Suggestions for Future Version 2011

[danfoster]

Surely you can just use a parking spot code for that?

Parking spots are not named in the real world in this way as far as I know.

 

[scruffyduck]

Surely you can just use a parking spot code for that?

Parking spots are not named in the real world in this way as far as I know.

...and as I recall it is unfortunately not possible for us to define custom names for spots.

 

[PakMac]

ADE 2 uses a property grid. I will need to check if this values can be copied - I suspect they can.

Thanks Jon.

David

 

[Wingding]

I just got done uploading my first "package"/update after using ADE(9). Woot! Couple things - not sure if they're "bugs" or possibilities for ver2 features....

- I'm unable to select multiple generic objects (vehicles) to edit all of their properties at once. bug?
- Perhaps another bug: with extensive "tweaks" after adding crosswind runways, I would check the runway list and the crosswind runways were no longer listed as crosswind runways (flag was changed to "false" and icon changed to a regular runway). Not sure what effect this has, but I had to delete and re-insert crosswind runways many times.


- Many people have mentioned some things about the display of ILS stuff. Perhaps adding an overlay of a selected (or "all") approach in "airport mode", similar to how taxiway lines show?
- Similar to an overlay, have ability to visually display a selected approach from within FS (big pink line in the sky, or something, to see if an approach will fly you into a hill/building/etc.)
- Similar to AFCAD, have ability to edit all user aircraft info (specifically: radius, parking type, airline code)
- Add function to set tower view (specify height AGL, not MSL)
- Rotating a selected object (specifically: jetways) was difficult/"wonky" at best
- Option to add/create/place approach segment(s) similar to adding taxiway links: click-drag between waypoints (with dialog box opening up to fill in the type/details/etc).
- Use "laymans" terms for the required info in approach editor, instead of the FSD terms like "Theta" "Rho", etc. (Reciprocal heading:, Distance to next fix:, etc).


Some of these are "nit picky" - this is one of the best tools I've ever seen for FS9! THANK YOU!

 

[jvile]

I just got done uploading my first "package"/update after using ADE(9). Woot! Couple things - not sure if they're "bugs" or possibilities for ver2 features....

- I'm unable to select multiple generic objects (vehicles) to edit all of their properties at once. bug?
- Perhaps another bug: with extensive "tweaks" after adding crosswind runways, I would check the runway list and the crosswind runways were no longer listed as crosswind runways (flag was changed to "false" and icon changed to a regular runway). Not sure what effect this has, but I had to delete and re-insert crosswind runways many times.


- Many people have mentioned some things about the display of ILS stuff. Perhaps adding an overlay of a selected (or "all") approach in "airport mode", similar to how taxiway lines show?
- Similar to an overlay, have ability to visually display a selected approach from within FS (big pink line in the sky, or something, to see if an approach will fly you into a hill/building/etc.)
- Similar to AFCAD, have ability to edit all user aircraft info (specifically: radius, parking type, airline code)
- Add function to set tower view (specify height AGL, not MSL)
- Rotating a selected object (specifically: jetways) was difficult/"wonky" at best
- Option to add/create/place approach segment(s) similar to adding taxiway links: click-drag between waypoints (with dialog box opening up to fill in the type/details/etc).
- Use "laymans" terms for the required info in approach editor, instead of the FSD terms like "Theta" "Rho", etc. (Reciprocal heading:, Distance to next fix:, etc).


Some of these are "nit picky" - this is one of the best tools I've ever seen for FS9! THANK YOU!

Hello Wingding and Welcome to ADE9X

It appears that you might be opening the bgl airport file rather then the .ad2 project file. Unlike AFCAD, ADE works with a project .ad2 file where all work is accomplished. We then Compile the .ad2 file to a bgl.

If you open and save the bgl file the Xwind runways loose their flags since all that data is held in the .ad2 project file.

Most of what you have ask for already exist is ADE9X 1.47 but I agree we can do more with the approach editor in time.

Jon can break down your post into sections if needed but the Manual is also got a lot of good information on how ADE does things.

 

[scruffyduck]

- I'm unable to select multiple generic objects (vehicles) to edit all of their properties at once. bug?

No - not a bug. This is not available at the moment

- Perhaps another bug: with extensive "tweaks" after adding crosswind runways, I would check the runway list and the crosswind runways were no longer listed as crosswind runways (flag was changed to "false" and icon changed to a regular runway). Not sure what effect this has, but I had to delete and re-insert crosswind runways many times.

I suspect the same as Jim. If you are loading and saving to the bgl file then you are losing the information that ADE keeps in the project file. Apart from that repeated load/saves may cause some coordinate drift. Always work with the project (.ad2) file. Load and save that. Then when you are ready do a compile to get the bgl file.

- Many people have mentioned some things about the display of ILS stuff. Perhaps adding an overlay of a selected (or "all") approach in "airport mode", similar to how taxiway lines show?

I guess I should understand what you mean but I am not at all sure I do

- Similar to an overlay, have ability to visually display a selected approach from within FS (big pink line in the sky, or something, to see if an approach will fly you into a hill/building/etc.)

I assume this means an overlay in FS?

- Similar to AFCAD, have ability to edit all user aircraft info (specifically: radius, parking type, airline code)

That is something that is in the development list. However there is a separate program shipped with ADE that will do this and more - Owl Tools AI Aircraft Editor. At the moment we do not plan to incorporate this directly into ADE.

- Add function to set tower view (specify height AGL, not MSL)

I thought that was possible.

- Rotating a selected object (specifically: jetways) was difficult/"wonky" at best

Perhaps you can explain a bit more - it is possible to drag rotate, rotate using keys and set the heading directly.

- Option to add/create/place approach segment(s) similar to adding taxiway links: click-drag between waypoints (with dialog box opening up to fill in the type/details/etc).

I will look at that.

- Use "laymans" terms for the required info in approach editor, instead of the FSD terms like "Theta" "Rho", etc. (Reciprocal heading:, Distance to next fix:, etc).

I will have to leave that to Jim since I don't understand what they are even in laymans terms

Some of these are "nit picky" - this is one of the best tools I've ever seen for FS9! THANK YOU!

You are most welcome and thanks for the feedback

 

[hgschnell]

the fuel trigger area is rather large for tiny airfields.

perhaps we can change its size in the future?

regards
Guenther

(now it is possible by editing the xml code)

 

[Wingding]

Thanks Jon & Jim! (I know this isn't the place to have tech discussions, perhaps another thread to help with my learning curve is in order, so I'll try to keep these short!).

As for the xwind runways, opening the .bgl vs the .ad2 file to re-edit is exactly what I was doing. I'll now open just the .ad2 file for re-editing.

Tower view - I just looked through the program and couldn't find how to set/place it.

for ILS approach "layer" or "overlay" - yes, from within FS when ADE is running. Visually display a selected approach path, similar to the look of the FS "visual flightpath (boxes, T bars, etc.)". So we can see if the selected approach goes through a mountain/office building, etc.

Scratch the thought about an overlay of ILS approaches similar to how taxiway lines look while in airport mode.... would be redundant to approach mode.

I guess the issue I was having with rotating objects was with objects that are anchored at one end, such as a jetway. It took a great deal of finesse with the mouse to keep it from jumping around. Objects anchored with a center-point worked just fine, and any object set directly with a heading worked 100% as well.

 

[GHD]

Tower view - I just looked through the program and couldn't find how to set/place it.

How about section 11.17 of the manual

 

[jvile]

Thanks Jon & Jim! (I know this isn't the place to have tech discussions, perhaps another thread to help with my learning curve is in order, so I'll try to keep these short!).

snip-----


I guess the issue I was having with rotating objects was with objects that are anchored at one end, such as a jetway. It took a great deal of finesse with the mouse to keep it from jumping around. Objects anchored with a center-point worked just fine, and any object set directly with a heading worked 100% as well.

Yes I have had the same problem. When rotating the Jetway after placement it jumps around rather then rotating with the mouse in a fluid motion. We can fix that.

 

[n4gix]

Yes I have had the same problem. When rotating the Jetway after placement it jumps around rather then rotating with the mouse in a fluid motion. We can fix that.

Jim, how about enabling the mouse wheel to provide fine control over rotation? 1º/wheel "click"...

 

[jvile]

Jim, how about enabling the mouse wheel to provide fine control over rotation? 1º/wheel "click"...

Bill, we use the wheel for zoom in/out but need to soften the jumping that occurs when something pivots around the end point. Added to the list

 

[chris]

Any chance of an export function to 'CustomAirports.dat'?

 

[scruffyduck]

Any chance of an export function to 'CustomAirports.dat'?

Bit more info please Chris....

 

[GHD]

Ignore the initial user aircraft position given by FSUIPC.

 

[chris]

Bit more info please Chris....

For traffic toolbox - I've attached a sample...

 

[scruffyduck]

Ignore the initial user aircraft position given by FSUIPC.

Because of the 'More than 65nm' problem?

 

[GHD]

Because of the 'More than 65nm' problem?

Because FSUIPC reports N0 E0 until the aircraft has moved. It is easy enough in ADE to use "Move aircraft to here".

 

[scruffyduck]

For traffic toolbox - I've attached a sample...

Does each airport go in a separate file or are they all in one file?

 

[chris]

Mine all go in one file...if I want, as in

KXXX,n,n,n,n,n,n,s
{
..
..
}
KZZZ,n,n,n,n,n,s
{
..
..
}
etc.
but separate files are fine. TrafficDatabaseBuilder uses the files you specify. My 'compile.bat' has the following line;

TrafficDatabaseBuilder /Countries=countries_regions.csv /AircraftTypes=fs10.aircrafttypes.csv /Airports=fs10.Airports.dat /Airports=CustomAirports.dat /Schedules=CustomAircraftSchedules.dat /AutoSchedule=yes /Log=logfile.txt /Output=trafficAircraft.bgl

You can add as many '/Airports=' as you like (Jim will now come back and tell me "no, there's a limit..." so you could just call it KXXX_ADEX_TRX or suchlike.