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FSX Relocating/Resizing default objects

Misho

Misho

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ca-ontario
Hi all,

I am working on a scenery package, and I'd like to correct a few rather large MS errors, namely, Kennedy Space Center launch platforms. They are:

1: Abut 2X the size as in real life...
2: One of them is misaligned, it should point straight to north...

Also, I'd like to nudge them a bit so they match the surrounding underlying photo scenery.

What's the best way of doing this? So far, I gather my options are:

1: make an exclude for the area, and re-design the launch pads in 3DS MAX
2: make an exclude for the area, and re-use the existing pads to create a new BGL
3: don't exclude anything, but somehow, (magically?) include a small file that fixes the launch pads in the original BGL :rolleyes:

I'd prefer option 3, followed by 2, and wouldn't really like #1. Can someone please nudge me in the right direction? Thanks!

Misho
 
Hi,

Option 3 will not work (unless you start hacking default files, which is not advised). So if you are happy with how the default objects look I would go for number 2, that is the quickest way. All you have to do is figure out the GUIDs of these objects, so that you can place them again.
 
Thanks Arno! I've located textures for the files in question, so the BGLs are in the scenery directory. How do I find the object and its GUID? Is there a utility that analyses the BGL contents?
 
Hi Misho:

As Arno may further indicate with his own reply, there are several available object placement utilities (some with a live, in-sim interactive preview!) to position (coordinates, heading, scale, bank, pitch etc.) the desired objects after identifying their whereabouts in the BGLs and/or by GUID via a *.XML method, which when compiled in BGLComp, generates a placement BGL that "calls the object into position" from its un-altered "storage" location in the default FS library BGLs.

Arno's own "ObPlacer XML" is here:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=12

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=ObPlacer_XML


Scruffyduck's Scenery Design Engine (SDE) has largely been ported to his Airport Design Engine (ADE) for FSX:

http://downloadcenter.scruffyduck.org.uk/?nav=search_results


FYI: As you do a lot of work in FS9, you should know that ADE for FS9 is now also available (in a separate Beta) !

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16163


And of course SBuilder (both versions) can list and place scenery objects (from both MDL files or library BGLs IIRC)


I find this to be a particularly handy visual and GUID reference for FSX default objects, generously made available by Lamont Clark: :wizard:

http://lc0277.nerim.net/sceneobjects/

BTW: See especially " vehicles_aircraft.bgl " and " FSXP_Buildings.bgl " :spushpin:


FYI: One can actually access more than the "usual FSX objects" via some inquiry using Alessandro Antonini's newest "BGLXML 2.1":


http://www.cpinf.com/download/bglxml/bglxml-main-application/index.html



CAVEAT: As Arno and others here would no doubt advise, one should only "study" default BGLs via decompilers, and not extract / re-package default or other commonly accessible objects into duplicate "sub-set" libraries that may conflict with those objects already accessible by an assigned GUID, as it may adversely affect FSX rendering behavior, resource use and performance. ;)


Also, see Scruffyduck's Library Object Manager (LOM) available via Search at his "Download Center":

http://downloadcenter.scruffyduck.org.uk/?nav=search_results



Custom-created FS scenery objects (as MDL files) can be placed into FS9 / FSX compatible object libraries with Arno's Library Creator XML:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=8

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Library_Creator_XML_2.0



Hope this helps! :)

GaryGB
 
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Hi,

To add to this interesting overview, you could use my ModelConverterX tool to load the library BGL and then visualize all the models in it. That should allow you to identify the objects you are looking for and what their GUIDs are.

After that you can position them again with the object placer of your choice.
 
Arno, Gary - Thanks Guys! Exactly what I was looking for. I think Arno's ObPlacerXML will do nicely!

Gary - thanks for the hints re:FSXP libraries - many Cape Canaveral objects there. Unfortunately, I don't have acceleration and I intend this scenery to be for "Plain Vanilla" FSX so the old launch pads, properly scaled and placed, should do nicely!

Thanks again, guys!!

Misho
 
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Arno - a question about your ObPlacerXML - is it working with FSX? I seem to be getting only FS9 style GUIDS...

Note, I have both FS9 and FSX installed on the same system. Are you checking registry for the FS location? Perhaps it is finding FS9 first...

Misho
 
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Hi,

No, ObPlacer XML is only for FS2004. Since there was a good, freeware, tool for FSX already (WhisPlacer) I decided to not update it. So if you are working with FSX I would not use ObPlacer XML.
 
Thanks Arno! I tried WhisPlacer - couldn't connect, then realised my SimConnect is not set up. So I got that going, and gave SDK's Object Placer another chance, and it worked nicely. An interface is a bit quirky but it does the job! I'll give WhisPlacer another go later on. Alright, now on to real work :p
 
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