got many add ons so i decided to start again as i heard there was an order in which you can install add ons. these are the ones i have.ultimate terrain europefscenePMDG747MegaheathrowFLY Tampa hong kong st maartens viennaactive sky 6.5fselementalfswaterDBSWAFdoes it matter which order i instal lthese or is there a good way to do it? thankyou =)

I don't think there's any specific "correct" order, but I like to install my addons as follows:1. ActiveSky2. Any and all scenery/terrain add-ons (ie, UT Europe, FlyTampa SFO)3. AircraftWorks well for me, knock on wood :( .

I think it doesn't matter what gets installed first or last as long as the scenery.cfg file is layered correctly. The only other issue that you could run into is that a scenery install might change the global textures for sky, water, or land. So you'd either want a global texture installer that allows you to re-update your textures or you might have to keep re-installing them. Top of the file = Bottom of the list (FILO)1) Microsoft FS9 Default Objects (Top of the file) 2) Global Elevation Mesh 3) Global Landclass4) Global Libraries (EZ Scenery, RWY12, etc)5) Global Afcad6) SceneryAt least this works for me...make sure you defrag after each software install too...Mark

I think it doesn't matter what gets installed first or last as long as the scenery.cfg file is layered correctly. The only other issue that you could run into is that a scenery install might change the global textures for sky, water, or land. So you'd either want a global texture installer that allows you to re-update your textures or you might have to keep re-installing them. Top of the file = Bottom of the list (FILO)1) Microsoft FS9 Default Objects (Top of the file) 2) Global Elevation Mesh 3) Global Landclass4) Global Libraries (EZ Scenery, RWY12, etc)5) Global Afcad6) SceneryAt least this works for me...make sure you defrag after each software install too...Mark

Are you talking about the list shown in flight sim Settings Scenery lbrary?

Yes. For instance, your scenery.cfg file would have the Global Elevation Mesh entry near the top of the file and yet the FS9 Scenery Library applet would have it listed towards the bottom of the list. In my case, I hardly ever use the FS9 Scenery Library applet. In fact, I haven't used it in years. I go straight to the scenery.cfg file in the Flight Simulator 9 folder and edit the scenery numbers and layers from there. There are utilities out there which will renumber and re-layer it for you, (I wrote my own). While this may seem a very sophisticated and tedious approach for some, in the long run, you'll end up knowing where scenery is and how it's layered.It makes a difference if you have a bunch of freeware add-ons that require this level of detail...If not, then the scenery applet will work fine for you :)Here's a better break down (I hope)...When listed in the scenery.cfg file as...1) Microsoft FS9 Default Objects 2) Global Elevation Mesh 3) Global Landclass4) Global Libraries (EZ Scenery, RWY12, etc)5) Global Afcad6) SceneryThen they will display in the FS9 Scenery Library applet as...1) Scenery2) Global Afcad3) Global Libraries (EZ Scenery, RWY12, etc)4) Global Landclass5) Global Elevation Mesh6) Microsoft FS9 Default Objects Let me know if you don't understand...Mark

Yes. For instance, your scenery.cfg file would have the Global Elevation Mesh entry near the top of the file and yet the FS9 Scenery Library applet would have it listed towards the bottom of the list.

Rather than retype the whole thing, to see my opinion read this - http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtop...t&p=1602532Also, in regards to priority of mesh products read this form Holger Sandmann who has forgot more about mesh and scenery design than most know.Please note that Holger always references the Scenery Library in the sim, not the scenery.cfg.

So here's the scoop:FS knows several different categories of landscape elements: terrain mesh, ground textures (landclass plus autogen), vector and polygon data (streams, roads, water bodies, etc.), airfield data (AFCAD) and custom objects (building models).The important thing to remember is that FS loads files by category meaning scenery library position is relevant only within a category not between categories.In other words, it does not matter whether mesh file entries are above or below land class file entries, or water files below AFCADs etc. FS will sort it out just fine.So why the often mixed message about priorities in the scenery library?First, there is the issue of priority of terrain mesh files. FS will automatically display the local mesh file with the highest level of detail (LOD), regardless of where its entry is in the scenery library. The only time scenery library priority comes into play is if there are overlapping mesh files of the same LOD. In FS2002 and FSX, the rule for this case is handled logically: the mesh of the same LOD but with higher display priority in the scenery library menu (i.e., above the other mesh entry) will be used. For some strange reason, in FS9 this rule is reversed; it's the mesh file lower down in the menu that will be displayed.Since FSGenesis, FSGlobal, etc. are considered base mesh files, and other scenery add-ons may include their own mesh file of the same LOD, the suggestion for FS9 users is to place the library entries of FSGenesis etc. at the top of the scenery library menu. That way the local mesh files will be used in their own coverage area. Again, it's the opposite if you're using FS2002 or FSX!For example, our FS9 Vancouver+ product includes custom 38-m terrain mesh files. The Canadian parts of FSGenesis' 38-m Cordillera files are similar but not identical (different processing). The difference isn't major but you'd notice it at bridge ramps, helipads, etc. If the Vancouver+ scenery library entries were placed above the FSGenesis entries it's the FSGenesis mesh that would be displayed, which is undesirable.In short, if you have installed add-ons with terrain mesh of the same LOD then you need to consider scenery library position. If you don't then it doesn't matter where your mesh file entries are relative to one another or other entries.The other issue is that complex add-ons like VOZ or Misty/Tongass Fjords require a specific order of their multiple scenery library entries so that local excludes work correctly. That's the only other case in which order of scenery library entries is important. The add-on's manual should give the required order of entries.Actually, there's one more case: if you have different airport facility (AFCAD) files of the same airfield in separate scenery library entries then it's the one with the highest priority that will be used. That's why many people suggest that all AFCAD files be placed in a single add-on folder (usually \Addon Scenery\scenery) so that duplicates are easier to spot. Alternatively, tools that detect duplicates can be used to prevent issues with AFCAD files.Of course, there is something to be said for keeping a scenery library with many add-on entries in some kind of order. For example, I sort my library by region/continent so that I can spot more easily whether there may be potential overlaps or conflicts between specific entries.Hope that helps.Cheers, Holger

And I also hope this helps,Joe

That is good advise, however, keep something in mind here. There doesn't appear to be a silver bullet for scenery and layering. I've tried many different methods and approaches over the years and sometimes, I'll install a scenery that should be at sea level and yet is on a plateau. It can become a get it close, and then closer, and then even closer scenario. Most situations will be explained eventually but you need to start with a base which you're aware of...so you know when something changes or you change something. The priorities that I gave you are actually a great place to start...and change. The idea being you are changing layers based on what you see in the sim and how it displays those changes. Often times you will install things that may need to be moved around a bit, however, Holger is an expert and its great to start from expertise and then become your own from there :)Mark