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Effects and arrays

Mr.Crocodile

Mr.Crocodile

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I created a CAT3 900 approach light system for FS9 using an array .def file. Obviously I paid attention to all the necessary heading and coordinates of all the lights I defined.
During some tests I noticed that beyond 6NM away from the runway the approach light system becomes invisible looking through the approach heading. Moving a little left or right the system becomes visible again but moving away to about 10NM it disappears again definitely.
So I tried the same using some other airports (LIMJ and LIRA) and noticed that the approach light system remains visible more than 10 NM (obviously I'm considering good weather conditions).
So I tried to use more bulb lights in the def file (till 4), but the things are not going so better.
So I would like to make a test using effects instead of BGL_LIGHTs but I did not understand how to indicate them inside the .def file.

Is there someone so kind to explain me if and how I could do it?
Thanks

Edit: sorry, stupid question. The answer is during the library creation. There is the checkbox to enable the replacement of the BGL_LIGHTs with Effects.
 
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Mr. Crocodile, I have now returned home and am happy to attempt to address any still-unresolved issues that you may wish to identify.

Regarding the range of effects and BGL_LIGHTS, that is solely under the control of Flightsim. AIFP simply calls for display or no-display.

Don
 
Ok, thanks.
I made only a few test trying to use effects instead of BGL_LIGHTS, but something went wrong because after I copied the effects into the related FS folder, they did not work. Maybe I'm going to be more clear with some more test. At the moment I'm going to use BGL_LIGHTS for the scenery I'm working with.
Anyway if you have any idea about it let me know.

Andrea
 
They didn't work at all, i.e., no lights whatsoever, or they didn't work as you expected?

If they didn't work at all, check that you a file named "Colors.txt" is in your AFLT folder.

Don
 
They appear not working at all, I can see only the objects but not the lights.
Yes the file colors.txt is in the AFLT folder.

Could you confirm that to use the effects for an array I have to activate the "Replace BGL_LIGHTs with Effects" option in the Make Library window just before saving the library?
And if Yes, is this option usable also to create a library with lights (not array) model created with BGL_LIGHT option active in the main AFLT window?
Sorry if the above question could be strange but the presence of the two above options (one in the main AFLT window and the other in the library export window) brought me in a little confusion.
 
Could you confirm that to use the effects for an array I have to activate the "Replace BGL_LIGHTs with Effects" option in the Make Library window just before saving the library?
Click to expand...
Confirmed
is this option usable also to create a library with lights (not array) model created with BGL_LIGHT option active in the main AFLT window
Click to expand...
The main panel controls allow you to use effects all the time for a particular light, even if the "Replace BGL_LIGHTs with Effects" on the Make Library panel is not checked.

If the "Replace BGL_LIGHTs with Effects" option in the Make Library window is checked, all lights will use effects, regardless of the Main Panel setting. If the "Replace BGL_LIGHTs with Effects" option in the Make Library window is not checked, only those that are specified on the Main panel to use effects will use effects.

Hope this clarifies.

If you are still unable to get it to work, zip up your entire library folder and e-mail it to me at don at stuff4fs dot com and I'll take a look.

Don
 
Thanks Don, as usually you very kind. All is perfectly clear.
As soon as possible I'll send you the library.
Thanks again
 
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