MSFS Aircraft texturing / configuration for group flight issues

TBryson2 · 13 Sep 2022

First, I hope I worded the title of the post correctly but please read the post entirely and the meaning will be clear. I hope I can convey myself appropriately because it's hard for me to explain the situation and I know it's a bit wordy. This is a unique situation because even though the texturing is good, this involves other aircraft / players / group flights and the ability to see each other correctly. Also, in my explanation below, when I say "group flight" I am NOT referring to the "group" option when setting up the flight in MSFS. We always fly on-line without using the "group" option, so we see everyone else online.

Not sure if MSFS follows the same "protocol"(?) as FSX/P3D when it comes to substituting and displaying aircraft during on-line flights. With FSX/P3d If you had a unique texture AND someone else had "your" texture, each of you would see "your" texture appropriately while flying. A good example is if you had 4 aircraft, one red, blue, green, yellow and EACH person had all 4 aircraft, they would see them appropriately. Of course, if someone else was flying with you and did not have "your" textures, FSX/P3D would substitute for the appropriate aircraft, but it wouldn't have "your" texture. Two (three?) updates ago, MSFS was displaying / substituting aircraft with unique textures appropriately, but now it sometimes displays them correctly, or doesn't display them correctly, or doesn't display the aircraft (for the other person) at all! (I'm NOT trying to "fix" MSFS here but DO have aircraft config questions that might be related!!!!)

I belong to a flight sim club, and we do group flights every Sunday. I make unique textures for each participating member so they will be able to fly their own unique aircraft. We all have copies of the textures so that we (should be able to) see each other in our unique aircraft. I have successfully textured many aircraft and have no issues with the textures themselves. My textures always display correctly for the person I created it for, but not necessarily for the other participants of the group.

As stated above, MSFS sometimes displays them correctly, or doesn't display them correctly, or doesn't display the aircraft (for the other person) at all! I'm concerned and suspecting that there is something in the aircraft.cfg files or some other file that is causing the issue, or even the structure I use in the Community folder.

Three members of my club and I did an experiment yesterday where two of them were sitting next to me at an airport. Using Developer mode, I cycled through my different textures. Every time I selected a MSFS default texture, I was seen appropriately. Choose one of my created textures, and it could be randomly seen appropriately by some, others not, and on some textures, I wasn't seen at all or just the nav lights appeared. This is what makes me suspect a config (aircraft.cfg?) issue.

I attempt to follow the lead of some purchased aircraft I have, (T45C, Kit Fox...) but I'm super confused now because none of those (including the Default MSFS Cessna 172) have an "aircraft.cfg" file, or if it does, I cannot find it! In each case of a purchased aircraft, the model.cfg file will "call" a specific ".xml" file but I cannot find any of those .xml files anywhere on my system! (I do realize they are doing something to hide them to be protected. SMART!!! and I have no issues with that!). I was hoping to use their aircraft as an example to troubleshoot my issues and perhaps zero in on what's going on with mine.

So, after all that, is there anyone else out there who are doing group flights, texturing JUST for that purpose and have either the same issue or found a way around it? PLEASE don't tell me to read the "SDK" manual, it might as well be in a foreign language. I understand parts of it, but other parts are too vague for me to follow, and I don't do this for a living. If I can get some instruction on how to set up my textures or config files appropriately, I would appreciate it! I'm willing to share my aircraft with someone else for troubleshooting purposes. Hopefully that will make it easier to diagnose the issue.

Thanks,

TB2

GaryGB · 13 Sep 2022

Hi TB:

IIUC, you are referring to MSFS Multi-Player mode user A/C livery / repaint substitution utilizing liveries that would normally be specified within the pertinent Aircraft.cfg and Texture.cfg files.

AFAIK, that display of user A/C model and livery, as well as tail number has been malfunctioning in MSFS for more than a year.

Initially it seemed related to lag in the MS server / networking infrastructure, and could be remedied by temporarily switching to another server location for a minute or so, then switching back to the server location agreed upon for all participants in a Multi-Player flight event.

Now, however, the display of other nearby user aircraft 3D models and their tail numbers is "consistently unpredictable", regardless of the tail number and/or model actually intended to be seen in MSFS Multi-Player mode.

However, an even more frustrating aspect of MSFS Multi-Player mode present from RTM, is that we seem to never fail to display tail numbers for user A/C that are many miles away in terms of both distance and (very high) altitudes ...which we should not be forced to see cluttering up our sky when we are really only interested in seeing others participating in our Multi-Player flight event, with- or without- other traffic that is also present locally.

I have not had much time available to tinker under the hood to see what might be done to mitigate this problem, but I suspect this is the result of an attempt by MS-Asobo to maintain scenery display at the expense of nearby Multi-Player A/C display, and is potentially due to rendering engine performance.

Whether this is due to user-configured scenery display settings that over-burden the rendering engine might merit testing with minimally-demanding configuration settings.

Then, I shall try the "invitation-only" option, (being certain all participants are on the same server):

How to use the Multiplayer OFF (Group Only) option

Thanks for the tip, will doublecheck next time. Fact is we did a quick test after I wrote my post above and this time it actually worked. So maybe it just some temp issue or we were on different servers as you suggest.

forums.flightsimulator.com

I have not had time to study how / where MSFS packages Aircraft.cfg files in some of the new user A/C distribution formats, so I hope someone more familiar with that will offer input here.

GaryGB

=rk= · 13 Sep 2022

Ha yes, I bought the Deimos Mig-29 to reverse engineer it, only to discover that he had not only “hid” it in the “Official” directory, many developers do that, but he’s also concealed the relevant config files into a Linux file format, of all things.

So far, I’ve not been able to find the concealed aircraft XML files, like in the default 172, interested in tips.

GaryGB · 13 Sep 2022

TBryson2 said:
I attempt to follow the lead of some purchased aircraft I have, (T45C, Kit Fox...) but I'm super confused now because none of those (including the Default MSFS Cessna 172) have an "aircraft.cfg" file, or if it does, I cannot find it! In each case of a purchased aircraft, the model.cfg file will "call" a specific ".xml" file but I cannot find any of those .xml files anywhere on my system! (I do realize they are doing something to hide them to be protected. SMART!!! and I have no issues with that!). I was hoping to use their aircraft as an example to troubleshoot my issues and perhaps zero in on what's going on with mine.

So, after all that, is there anyone else out there who are doing group flights, texturing JUST for that purpose and have either the same issue or found a way around it? PLEASE don't tell me to read the "SDK" manual, it might as well be in a foreign language. I understand parts of it, but other parts are too vague for me to follow, and I don't do this for a living. If I can get some instruction on how to set up my textures or config files appropriately, I would appreciate it! I'm willing to share my aircraft with someone else for troubleshooting purposes. Hopefully that will make it easier to diagnose the issue.

GaryGB said:
I have not had time to study how / where MSFS packages Aircraft.cfg files in some of the new user A/C distribution formats, so I hope someone more familiar with that will offer input here.

GaryGB

Hi again, TB:

I just had a few minutes to search for the Aircraft.Cfg used for default Cessna 172 SP series:

[MSFS_Packages install path]\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\aircraft.cfg

I did this search manually, but you may find using Everything Search utility is helpful for FS and countless other purposes in Windows:

voidtools

www.voidtools.com

https://www.voidtools.com/downloads/

[EDITED]

PS:

A Model.cfg file specifies a A/C 3D model XML name which MCX uses to load the glTF file; both the XML and glTF files are text, ex:

In [MSFS_Packages install path]\Official\OneStore:

\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\model\model.CFG ...shows this internal content:

Code:

; Reference LOD implementation, please keep these comments (for now).


[model.options]

; if true, when showing the exterior, also show the interior model (default false)

withExterior_showInterior=true

; if true, when showing the interior with the exterior, exclude interior.lod.0 (default false); only has an effect when withExterior_showInterior is true

withExterior_showInterior_hideFirstLod=true

; when showing the interior, force showing lod0 (default true)

withInterior_forceFirstLod=true

; when showing the interior, also show the exterior model (default false)

withInterior_showExterior=true


[models]

exterior=Cessna172SP.xml

interior=Cessna172SP_AS1000_interior.xml

MCX will load the corresponding glTF if either of the latter Cessna172SP*.XML files are imported

A Aircraft.cfg file specifies a A/C 3D model folder name which MCX uses to load the glTF file, ex:

In [MSFS_Packages install path]\Official\OneStore:

\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\aircraft.cfg

When that aircraft.cfg (rather than a [3D model name].xml- or .glTF- file) ...is imported into MCX, it shows this result in MCX' Event Log:

Code:

1:16 AM    CfgReader    Information    Starting reading of file D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\aircraft.cfg
1:16 AM    CfgReader    Information    Starting reading D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\aircraft.cfg
1:16 AM    CfgReader    Information    Reading models from aircraft.cfg
1:16 AM    ModelXmlReader    Information    Started reading file D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\model\cessna172sp.xml
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Error        Could not find file D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\model\cessna172sp_as1000_interior.xml.mdl
1:17 AM    ModelXmlReader    Information    Started reading file D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\model.airtraffic\cessna172sp_airtraffic.xml
1:17 AM    ModelXmlReader    Information    Started reading file D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\model.airtraffic_1\../model.airtraffic/cessna172sp_airtraffic.xml
1:17 AM    ModelXmlReader    Information    Started reading file D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\model.airtraffic_2\../model.airtraffic/cessna172sp_airtraffic.xml
1:17 AM    ModelXmlReader    Information    Started reading file D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\model.airtraffic_3\../model.airtraffic/cessna172sp_airtraffic.xml
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Reading points from aircraft.cfg
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Read 25 points
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Finished reading aircraft.cfg
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Finished reading objects
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Cleaning object: aircraft004
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Removed 16 triangles with small area
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Cleaning object: aircraft003
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Removed 16 triangles with small area
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Cleaning object: aircraft002
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Removed 16 triangles with small area
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Cleaning object: aircraft001
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Removed 16 triangles with small area
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Cleaning object: aircraft000
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Removed 136 triangles with small area
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Cleanup: Removed empty model part
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Cleanup: Removed empty model part
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Cleanup: Removed empty model part
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Cleanup: Removed empty model part
1:17 AM    CfgReader    Information    Cleanup: Removed empty model part
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\detailMap\frost_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\detailMap\frost_norm.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\detailMap\frost_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\Planes_Generic\frost_low_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\Planes_Generic\frost_low_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_fuselage_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_fuselage_norm.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_fuselage_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_fuselage_lod4_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_fuselage_lod4_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\Glass\glass_classic_light_norm.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_struts_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_struts_norm.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_struts_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_lights_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_lights_emis.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_lights_norm.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_lights_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_liverycolor_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_livery_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_lod6_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_prop_blur_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_prop_slow_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\generic_propeler_side_blured.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_rivets_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_rivets_norm.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_rivets_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_taillanding_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_taillanding_norm.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_taillanding_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_wheel_blurred_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_wheel_blurred_norm.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_wheel_blurred_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_wheel_static_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_wheel_static_norm.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_wheel_static_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\Glass\glass_detailmap02_mask.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\Glass\glass_detailmap01_mask.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\Glass\glass_defaultdirt_comp.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\onestore\fs-base\texture\Planes_Generic\glass_detailmap01_low_mask.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_wings_albd.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_wings_norm.png.dds
1:17 AM    ObjectRenderer    Information    Loaded texture: D:\MSFS-2020_Packages\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-c172sp-as1000\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_C172sp_AS1000\texture\c172sp_airframe_wings_comp.png.dds

...and will show this in the MCX 3D preview work-space:

modelconverterx-aircraft_cfg-aircraft000-jpg.84016

[END_EDIT]

Both [3D model name].XML and [3D model name].glTF files are text.

Once a A/C 3D model is imported to MCX, MCX' Icon Toolbar_icon#_10 opens the Aircraft.Cfg Editor.

GaryGB

TBryson2 · 13 Sep 2022

GaryGB said:
Hi TB:

IIUC, you are referring to MSFS Multi-Player mode user A/C livery / repaint substitution utilizing liveries that would normally be specified within the pertinent Aircraft.cfg and Texture.cfg files.

AFAIK, that display of user A/C model and livery, as well as tail number has been malfunctioning in MSFS for more than a year.

Initially it seemed related to lag in the MS server / networking infrastructure, and could be remedied by temporarily switching to another server location for a minute or so, then switching back to the server location agreed upon for all participants in a Multi-Player flight event.

Now, however, the display of other nearby user aircraft 3D models and their tail numbers is "consistently unpredictable", regardless of the tail number and/or model actually intended to be seen in MSFS Multi-Player mode.

However, an even more frustrating aspect of MSFS Multi-Player mode present from RTM, is that we seem to never fail to display tail numbers for user A/C that are many miles away in terms both distance and (very high) altitudes ...which we should not be forced to see cluttering up our sky when we are really only interested in seeing others participating in our Multi-Player flight event, with- or without- other traffic that is also present locally.

I have not had much time available to tinker under the hood to see what might be done to mitigate this problem, but I suspect this is the result of an attempt by MS-Asobo to maintain scenery display at the expense of nearby Multi-Player A/C display, and is potentially due to rendering engine performance.

Whether this is due to user-configured scenery display settings that over-burden the rendering engine might merit testing with minimally-demanding configuration settings.

Then, I shall try the "invitation-only" option, (being certain all participants are on the same server):

How to use the Multiplayer OFF (Group Only) option

Thanks for the tip, will doublecheck next time. Fact is we did a quick test after I wrote my post above and this time it actually worked. So maybe it just some temp issue or we were on different servers as you suggest.

forums.flightsimulator.com

I have not had time to study how / where MSFS packages Aircraft.cfg files in some of the new user A/C distribution formats, so I hope someone more familiar with that will offer input here.

Gary

Thank you, Gary, and yes, you are spot on with the issue. I suspected as much, but it's always good to get a second opinion or confirmation. As I said they used to work until a specific upgrade in the past.

I once made several steam locomotives for Trainz RR Simulator, and the frustrating thing was, once you got everything working correctly, the next "revision" of the simulator "they" changed things on the "steam" algorithms and how a lot of things worked. AND "they" didn't bother to tell anyone who creates content for the simulator what the changes were so "we" could update the content! I eventually did get help, and got them working again, but here I am again with MSFS facing the same issues.

I still can't help but believe that there is something "missing" or incorrect if their aircraft seem to appear properly. Finding what "they" changed or if one of my old config files are whacked is a mystery to me. I'll be patient, (hope the other members of my club can be also! LOL!!). And perhaps keep taking a stab at a few things.

And yes, I did manage to find the aircraft.cfg file for the C-172 with the glass cockpit, and I cannot find the one for the C-172 with steam gauges. I have a sneaky suspicion that the glass cockpit version references the steam gauge aircraft in some respects. But then again, I may be wrong. (I have been known to be wrong before. LOL!)

Thanks again!

TB2

GaryGB · 13 Sep 2022

TBryson2 said:
And yes, I did manage to find the aircraft.cfg file for the C-172 with the glass cockpit, and I cannot find the one for the C-172 with steam gauges. I have a sneaky suspicion that the glass cockpit version references the steam gauge aircraft in some respects. But then again, I may be wrong. (I have been known to be wrong before. LOL!)

Thanks again!

TB2

Apparently MSFS Standard version does not offer the Steam Gauge version of the Cessna 172 ?

I bought MSFS Premium Deluxe via a Amazon voucher redeemed at MS-Store; so, I am not sure which package contains what A/C.

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/which-upgrade-will-get-me-the-c172-with-dial-gauges/423680/65

https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/620722-cessna-c172-with-steam-gauges/

GaryGB

=rk= · 14 Sep 2022

GaryGB said:
A Model.cfg file specifies a A/C 3D model XML name which MCX uses to load the glTF file; both the XML and glTF files are text.

A Aircraft.cfg file specifies a A/C 3D model folder name which MCX uses to load the glTF file; both the XML and glTF files are text.

Once a A/C 3D model is imported to MCX, MCX' Icon Toolbar_icon#_10 opens the Aircraft.Cfg Editor.

GaryGB

You are confusing.

Not exactly:

A little unannounced path shortcutting. Anyway, this is what I'd been referring to:

There is no Aircraft.cfg, there is no Systems.cfg, literally nothing, except Cockpit.cfg contact points, which are wrong, in the default, purchased model. There are no proprietary aircraft parameters we can get at, only this crap:

I googled it, the file extension is from Linux OS.

So, FYI, someone might be confusing XML documents, with aircraft.cfg documents. On this occasion, it's not me.

I am stating:

=rk= said:
Ha yes, I bought the Deimos Mig-29 to reverse engineer it, only to discover that he had not only “hid” it in the “Official” directory, many developers do that, but he’s also concealed the relevant config files into a Linux file format, of all things.

I am also informing, that

=rk= said:
So far, I’ve not been able to find the concealed aircraft XML files, like in the default 172, interested in tips.

Sorry, if I confused you. The offer still stands, to gratefully accept tips on locating concealed aircraft XML files.

GaryGB · 14 Sep 2022

Sorry, Rick, but my replies were intended for the OP of the thread; I suppose it is always best to address the person a reply is intended for.

The file / folder paths I posted are copied directly from a Symantec File Manager dialog browsing a MSFS Premium Deluxe version install.

I have made a few edits above in an attempt at greater clarity; if need be I'll edit further tomorrow, as it is rather late in my time zone.

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/t...on-for-group-flight-issues.455949/post-907366

I am not certain what you are alluding to, with regard to the Linux OS file extension; this is what Google returns on a query:

https://www.google.com/search?q=fsa...5gBAKABAcgBFMABAdoBBggBEAEYCA&sclient=gws-wiz

My impression is a *.fsarchive extension may be for MS-Asobo / MS-Store DRM w/ compression, and is used in a Windows OS ...in this case ?

GaryGB

=rk= · 14 Sep 2022

You are almost certainly right, however this had not been the first commercial product I'd purchased to learn from. Many use default Asobo elements, one even had "SimpleAircraft" named textures. It's like industrial espionage. I can see protecting the model, which this .fsarchive does, but the flight envelope? As relates to the OP's issue, he'd be largely out of luck with this plane, no aircraft.cfg, means no new liveries. It seems extreme.

GaryGB · 14 Sep 2022

It was my impression allowing mods to ones freeware / payware A/C flight model or liveries via add-ons boosts the A/C's popularity. :scratchch

IIRC, most A/C makers used to provide free paint kits to facilitate that activity by the end user community.

I'm not sure if this might prove relevant to what you may wish to achieve, but I'll link to these posts by kaosfere of "GotGravel" fame: :idea:

https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/...luxe-aircraft/?do=findComment&comment=4393760

https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/...luxe-aircraft/?do=findComment&comment=4394013

https://forum.quartertothree.com/t/...ally-sorry-about-microsoft-flight/142413/3276

GaryGB

TBryson2 · 16 Sep 2022

Thanks again Gary. I fully understand what the ,cfg files do and are used for. Frustration sets in when a model.cfg file references a xxx.xml file (and thats the only thing in the model.cfg file) and that xxx.xml file cannot be found anywhere on the system! “They’re“ hiding it somewhere!

But reverse engineering isn’t the scope of this text, except it would be nice to know what exactly the ”.cfg” files should look like for the best configurations. I suspect the “store bought” authors have the skinny on more information than “we” do because they don’t seem to be floundering around like most of “us”.

Thanks for the replies. I’ll have to research this some more. WAY too busy to get seriously involved At this time.

I heard rumors that on the next upgrade Asobo has decided to make the hidden files available to “us”. Not holding my breath on that one. 😉

MSFS Aircraft texturing / configuration for group flight issues

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