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avgaskoolaid

Changing airport elevations in FSX

By avgaskoolaid, in FSX | FSX-SE Scenery Design Forum - How To

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avgaskoolaid    292

avgaskoolaid
Posted

Hi everyone. I have just downloaded FSX terrain mesh for Syria from FSGenesis (with the discount code on their site, the price was roughly $5. I didnt need to think twice about this one!). Anyway, I downloaded it and noticed that all of the airports in Syria seemed to be raised on plateaus of some sort. This includes both the default airports and the one third party airport that I have in Syria (for Damascus international OSDI). I did a bit of reading online, and I found out that this was occurring because the airport elevation was set higher than the surrounding terrain. I read many things online about how to fix this, and while I couldnt understand most of them (I have never done anything with scenery editing before, so it all went right over my head), they all said to start with ADE. I downloaded the program, and for the life of me I couldn't figure it out. So, I was hoping that some of those here that are very good at this sort of thing could give me simple, understandable directions on how to fix this problem? Thank you very much!

hamoody.

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scruffyduck    4

scruffyduck
Posted

To change the elevation of an airport and make it stick involves both changing the altitude of the airport, its' runways, starts, ILS etc etc; and creating a small file which we tend to call a pre-load file. This pre-load file contains reference information about the airport and the new altitude. This file has to be placed in a scenery folder that loads before the stock airport. I understand that you are new to Scenery Design but this is not a trivial job. ADE automates the process and deals with all the issues above. The alternative involves working directly with the XMLsource code or changing the airport details with an airport design tool such as ADE or AFX and then creating a new stub airport with that tool for the pre-load file.

 

Perhaps you can tell me where you are with installing ADE and where you got stuck? We should be able to get you good to go quite quickly :)

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avgaskoolaid    292

avgaskoolaid
Posted

Ok, so I managed to get the airport open by clicking on "Open Stock Airport". I went into "Tools" and changed the airport elevation from 615ish meters to 609 meters (as it should be). I clicked Compile Airport and tried to save it as OSDI_ADEX_ADE.bgl in the folder for the airport in my addon scenery file. However, I got an error message that said "Cannot find BglComp.exe. Please check your settings!". I do not have the SDK for FSX installed,by the way.

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GHD    21

GHD
Posted

I do not have the SDK for FSX installed,by the way.

 

If you read section 2 of the manual you will see the necessary prerequisites for ADE:

 

2.1 Requirements

The following applications / files are required for ADE9X to run properly:

 

o Flight Simulator X Deluxe Edition and/or FS9.1.

 

o Free version of FSUIPC3 for FS9.

download at: http://www.schiratti.com/dowson.html

 

o Free version of FSUIPC4 for FSX

 

o The FSX Software Development Kit (SDK), which comes only with the Deluxe

Edition, along with the latest Service Pack Updates (SP1A, SP2, or Acceleration

DVD). The SDK is not installed automatically when you install FSX. If the

Environment Checker (see below) cannot find BglComp, you will need to located the

SDK on the DVD and install it. Please note that the version of the SDK on the Deluxe

DVD has a fault that causes the compiler to fail on boundary fences. After installation

of the original SDK, you must visit FSInsider to get the Service Pack Update.

 

o MSXML 4 at minimum. Required by BglComp

 

o Microsoft dotNET Framework version 3.5

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avgaskoolaid    292

avgaskoolaid
Posted

So, I got the SDK installed and changed the elevation from the original 615ish meters to 609 meters (the airport altitude in real life). Well, not there are strange hills everywhere, and the default airport is showing through in addition to the add-on one I have. Whats going on?

2012-6-22_15-12-25-48.jpg

2012-6-22_15-12-46-353.jpg

2012-6-22_15-13-11-164.jpg

2012-6-22_15-13-18-428.jpg

2012-6-22_15-13-55-313.jpg

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GHD    21

GHD
Posted

Ok, so I managed to get the airport open by clicking on "Open Stock Airport

 

I thought you said you had a third party addon?

 

In that case, you will have two AFD files, the third party addon and the one you created with ADE. This will cause many problems.

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avgaskoolaid    292

avgaskoolaid
Posted

Ok, deleted my file that I made and opened the AFX_OSDI_BGL (from the addon) file and changed the altitude. When I tried to complie, though, I get this message. It seemed to have partially compiled, as I am getting a different result from when I first started (Airport normal, but on a plateau vs. On a plateau with hills and such), but it is still not normal. And when I opened the bgl again after my first edit, the airport altitude still said that it was at about 615 (the default that I am trying to fix).

 

ScruffyDuck Scenery Design Engine Compiling

Using FSX BglComp....

 

 

Parsing document: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Addon Scenery\OSDI\Scenery\AFX_OSDI.xml

 

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2450: Control character expected at offset (0) in Taxiway Sign label: <A>l[ E ]d ^L]

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2448: Invalid format for Taxiway Sign label: <A>l[ E ]d ^L]

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2031: Failed element parse <TaxiwaySign>

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2032: XML Parse Error! Element tree follows:

 

ERROR: <FSData

ERROR: version = 9.0

ERROR: >

ERROR: <Airport

ERROR: country = Syria

ERROR: city = Damascus

ERROR: name = Damascus Intl

ERROR: lat = 33.4100749343634

ERROR: lon = 36.5135036408901

ERROR: alt = 609.0M

ERROR: magvar = -3

ERROR: trafficScalar = 1

ERROR: airportTestRadius = 5000.0M

ERROR: ident = OSDI

ERROR: >

ERROR: <TaxiwaySign

ERROR: lat = 33.4083308279514

ERROR: lon = 36.5221104025841

ERROR: heading = 318

ERROR: label = <A>l[ E ]d ^L]

ERROR: size = SIZE3

ERROR: justification = RIGHT

ERROR: >

ERROR:

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2450: Control character expected at offset (0) in Taxiway Sign label: <A>l[ E ]d ^L]

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2448: Invalid format for Taxiway Sign label: <A>l[ E ]d ^L]

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2031: Failed element parse <TaxiwaySign>

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2032: XML Parse Error! Element tree follows:

 

ERROR: <FSData

ERROR: version = 9.0

ERROR: >

ERROR: <Airport

ERROR: country = Syria

ERROR: city = Damascus

ERROR: name = Damascus Intl

ERROR: lat = 33.4100749343634

ERROR: lon = 36.5135036408901

ERROR: alt = 609.0M

ERROR: magvar = -3

ERROR: trafficScalar = 1

ERROR: airportTestRadius = 5000.0M

ERROR: ident = OSDI

ERROR: >

ERROR: <TaxiwaySign

ERROR: lat = 33.408102504909

ERROR: lon = 36.5223504602909

ERROR: heading = 138

ERROR: label = <A>l[ E ]d ^L]

ERROR: size = SIZE3

ERROR: justification = LEFT

ERROR: >

ERROR:

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2450: Control character expected at offset (0) in Taxiway Sign label: <A1>l[ L ]d

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2448: Invalid format for Taxiway Sign label: <A1>l[ L ]d

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2031: Failed element parse <TaxiwaySign>

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2032: XML Parse Error! Element tree follows:

 

ERROR: <FSData

ERROR: version = 9.0

ERROR: >

ERROR: <Airport

ERROR: country = Syria

ERROR: city = Damascus

ERROR: name = Damascus Intl

ERROR: lat = 33.4100749343634

ERROR: lon = 36.5135036408901

ERROR: alt = 609.0M

ERROR: magvar = -3

ERROR: trafficScalar = 1

ERROR: airportTestRadius = 5000.0M

ERROR: ident = OSDI

ERROR: >

ERROR: <TaxiwaySign

ERROR: lat = 33.408929631114

ERROR: lon = 36.5229088068008

ERROR: heading = 319

ERROR: label = <A1>l[ L ]d

ERROR: size = SIZE3

ERROR: justification = RIGHT

ERROR: >

ERROR:

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2450: Control character expected at offset (0) in Taxiway Sign label: <A1>l[ L ]d

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2448: Invalid format for Taxiway Sign label: <A1>l[ L ]d

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2031: Failed element parse <TaxiwaySign>

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2032: XML Parse Error! Element tree follows:

 

ERROR: <FSData

ERROR: version = 9.0

ERROR: >

ERROR: <Airport

ERROR: country = Syria

ERROR: city = Damascus

ERROR: name = Damascus Intl

ERROR: lat = 33.4100749343634

ERROR: lon = 36.5135036408901

ERROR: alt = 609.0M

ERROR: magvar = -3

ERROR: trafficScalar = 1

ERROR: airportTestRadius = 5000.0M

ERROR: ident = OSDI

ERROR: >

ERROR: <TaxiwaySign

ERROR: lat = 33.4086640924215

ERROR: lon = 36.5231645107269

ERROR: heading = 139

ERROR: label = <A1>l[ L ]d

ERROR: size = SIZE3

ERROR: justification = LEFT

ERROR: >

ERROR:

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2450: Control character expected at offset (0) in Taxiway Sign label: <A>l[ K ]d

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2448: Invalid format for Taxiway Sign label: <A>l[ K ]d

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2031: Failed element parse <TaxiwaySign>

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2032: XML Parse Error! Element tree follows:

 

ERROR: <FSData

ERROR: version = 9.0

ERROR: >

ERROR: <Airport

ERROR: country = Syria

ERROR: city = Damascus

ERROR: name = Damascus Intl

ERROR: lat = 33.4100749343634

ERROR: lon = 36.5135036408901

ERROR: alt = 609.0M

ERROR: magvar = -3

ERROR: trafficScalar = 1

ERROR: airportTestRadius = 5000.0M

ERROR: ident = OSDI

ERROR: >

ERROR: <TaxiwaySign

ERROR: lat = 33.4074480459094

ERROR: lon = 36.5229906141758

ERROR: heading = 137

ERROR: label = <A>l[ K ]d

ERROR: size = SIZE3

ERROR: justification = LEFT

ERROR: >

ERROR:

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2450: Control character expected at offset (0) in Taxiway Sign label: <A>l[ K ]d

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2448: Invalid format for Taxiway Sign label: <A>l[ K ]d

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2031: Failed element parse <TaxiwaySign>

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2032: XML Parse Error! Element tree follows:

 

ERROR: <FSData

ERROR: version = 9.0

ERROR: >

ERROR: <Airport

ERROR: country = Syria

ERROR: city = Damascus

ERROR: name = Damascus Intl

ERROR: lat = 33.4100749343634

ERROR: lon = 36.5135036408901

ERROR: alt = 609.0M

ERROR: magvar = -3

ERROR: trafficScalar = 1

ERROR: airportTestRadius = 5000.0M

ERROR: ident = OSDI

ERROR: >

ERROR: <TaxiwaySign

ERROR: lat = 33.4071751311421

ERROR: lon = 36.5232682228088

ERROR: heading = 320

ERROR: label = <A>l[ K ]d

ERROR: size = SIZE3

ERROR: justification = RIGHT

ERROR: >

ERROR:

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2451: Display character expected at offset (1) in Taxiway Sign label: dl[ A ]d >K]

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2448: Invalid format for Taxiway Sign label: dl[ A ]d >K]

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2031: Failed element parse <TaxiwaySign>

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2032: XML Parse Error! Element tree follows:

 

ERROR: <FSData

ERROR: version = 9.0

ERROR: >

ERROR: <Airport

ERROR: country = Syria

ERROR: city = Damascus

ERROR: name = Damascus Intl

ERROR: lat = 33.4100749343634

ERROR: lon = 36.5135036408901

ERROR: alt = 609.0M

ERROR: magvar = -3

ERROR: trafficScalar = 1

ERROR: airportTestRadius = 5000.0M

ERROR: ident = OSDI

ERROR: >

ERROR: <TaxiwaySign

ERROR: lat = 33.4078332781792

ERROR: lon = 36.5234416723251

ERROR: heading = 233

ERROR: label = dl[ A ]d >K]

ERROR: size = SIZE3

ERROR: justification = LEFT

ERROR: >

ERROR:

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2451: Display character expected at offset (1) in Taxiway Sign label: dl[ A ]d >K]

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2448: Invalid format for Taxiway Sign label: dl[ A ]d >K]

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2031: Failed element parse <TaxiwaySign>

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2032: XML Parse Error! Element tree follows:

 

ERROR: <FSData

ERROR: version = 9.0

ERROR: >

ERROR: <Airport

ERROR: country = Syria

ERROR: city = Damascus

ERROR: name = Damascus Intl

ERROR: lat = 33.4100749343634

ERROR: lon = 36.5135036408901

ERROR: alt = 609.0M

ERROR: magvar = -3

ERROR: trafficScalar = 1

ERROR: airportTestRadius = 5000.0M

ERROR: ident = OSDI

ERROR: >

ERROR: <TaxiwaySign

ERROR: lat = 33.4075989201665

ERROR: lon = 36.5230594575405

ERROR: heading = 51

ERROR: label = dl[ A ]d >K]

ERROR: size = SIZE3

ERROR: justification = RIGHT

ERROR: >

ERROR:

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2451: Display character expected at offset (10) in Taxiway Sign label: d<O>l[A1]dm<05L]m|>23R]

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2448: Invalid format for Taxiway Sign label: d<O>l[A1]dm<05L]m|>23R]

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2031: Failed element parse <TaxiwaySign>

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2032: XML Parse Error! Element tree follows:

 

ERROR: <FSData

ERROR: version = 9.0

ERROR: >

ERROR: <Airport

ERROR: country = Syria

ERROR: city = Damascus

ERROR: name = Damascus Intl

ERROR: lat = 33.4100749343634

ERROR: lon = 36.5135036408901

ERROR: alt = 609.0M

ERROR: magvar = -3

ERROR: trafficScalar = 1

ERROR: airportTestRadius = 5000.0M

ERROR: ident = OSDI

ERROR: >

ERROR: <TaxiwaySign

ERROR: lat = 33.4206931293011

ERROR: lon = 36.5121281147003

ERROR: heading = 232

ERROR: label = d<O>l[A1]dm<05L]m|>23R]

ERROR: size = SIZE3

ERROR: justification = RIGHT

ERROR: >

ERROR:

INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR: #C2607: Compilation errors detected, compilation failed!

 

 

Parse complete!

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scruffyduck    4

scruffyduck
Posted

It seems that the taxi signs contain characters that are not accepted by the MS Bgl Compiler. If the original file was created by AFX the it uses its' own compiler that may not be compliant with the MS one. If you are using the latest version of ADE then check the lower left of the screen - is there a Red Button? If so click it and it may help you deal with the taxi sign problems. If not then we may need to see your project (.ad2) file.

 

Can you also confirm that you are loading and saving your work in the ADE project form (Load Airport and Save Airport) and not loading your work back from the Bgl file you compiled?

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avgaskoolaid    292

avgaskoolaid
Posted

Ok, I fixed the taxiway signs (the little button that was red is now green), changed the altitude and tried to compile it. I compiled it with the name AFX_OSDI.bgl to replace the old one (ADE gave me a different name to compile it as at first. Should I have used that?) I am still getting the same problem as shown in the pictures (minus the stock airport showing through). I had been just loading the .bgl from the .bgl I had compiled previously, but this time I saved the ADE project file.

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GHD    21

GHD
Posted

When you change an airport elevation, there are two extra operations necessary.

  1. Exclude the default airport background/flatten.
     
  2. Create a new airport background at the correct elevation

osdi1.jpg

 

ADE will create an extra bgl file with "CVX" in the name. This should be placed in the same scenery folder as the ADEX file.

 

osdi2.jpg

 

Note. ADE will have automatically placed yet another file in FSX\World\Scenery such that FSX will use the new elevation.

 

George

 

Can I suggest that you post support requests for ADE at:

 

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=95

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avgaskoolaid    292

avgaskoolaid
Posted

"When you change an airport elevation, there are two extra operations necessary.

  1. Exclude the default airport background/flatten.
     
  2. Create a new airport background at the correct elevation

 

When you change an airport elevation, there are two extra operations necessary.

  1. Exclude the default airport background/flatten.
     
  2. Create a new airport background at the correct elevation

osdi1.jpg

 

ADE will create an extra bgl file with "CVX" in the name. This should be placed in the same scenery folder as the ADEX file.

 

osdi2.jpg

 

Note. ADE will have automatically placed yet another file in FSX\World\Scenery such that FSX will use the new elevation.

 

George

 

Can I suggest that you post support requests for ADE at:

 

http://www.fsdevelop...isplay.php?f=95

 

 

Could you please tell me how exactly to do this? (Sorry, I have absolutely zero experience with this program or scenery design).

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avgaskoolaid    292

avgaskoolaid
Posted

Also, I would like to add that the airport does not seem to have a default background/flatten on it, or at least I cant see it.

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scruffyduck    4

scruffyduck
Posted

Where do you want us to reply. You have started this question again on another forum so please tell us whether you want to get answers over there or here.

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avgaskoolaid    292

avgaskoolaid
Posted

Where do you want us to reply. You have started this question again on another forum so please tell us whether you want to get answers over there or here.

GHD advised me to post support requests over at the other forum. I was unaware of the fact that there was a dedicated section for ADE over there, and I figured it was a good idea as this is seeming like an issue of how to use ADE to fix the problem.

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