Moving Files From FS Downloads To FS2004 Files

[ulflyingmike]

Hello to the group,

Am new to this site. On the 'Aircraft Install How To Page' it says to drag the file with model-panel-sound-texture (File with + symbol) into the FS2004 files aircraft folder. That works for me no problem.

My question: When you have aircraft with more than one subfile (multiple sub files for one aircraft), how do you drag-em over to FS2004 files? Never works for me, either no plane shows up, or part of the plane missing.

Any info appreciated TIA

[Groundbound1]

Hey ulflyingmike, welcome to SimV!
I'm not sure I completely understand, but let's see if I can help. When you download an A/C, it may be "wrapped" in a few folders.

For example, when you unzip a download, you may end up with a single folder. Inside that folder, you may have another single folder, and another inside of that one, and so on. What you want to do in most cases is go down through the folders until you open the one that has the standard folders (model, panel, sound, texture, etc.) THEN navigate up one step. That is the folder you move to your FS9 aircraft folder. Clear as mud, right?

[ulflyingmike]

Yes, clear as mud after you explained it Groudbound1. Thanks on the welcome, nice group.

Install worked fine. Now, I've got a complete plane add on that has a separate file with gauges.

I moved that to gauges, but didn't work. I wondering where the 'gauge file' is supposed to be installed?

Regards, Mike

Hey ulflyingmike, welcome to SimV!
I'm not sure I completely understand, but let's see if I can help. When you download an A/C, it may be "wrapped" in a few folders.

For example, when you unzip a download, you may end up with a single folder. Inside that folder, you may have another single folder, and another inside of that one, and so on. What you want to do in most cases is go down through the folders until you open the one that has the standard folders (model, panel, sound, texture, etc.) THEN navigate up one step. That is the folder you move to your FS9 aircraft folder. Clear as mud, right?

[Groundbound1]

Sorry, I tried!

[Hagar]

Now, I've got a complete plane add on that has a separate file with gauges.

I moved that to gauges, but didn't work. I wondering where the 'gauge file' is supposed to be installed?

Regards, Mike

All downloads will vary in some way so it's difficult to give specific installation instructions. Generally speaking, the contents of folders with names like Effects & Gauges are installed to their corresponding folders in the FS directory. In this case, open the folder named Gauges. (the 'gauge file' you mentioned). This will contain one or more files/folders depending on the type of gauges used on the panel. Click Edit/Select All on the menu to select the full contents, then move (Cut & Paste) them into the FS9\Gauges folder.

When installing 3rd party gauges it's a good idea not to overwrite files/folders if prompted.

Edit: Oops, sorry Groundbound. I didn't see your reply.

Also, don't move the whole folder to the FS9 main folder, as this would overwrite the FS9 gauges folder, and all the gauges in it.

That won't really matter as it will add the contents to what's already in there. This is how those auto-installers work. The main reason I advise against doing this is that existing gauges with the same file names will be overwritten which can cause problems.

[FlightSimKid]

When you have just downloaded ALWAYS read the Read-me inside, chances are the author has provided how to install for you, if that stil dont clear it up, il explain  ;D: Lets take the Ken Mitchell A340 panel as an example,

1) When downloaded file name will be "ab340km_panel" open that
2) you will notice that there are 4 folders but the 3 main ones are Sound, Panel, Gauges
3) the sound files in the Sound folder go to the sound folder inside the AIRCRAFT folder not the main fs9 root folder, the Gauges inside the Gauge folder go to the main Gauges folder in the FS9 folder.

Hope this helps when installing, Gauges, Panels, Sounds.

[Hagar]

[quote]When you have just downloaded ALWAYS read the Read-me inside, chances are the author has provided how to install for you, if that stil dont clear it up, il explain

[beaky]

This discussion brings up (again) some very basic rules:

-Always check for subfolders before dragging the unzipped folder into FS9. More than once I've seen a foler with the aircraft name, which contains a folder named "FS9", followed by the aircraft name again, followed by "FS9", etc. etc. why, I do not know. But if you're new to this... beware of subfolders, and if your new plane doesn't load, that's almost always the reason why.

-Regarding the above rule: when in doubt, look at any default FS9 aircraft folder. Note the contents of its subfolders; note also the name of the folder as it relates to the name of the aircraft in its .cfg file.
If your new baby isn't set up like a default folder, FS9 will just say "I don' know what the hell that is, buddy, but it ain't no aircraft file so I ain't loading it!".

-Whether it's gauges or anything else, never move any folder into a FS9 root folder that has the same name ("Gauges", "Sounds" "Scenery", etc.). Always pull the files within these folders out first, and put them in the correct root folder.

-Best way to learn about all this (as opposed to just turning to the wise heads here whenever there's a problem) is to look at any given .cfg file. There you will learn the answer to many questions about what FS9 is looking for-and where- when it loads aircraft for flight.

[ulflyingmike]

Folks, thanks for all the info. You have given me enough info to think and work out the files. Am newer to computers than aviation! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]Regards, Mike