDKs
• New Support for using specialized textures: nighttime, lightmaps, more.
• New Export to .x file format. For advanced users who want to "tweak" the .x file for XToMdl and MakeMDL.
• New Aircraft Specification Sheet simplifies setup of new aircraft for Flight Simulator
• Updated FSDS V2 & V3 compatibility. New version recognizes and handles earlier file versions.
• Updated Unlimited Undo / Redo. Protects your model from inadvertent design errors. Roll back each design operation, step-by-step.
• Updated User selectable Autosave interval. Safeguards your model from computer failure.
• Updated HELP files with tutorials for making animated scenery. From Abacus
Excerpt: "FSX Planner allows you to work with up to four background images simultaneously. The purpose of background images in FSX Planner is to help with accurate placement of airport objects by displaying an image from a source such as Google Earth within FSX Planner. This image can be displayed either above or below the airport diagram, allowing you to choose the option that works best for your purposes. Note that the background image is not imported into flight simulator. It is used only within FSX Planner".
From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
Excerpt: "To create a new taxiway sign you select the taxiway sign editing tool from the toolbar. Once the tool is selected, you click at the point where you want the taxiway sign to appear. A taxiway sign is displayed in FSX Planner as a yellow rectangle with an extra line on the side containing the sign's text". From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
Excerpt: "To create a new apron you select the apron editing tool from the toolbar. Once this tool is selected, you left click once at the location you'd like to place each vertex of the apron. The apron is draw in real time as you place each vertex. To finish your apron, you should double click when placing the last vertex. You will know that the apron is finished because the last vertex will become selected, thereby highlighting it and placing it latitude and longitude in the Vertex Position text fields in the Apron Data display".
From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
Excerpt: "To create a new apron you select the apron editing tool from the toolbar. Once this tool is selected, you left click once at the location you'd like to place each vertex of the apron. The apron is draw in real time as you place each vertex. To finish your apron, you should double click when placing the last vertex. You will know that the apron is finished because the last vertex will become selected, thereby highlighting it and placing it latitude and longitude in the Vertex Position text fields in the Apron Data display".From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
Excerpt: "FSX Planner works with XML files. You can either open an existing airport XML file, or you can decompile a BGL file into an XML file and use that as the starting point for your airport. If you decompile a BGL file you should then save it as an XML file and continue to use the XML file as the source code for your airport". From: zBlueSoftware, LLC
FSX Planner release 24 is now available. This one contains numerous bug fixes as well as some new functionality. The main new peice of functionality is a built in updater so that future updates can be downloaded and installed from within the application removing the need to have to redownload and reinstall the entire application.
Updates in Release 24:
* An update feature has been incorporated into FSX Planner. This is available by selecting File -> Check For Updates. This allows you to download and install future updates without having to redownload and install the entire FSX Planner application. * Synchronizing the tower scenery object to the tower viewpoint now only tracks the latitude and longitude. This allows for different altitudes between the viewpoint and scenery object. * When opening xml files, both the airport icao code and the file name are now used to see if the airport is already open. This allows for multiple versions of the same airport to be open simultaneously as long as they are saved in different files. * A button labeled 'add names' has been added next to the name field of the taxiway path properties display. This button is a shortcut to the add taxiway path names dialog. * When FSX Planner is closed a dialog will be displayed for each open airport asking whether or not you want to save the airport. * Moving an apron or a fuel trigger is now an undoable event. * The type and size of the plane used to represent the simulator plane is now remembered between sessions. * Background images can now be turned on or off individually. This lets you have multiple images associated with an airport, but only have certain ones displayed at one time.
Bug fixes:
* Fixed a bug which prevented runway taxiway path numbers for runways between 1 and 9 from being displayed in the properties display after an airport had been decompiled form a bgl file.* Fixed a bug which caused the approach leg fix type to be occassionally incorrectly decompiled. * Fixed a bug that caused certain jetway scenery objects to be decompiled incorrectly, resulting in errors when trying to compile the airport to a bgl file. * Fixed a bug that caused FSX Planner to hang while certain airports, such as PAWD, were being decompiled if the runway contained certain objects. * Fixed a bug that was due to rounding errors causing incorrect altitude warnings when running error checking. * Fixed a bug that caused Tower altitude checks to be calculated as above sea level instead of above ground level. * Fixed some bugs associated with object locking that allowed aprons and fuel triggers to be moved even if they were locked. * Scenery objects did not have the display name set when an xml file was opened. This resulted in blank display names for all scenery objects until the scenery object's properties were displayed. This bug has been fixed. * Fixed a bug that caused GUIDs to be decompiled incorrectly.
From: zbluesoftware
FSX KML is a freeware scenery design tool for Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX).
It converts KML (Keyhole Markup Language) files generated by Google Earth into FSX scenery.
Using Google Earth to draw polygons and polylines you can accurately and easily create the following types of "vector" based scenery:
• Water polygons including oceans, rivers, lakes and canals
• Islands inside water features
• Irregular shaped landclass polygons for cities, parks, beaches, forest, golf courses etc.
• Airport boundries and flatten polygons
• Shorelines
• Streams
• Roads and road bridges
• Railways and rail bridges
• Freeways (ie Moving traffic)
• Utility lines (eg power and telephone lines)
• Exclusions polygons
Additionally FSX_KML can also:
• Place scenery objects (from the FSX library) along a polyline
• Create landclass and waterclass “tiles” (1.2km sq) NEW!
• Create a FSX flight plan along a polyline
From Innova Software
Whisplacer a freeware tool developed to show how the simconnect API can be used to insert live scenery objects in FSX. The author decided to make it a full featured object placer because he felt globally dissatisfied with SDK's object placement tool and wanted a tool that can be used remotely on a second computer.
Whisplacer is an XML object placer with the following features:
• TopDown map view
• open/save XML files
• open/save BGL files (experimental)
• Live preview of inserted library objects in FSX
• Insert/Edition of beacons, windsocks and effects
• See a thumbnail of library objects
From lc0277
A comprehensive, step by step *.pdf tutorial written with the authors understanding of the proper steps to create a working approach lighting system. The author makes no guarantees that this is the best way to make these lights, especially in regards to the GMAX modeling, exporting and tweaking of the file, and final placement for use in Flight Simulator. From: Andy Reichenbach
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