As the topic asks... are we stuck using the SDK's Annotator tool for FSX autogen placement, or are there any 3rd party tools which have expanded upon the idea. I know FS9 has the AGenT tool which was developed for some UK scenery, but I am not certain that it is compatable with FSX or if there are any other tools available. I ask because if there was a tool to make annotation easier, I'd be very tempted to spin up TileProxy and start laying down autogen in various regions.-Greg

Hello Greg, As far as I know, the only tool at present for FS X style custom ground textures is the FS X Annotator.However, does Tile Proxy create ground textures according to FS X techniques? I am not sure since I don't use that program, but I believe it does not and still uses the old methods for making ground tiles. If so, then you can use Agent or any other tool of that sort for placing autogen.Best regards.Luis

Hi Greg:It appears that legacy format FS9 *.AGN format files are properly rendered by FSX along with their "matching" FS9 custom land class photoreal texture tiles.If legacy FS9 LOD-13, 256x256 pixel, photoreal FS texture tiles are used by TileProxy, the FS9 tools below may work quite well for adding trees and buildings to *.AGN files in a semi-automated or interactive manner. :( A few leads (links) to consider: AutoGen Object Creator tool by Art Martin:http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56AutoTrees (automatic autogen file creation) beta v0.1 by David J Griffiths:http://library.avsim.net/search.php?Search...mp;Go=Search%5b"Does a program exist to make easier the autogen for FSX?"http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15680"...where do I retrieve the image to use for placement of the autogen?" (-with link to original UKVFR Objects/AgenT package; NOTE: some new textures were applied to a few UKVFR objects included in updated OrbX "VOZ" package)http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=22490IIUC, TileProxy uses downloaded aerial imagery tiles from online servers.I'm not personally familiar with TileProxy, but if in addition to a FS9 land class tile format it also compiled those tiles into an FSX custom land class imagery BGL file format, and one knew what FSX BGL names (containing both the custom land class tile placement instructions and the aerial imagery itself) actually pertain to an area of interest, one could theoretically annotate those imagery area BGLs using the FSX Annotator to create the *an.AGN files.NOTE: Some may wish to add further annotation beyond the limits imposed by the FS9 *.AGN file to increase autogen object density for use in FSX via the new *an.AGN file format if those files will be matched with a source BGL for the imagery which must contain both the custom land class tile placement instructions and the aerial imagery itself.After copied for backup, FS9 *.AGN files can be opened and converted (irreversibly) by the FSX SDK Annotator tool to the FSX *an.AGN file format and be further used in the new FSX sim (if matched with the appropriate custom land class BGL).Those *an.AGN files (...but not the land class placement/imagery BGLs) could then be freely distributed for use by others in the FS Community. :( BTW - For those still using FS9: Experimentation has shown that in FS9, the amount of displayed trees can be increased beyond the limits imposed by the autogen density slider simply by editing FS9.CFG at:"C:\Documents and Settings\[CURRENT ACCOUNT OR USER PROFILE NAME]\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9\FS9.CFG" (Win-XP 32-bit path)... by changing "TERRAIN_AUTOGEN_DENSITY=5" to a greater number.Informal tests by FS9 users have indicated visibly increased tree density by using numbers as high as "30" ! :( FYI: This number is reduced back down to "5" each time FS9 exits, however, so one must edit it before each restart of FS9 via a batch file etc. to avoid losing the increase of displayed trees.PS: We all owe a great "Thank You" to Luis Feliz Tirado for his outstanding tutorial on Annotation using the FSX SDK Annotator as well as his frequent help here at the AVSIM Scenery Design Forum ! B) Hope these ideas help! B) GaryGB

Interesting thoughts! I'll play a bit with TileProxy to see if it works its magic along the lines of FS9. I'll report back once I get some knowledge...Ok - Editing in...No joy.TileProxy uses something odd to work with the BMP files - it creates ".FLAT" files, which apparently the BMP's call. Therefore, autogen tools are effectively useless against them... Annotator AND AGenT. AGenT wouldn't start up on my computer. After editing the .ini file to point to the FSX Autogen default.xml file, it errors out hard. I think the only way to create autogen for FSX + TileProxy would be to create the autogen tiles inside of FS9 using traditional techniques, and then copy them over into the FSX TileProxy generated directories and hope they worked. (shrug)Oh well. Thanks for the help, gentlemen. It was worth the shot!-Greg-Greg

I'm also wondering if that's the only tool that we can use. Hoping to hear further suggestions in this forum. Thanks!Regards,mitrafoxPlacement financier

Can you give me the download to the fsx autogen annotator please?

Can you give me the download to the fsx autogen annotator please?

 

Hello,

 

The annotator can be found in the FSX SDK, which ships with FSX Deluxe and FSX Gold. Updates to the SDK can be found on Microsoft's website.

 

-Greg

I think if I read your post right that ScenProc by Arno Gerretsen might fit the bill. It's can be found through fsdeveloper. I've been able in the past to use it to import data from OpenStreetMap to place autogen atop photoscenery in FSX and P3d. It takes a little initial figuring out but he may have written instructions since I used it, it's been a while. If it's what you're looking for and you find you need help I'd be happy to help you along in as much as I can.

You can also use the Autogen Annotator from lockheed Martin's prepar3d SDK:

 

http://www.prepar3d.com/support/sdk/

 

This annotator from v2 still works in FSX, as do many other tools.

 

Dick

You can also use the Autogen Annotator from lockheed Martin's prepar3d SDK:

 

http://www.prepar3d.com/support/sdk/

 

This annotator from v2 still works in FSX, as do many other tools.

 

Dick

Wow, that's good news.  Still amazes me that Autogen Annotator is the only comprehensive tool for creating autogen.