installing SDK for FSX

[Brian Z]

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling SDK for FSX a few times now, no matter how many times I try it i still don't get the "Tools" option in-game. Am I missing a step somewhere?

[CHUCK79]

Are you remembering to edit the dll XML document to activate the SDK?

[Brian Z]

No, what do I have to do? I have no idea what you're even talking about!

[CHUCK79]

After you install the SDK you need to make it active by editing the dll XML file in your User/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/FSX folder. Hidden folders must be enabled.

Here's a tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5l8hVsRYZQ

[Brian Z]

Um... I use windows XP, is the path different? I'm not seeing any such folders.

[Brian Z]

Ok, I can't find any folder anywhere called "AppData," does this apply at all to XP?

[Brian Z]

Here we go! The path for XP is different, C:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX. Now that I finally found it I can watch the video over again.

[dave3cu]

In XP the path to the DLL.xml file is: <Drive>:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX
In Windows Explorer you have to enable 'show hidden files and folder' to see the folders.

You can find instructioins for activating the 3 tools that can be run from the 'FSX Tools menu' in the FSX SDK help file, path.....\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\fsxsdk.chm.

The 3 tools are Traffic Toolbox, Object Placement Tool and Special Effects Tool. Each has a section in the Help file, with setup instructions.

If the DLL.xml file was properly created during the SDK installation, the sections for each tool should be in the file. It's just a matter of changing <Disabled>True</Disabled> to <Disabled>False</Disabled> for each tool, and check that the <Path>.....</Path> statement is correct.

When editing the file use a plain text editor, like NotePad. Make a back-up copy of the DLL.xml file before editing.

(oops: guess we we're writing at the same time, but I ran into delays.)