I have downloaded, compiled, and installed the 'updated' ADE portion of the project *.AD4 file.
FYI: I show areas of custom aerial imagery PR LC with textured lines of LC popping up through the PR LC LC from underneath.
GaryGB
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FSX Making a landable mountain using ADE for FSX
- Thread starter Tomt478
- Start date
I have downloaded, compiled, and installed the 'updated' ADE portion of the project *.AD4 file.
FYI: I show areas of custom aerial imagery PR LC with textured lines of LC popping up through the PR LC LC from underneath.
GaryGB
I do get some of the real-world LC showing up through the PR, that's ok, I can live with that, it's the ADE LC I can't get to show. it's in the area there that is black with blue lines. I don't mind the real-world background showing through. That's due to the blendmask, not a problem, all of the area you see there is what the 'ranch' looks like on google earth. There is one PR missing, but don't worry about it, I already fixed it, had a corrupted BGL in there, Photo02 didn't work, the file was bad, I had to put in my backup file to get it back, but don't worry about it, I'm not planning on adding anything to that area. I'm only concered with that black PR right now, I just want my ADE LC to show up. I don't even care if the LC covers the PR since it's only going to be in a small area of the PR, the PR will be surrounding the small town anyway. I just want the darn thing to show up.
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OK, I am going to need to see a labeled sceenshot of "the area there that is black with blue lines", as that does not compute with what I see.
Although your project coverage extent is very large for use of "Airport" type BGLComp objects that are not clipped linto "chunks" more manageable by the FSX run time rendering engine like CVX vectors would be, I am compelled to ask anyway:
Which local PR area is missing ?
I am considering expanding coverage extents of the area, and may be able to provide a INF to make a larger aerial imagery PR LC BGL.
As I am considering expanding coverage extents of the area, I may also be able to provide a INF to make a larger terrain mesh BGL.
GaryGB
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Screenshot 2025-03-06 133034
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Ok, here is a labled copy of the main areas I am working on. The PINK area is the one where the file was messed up, it's fixed now, that one is ok, no changes are to be made here. The "Black/Brown" area is Taebira , this is the area where I am working. I want the ADE LC (Cool crops and town) to be placed in the 'BROWN' area ONLY. The 'BLACK' area is the same PR, I don't want to do anything with that section, you may or may not see the blueish lines running in it unless you get down closer to Ground Level. The 'YELLOW' are is Ukathis, this is to be developed later once everything is figured out, let's just call that area, 'Under Construction'. The 'RED' area, is just a small area I plan on placing a small lake later on, another area 'Under Construction'. That big area down at the bottom, it has a PR in place, but it has no 'alien' texture right now, I haven't decided which texture I want to use for it, so another 'Construction Area'. All other areas are not developed and only show the Real-World land , the 'GREEN' areas are where there are ADE Land Classes, they all work fine. the 'BLUE' areas are just water, again, they work fine.That should clarify things a little better now.
Hi Tom:
After a couple of days of attending to other matters, I have reviewed the CVX vector geometry of the "Black/Brown" area of Taebira
You have stated: I want the ADE LC (Cool crops and town) to be placed in the 'BROWN' area ONLY.
To do that, you must edit the CVX vector geometry of the Polygon area that makes up that "Black/Brown" area of Taebira.
First, I would clean up all the local CVX vectors and ensure their edges and vertices align precisely with adjacent CVX vector objects.
Then you must segment the (1)-piece CVX vector polygon that makes up that current "Black/Brown" area of Taebira into (2) polygons.
You can then assign desired LC attributes to selected polygon(s) that make up the edited (2) "Black/Brown" new areas of Taebira.
NOTE:
For editing, I recommend Appending each CvxExtractor output ESRI *.SHP types into SBuilderX as separate *.SBP projects.
It would also be a good idea to export a separate SBuilderX *.SBX Exchange file for each such project at the same time.
Then I would compile them as separate BGLs.
I would next create separate nested FS scenery type folder chains for the BGLs to be copied to / loaded from.
I would then link to those \Scenery sub-folders as separate Areas in Scenery.Cfg.
This would allow you to enable / disable- and assign display priority- as separate Area layers in Scenery Library.
GaryGB
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That last part is where I run into a problem. As stated a while back, I CANNOT add folders to my FSX scenery Library, it will not let me do it. I've searched everywhere for a fix, but there is none, it is an error in FSX itself that was never fixed when the game was created. They haven't even fixed it in the 'steam' edition. I'm not the only one with this problem, hundreds if not thousands of other users also have this problem, there is a 'workaround' that may or may not work, or may work 10% of the time, but I have yet to make it work. My ONLY option is to continue placing my project BGLs into my ...addon/scenery folder. I managed only one time to add my ..desktop/work folder, but that was the last time adding anything ever worked, I tried for hours to make it work again, never could get it to work anymore. So that last part, impossible for me to do unless I knew how to manually edit and add scenery areas to my scenery.cfg, which doing some research requires some steps that I don't even understand and they warn people not to mess with it if they don't know what they are doing. I managed to get the LC to show through, but, it's all just 'flat texture', no 3D imagery of the LC at all, it's just as if I laid a texture over the land. that's fine, but I expected the LC to show up as the normal 3D LC not just a flat texture. I've played around with the Blend Mask, I've tried punching a "hole" in the poly, but none of that works. I've recently gone in and cleaned up my vectors for the area to get them all lined up correctly, didn't help. As you suggested, others too have suggested making separate BGL files for my LC ,my CVX vectors,and my Maps and placing them in separate folders, then adding them to my scenery library, I'd love to do that, but.......... my FSX WILL NOT, let me add to the library and that CANNOT be fixed. So, I am getting close to the point of just doing things completely different, I think I may have to go ahead and add my LC in ADE, compile that (without the PR) then pull up everything on Google Earth, create my PR AROUND the LC (may require duplicate versions of the same PR to fill in the areas.
I've pretty much given up on the 3d LC showing through my PR scenery. It's not going to work for me because I have not got the understanding enogh about vectors,layers...and such to do it and actually make it work. Maybe after I study a LOT more up on all of that and using the autogen editing and stuff, then maybe I'll attempt it again in the future. For now, I'm just going to fill in the baren and flat areas with new PR scenery textures. That will just have to do. I'm getting too frustrated with the LC thingy to even fool with it until I learn a lot more about all of this stuff. Thanks for the help though, at least I have some basic intruction to lead me in the right direction when I'm ready to try again. I'll make screenshots of all the pertinant info you gave me so I can refer back to it at a later time. It's just too much for me to grasp right now. As it is with the mountain thingy too. I never got that to work either, but again, it requires more understanding of things than I have right now.
"We can't have that !"
When faced with an 'insurmountable' obstacle, consider RoboCop's approach to problem solving < warning: profanity >
Or, for the older geeks in the forum who may now be way too mild-mannered, one might (re-)assert this tried-and-true motto:
"Gamers always reserve the right to access their computer hardware directly, regardless of whether an OS is loaded ...or not".
<Oops... looks like I used the "G" -word at FSDEV forums again. >
If we had time, we might forcibly disable some Win-11 functions (...that I routinely perform on all my Windows versions).
IMHO, there is always a way to solve such dilemmas; one just has to keep searching and find the right answers.
We can resolve this challenge in either of multiple ways, and we shall proceed with that below ...provided that you are ready.
I am familiar with more than one utility to perform service on the 'active' FS Scenery.Cfg file, but let's test something first.
Assuming you have created within [FSX install path]\Addon Scenery\ folder, a nested \Scenery sub-folder under a top folder:
1.) Start FSX
2.) When FSX GUI appears, in the Left Menu Column, select [Settings]
3.) In FSX Settings dialog box > click [Scenery Library]
4.) In FSX Settings - Scenery Library dialog box > click [Add Area]
5.) In FSX > Settings - Scenery Library dialog box > "Select Scenery Directory" Browse dialog box:
a.) Look In: set to [FSX install path] (ex: Flight Simulator X)
b.) Double-click Addon Scenery (Look In: Addon Scenery now appears)
c.) Browse to Find your nested \Scenery sub-folder under a top folder within [FSX install path]\Addon Scenery\ folder
d.) Double-click on your nested \Scenery sub-folder under a top folder within [FSX install path]\Add on Scenery\ folder
e.) A \Scenery sub-folder should now appear in the Right Window Pane of that dialog:
(1) Click: [OK] at the Right bottom of that dialog
(2) Now immediately click in the empty space in the Right Window Pane of that dialog under the \Scenery sub-folder & icon
(3) Now immediately: Click: [OK] again ...at the Right bottom of that dialog
(4) Your selection of a nested \Scenery sub-folder should now have been accepted
NOTE: Settings - Scenery Library dialog may- or may not- show a text entry 'immediately' at Priority 1 in Scenery.Cfg
f.) Click: [OK] to 'apply' the Add Area procedure just completed, and to 'exit' Settings - Scenery Library dialog
g.) A nested \Scenery sub-folder linked to the Area layer should now have been 'Added' to Scenery Library GUI stack of layers
If the first Add Area works with a linked nested \Scenery sub-folder linked to that Area layer, add the other CVX BGL Areas.
I am not certain I follow what is being described there.
We can discuss this further as needed ...after you reply here, indicating whether the above Add Area test was successful.
GaryGB
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I had found that same information on another site and tried it. It didn't work. My FSX just plain out refuses to allow anything to be added to the scenery library. I don't know why, it just won't do it. Like I said, I ONLY once managed to add my ..Desktop/work folder to the list, but after that, I can no longer add anything no matter what method I attempt to use. I can get as far as selecting the directory I want to add, but once there, nothing shows up in the box and nothing can be added. It just says there are no bgl files to be added. I just simply cannot make it work. I tried putting sub folders in my FSX/addon scenery folder, but without them being added to the scenery library, FSX won't even find the new folders. So, I'm stuck with either using the already added 'work' folder, or using the addon scenery/scenery folder. I just can't add any folders to the library. I've read up on it and many,many,many people have the same issue both in the box version of FSX and the steam version, it is something that the developers of FSX never fixed and is an actual error in the program, and without being a programmer, I doubt anyone will ever be able to fix the error since all support for FSX has stopped due to newer sims now being available. Once something new comes out, that is MS MO, they simply stop supporting any 'old' stuff once something new comes out. I'm going to keep searching for some 3rd party software that will allow adding to the library, but until I find one that works, I'm just stuck where I am.
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Now, to move on to a slightly weird problem, never mind the LC over PR thing, I have a stranger problem that just showed up and may actually be the cause of the PR problem. When I use SBX to place a LC poly in my project (not over a PR area but just someplace normal), after I compile the CVX BGL file, the poly winds up someplace completely different from where I put it. It's like the locations in SBX don't match up with the KWR1 project. Everything I do in SBX shows up somewhere completely different. So I'm thinking, now that I know this is happening, it could be that all of the things I've been doing to get the LC to show up over my PR actually has been working, but all the work is winding up somewhere else and since it isn't where it's supposed to be, when I fly over the area where is should be, it won't show up because it's somewhere else. I've tried re-appending my SHP files, but the same thing occurs. Also I noticed that when I place a mapped PR in the coordinates shown in either ADE or SBX, the map shows in a completely different location. I've actually been having to use the coordinates from Google Earth to place my PR maps, because they are the only ones that put them in the right places. Something is really wacky with the coordinates thing. I have to take an extra step converting the coordinates to a decimal format in order to use them and that's annoying. So what is causing everything to be 'out-of-place' and not match up?
First, make a ZIP backup, clearly labeled with a date etc., of all 'loose' files (but not other 'folders') within the root of this folder:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\FSX
Before any maintenance is performed on the "active" Scenery.Cfg file by any utility, I recommend installing testing this program:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/fs-sceditor/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/fs-sceditor/files/latest/download
At initial startup, allow it to load your browser and install the latest 64-Bit Java runtime environment for your Windows version.
Let me know when you have completed this process.
GaryGB
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Do you have a current build of a SBuilderX project with SBP and SBX files, and compiled BGLs that appear to show this anomaly ?
If so, please ZIP it ...and link it.
NOTE: Use 7-Zip to create a sequential file set of sizes that meet the limits of MediaFire as needed; link to them here at FSDEV.
PS: To set SBuilderX for use of Decimal Degrees, refer to the Help file:
SBuilderX Menu > Help > {Content} tab > Appendix > INI File Entries > Appendix - INI File Entries:
[Main] - The main section contains the following entries:
- DefaultLC=10 - This is the default value for the Land Class Tool.
- DefaultWC=12 - This is the default value for the Water Class Tool.
- LonIniCenter=-69.9 - This is the default value for the longitude of new projects.
- LatIniCenter= 18.5 - This is the default value for the latitude of new projects.
- DecimalDegrees=True - You can toggle decimal degrees on or off. The format is Degrees Minutes Seconds if set to False
Restart SBuilderX after making this edit, and saving SBuilderX.ini file with its proper 'INI' file extension (be sure explorer 'updates' too).
GaryGB
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Ok, fixed the coordinates issue. It was that stupid Windows File problem rearing its butt again.My .AD4 file was corrupted, I replaced it with a backup file and all is working again. I still can't get CVX LC to show up with the depth (trees,etc..), it's still all nothing but layered texture with no depth to it. I've done everything sugested on here and on other sites, I cannot get 3D depth of LC to show through a PR Scenery. I can get the LC to 'blend through' but it's nothing more than just ground texture with no 3D depth to it. I've pretty much given up on trying to get that to work. It seems that PR Scenery takes full precedence over everything, it's basically just fancy made land texture that has more resolution than normal Textured Polys, it's also easier to make. But as far as being able to put any other polys 'on top' of a PR and expect them to show as they would if you just added them in ADE without PR, no, not going to work. You can put library objects and such on top of PR and they work fine, but you cannot put LC on top, they will only appear as textures not actual land classes in 3D. So, the only other way to do it is to add the LC poly to the project before creating the PR, then create the PR "around" the LC poly, takes a bit of work to do that though with all of the editing of the PR calibrating to get the PR to show only around the LC and not over it. It's a pain, but that seems the only true solution. Or take a small hit on FPS and create your own LC using objects, which is very time consuming.
IIUC, you want to get Autogen annotations on underlying Areas of default LC textures to show through on top of custom PR LC ?
I would first ensure any underlying AB flattens have no '
NOTE:
For your project, I would only use: Airport_Backgrounds_Flatten {47D48287-3ADE-4FC5-8BEC-B6B36901E612}
You may- or may not- be able to get Autogen annotations on most default LC textures to show through to the top of custom PR LC.
Even though that process is unpredictable, 'some' have gotten it to work via gray scale steps chosen in their BlendMask.
A pure Black (RGB 0,0,0) in the Mask 'should' allow underlying LC with any existing Autogen to show through to the top of custom PR.
Typically, however, FS developers attempt to use far less transparency in their Mask ex: ~ (RGB 128,128,128); try other RGB values.
The alternative method most FSDEVs use, as previously stated, is using Autogen annotator on your own custom PR LC textures.
GaryGB
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IIRC, I requested you link a copy of the source files for your latter builds using custom PR LC with Blend and Land-Water Masks.
And IIRC, I have not seen any in your latter linked ZIP files.
I would need to see them to understand if / how they are functioning in your custom PR LC BGLs.
INF files, TIFF Masks, BMP Photo source files all need to be examined, as only minimal and indirect info is seen in TMFViewer.
See: Luis Feliz-Tirado's tutorial: "Using The Autogen Annotator" as cited in my prior posts here.
On a practical basis, before undertaking a custom Autogen learning curve, I would first check my AB Polys and custom PR LC Masks.
I recommend first to Zip and link requested file sets; I'll notify you after downloaded, so they can be cleared from MediaFire.
GaryGB
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I went through the Annotator and pretty much figured out how to use it, but, again the best I can get is a textured landscape, no depth, just flat texture of the LC. The same thing I get with using a Mask, no change. I just can't understand why what the instructions show looks completely different than my results. I'm not doing anything different except using my own area instead of theirs. Instead of placing thousands of trees everywhere, I used a LC instead of just trees, I placed a poly like it said instead of idividual little squares everywhere, I saved the annotation, it created a file in my /Nabira/texture folder. I load it up in FSX and the LC shows, but it's all flat texture, no 3D at all, same results I get using a mask. I still cannot get Mediafire to accept the zip file containing the BMP and BGL files created with SBX. It just keeps on telling me the file size exceeds the size allowed. I've tried reducing the size of the zip file to as small as it will allow, but it's still too big to upload. I've been trying to get the file size small enough to upload for the last hour, and just can't get it small enough. I'm going to have to see if I can figure out how to upload it to my OneCloud and see if I can link it from there. Mediafire just ain't gonna get it. I have to get more space. I cannot reduce the file size anymore than I already have.