I have been attempting to edit the flare gun effect to fire in timed incraments with no luck. I have tried using another effect like a beacon, slowing it's pulse rate and attaching the flare gun effect. It seems to work in the editor, but does not work when I add it to my xml file and compile the .bgl. I want to create some night time search and rescue events for use on multiplayer. Anyone have any ideas or a place to point me? Thanks.

Long shot, but perhaps you could investigate the infra-red decoy flares which the Captain Sim C-130 can drop and how it is implemented. I only have the FS9 version of that plane, but I assume the FSX version has that effect too.Al

Long shot, but perhaps you could investigate the infra-red decoy flares which the Captain Sim C-130 can drop and how it is implemented. I only have the FS9 version of that plane, but I assume the FSX version has that effect too.Al

I'll find and download that plane tonight and give it a try, unless anyone knows where I can just download the .fx file. Thanks for the suggestion.

It may not be the effect that is the problem but the way it is called. Try reading this tutorial from fsdeveloper:http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?...effects_and_XMLIt sounds like a controller effect may be what you are after.

It may not be the effect that is the problem but the way it is called. Try reading this tutorial from fsdeveloper:http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?...effects_and_XMLIt sounds like a controller effect may be what you are after.

That makes perfect sense! I'll give it a try, thanks. Distance would be much more preferred anyways.

Didn't seem to work for me. I set the proximity for a test run at 100 meters. It fired on start up, but then wouldn't fire again when I got back within the 100 meters. I'm not sure if I set my cntrl file up wrong, it is as follows:[Library Effect]Lifetime=5Version=1.00Radius=-1Priority=0[controller.0]lifetime=0.0, 0.0type=3distance= 0.00, 100.0delay=0.00, 0.00x offset=0.00, 0.00y offset=0.00, 0.00z offset=0.00, 0.00effect.0=fx_morgan_flare, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00I just set it up like this for a test run

Here's a lighthouse effect I recently made:Here is the controller. The delay retriggers the .fx every 15 secs which is the time it takes for the lighthouse to repeat its sequence.

[Library Effect]Lifetime=5Version=1.00Radius=-1Priority=0[controller.0]lifetime=0.0, 0.0 type=3 distance=15000.00, 15000.00delay=15.00, 15.00x offset=0.00, 0.00 y offset=0.00, 0.00 z offset=0.00, 0.00effect.0=AntsAussieAirports_YLTTLighthouse, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00

here is the effect. It displays three flashes at 1 sec intervals

[Library Effect]Lifetime=5Version=2.00Display Name=aaa8_LadyElliotLighthouse15secFlashRadius=200Priority=2[Properties][Emitter.0]Lifetime=10.00, 10.00Delay=0.00, 0.00Bounce=0.00No Interpolate=1Rate=0.066, 0.066X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Drag=0.00, 0.00X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00X Rotation=0.00, 0.00Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00X Offset=0.00, 0.00Y Offset=0.00, 0.00Z Offset=0.00, 0.00Pitch=0.00, 0.00Bank=0.00, 0.00Heading=0.00, 0.00[Particle.0]Lifetime=1.00, 1.00Type=19X Scale=16.00, 16.00Y Scale=16.00, 16.00Z Scale=0.00, 0.00X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00Drag=0.00, 0.00Color Rate=0.00, 0.00X Offset=0.00, 0.00Y Offset=0.00, 0.00Z Offset=0.00, 0.00Fade In=0.00, 0.00Fade Out=0.00, 0.00Rotation=0.00, 0.00Static=1Face=1, 1, 1[ParticleAttributes.0]Blend Mode=2Texture=fx_2.bmpBounce=0.00Color Start=250, 250, 222, 50Color End=250, 250, 222, 0Jitter Distance=0.00Jitter Time=0.00uv1=0.00, 0.00uv2=0.50, 0.50X Scale Goal=0.00Y Scale Goal=0.00Z Scale Goal=0.00Extrude Length=0.00Extrude Pitch Max=0.00Extrude Heading Max=0.00[Emitter.1]Lifetime=10.00, 10.00Delay=2.00, 2.00Bounce=0.00No Interpolate=1Rate=0.066, 0.066X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Drag=0.00, 0.00X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00X Rotation=0.00, 0.00Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00X Offset=0.00, 0.00Y Offset=0.00, 0.00Z Offset=0.00, 0.00Pitch=0.00, 0.00Bank=0.00, 0.00Heading=0.00, 0.00[Particle.1]Lifetime=1.00, 1.00Type=19X Scale=16.00, 16.00Y Scale=16.00, 16.00Z Scale=0.00, 0.00X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00Drag=0.00, 0.00Color Rate=0.00, 0.00X Offset=0.00, 0.00Y Offset=0.00, 0.00Z Offset=0.00, 0.00Fade In=0.00, 0.00Fade Out=0.00, 0.00Rotation=0.00, 0.00Static=1Face=1, 1, 1[ParticleAttributes.1]Blend Mode=2Texture=fx_2.bmpBounce=0.00Color Start=250, 250, 222, 50Color End=250, 250, 222, 0Jitter Distance=0.00Jitter Time=0.00uv1=0.00, 0.00uv2=0.50, 0.50X Scale Goal=0.00Y Scale Goal=0.00Z Scale Goal=0.00Extrude Length=0.00Extrude Pitch Max=0.00Extrude Heading Max=0.00[Emitter.2]Lifetime=10.00, 10.00Delay=4.00, 4.00Bounce=0.00No Interpolate=1Rate=0.066, 0.066X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Drag=0.00, 0.00X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00X Rotation=0.00, 0.00Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00X Offset=0.00, 0.00Y Offset=0.00, 0.00Z Offset=0.00, 0.00Pitch=0.00, 0.00Bank=0.00, 0.00Heading=0.00, 0.00[Particle.2]Lifetime=1.00, 1.00Type=19X Scale=16.00, 16.00Y Scale=16.00, 16.00Z Scale=0.00, 0.00X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00Drag=0.00, 0.00Color Rate=0.00, 0.00X Offset=0.00, 0.00Y Offset=0.00, 0.00Z Offset=0.00, 0.00Fade In=0.00, 0.00Fade Out=0.00, 0.00Rotation=0.00, 0.00Static=1Face=1, 1, 1[ParticleAttributes.2]Blend Mode=2Texture=fx_2.bmpBounce=0.00Color Start=250, 250, 222, 50Color End=250, 250, 222, 0Jitter Distance=0.00Jitter Time=0.00uv1=0.00, 0.00uv2=0.50, 0.50X Scale Goal=0.00Y Scale Goal=0.00Z Scale Goal=0.00Extrude Length=0.00Extrude Pitch Max=0.00Extrude Heading Max=0.00

Post your .fx file and someone may be able to decipher it. There are a couple of bugs/anomalies in the effects system and it can be a bit tricky getting things to work.

Here's a lighthouse effect I recently made:Here is the controller. The delay retriggers the .fx every 15 secs which is the time it takes for the lighthouse to repeat its sequence.here is the effect. It displays three flashes at 1 sec intervalsPost your .fx file and someone may be able to decipher it. There are a couple of bugs/anomalies in the effects system and it can be a bit tricky getting things to work.

.fx file[Library Effect]Display Name=Flare[Properties]Cockpit=1VirtualCockpit=1Spot=1Tower=1Map=1[Emitter.0]Lifetime=0.00, 0.00Delay=0.00, 0.00Bounce=0.00Rate=1.00, 1.00X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Y Emitter Velocity=45.00, 45.00Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Drag=0.00, 0.00X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00Y Particle Velocity=45.00, 45.00Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00X Rotation=0.00, 0.00Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00X Offset=0.00, 0.00Y Offset=0.00, 0.00Z Offset=0.00, 0.00Pitch=0.00, 0.00Bank=0.00, 0.00Heading=0.00, 0.00[Particle.0]Lifetime=18.00, 18.00Type=19X Scale=10.00, 15.00Y Scale=10.00, 15.00Z Scale=0.00, 0.00X Scale Rate=0.20, 0.50Y Scale Rate=0.20, 0.50Z Scale Rate=0.0, 0.0Drag=0.00, 0.00Color Rate=0.50, 0.70X Offset=0.00, 0.00Y Offset=0.00, 0.00Z Offset=0.00, 0.00Fade In=0.00, 0.00Fade Out=0.00, 0.00Rotation=0.00, 0.00Face=1, 1, 1[ParticleAttributes.0]Blend Mode=2Texture=fx_2.bmpBounce=0.00Color Start=204,00,51,255Color End=153, 00, 00, 255Jitter Distance=0.00Jitter Time=0.00TempK=100.00TempRate=-0.01uv1=0.00, 0.00uv2=0.50, 0.50X Scale Goal=15.00Y Scale Goal=15.00Z Scale Goal=0.00Extrude Length=0.00Extrude Pitch Max=0.00Extrude Heading Max=0.00[Emitter.1]Lifetime=1.00, 1.00Delay=0.00, 0.00Bounce=0.00Rate=1.0, 1.0X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Y Emitter Velocity=45.00, 45.00Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00Drag=0.00, 0.00X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00Y Particle Velocity=45.00, 45.00Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00X Rotation=0.00, 0.00Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00X Offset=0.00, 0.00Y Offset=0.00, 0.00Z Offset=0.00, 0.00Pitch=0.00, 0.00Bank=0.00, 0.00Heading=0.00, 0.00[Particle.1]Lifetime=20.00, 20.00Type=19X Scale=2.00, 2.00Y Scale=2.00, 2.00Z Scale=0.00, 0.00X Scale Rate=0.10, 0.18Y Scale Rate=0.10, 0.18Z Scale Rate=0.0, 0.0Drag=0.00, 0.00Color Rate=0.50, 0.50X Offset=0.00, 0.00Y Offset=0.00, 0.00Z Offset=0.00, 0.00Fade In=0.00, 0.00Fade Out=0.00, 0.00Rotation=0.00, 0.00Face=1, 1, 1[ParticleAttributes.1]Blend Mode=2Texture=fx_2.bmpBounce=0.00Color Start=247, 190, 115, 200Color End=166, 104, 13, 0Jitter Distance=0.00Jitter Time=0.00uv1=0.50, 0.00uv2=0.75, 0.25X Scale Goal=3.0Y Scale Goal=3.0Z Scale Goal=0.00Extrude Length=0.00Extrude Pitch Max=0.00Extrude Heading Max=0.00And my cntrl file[Library Effect]Lifetime=5Version=1.00Radius=-1Priority=0[controller.0]lifetime=0.0, 0.0type=3distance= 1.00, 100.0delay=0.00, 0.00x offset=0.00, 0.00y offset=0.00, 0.00z offset=0.00, 0.00effect.0=fx_morgan_flare, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00I made the distance so small purely for testing. I was going to tweek that after I made sure it worked, which it doesn't. It fires at start up and that's it. Thanks\edit:should I be placing my cntrl file with the object instead of the effect itself?

Thanks for posting Whiskey. Yes, you should be placing the cntrl file. The cntrl file will call your .fx file.I copied your data into a couple of .fx files and had a bit of a fiddle to get things working and I recommend the following changes:To the cntrl file:distance=100.00, 100.00 (in effects, when there are two numbers, fsx will randomly generate a value between the first and second numbers. Setting both numbers forces FSX to use that number, after all, a random number between 100 and 100 will always be 100. You will of course change this to a larger distance after your testing, what use is a flare that only appears when you are 100m away?)delay=20.00, 20.00 (this will make the effect repeat every 20 seconds, change this to change how often a flare will fire)

Thanks for posting Whiskey. Yes, you should be placing the cntrl file. The cntrl file will call your .fx file.I copied your data into a couple of .fx files and had a bit of a fiddle to get things working and I recommend the following changes:To the cntrl file:distance=100.00, 100.00 (in effects, when there are two numbers, fsx will randomly generate a value between the first and second numbers. Setting both numbers forces FSX to use that number, after all, a random number between 100 and 100 will always be 100. You will of course change this to a larger distance after your testing, what use is a flare that only appears when you are 100m away?)delay=20.00, 20.00 (this will make the effect repeat every 20 seconds, change this to change how often a flare will fire)

Thanks for you help kwilson, I really appreciate it. I have been messing with the changes you suggested, and it is working!!!!! I thank you very very very much for all of your help. I was about to give up on this