New version of FSX Planner now available (May 19th, build 11)

[rf360m]

A new version of FSX Planner, build 11, is now available. It can be downloaded here: http://www.zbluesoftware.com/clients/FSXPlanner.zip

The following describes what has been updated for this version:
* The primary and secondary blast pads are now drawn on runways.

* The primary and secondary threshold offsets are now drawn on runways.

* Runway threshold marks are now drawn on the runways.

* Runway fixed distance marks are now drawn on the runways.

* Runway touchdown marks are now drawn on the runways.

* Runway precision marks are now drawn on the runways.

* You can now 'close' a boundary fence by holding the shift key down when double clicking to finish the fence. This creates a final vertex point at the same lat/lon coordinates of the first lat/lon point of the fence.

* There is now a preference to turn on or off the option of restoring the window size and location upon starting FSX Planner to what is was when you last exited FSX Planner.

* There is now a preference to clear the compile window when you open the compile dialog. This is on by default.

* Rearranged the Runway Markings properties display to better group like-properties together.

* Added a check to the taxiway creation tool to ensure that you can't have a taxiway start and end at the same taxiway point.

* Added an option to remove all taxiways that have the same start and end points (Edit -> Clean Up Taxiways)

* Approach information is now read and can be displayed by selecting Navigation -> Approaches. Double clicking on the approach row within the table will then display the full approach information. This feature is currently read-only. Approaches cannot be created or edited yet.

* Fixed bug that caused some taxiway edge lines not to be drawn correctly.

* Fixed bug that caused taxiway edge lines to ignore parking type taxiways.

As always all feedback is welcome!

-Russell

 

[meshman]

withdrawn.

 

[Bigfoot]

i'm getting this error when i compiling my airport to BGL
(it much larger error then this qoute. but it repeats itself only the object is diferent)

Parsing document: EHRD.xml

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2031: Failed element parse <BoundaryFence>
INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2032: XML Parse Error! Element tree follows:

ERROR: <FSData
ERROR: version = 9.0
ERROR: >
ERROR: <Airport
ERROR: country = Netherlands
ERROR: city = Rotterdam
ERROR: name = Rotterdam
ERROR: lat = 51.9569444283843
ERROR: lon = 4.4372221827507
ERROR: alt = -4.572M
ERROR: magvar = 1.7
ERROR: ident = EHRD
ERROR: trafficScalar = 0.7
ERROR: airportTestRadius = 5000.0M
ERROR: >
ERROR: <BoundaryFence
ERROR: profile = {5acb60e6-992b-41c7-929b-e31d5343cd29}
ERROR: >
ERROR:
...

 

[scruffyduck]

Do you have the latest version of BglComp.exe and Bglcomp.xsd - the version that comes with the Deluxe version fails in this way with fences.

 

[rf360m]

As Jon says, if you can make sure you are using the latest SDK, which is available here: http://www.fsinsider.com/downloads/Pages/FSXSoftwareDevelopmentKitUpdate.aspx

If you do already have that version plase let me know and then we'll go from there.

Thanks!

 

[matt]

Just an idea

I think it would be nice if airspace boundaries could also be edited graphically (using the <boundary> tags) so that the proper comm freqs could be assigned to their appropriate area, i.e. east/west tower freqs, etc.

 

[rf360m]

I think it would be nice if airspace boundaries could also be edited graphically (using the <boundary> tags) so that the proper comm freqs could be assigned to their appropriate area, i.e. east/west tower freqs, etc.

We have only just begun to integrate navigation information into FSX Planner. We are looking at several graphical options for editing the data, but haven't decided on the best one to use yet. Your idea is a very good one, and we hope to implement it in the best possible way.

 

[grajay]

Forgive me for asking if it's been asked before - but what method of connection to FSX is planned for FSX Planner please, and when is this particular aspect to be included?

Thnks for the hard work and effort on this - it's looking really good

 

[Bigfoot]

As Jon says, if you can make sure you are using the latest SDK, which is available here: http://www.fsinsider.com/downloads/Pages/FSXSoftwareDevelopmentKitUpdate.aspx

If you do already have that version plase let me know and then we'll go from there.

Thanks!

Thanks Jon and RF360, I missed that one.

 

[rf360m]

Forgive me for asking if it's been asked before - but what method of connection to FSX is planned for FSX Planner please, and when is this particular aspect to be included?

Thnks for the hard work and effort on this - it's looking really good

We need to figure out exactly what method to use to interface FSX Planner with FSX. Regardless of the method used FSX Planner will interface with FSX.

It will probably be one of the last items implemented as we want to get all the main functionality working first. However, as we are nearing completion on all of the main functionality, that means interfacing with FSX is not too far off.

 

[grajay]

Good news indeed - and thanks for letting me know.

 

[Bigfoot]

i'm getting this error when i compiling my airport to BGL
(it much larger error then this qoute. but it repeats itself only the object is diferent)

after I installed that sdk update, I'm still getting that error when compiling.

 

[rf360m]

after I installed that sdk update, I'm still getting that error when compiling.

Can you send me the xml file for the airport you are using? I'll then be able to test against it and hopefully find a solution.

 

[mattperry78]

Thanks for all your hard work! I am enjoying your program more and more with each version!

One request. Would you mind adding code for the program to remember what directory you last opened an XML from? All my XMLs are in one place and each time I run your program I have to navigate back to that folder. Thanks!

 

[rf360m]

Thanks for all your hard work! I am enjoying your program more and more with each version!

One request. Would you mind adding code for the program to remember what directory you last opened an XML from? All my XMLs are in one place and each time I run your program I have to navigate back to that folder. Thanks!

I'm glad it is helpful to you!

The next version will have a recently opened file option and also remember the last folder you opened a file from.

 

[MoToCroSs986]

Backgrond image

Is there a way to insert a background image in to FSX Planner?

Also I can't seem to edit the boundry fence. I tried the right click with the fence tool and nothing.

Please help

Thanks

Great tool

 

[rf360m]

Is there a way to insert a background image in to FSX Planner?

Also I can't seem to edit the boundry fence. I tried the right click with the fence tool and nothing.

Please help

Thanks

Great tool

Right now you cannot insert an image as a background. We are looking into the best way to do this though.

To edit the boundary fence you'd left click on it with the boundary fence tool. It will appear blue with all the vertices in red and numbered. If you want to move a vertex you can click and drag it to the new location.

To add a vertex you must first select the fence, as described above, then right click anywhere so that you get the Add Boundary Fence Vertex tool (looks like the Boundary Fence tool, but has a plus sign at the top left). Then click on the fence at the point you want to add the vertex.

To remove a vertex right you must first select the fence, as described above, then click anywhere so that you get the Remove Boundary Fence Vertex tool (looks like the Boundary Fence tool, but has a minus sign at the top left). Then click on the fence vertex you wish to delete.

When using any of the boundary fence tools, you have to place the middle of the cursor's crosshairs on the fence for it to work, otherwise it thinks you are clicking somewhere else.

Hopefully that is clear, if not just let me know.

-Russell

 

[José]

Some suggestions to make it better...

Hi, Russel

I am enjoying your program more and more with each new version. I'm using Build 11.

To help the tool become each time better, I want to suggest some points to be implemented:

1. Allow multiple selection;
2. Create a connection with FSX, showing the airplane position on Planner's screen - I think this is somehow basic to users;
3. Allow to close the airport window; That window could be a pop up one opened by left clicking in the Planner screen;
4. Make the auxiliary window pop up too (the one that is now below the airport window and cannot be closed too);
5. You have 15 icons in the menu, all for the function "INSERT". I suggest to present only one, with a pop up window with those 15 options;
6. The geographic grid is very important.Now, you are drawing the runway as it were aligned to True North. If there is no intention to add the geographic grid we do not need to see that alignement. The drawing could be horizontally displayied. In this case, a distance grid could be displayied, with horizontal and vertical lines.

It could be that some of the points above suggested were already in your list to implement.

Thanks for your attention,

Kind regards,

José

 

[rf360m]

Hi, Russel

I am enjoying your program more and more with each new version. I'm using Build 11.

To help the tool become each time better, I want to suggest some points to be implemented:

1. Allow multiple selection;
2. Create a connection with FSX, showing the airplane position on Planner's screen - I think this is somehow basic to users;
3. Allow to close the airport window; That window could be a pop up one opened by left clicking in the Planner screen;
4. Make the auxiliary window pop up too (the one that is now below the airport window and cannot be closed too);
5. You have 15 icons in the menu, all for the function "INSERT". I suggest to present only one, with a pop up window with those 15 options;
6. The geographic grid is very important.Now, you are drawing the runway as it were aligned to True North. If there is no intention to add the geographic grid we do not need to see that alignement. The drawing could be horizontally displayied. In this case, a distance grid could be displayied, with horizontal and vertical lines.

It could be that some of the points above suggested were already in your list to implement.

Thanks for your attention,

Kind regards,

José

Hi Jose,

Items 1-4 are on our list to implement.

I'm not sure about item 5. The icons are there to make it easy to select the most common tasks, ie inserting and manipulating objects. Having them be a popup window would mean there'd be an extra step - displatying the popup window. Or do you mean you'd want a floating toolbar which contained those iconos?

Item 6: What do you mean by the geographic grid? You suggest an interesting idea of having the option to display a grid showing the distance from the airport center instead of lat/lon coordinates though.

Thanks for the feedback!
-Russell

 

[José]

Suggestion revisited

Hi, Russell

Hi Jose,
Items 1-4 are on our list to implement.

Thanks. I'm waiting for.

I'm not sure about item 5. The icons are there to make it easy to select the most common tasks, ie inserting and manipulating objects. Having them be a popup window would mean there'd be an extra step - displatying the popup window. Or do you mean you'd want a floating toolbar which contained those iconos?

The flooting toolbar is a good idea, but most windows' programs has a main menu with standard options, such as: File, Edit, Help, etc. Clicking on them open a pop up window with submenus and their options. Most users are acquainted working this way.

Item 6: What do you mean by the geographic grid? You suggest an interesting idea of having the option to display a grid showing the distance from the airport center instead of lat/lon coordinates though.

Thanks for the feedback!
-Russell[/QUOTE]

AFCAD has a geographic coordinates grid, that is, a grid with horizontal and vertical lines, oriented to the true North, as most maps have. At the left and the bottom there are information on the main lines.

I think the visual aspect is very atractive to draw points, lines and polys.

One can even rotate the drawing (the grid follow the rotation, of course).

I understanding you do not want to mimic AFCAD, but it's very hard to leave its resources.

Kind regards,

José