What format are these coordinates in?

[GHD]

There is something wrong with the model.

I imported it into MCX and exported as an FSX model and was able to place it at 432 Park Avenue:

 

[Robertium]

There is something wrong with the model.

I imported it into MCX and exported as an FSX model and was able to place it at 432 Park Avenue:

Thanks for the help, however it STILL was unable to appear at my desired location.....

 

[GHD]

OK,

Unzip the attached and add the area to the scenery librarry.

 

[Robertium]

OK,

Unzip the attached and add the area to the scenery librarry.

Thank you very much, that actually worked. Now, since there are various buildings I would like to add in, and I don't want to bother you with more nooby requests, can someone please show me how to make placement files for those buildings? A screen recording, a step-by-step guide, anything that will work with any building will do. Thanks in advance.

 

[GaryGB]

I have not had time to examine in detail the original 3D object that Robert posted, but I am intrigued as to why I also could not get it to display in FSX although I was able to preview it in MCX with mapped textures.

Perhaps that MDL might merit some investigation by Arno to see why it would not display ?

I suggest this because I saw another report a couple of years ago of a KMZ object from the Trimble Sketchup 3D Warehouse converted by MCX not being displayable at run time in FS.

GaryGB

 

[GaryGB]

Thank you very much, that actually worked. Now, since there are various buildings I would like to add in, and I don't want to bother you with more nooby requests, can someone please show me how to make placement files for those buildings? A screen recording, a step-by-step guide, anything that will work with any building will do. Thanks in advance.

Hi Robert:

Although you could use MCX Convert and Place Wizard with 3D Warehouse objects in *.KMZ files (to retain Google Earth 3D world placement info), one may first need to clean them up and reduce geometry complexity etc. in Sketchup before importing them to MCX.

Note that you must save into- and/or export to- a *.KMZ file format in order to retain that Google Earth 3D world placement info so it can be read and used by MCX.


Personally, I use Instant Scenery (payware) to place- or fine-tune placement of- 3D objects in a live FSX preview.

http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=iscen3



NOTE: MCX Convert and Place Wizard will package both the 3D model and its placement instructions in (1) BGL, with converted textures written into the sub-folder path you specify.


Here's a video by Arno explaining MCX Convert and Place Wizard:

If you would like additional guidance with this sub-topic, feel free to inquire further.

GaryGB

 

[GHD]

I have not had time to examine in detail the original 3D object that Robert posted, but I am intrigued as to why I also could not get it to display in FSX although I was able to preview it in MCX with mapped textures.

GaryGB

When I opened it in MCX, there were a few warnings. This is why I considered it was a corrupt mdl file.

Exporting it as an FSX .mdl allowed it to display correctly in FSX.

 

[GaryGB]

Thanks, George.

I'm wondering if MCX "Convert and Place Wizard" might 'miss' something otherwise fixed by "Export Scenery" ?

GaryGB

 

[Robertium]

Hi Robert:

Although you could use MCX Convert and Place Wizard with 3D Warehouse objects in *.KMZ files (to retain Google Earth 3D world placement info), one may first need to clean them up and reduce geometry complexity etc. in Sketchup before importing them to MCX.

Note that you must save into- and/or export to- a *.KMZ file format in order to retain that Google Earth 3D world placement info so it can be read and used by MCX.


Personally, I use Instant Scenery (payware) to place- or fine-tune placement of- 3D objects in a live FSX preview.

http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=iscen3



NOTE: MCX Convert and Place Wizard will package both the 3D model and its placement instructions in (1) BGL, with converted textures written into the sub-folder path you specify.


Here's a video by Arno explaining MCX Convert and Place Wizard:

If you would like additional guidance with this sub-topic, feel free to inquire further.

GaryGB

Well, I tried importing a Google Earth KMZ (location info included) into MCX. The model itself appeared (textures did not) yet the location info didn't show up anywhere. Additionally, I don't know if it's a problem with the Convert and Place Wizard but WHATEVER building I make with it never actually shows up in FSX. I imagine the location data might be corrupted, so I'd like to see if there's an alternative way of saving the BGL and location data. I know, I could still use the Export Selected Object option however location data for that doesn't work either. Huh.

 

[GaryGB]

Hi Robert:

When one clicks the [Download] button on this page:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/884e597c0b65e111d3e029671ab3c2d0/432-Park-Avenue


One would then click this link:

Google Earth KMZ (11.9 kB)


...to access the *.KMZ version of that 3D model.

BTW: Save it to a file first, rather than directly opening it into Sketchup; only import it into Sketchup from the file downloaded onto your hard drive.


PS: That same *.KMZ can be directly opened by MCX "Convert and Place Wizard" with no more than an alert that the textures are not in "Powers of 2" format.

NOTE: Once that object is imported into MCX "Convert and Place Wizard", you will see the placement Geographic coordinates in that dialog box.

GaryGB

 

[GHD]

If one knows the position of the object, one can use an xml template:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<FSData
version="9.0"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="bglcomp.xsd">
<SceneryObject
lat="40.7616001367569"
lon="-73.9718002080917"
alt="0.0M"
altitudeIsAgl="TRUE"
pitch="0"
bank="0"
heading="29.9981689453125"
imageComplexity="VERY_SPARSE">
<LibraryObject
name="{31708fe5-0e2e-484a-a715-e09a2d646c4c}"
scale="1.00"
/>
</SceneryObject>
<ModelData
sourceFile="432park.mdl"
fileOffset="0"/>
</FSData>

Just change the coordinates and model filename and compile with BglComp

 

[Robertium]

If one knows the position of the object, one can use an xml template:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<FSData
version="9.0"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="bglcomp.xsd">
<SceneryObject
lat="40.7616001367569"
lon="-73.9718002080917"
alt="0.0M"
altitudeIsAgl="TRUE"
pitch="0"
bank="0"
heading="29.9981689453125"
imageComplexity="VERY_SPARSE">
<LibraryObject
name="{31708fe5-0e2e-484a-a715-e09a2d646c4c}"
scale="1.00"
/>
</SceneryObject>
<ModelData
sourceFile="432park.mdl"
fileOffset="0"/>
</FSData>

Just change the coordinates and model filename and compile with BglComp

What you're saying makes sense, however today when I tried using XML files, BGLComp CONVENIENTLY decided not to work. I know there are FSX extensions which allow you to plop BGL files in certain locations but my question is, if I plop one will it STAY there or do I have to keep doing it over and over again everytime I make a new flight? My original idea was to try and learn the gimmicks involved with placing buildings so I could use that formula a lot of times to be able to update the in-game scenery and include many new skyscrapers and such, but since this is not necessarily working out I wanted to see if I could find another way to do this.....

 

[GHD]

I think you need GaryGB to explain how to use BglComp.

 

[tgibson]

Once you place a BGL file into an active scenery folder, it should stay there until you delete it or overwrite it.

 

[GaryGB]

Hi Robert:

If you tell us the details of what you alluded to above with regards to something having gone wrong with BGLComp compilation of a XML scenery object placement source code file, you would be helping us help you better.

GaryGB