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Edit Object Placment BGL

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us-texas
So I have an airport here, and there a couple library bgl files and a few object placement bgl files. I want to remove or reposition a couple of these objects. How can I do that?

I know that it can be done by using Instant Scenery but that is tedious -- first you have to guess which placement file it is that you need to modify and doing that takes time, since you are doing it 'in game'.

Is there any tool out that that can at least read the contents of an object placement bgl file? Is there a way to decompile it into a readable format? At least then I know what file to work on, if there is no other way but to use Instant Scenery to modify it.

Mark
 
Hello:

Instant Scenery version 2 (aka "IS2") or version 3 (aka “IS3") offers a couple of ways to visually identify "objects from all scenery files" in a specified radius near the user aircraft via display of colored text info on-screen at run time for BGLComp-XML-placed objects in a scenery object placement BGL; thus, one does not need to "guess which placement file it is that you need to modify", or to 'decompile' a placement BGL. ;)


NOTE
: Whether or not a XML scenery object placement BGL was made by IS3 won't matter, as those BGLs made via other methods such as either FS9 or FSX BGLCompiler... can normally also be opened by IS3.

So, even if a (non-IS3) XML scenery object placement BGL has been decompiled, edited, and and re-compiled via FS9 or FSX SDK BGLComp, it can again be opened by IS3, and used to place more objects.


IS3 can ID those Objects, Generic Buildings, and Exclusions "placed" near the current aircraft location from ALL scenery files which are 'active' in FS within a number of miles specified for the IS3 object labels "scan" radius.


Identify objects in IS3 “Move / Delete Objects” mode


In FSX free-flight mode using any aircraft at the scenery project airport:

Set FS "camera" view to Top-Down or Virtual Cockpit without instruments displayed at desired Zoom level

1.) Slew aircraft to (minimum of) 50 to 100 feet AGL

2.) Open IS3 from FSX main menu > Add-ons > Instant Scenery

3.) On the IS3 main menu, click on the ‘Folder icon’ (Open Scenery) and "Open" your scenery placement BGL in question

4.) Back in FSX, right-click the ground, and click to ‘check’ “Move / Delete Objects

5.) Again in FSX, right-click the ground, and click “Labels”, then click to ‘check’ “All Objects

6.) Once more in FSX, right-click the ground, and click “Labels”, then click to ‘check’ “Library and Model

7.) Back in FSX with IS3 still open, move the mouse cursor over objects to select them (mouse-over)


NOTE: When selected by a ‘mouse-over’, scenery objects in the currently “open” IS3 or other XML scenery object placement file... will display their bounding box, and their corresponding library and model name will be highlighted on-screen.




An alternate method may also be used to scan multiple IS3 or other XML scenery object placement files all at one time: :idea:


Identify objects in IS3 “Show Objects From All BGLs” mode

In FSX free-flight mode using any aircraft at the scenery project airport:

Set FS "camera" view to Top-Down or Virtual Cockpit without instruments displayed at desired Zoom level

1.) Slew aircraft to (minimum of) 50 to 100 feet AGL

2.) Open IS3 from FSX main menu > Add-ons > Instant Scenery

3.) In FSX, right-click the ground, and click “Labels”, then click to ‘check’ “All Objects

4.) In FSX, right-click the ground, and click “Labels”, then click to ‘check’ “Library and Model

5.) In FSX, right-click the ground, and click “Extras”, then click to ‘check’ “Show Objects From All BGLs


NOTE: From the latter context menu, a “Objects From All BGLs” dialog pops up

6.) In the “Objects From All BGLs” dialog, click to ‘check’ “Objects”, “Gen. Buildings”, and “Exclusions

7.) Still in“Objects From All BGLs” dialog, click in “Radius, NM” to set a Ex: (1) nautical mile radius; click “Scan


IIUC, after the BGL scan is done, IS3 should identify on-screen, "ALL" default FS and 3rd party XML-placed scenery objects 'active' in the FS scenery library... for that geographical area (within a Ex: 1 mile radius of the aircraft) at the scenery project airport.


Hope this helps identify the object(s) in question ! :)

GaryGB
 
Last edited:
On it right now, Gary. Thanks for this lengthy write-up. Perfect for the slow kids around here, like me.
 
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