MSFS20 Introduction to MSFS SDK (scenery)

[napejts]

wow thank you very much. you're the best boy here

 

[Dooby]

Just wanted to say a big thank you to those who have put together the guide(s). I am currently working my hay through fixing the runways etc at Lands End (EGHC) because although they are all there, they are not the right surface and seem to be missing all the lighting... so far I have managed to get one runway sorted (I think) - although the lighting and runway markings took a lot of trial and error.

I am having trouble getting the taxiways sorted though... I have them created but I am not sure how to get ATC to use the names etc in instructions, they just say 'Taxi to and hold short of runway 25', despite there being a taxiway (Taxiway B) leading to the threshold of 25.

Does something have to be added to the coms/scripted to get ATC to use taxiways?

 

[Mr. Wompy]

Just wanted to say a big thank you to those who have put together the guide(s). I am currently working my hay through fixing the runways etc at Lands End (EGHC) because although they are all there, they are not the right surface and seem to be missing all the lighting... so far I have managed to get one runway sorted (I think) - although the lighting and runway markings took a lot of trial and error.

I am having trouble getting the taxiways sorted though... I have them created but I am not sure how to get ATC to use the names etc in instructions, they just say 'Taxi to and hold short of runway 25', despite there being a taxiway (Taxiway B) leading to the threshold of 25.

Does something have to be added to the coms/scripted to get ATC to use taxiways?

I haven't experimented with ATC yet, but I will and if I get answers, no doubt it will be added to the docs

 

[Mr. Wompy]

Hi guys, first of all, thank you for the effort in putting this up. I have 1 question, what is the proper way in flattening the airport area? I tried the checkbox "Apply Flatten" via the Airport Object properties but seems to have no effect? Thanks in advance!

Figured it out
Select always flatten in properties, and in the polygon that has the airport area selected just tick "Terraforming" and that should do it

 

[Tim Shafiq]

Hi guys, is there a way to import ground polygons from sketchup?

 

[DragoB]

Hi guys, is there a way to import ground polygons from sketchup?

god no. Atm, sketchup can be thrown into a bin as far as msfs is concerned - the only way to import stuff is if its from blender or 3dsmax.

 

[Tim Shafiq]

god no. Atm, sketchup can be thrown into a bin as far as msfs is concerned - the only way to import stuff is if its from blender or 3dsmax.

Thanks, in that case is there a way I can import my model to blender, because starting over is something I'm trying to avoid. Exporting as a collada file just made all of my polygons missing.

 

[DragoB]

Thanks, in that case is there a way I can import my model to blender, because starting over is something I'm trying to avoid. Exporting as a collada file just made all of my polygons missing.

try 3ds format instead

 

[Mrskysphere]

Am i missing something here? the Manual says to overwrite an existing airfield:

1. Select the airport, and open the properties page.
2. Under the “To Delete” tab, tick all of the boxes.
3. Save the scenery.

How and where do you select the airport. ive tried selecting on world map and ive spawned in to the airfield and i cant find anywhere in the developer mode to "select the airport and view properties" Anyone able to point me in the right direction or post a screenshot as im lost. TIA

 

[delta_foxtrot]

Figured it out
Select always flatten in properties, and in the polygon that has the airport area selected just tick "Terraforming" and that should do it

yeah. Thanks! I think that's the way to go

 

[delta_foxtrot]

Thanks, in that case is there a way I can import my model to blender, because starting over is something I'm trying to avoid. Exporting as a collada file just made all of my polygons missing.

surely there is a way to import sketchup models to blender, lots of tutorial out there But you might have to rework the texture.

 

[Tim Shafiq]

Just to clarify, this is what happens when I import as a collada file.

 

[Tim Shafiq]

try 3ds format instead

I can't find any way to convert to a 3DS file, as sketchup does not allow the format for export.

 

[Mr. Wompy]

Am i missing something here? the Manual says to overwrite an existing airfield:

1. Select the airport, and open the properties page.
2. Under the “To Delete” tab, tick all of the boxes.
3. Save the scenery.

How and where do you select the airport. ive tried selecting on world map and ive spawned in to the airfield and i cant find anywhere in the developer mode to "select the airport and view properties" Anyone able to point me in the right direction or post a screenshot as im lost. TIA

Make sure you have added an airport first. Objects > Airport >Add. It says so in the manual, so you can look in there (Under 'Creating An Airport' iirc)

 

[scruffyduck]

That sounds like you are selecting the delete airport records which should exclude all the current airport facilities. You then need to recreate the airport so that it 'replaces' it.

 

[GaryGB]

Hi guys, is there a way to import ground polygons from sketchup?

Yes.

god no. Atm, sketchup can be thrown into a bin as far as msfs is concerned - the only way to import stuff is if its from blender or 3dsmax.

Hi DragoB:

Please do not misinterpret the intent of my reply here, as your efforts to help others with learning how to work with the MSFS-2020 SDK are greatly appreciated.

Sketchup is likely to continue to be a valuable FS Development application for MSFS-2020, as has already been exemplified for MSFS-2Kx / FSX / LM-P3D.

Reportedly, a substantial proportion of existing pre-MSFS-2020 format aircraft and scenery can be ported into MSFS-2020 without use of the new glTF format.

The question is, whether 'legacy format' has a perceptible performance hit if locally loaded / rendered in MSFS-2020 at run time (...instead of 'streamed' from the internet).

Another question is, whether 'legacy format' still has better detail (ex: color depth, image pixel detail) than glTF ...if locally loaded / rendered in MSFS-2020 at run time.

Thanks, in that case is there a way I can import my model to blender, because starting over is something I'm trying to avoid. Exporting as a collada file just made all of my polygons missing.

try 3ds format instead

surely there is a way to import Sketchup models to blender, lots of tutorial out there But you might have to rework the texture.

Yes, there are indeed multiple ways- and 3D exchange formats- which can be used to import Sketchup 3D models into Blender.

I can't find any way to convert to a 3DS file, as Sketchup does not allow the format for export.

Tim:

Which numeric / year version of Sketchup are you currently using ?

GaryGB

 

[Tzetsin]

Hi fellas, first, thanks so much for this guide! It has already helped me get a start on this.

Second, I think i'm following along ok, but i'm stuck at the "objects" tab. I can't seem to find it anywhere. I sure hope i'm bugged because i'm going to feel stupid if its right here in front of me somewhere lol

alright, i feel stupid now. I found it.

 

[Mr. Wompy]

Hi fellas, first, thanks so much for this guide! It has already helped me get a start on this.

Second, I think i'm following along ok, but i'm stuck at the "objects" tab. I can't seem to find it anywhere. I sure hope i'm bugged because i'm going to feel stupid if its right here in front of me somewhere lol

alright, i feel stupid now. I found it.

Inside the scenery editor, press View and then make sure "Objects" is ticked

 

[xr219]

I didn't have any problems importing from Sketchup as collada. I don't really know what I'm doing with blender, so far... although the exports using the MSFS addon work, I cant get them to show as selectable objects in the developer tools.

These models were done years ago with the old desktop version of SketchUp (2015?). I find the web based thing unusable so I've given up with SketchUp, but I need to learn how to use blender.

 

[GaryGB]

I didn't have any problems importing from Sketchup as collada. I don't really know what I'm doing with blender, so far... although the exports using the MSFS addon work, I cant get them to show as selectable objects in the developer tools.

These models were done years ago with the old desktop version of SketchUp (2015?). I find the web based thing unusable so I've given up with SketchUp, but I need to learn how to use blender.

At the moment (aka "ATM" ) there is a number of potentially useful work-flow tasks which are not 'yet' possible in Sketchup that may need to be performed in ex: Blender.

Many thanks are due to those who have taken the time to help others here to learn how to utilize Blender with any / all versions of "MSFS 2Kx / FSX / LM-P3D".


FYI: IIRC, web-based use of Sketchup was implemented with version 2020; AFAIK, Sketchup can still optionally be run from the desktop with earlier versions.

Can you use SketchUp offline?

Answer (1 of 2): Yes. SketchUp Pro is available as a native desktop application for macOS and Windows, capable of offline use. Of course, there are a number of features (like 3D Warehouse) that cannot be accessed while your computer is offline. But all the essential modeling tools work just fine....

www.quora.com

Using Sketchup Free when Offline

Sorry another company that screw upped. First adobe, Sorry not all us don’t have full time internet connection. I’m not fighting in line at the library just to use sketch 2018. I’ll just stick to 2017 version. Till there a new offline version. I’m not buying the pro. Plus who has that type...

forums.sketchup.com

I find Sketchup versions 8 and 2016 to be particularly useful to expedite (...initial ? ) production of 3D models.

SketchUp 2018: Previous versions Locations

Hello... Hold on to your previous versions! Make sure you have a backup of any Previous Versions that you use. The current & previous versions are web-oriented only unless you want the PRO version. If you don't have a backup of the previous version that you are using, here is where you can...

www.fsdeveloper.com

https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=cZhDX_u0GszXtAbVjIWQBQ&q=site:www.fsdeveloper.com+Sketchup+2016+download&oq=site:www.fsdeveloper.com+Sketchup+2016+download&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQA1DYEljzmQFg36QBaABwAHgAgAHkAYgBkxuSAQYxLjI3LjGYAQCgAQKgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwi7sePm0rPrAhXMK80KHVVGAVIQ4dUDCAg&uact=5


One must also keep in mind, there are vast numbers of free plugin Ruby scripts to add most- if not all- features offered by later versions of Sketchup.


GaryGB