...and here's how I did it.Making USA Roads work in Flight Simulator 2002June 28, 2004+ PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ++ THIS IS PROVIDED AS-IS, WITH NO SUPPORT IMPLIED + -----------------------------------------------------------------Goal and Why I am doing it:----------------------------------------------------------------- I want to fly FS2002 rather than FS2004. I miss my PIC767 aircraft, and I rather enjoy the performance "improvements" that FS2002 provides. But, at the same time, I invested $30 in USA Roads and I'd like to enjoy it in both sims! Knowing what I do about scenery design (which is just enough to be dangerous), I knew that the roads format for FS2002 and FS2004 were similar, if not identical. So the claims that the product is only for FS2004 made me wonder if it was a technical issue, or just a "support" issue. Using common tricks of the trade, I was able to get the USA Roads to work in FS2002, without much muss and fuss. The instructions look complex, but in reality they aren't that bad. If you are as interested in getting it to work as I was, you should have no problems doing this in a short period of time. -----------------------------------------------------------------DISCLAIMER:-----------------------------------------------------------------* This import is not supported by Flight1 or Scenery Solutions. Any damage you do to your installs (either FS2002, FS2004, or your computer in general) is, bluntly, your own fault. * BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP! Don't remove or move files without first having a backup prepared. You can damage or destroy either your FS2002 AND/OR FS2004 install if you fail to have backups.* I did NOT try to install the product straight to FS2002 - it probably wouldn't work.* NOR did I try to install the product WITHOUT FS2004 installed in the first place. Users who do NOT have FS2004 may not want to purchase the product based on these instructions, as you may not be able to install the product. This is something I am not testing. * The USA Roads SETUP.EXE program will NOT function in FS2002. Any texture or style changes you wish to make will need to be done manually, or via FS2004. * Any patches released by Flight1 cannot be directly installed into your FS2002 import, and Flight1 will certainly NOT support any problems which arise from FS2002 use. * The distribution of source files is strictly prohibited and a violation of copyright law.-----------------------------------------------------------------PREREQUESITES (as tested and documented):-----------------------------------------------------------------* FS2004 INSTALLED.* USA Roads INSTALLED for FS2004 (preferably tested so you know it works)* A good knowledge of moving and copying files around your computer. * FS2002 Installed.-----------------------------------------------------------------STEPS TO FOLLOW:-----------------------------------------------------------------STEP ONE - PREPARE Flight Simulator 2002 for the arrival of new roads!* Look for your road BGL's in the FS2002 directory and remove them - backups. - FS2002scenedbwesthemusgl (Great Lakes region) - FS2002scenedbwesthemusnc (North Central) - FS2002scenedbwesthemusne (North East) - FS2002scenedbwesthemusnw (North West) - FS2002scenedbwesthemussc (South Central) - FS2002scenedbwesthemusse (South East) - FS2002scenedbwesthemussw (South West)- Road BGLs are "rdl??????.bgl" files. I strongly recommend backing them up! Failure to do so will prevent you from reverting back to your old roads. I created a ZIP archive in each folder containing the old files, and then deleted the originals. - If you go flying in FS2002 now, you'll notice naked ground - no more roads!-----------------------------------------------------------------STEP TWO - COPY the ROAD BGLs from FS2004 to FS2002* Copy the USA Roads Scenery directories to your FS2002Scenery directory. You may choose to copy only the folders you wish to use (All roads vs. Major Roads), but I moved them all and used the scenery library to manage my roads. - FS2004SceneryUSACAll (Central, All Roads) - FS2004SceneryUSACMaj (Central, MAJOR Roads Only) - FS2004SceneryUSAEAll (East, All Roads) - FS2004SceneryUSAEMaj (East, MAJOR Roads Only) - FS2004SceneryUSAWAll (West, All Roads) - FS2004SceneryUSAWMaj (West, MAJOR Roads Only) - Place the folders in your "FS2002Scenery" directory.-----------------------------------------------------------------STEP THREE - COPY the ROAD TEXTURES from FS2004 to FS2002* Find and copy the USA Roads textures to FS2002. There are numerous files to copy. - I looked at the DATE STAMPS of the files and copied all texture files dated 4/23/2004 - FS2004SceneryWorldTexture??Under.bmp (The six seasonal under-road background textures, I presume) - FS2004SceneryWorldTextureaRoad***.bmp - FS2004SceneryWorldTexturecRoad***.bmp (Daytime road textures)- Also done by date stamps, I looked for the date I last installed USA Roads -or- the date I last edited the type of roadway lighting I desired. This resulted in a few NROAD***.BMP files. In total, I copied (22) texture files. You may get a different number. - FS2004SceneryWorldTextureNROAD***.bmp (Your currently selected nighttime road set) - All these files should be copied to your "FS2002ScenerydbWorldTexture" directory- I copied a total of (22) textures, but your install may be different. -----------------------------------------------------------------STEP FOUR - COPY the USA Roads program and master (night) textures to a safe place* Copy and store the USA Roads program directory. Looks like all nighttime road textures are stored there. IF you want to further customize your install or alter the texture set you are using, it appears you will need to use these files to manually copy the texture. The SETUP.EXE program *will not work* with your modified "install" in FS2002. You could, perhaps, use SETUP to alter the texure in FS2004 and copy the newly modified textures to FS2002 using the method in the step above.- The directory to store is "FS2004Flight One SOftwareUSA Roads"- You should store this directory in a place of your choosing.- It provides the nighttime source files in case you want to manually change textures. -----------------------------------------------------------------STEP FIVE - Configure FS2002 scenery library* From within FS2002, you need to enable the new scenery directories you just copied. Go to the Scenery Library area, and add the road sets you wish to use. I personally add ALL road sets (ALL roads and the Major road only set), and disable the one I don't want to use. You can also mix-and-match, and use ALL roads on the east coast, major roads in the central region, and whatever on the west coast - it's up to you. You should be able to fly and see your new roads now!-----------------------------------------------------------------Other Notes-----------------------------------------------------------------After the initial test, I tested with a CLEAN INSTALL.I stored all my files from the import and reformatted my hard drive. Yeah, lots of work, but I needed to purge some old nasty programs. I reinstalled JUST FS2002, and placed my USA Roads files in position as mentioned above. It worked flawlessly. -----------------------------------------------------------------Performance Findings-----------------------------------------------------------------Everything works as it should - the ground textures do seem to look slightly different than FS2004, but that's probably the scenery engine doing it's business.This will NOT cure any over-water roads, and FS2002 has the same problems with inaccurate coastlines as FS2004.Frames and smoothness performance penalties were equal to that of USA Roads with FS2004, which was minimal to say the least. -----------------------------------------------------------------Quick Screenies...-----------------------------------------------------------------Taken north of KPVD, approaching the city of Providence, RI.Flight Simulator 2002 Professional, with...- Flight Simulator 2004 substitute ground textures.- FSGenesis US Landclass enhancements.- USA Roads enhancements. http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/81825.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/81826.jpg

I'm bumping this up - the support team at Scenery Solutions gave an informal nod to this procedure. While it is completely UNSUPPORTED by the Flight1/Scenery Solutions teams, they have confirmed to me that the BGL scenery files are fully compatable with FS2002. It was their choice not to support FS2002 due to the differences in platforms, as well as to limit confusion and complexity in the install process. USA Roads adds a WHOLE NEW DIMENSION to FS2002 - It really does change the look of the sim, perhaps moreso than in FS2004. For those of you with dual installs and USA Roads, I highly recommend trying it out!

Hi Greg, Thanks for the tip! It worked flawlessly.I don't know if you are aware, but a softwarepackage is being written which will move shorelines,lakes, power lines, etc. in FS2004 (will be compatiblewith USA Roads). Gee...I wonder if it could be portedto FS2002 also?? Regards, Dave

>Hi Greg,> Thanks for the tip! It worked flawlessly.>I don't know if you are aware, but a software>package is being written which will move shorelines,>lakes, power lines, etc. in FS2004 (will be compatible>with USA Roads). Gee...I wonder if it could be ported>to FS2002 also??>> Regards,> DaveDave,Did not know that, do you know who is developing that software?

Hi Gabriel, Marcus Brunner is writing it. If you go over to FSGENESIS , Forums, FS2004 you will find a threadon USA Roads. Regards, Dave