Well, you guys convinced me. I just finished my first test flight with FE...the most immediate impression is the water, which is the most noticable reality diffrence. Now, I have a question or two.I like the idea of randomizing everything. Do I have to do that for every Fs startup, or will it automatically give me random textures? And, does this dovetail with FS Real Weather which I use?Secondly, I like to use FS Autostart to get underway with FS. If FE does a random texture installation at each Fs bootup, I guess there is no difference. But, if I have to do a random install manually each time, then I am assuming my procedure would be to run FE, but not start FS from within the program. Then I would start FSAS to in turn get into FS9?Have you ever read such a collection of initials in any post before?...:-)Thanks guys...and I am trusting you that this has been a $22.95 well spent...:-)Sherm

That's great to hear!!Yes, I like the randomizer to as the supprise element works for me. What I often find a nice supprise is how climbing out through clouds works with different combinations.Thanks for your complements.

glad to offer the compliments, but what about my question. Do I go thru the randomizer routine each time a start FS9, or is it set once and for all through FE as automatic?Sherm

Thanks for buying FE. Much appriciated.As for the randomizer; think of it as an alternative exe to start flight simulator. If you click the option on the randomizer to inhibit the screen it will work like a fully automatic way to start FS; and this is the way most of our testers ended up using FE. It's how I use FE eveytime when I want to fly.As for the auto start; I don't have this program but I would have thought you simply tell autostart to fire up the randomizer FE exe instead of firing up FS9. This way autostart would start the randomizer ( I would think ) that in turn would randomize the clouds, water and sky, and then load up the game.The only caution I would suggest is that when randomizing as a method of prefered use it's best to tweak the options to disable certain sets. For example; it does not work well to use some of the grey water options with very blue sky reflections. This can make the water look a little odd.Water in particular is a more personal and fussy option so I would suggest you try the sets manually, including reflection sets etc until you are happy and confident you like what you see.Once you like it then disable from randomizing the grey water and any other options you feel is not your prefered choices. Of coures you may like the grey water as an option to be randomized? The grey water was really given as an option for special looks to suit set up's for screen shots or for getting a really dark overcast look. That said each to our own and I'm sure you'll find water looks that suit your taste.I'll be really interested what you think of the package once you have investigated it in more depth.Regards,

thanks for the explanation...and I'll post my reax as I get more into the programSherm

Hi Peter,"I'm not sure I know of any FE users who use just FE water but I'm sure there are some."...Really? You do surprise me! You now know of at least one ;)Let's try approaching my query from a slightly different angle.There are still several great freeware cloud sets out there as well as those offered by ASV. Some of us may, for whatever reason, still prefer to stick with them and don't wish to have these overwritten each time we experiment with changes of water textures/effects from FE. All I am suggesting is that it just seems to me that FE would be a little more user friendly and, at the same time, recognize that we all have our own individual preferences, if there was provision in the program to allow the user to install only the water textures and/or effects without imposing a cloud overwrite each time. What do you think? Seems a perfectly reasonable request to me. I own FE and ASV and think they are both great programs in their own right. I particularly like the user interface in FE. You have said yourself that a good combo would be to use the ASV weather engine with the clouds from FE. Conversely, it would be nice to have the choice whereby we can install water textures from FE without having to reinstall our preferred cloud textures, whether it be from ASV or some other source.Does anyone else have an opinion on this? Regards,Mike

Sherm,I don't mean to step on Peter's toes, but if you point FS Autostart to FlightEnvironment_Randomizer.exe instead of FS9.exe and have the randomizer set to automatically start FS9 after the randomizer has installed the textures, it will work the way you are asking.

Hi Mike,Peter already know this, but I use the FSWater interface and have added all the freeware water textures I chose to add, and all the FE water textures that have been released. When the next update is released I'll add the new water textures as well.Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Sales and Supporthttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_dev_team.jpg http://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_proud_supporter.jpg

Sorry Mike I thought I answered that one.Since ASV or other cloud programs don't have water then the way to use FE in this respect is to install the water you want and then clouds from another package.If you want to randomize water then use ICS clouds for example then no problem; just start FE and then ASV.I think most people don't really like changing the water that often so I would suspect those people who don't want to use FE clouds would select water only and install it.Though there may be one or two or even a dozen people who like to regulary randomize water and then not use FE clouds it is not really something that up to now has been asked for.It was felt when the package was desinged the primary reason to buy is for the clouds. And the reviews so far have focused on just that; the clouds.So yes there may be a small number of people wanting water only it is not something our users seem keen on as a concept or idea.That said I'm sure if enought people feel that would be a desirable option then we have a few things to consider;the way FE is designed is focused on ease of use that ensures the user will get new water, new clouds and new sky each time FE is used. The danger is if pepople can click options to disable clouds or water or sky then it's possible they will think they are getting FE clouds but in reality they are not. In other words we tried to make it idiot proof.I do apprciate that there may be a case that you want to change the water and stick with a favorite set of clouds from FSW or ASV but It's just as easy for this more discerning user to use FE; select the water; then go to FSW clouds select the set from that or select the set you want from ASV and no doubt you would have your favorite.I also apprciate that some users like to tinker and fiddle with things and to tweak things and to try odd combinations and options.I guess that's why we are still working on the next update; to add more choice and to provide some more options.In update 3 we are aiming to provide more cfg options so the user can have more control on how the randomizer works. For example; how to make tropical looking sets; or winter looking sets; etc.We are also looking at giving options to install user sets of water and sky. Clouds are not an option as it would need a lot of re-coding and would likely mean the update is not a free one. I don't really want to get users to start paying more money so I'm trying to keep it simple and evolve the package in terms of artwork and how the configuration or set-up works.I may be possilbe though to look at providing an option to disable any clouds from installing but I am still a little worried that too much complexity could mean some users unknowingly don't get FE clouds. I'll cetainly take on board what you are suggesting and see what we can do. It maybe possible to do something along these lines. It may need to wait for update 4 though....Update 3 is almost finished.

Just to clarify this;the randomize exe was designed to be a replacement to the normal fs9 exe. In other words if you want randomized clouds that's what you use to start FS9 and that's what I do.I just click on the randomize exe and wham! the games loads automatically with new clouds and water. Simple and easy! (that's the option I think you are wanting?)The next time you want to play the game;You either click on the randomize exe again (which again starts the game automatically with new clouds and water) or the FS9 exe (the normal black FS9 start if you like and the clouds and water will be unchanged from the last time you used the game [i don't think that's the option you want?])So it is automatic.If this has still not answered your question then perhaps you can outline what it is you are trying to do or what you would ideally like to do?

Probably not helps Jim. I'm sure it will totally confuse as many users don't have FS water installed and neither do I andy more.LOL

never mind this!

Potential Buyer here.Shouldn't the clouds and water match the current weather conditions?I have ASVe...I don't know what the current weather condition is in another State, and the condition of my destination (aside from METAR's)...so I shouldn't be the one selecting the clouds and water...is there a "current condition" option?thanks for any help.