LatinVFR's central American airports in P3Dv4?

[Benjamin J 751]

2 hours ago, Mace said:

Yes I have used dummy fsx.exe's to install before.   Another thing I do is install old scenery outside the P3D structure (i.e. D:\SCENERY\MGGT).  I then use Lorby's Addon Organizer to add the scenery to my sim.  If the scenery has Effects, such as the freeware Belo Horizonte (Brazil) scenery, I can use Addon Org to add those as well (as a component...).  That way, my Effects subfolder isn't in P3D\Effects.  It is in D:\SCENERY\SBCF\Effects.  

Agreed, that's what I do. I ahve a seperater folder called "Prepar3d v4 Addons" that I try to install everything into. Not every installer likes hat though: I found some installers (e.g. Aerosoft's Keflavik) will not install if you don't point it to a FSX installation folder, so for that the fsx dummy folder is, sadly, a necessity.

[Benjamin J 751]

Also, one more thing. I asked this before in this thread but it was kind of snowed under by other posts.

I've been thinking to get UTC Tropical America and Carribean, as a lot of this area, even with OrbX Vector installed, doesn't seem particularly accurate, and the landclass is probably default. The alternative would be OrbX OpenLC South America, but I'm not sure to what extend it includes Central America, and if it includes vector data? What I like about it is the photoreal coverage of mountains, though. What do you all think? Go with one of two, or do a marriage of the two? Is that even possible?

[Mace 1,909]

7 hours ago, Benjamin J said:

Also, one more thing. I asked this before in this thread but it was kind of snowed under by other posts.

I've been thinking to get UTC Tropical America and Carribean, as a lot of this area, even with OrbX Vector installed, doesn't seem particularly accurate, and the landclass is probably default. The alternative would be OrbX OpenLC South America, but I'm not sure to what extend it includes Central America, and if it includes vector data? What I like about it is the photoreal coverage of mountains, though. What do you all think? Go with one of two, or do a marriage of the two? Is that even possible?

UTX Tropical American and Caribbean -- I do not have that.  It looks a little older than the Orbx stuff, but that doesn't really mean anything if it's a quality product, since the scenery layer system hasn't changed since it was released.

I do have Orbx OpenLC South America.  Your post made me check the manual for OpenLC SA.  In one place, it shows a map where Central America is /not/ included, and in another place in the manual it shows a map where Central Am /is/ included.  Based on what I see around MROC, and points west of there, it is definitely Orbx vector'ed -- also I loaded myself into Puerto San Jose, Guatemala, and the coastline and breakwater are definitely Orbx vector also -- so I'd say that's either OpenLC NA extending that far south, or OpenLC SA extending that far north.

[Shomron 251]

12 hours ago, Mace said:

Yes I have used dummy fsx.exe's to install before.   Another thing I do is install old scenery outside the P3D structure (i.e. D:\SCENERY\MGGT).  I then use Lorby's Addon Organizer to add the scenery to my sim.  If the scenery has Effects, such as the freeware Belo Horizonte (Brazil) scenery, I can use Addon Org to add those as well (as a component...).  That way, my Effects subfolder isn't in P3D\Effects.  It is in D:\SCENERY\SBCF\Effects.  

Thanks for this info!

Question - since I have tons of scenery installed in the "old" way already, I have the effects folder in P3D already with many files which I already lost track of which file belong to which scenery. Could I just copy the entire effects folder to this external folder you suggested and point all scenery components to this generic folder? Or do I need in each effects folder only the relevant effect files which are to be used by the specific scenery.

I am trying to find a way to migrate to this new method the easiest way possible 😐

[Boeing or not going 578]

skbo loads and looks good in p3d but the parking spots at the cargo ramps are not aligned or named right. I emailed the author and after one reply have not heard back. I bought it a long time ago but am disappointed in the lack of support from so many scenery developers.

[Boeing or not going 578]

10 hours ago, Benjamin J said:

Also, one more thing. I asked this before in this thread but it was kind of snowed under by other posts.

I've been thinking to get UTC Tropical America and Carribean, as a lot of this area, even with OrbX Vector installed, doesn't seem particularly accurate, and the landclass is probably default. The alternative would be OrbX OpenLC South America, but I'm not sure to what extend it includes Central America, and if it includes vector data? What I like about it is the photoreal coverage of mountains, though. What do you all think? Go with one of two, or do a marriage of the two? Is that even possible?

Vector and OpenLC are a great combination.

[FalconAF 213]

ORBX OpenLC products do NOT contain VECTOR data...it is Landclass only.  UTX contains BOTH Landclass and Vector coverage for the UTX area.  People are confusing Landclass and Vector products here.

If you are already using ORBX Vector, it will conflict with the vector in UTX if both products cover any of the same areas.  You can use ORBX OpenLC South America for your Landclass, but will have to choose between EITHER using ORBX Vector or UTX for any overlapping Vector graphics areas.  For instance, I do not use ORBX Vector but do use ORBX OpenLC South America and
UTX Tropical America and Carribean.  If you want to do that, simply put all your UTX products BELOW all of your ORBX products in your sim's scenery library list.  It will all work fine together then as long as you don't have ORBX Vector installed (or activated in the sim) then.   

[Mace 1,909]

10 hours ago, Shomron said:

Thanks for this info!

Question - since I have tons of scenery installed in the "old" way already, I have the effects folder in P3D already with many files which I already lost track of which file belong to which scenery. Could I just copy the entire effects folder to this external folder you suggested and point all scenery components to this generic folder? Or do I need in each effects folder only the relevant effect files which are to be used by the specific scenery.

I am trying to find a way to migrate to this new method the easiest way possible 😐

There is no easy way  :)

And I am like you, I have some scenery installed via the old method, and some via the new.

Theoretically yes, you could get your aftermarket effects (.fx) files out of there, BUT keep in mind that all of your installers for those sceneries will still think they're in P3D\Effects.   That's not a big issue though.  The bigger issue is, will your scenery still have those effects working, if you move them?  -- that is where Addon Organizer "should" help. 

While I have installed various sceneries outside P3D's structure, and some of those have Effects subfolders, I do not know if using AddonOrganizer and setting the Effects up as a component actually works or not, since I do not know what effects I might be missing (possibly something like smoke from a smokestack, or similar...).  I really haven't payed much attention.   Others here probably have though.

[Benjamin J 751]

On 10/17/2018 at 6:30 AM, FalconAF said:

If you are already using ORBX Vector, it will conflict with the vector in UTX if both products cover any of the same areas.  You can use ORBX OpenLC South America for your Landclass, but will have to choose between EITHER using ORBX Vector or UTX for any overlapping Vector graphics areas.  For instance, I do not use ORBX Vector but do use ORBX OpenLC South America and
UTX Tropical America and Carribean.  If you want to do that, simply put all your UTX products BELOW all of your ORBX products in your sim's scenery library list.  It will all work fine together then as long as you don't have ORBX Vector installed (or activated in the sim) then.   

Thanks for the helpful answer! That's essentially what I imagined, but good to have it confirmed by somebody who owns both. I suppose I'll end up getting OpenLC South America at the next OrbX sale, whenever that will be.

[Dreamflight767 312]

I'm too scared to try to add MGGT to P3D.  My sim is firing on all cylinders and I'm scared adding non-compatible scenery will cause major issues. 

[Benjamin J 751]

12 hours ago, Dreamflight767 said:

I'm too scared to try to add MGGT to P3D.  My sim is firing on all cylinders and I'm scared adding non-compatible scenery will cause major issues. 

I don't think you need to be too scared. Install it outside the P3D folder and add it using Lorby's AddonOrganizer. If there's a problem with it, just disable it. One scenery is unlikely to topple your entire installation...

[Mace 1,909]

23 hours ago, Dreamflight767 said:

I'm too scared to try to add MGGT to P3D.  My sim is firing on all cylinders and I'm scared adding non-compatible scenery will cause major issues. 

I wouldn't characterize it as "non compatible scenery".  To me non-compat would be something that just plain wouldn't work in the sim and cause CTD's.  LatinVFR MGGT does not do that.  At worst it is not up to modern standards in terms of textures and lighting, so you have to temper your expectations and remember what the stock MGGT looks like (lol). I have LatinVFR MGGT in my P3Dv4.3 install, and all I had to do was edit the ADE/AFCAD file to eliminate some duplicate objects, and it's been ok.  Certainly better than stock.

Install it outside the sim as Benjamin notes.  Sometimes these older sceneries are simpler, and stand LESS chance of messing with your P3D install because of that simplicity.

[Dreamflight767 312]

Alright.   You guys bullied me 😉 into installing.  It went well but the photo scenery of the city looks terrible.  Blurry and flat.  Is there a way to disable that portion of the package and just use the textures for the airport itself?

Thanks.

[Mace 1,909]

19 hours ago, Dreamflight767 said:

Alright.   You guys bullied me 😉 into installing.  It went well but the photo scenery of the city looks terrible.  Blurry and flat.  Is there a way to disable that portion of the package and just use the textures for the airport itself?

Thanks.

Yes there is.  In your install /scenery folder, there are 11 files whose names start with "photo...".   If you don't like their photoscenery, rename each file and add ".stock" after each files' bgl extension.   No more photoscenery.   Personally, I kept the "photo9guavolcan.bgl" turned on, because it is a photo of Volcan de Agua which is off to the southwest.  It doesn't quite match the surrounding either, but it's not that bad. 

You will also want another file to get rid of stock P3D objects.  PM sent.

[Dreamflight767 312]

21 hours ago, Mace said:

Yes there is.  In your install /scenery folder, there are 11 files whose names start with "photo...".   If you don't like their photoscenery, rename each file and add ".stock" after each files' bgl extension.   No more photoscenery.   Personally, I kept the "photo9guavolcan.bgl" turned on, because it is a photo of Volcan de Agua which is off to the southwest.  It doesn't quite match the surrounding either, but it's not that bad. 

You will also want another file to get rid of stock P3D objects.  PM sent.

Thank you Mace!  I PMed you back.