DON'T MIX FS9 and FSX TRAFFIC FILES

[gadgets]

Over the past few days, I've had several "calls for help" about no FSX traffic being generated by apparently-good flight plans. In every case, it was because the user had a compiled-for-FS9 traffic file accessible to FSX.

As described more fully in the User Manual, if FSX "sees" a compiled-for-FS9 traffic file, it will generate AI traffic for that file and any other compiled-for-FS9 traffic files it "sees". But, it will not generate any traffic for any compiled-for-FSX files. This has nothing to do with AI Flight Planner. It is a FSX "feature".

AI Flight Planner isn't perfect (yet), but it's unlikely to let you compile a traffic file that won't generate some traffic. So, if you don't get (or suddenly stop getting) AI traffic from compiled-for-FSX traffic files, the first thing to look for is a compiler-for FS9 file somewhere within FSX's scope - probably in the \Scenery\World\Scenery folder. You'll find AI Flight Planner's Find FS9 Files function very useful for this.

Many add-on flight plan packages recommend placing (or automaticlly place) their traffic files in the \Scenery\World\Scenery folder along with the default traffic files. Do youself a favor and move all those add-on traffic files out of the \Scenery\World\Scenery folder and into the \scenery subfolder of a folder controlled from the Scenery Library. That way, you can easily turn that traffic on and off and isolate it when necessary.

Best regards to all,
Don

[gyedema]

Don,

Just to be very certain: if one moves the traffic files in a scen-lib controlled folder, and disables that scenery, is it so that FSX doesn't "look" at all in that folder?

So, in other words, lets say you have FS9 traffic files that you want to keep for some odd reason, if you place them in a subdir and disable the scenery, FSX will ignore everything and is able to "see" all the remaining (FSX) AI Traffic files? And the moment you enable the scenery, all FSX AI is ignored and the FS9 traffic is visible again? Is that a correct understanding?

O and by the way:

AI Flight Planner isn't perfect (yet)

Well it is very, very close to perfect in my opinion....

Gerben

[gadgets]

Thanks, Gerben. Your understanding is correct.

But, if you just want to save those FS9 files, I suggest you move them somewhere outside the purview of FSX. That way, they won't get enabled accidentally. If you want that traffic in FSX, then let AIFP convert them to FSX format for you (whether or not you move them into an add-on scenery folder controllable from the Scenery Library).

Don

[gadgets]

You MAIW fans may be interested to know that full, updated installation instructions for MAIW packages, including FS9 to FSX conversion, can be found at The Owls Nest.

[gyedema]

Thanks for the link, gadgets. So AIFP does NOT convert those packages directly, we need to follow these instructions at the Owls Nest?

[gadgets]

No, AIFP does the job as far as the traffic file is concerned. However, apparently, the propellor texture also needs to be updated - which is beyond the scope of AIFP.

Don

[jupdaddy]

Ok, I had 1.5 and it ran my flight plans perfectly. I convert 1.6.32 and nothin but problems. It won't run my flightplans even though it has FSX at the end of it. I put alot of WOAI stuff on their. It was converted for FSX(alledgely), it works fine even though when I look for FS9 files it still shows it. I wrote my own flight plans for my VA on 1.5, but it wont convert on 1.6. Any help would be appreciated.

[gadgets]

It won't run my flightplans even though it has FSX at the end of it.

The _FSX suffix is for the benefit humans. It has no bearing on the use of the file.

I put alot of WOAI stuff on their. It was converted for FSX(alledgely), it works fine even though when I look for FS9 files it still shows it.

Unless WoAI have changed their procedures in the past few weeks, their traffic files are compiled for FS9, even though labelled for FSX.

I wrote my own flight plans for my VA on 1.5, but it wont convert on 1.6.

If the flight plans you wrote with 1.5 were for FSX, what is it you are trying to convert?

If AIFP is telling you you have FS9 traffic file "visible" to FSX, then I would be very surprised if you see your FSX traffic. Does your FSX traffic appear if you delete/disable the WoAI files?

I seriously doubt your situation is a consequence of upgrading to 1.6. 1.6 has been downloaded thousnds of times, so if there were a fundamental problem, it would have been reported before now. That being said, if your FSX traffic does not appear when all the FS9 files are gone, send me a traffic file that doesn't work - and tell me what doesn't work - I'll be happy to test it for you.

Don

[wtorode]

Don Sorry but this is the only way I have of trying to contact you. AI Flt Planner just doesn't work. It does not allow me to choose FSX or FS9. I get lots of error messages. I am running Windows 7. Maybe it is not compatable. Shame if not as I really like the program and find it essential.
wgtorode@gmail.com

[gadgets]

You haven't given me much to go on. What version are you using. Where did you get it? Do you have both FS9 and FSX installed? What error messages?etc.

Since this problem most likely pertains to your system configuration, lets take this offline. My e-mail address is in the readme and manual. You can also send me a PM.

Don

[mbwlewis]

Originally Posted by wtorode

Don Sorry but this is the only way I have of trying to contact you. AI Flt Planner just doesn't work. It does not allow me to choose FSX or FS9. I get lots of error messages. I am running Windows 7. Maybe it is not compatable. Shame if not as I really like the program and find it essential.
wgtorode@gmail.com

Hi -

Ensure you are running the program as an administrator - if you don't then you cannot use several of the functions in AIFP.

This is a Win7 thing rather than a fault in AIFP.

Best,
Mark

[rfields]

Originally Posted by duckbilled

There was a rogue FS9 traffic bgl in my FlyMex folder. I have no idea why it didn't shut down all of my FSX bgl's.

I have found that a FS9 traffic .bgl will not shutdown all FSX traffic .bgl files if there are no common airports between them.