AI Aircraft Gone??

[wjester]

I used TTools the other day for the first time.  Tried to put in some AI Aer Ligus Stuff i Found... got the three files and compiled...... Since then not one bit of AI traffic to be seen around the globe...KJFK, KMCO, YSSY, even at EIDW, all gone.... any ideas??

[Graycat8524]

Heya WJester,

Did you happen to make a backup copy of your original FS 2004 Traffic Tools files (Aircraft.txt, Flightplans.txt, and Airports.txt)?  Please say that you did.  

Another question.  Are you using the default AI Traffic for FS 2004, your own custom AI, or are you using a payware AI addon such as Ultimate Traffic or My Traffic?

Playing with AI traffic can be tricky.  I started playing with AI traffic by using Traffic Tools for FS 2002.  In FS 2002 I created my own custom AI flightplans using flightplan.txt files that I found on the Project AI website.
Luckily I made a backup copy of the Traffic.bgl file at the very beginning.  It saved me from having to extract it from the FS 2002 install disk everytime I made a mistake.

The first thing that I did when I first installed FS 2004 was to make a backup copy of the Traffic030528.bgl file in the Main Flight Simulator 2004\Scenery\World\Scenery folder.  I copied it and renamed it Traffic030528.ORIGINAL.  The Traffic030528.bgl file contains the information for AI flights using the default aircraft.  

Now let's move on to the excellent Traffic Tools program by Lee Swordy.  Having a lot of experience in using this program with FS 2002 I knew a lot about it when using it with FS 2004.  The first thing that I did when I installed TTools with FS 2004 was to go into the TTools Main directory and create a new folder called Backups.  I decompiled the original Traffic030528.bgl and Copy/Pasted the resultant Aircraft.txt, Flightplans.txt, and Airports.txt files into the Backups Folder.  That way if I messed anything up I would have my original files to restore with.

Now on to your issue.  Two things may have happened, both having to do with TTools.  The way that you are supposed to use TTools is to add your aircraft information for your new Aer Lingus aircraft to the bottom of the existing Aircraft.txt file.  These aircraft need to be numbered differently than your default aircraft.  The next thing to do is to open your Flightplans.txt file.  Myself, I change the file extension of the Flightplans.txt to Flightplans.doc and use MS Word to edit it.  It takes about a quarter of the time to load with MS Word (I have over 30,000 flights in my FS 2004).

Next you are supposed to take the information for the Aer Lingus flightplans and Copy/Paste it to the bottom of your existing flightplans file.

Next run a TTools Compile.

What could have happened in your case is that you used the Aircraft.txt and Flightplans.txt supplied with the Aer Lingus AI and compiled it with TTools (without adding this info to your existing flightplans).  Now your FS 2004 sees only Aer Lingus in the Traffic.bgl file.  Aer Lingus flights are flying happily around, however, all other traffic is gone.

The other thing that could have happened was that the TTools Aircraft.txt, Flightplans.txt, and Airports.txt files could have gotten corrupted during TTools Compile.

That's why I started out asking if you happened to make a backup copy of your original FS 2004 Traffic Tools files (Aircraft.txt, Flightplans.txt, and Airports.txt).  You can pull the backups, re-compile them in TTools, and all of your AI flights are now restored.

If I may make a suggestion.  Get Ultimate Traffic.  About eight months ago I purchased Ultimate Traffic for FS 2004 ($29.95) and spent an extra $5.00 for the Spring/Summer 2004 schedule upgrade.  The only thing I can say is WOW!!  They use AI aircraft from Project AI (excellent quality), it's extremely frame-rate friendly, and your Aer Lingus flights are already included!  You can also add your own extra AI flights if you wish by either using the Ultimate Traffic Compiler or Traffic Tools.

Two things to mention with Ultimate Traffic.  First, you need to have a high speed internet connection such as DSL or internet cable.  The install is huge (about 150 megs).  It can be done with a dial-up type modem, however, it will take forever.  Secondly, the American Airlines AI flights do not come with the base Ultimate Traffic install download because of American Airlines corporate logo copyright restrictions.  There is a special install procedure for AA AI aircraft that I will be happy to go over with you if you decide to purchase Ultimate Traffic.

You can purchase Ultimate Traffic here:

http://www.flight1.com/esd-products.asp?product=utraffic

Just E-Mail me or leave me a message on this forum if you purchase Ultimate Traffic and need to know how to upgrade the American Airlines flights.

[wjester]

   OK, Lets say, for arguements sake. I failed to make a proper back up of the original files *.txt.  But however I do have a back up of the Original  Traffic030528.BGL  file.  
  Now, say I cannot find the *.txt File in my FS9 folder at all...  Where should they be?  Copying from the Disc is not a hard thing to do, just got to know where to find 'em.

 The program with the Aer Ligus has an uninstaller but I think the installation is fine.  I have found the *.txt files that the program made for the others they are airports, aircraft, and flightplansEIN322.txt in my TTools Folder.

Where do i go next?

[wjester]

I have  also found in the Scenery Folder. a trafficEIN322.bgl decompiled it as well.  Now i have aircraft, airports, flightplans with 030528.txt and EIN322.txt extensions.  What in the world has happened here?

[Hagar]

[quote]OK, Lets say, for arguements sake. I failed to make a proper back up of the original files *.txt.

[wjester]

OK. I have the original Traffic030528.bgl file...  I have decompiled it and added the excerpts from the AER Liguus text files, now am going to compille these and see what happens if I a uderstanding correctly it should re create the .bgl file and then I will be happily flying with others.....  

Now I ask all of your opinions:   What do you think of the Project AI stuff.
I am going to install these files later.

PAI installer
PAI Default Commercial
PAI Default Vintage
PAI Upadated Comercial


Let me know what you think

[Graycat8524]

Heya WJester,

Hagar has the right answer.  Always make backups of everything!!  Personally, I make backups of my backups.  I know that this sounds like something that comes from the Federal Department of Redundancy Department of Redundancy (Our US tax dollars at work!), however, it really does help avoid situations just like this.

As far as AI Aircraft and flightplans from Project AI, I find them to be very good.

I would still go a little further and explore purchasing Ultimate Traffic.  One of the features of Ultimate Traffic is that you can print out Airline Schedules (in *.PDF format).  Recently (just for grins) I looked up the schedule supplied by Ultimate Traffic for Southwest Airlines at my "home base" at Dallas Love Field (KDAL).  I compared it to the schedule I found on the Southwest Airlines website.  I found very little difference between the two.  The only issue I found was that Ultimate Traffic didn't include the new Blue & Gold Southwest paintscheme on some of the 737's.  I fixed that.

My point is that true, you can go to Project AI, you can spend hours downloading and installing different aircraft, airport info, paintschemes, and flightplans or you can get Ultimate Traffic and everything comes pre-packaged.  No, I don't work for Ultimate Traffic.  I just think that it's one of the best Add-Ons for FS 2004.  It's so easy!  I like easy.  Just ask the women I date.

[wjester]

After careful research consideration and of course the much guided advice from GrayCat.  I have decided to purchase the Ultimate Traffic Pack from the Wesite.  It look like it will do what i want my SIM to do.  

Thanks for all yer help once again after carfully placed questions adn many educated answer I once again am back up and running.  with no hassles.  Have finaly run into (quite literally, oops!  ::) ) the Aer Lingus flights I had been looking for.

Thanks again for the help...  I am sure I will be posting again, maybe this time I will place it in the correct group the first time!!



Much obliged
Wes

[shamrock_1]

hi wjester,
if its not too much trouble could you tell me where you found the installer for aer lingus ai flights? i`d really like to imrove dublin airport....

thanks,
john.