FSSC Help please?

[Reap]

Okay I have FSSC  :) I follow the tutorial and create an airfield, I save it. Then I use the wizard to install it into FS9, I add the folder to flightsim scenery database.

However when I try and create a flight or whatever I cannot find the airport either by name or ICAO code.

I guess I have either got it all in the wrong file location or have something incorrect in the files themselves.

Any ideas would be appreciated

Thanks

[bm]

If you fly over your airport in FS is it there?

Have you filled in the Airport tab in the scenery properties?

It is possible that FSSC can't tell FS about the airport at all in FS9, I would suggest you make an AFCAD underlay for your runway with the airport properties and that will make your airport show in the list. You can add ATC and parking while your at it too

The latest version can be found on this page:
http://www.simviation.com/fs2004utilities1.htm

Hope this helps!

[Reap]

Hi Birdman
Well FSNavigator knows it is there, recognises its name and lists the fictitious ICAO code it, and I can fly over it and land etc. Only FS9 doesn't seem to recognise it??

Yes the Airport tab is filled in as is the icao code .

But this is really puzzling, it is a fictitious airport on a new island as in the FSSC tutorial.

I downloade AFCAD tho Im not quite sure what Im going to do with it yet.

Thanks

[bm]

FSSC was designed for older sims which used the old BGL format, FS9 uses a developed AFD format to get data on everything to do with facilities. While FSSC can still create scenery for FS9 I don't think it is able to have any interaction.
AFCAD uses the new AFD format and is designed specifically for FS9, by creating an underlay of your runway (manualy but quite fun in slew mode) and adding the Airport information etc your airport should show up in the lists. And you will have the added bonus of easily being able to add ATC, parking etc should you wish to.

Sorry if this is not explaned terribly well...... err, my head... :-/

PS. I don't know about FSnav but that does sound quite strange.

[Reap]

Thanks Bird man

Im not totally following you though.
I understand that I can make an underlay, but does this mean that AFCAD is for the layout only and that I should still use FSSC to actually create the runways etc as I want them and place them in AFCAD?. Also if I wish to design bespoke buildings in gmax or something can I add these direct to whatever I have designed with AFCAD or do I add it with FSSC?

slightly confused ??

[Hagar]

Reap. As Bird man is not around maybe I can clear up your confusion.
Put simply:
FSSC & Gmax create the visual scenery that you see in the sims.
AFCAD is used for the invisible "virtual scenery" used by the AI traffic , airport info, ICAO codes & so on.

[Reap]

Thanks Hagar
So correct me if I am wrong now.. you can set the general layout of the runways, taxiways etc as well as ILS details and ICAO etc making a kind of template with AFCAD.

You then create the scenery in FSSC, making the grass and runway markings and light and so on and maybe some rudimentary buildings and so on and adjust altitudes and such.

Any bespoke buildings etc you can create with gmax and add them to your scenery?

Would that be about right?

[Hagar]

Reap. That's the right idea but I think most people would tackle it the other way round. Create the visual airport first, then add the virtual part.

You can create relatively simple 3D obects (API macros) with EOD & import them into FSSC as part of the airport rather than using Gmax to do it separately. http://www.echos.ch/eod/
There's also a selection of existing 3rd  party API macros posted on this & other sites.

[bm]

Thanks for stepping in there Hagar! Im afraid my brain was not in working order at all today!  I knew what I meant......

[Katahu]

I usually think it's best to make the airport in AFCAD first and then make the nice detailed objects in Gmax.

I may end up with multiple BGL files, but at least it's more controlled.

However, the problem comes when you need to exclude something [trees pocking throught the tarmac, etc.]. I usually add the exclusion area in the scenery.cfg file of FS9.

However, the AFCAD airport no longer shows once I do that.

This is what puzzles me.

But right now, I have bigger fish to fry.

[Hagar]

However, the problem comes when you need to exclude something [trees pocking throught the tarmac, etc.]. I usually add the exclusion area in the scenery.cfg file of FS9.

However, the AFCAD airport no longer shows once I do that.

This is what puzzles me.

An exclude switch added manually  to Scenery.cfg will exlude all objects over a large area. This is where FSSC comes in handy. It's possible to exclude even small objects like trees.

If you're interested in updating existing scenery, rather than use Gmax to create new objects you can add default library objects by using a simple code. This is explained in the FS2004 Scenery SDK. RollerBall posted some shots of the possibilities in another thread & his own tute is posted here. 04ScenPk.Zip  http://www.simviation.com/fs2004utilities1.htm

[Reap]

Cool.... thanks for all the tips and the links.

What I actually intend to do is update some airports but as I wish to make it as accurate as possible and I imagine that will entail designing some new buildings etc I was going to use gmax for that if I can get my head round its complexities. I shall take a look at EOS though.

I can see where AFCAD comes in now and also FSSC, though quite how do you import FSSC files into AFCAD or link them or whatever you do to get them to work together??  

[Hagar]

[quote]I can see where AFCAD comes in now and also FSSC, though quite how do you import FSSC files into AFCAD or link them or whatever you do to get them to work together??

[Katahu]

I rather use Gmax instead of using default scenery objects because I wanna make my home airport in FS look exactly like its real-world counterpart.

Besides, the default scenery objects don't blend well with my taste.

[Reap]

Hagar, FSUIPC is only payware for the full version, which you don't need for most functions, including AFCAD  :)

Katahu, I agree. I also want realistic models for my airport and hopefully can learn to use gmax.

Only one more question for now, how do I get those gmax objects into FS?