Recovering locked layout.json file

[heavyapproach 12]

Is anyone aware of any method of recovering a 'locked' layout.json file to it's original location short of preforming a complete reinstall?

Was accidentally moved out of the Longitude folder during a mod installation and I'm now being denied permission to move it back, assuming because it's considered a 'locked' premium content (Longitude) file?

Have spent the last couple of hours trying to find some way around the Asobo/MS method denying access to move certain files without success....any possible suggestions would be much appreciated

Thanks

[Bert Pieke 7,584]

Can you just uninstall the airplane from your Hangar?

Then reinstall it..

[heavyapproach 12]

Hi Bert and thanks for your response

Unfortunately removing the layout.json file has resulted in the Longitude not being displayed in the Hangar (this was the first indication that something had gone wrong during the attempted mod installation)

It is however still listed in the Content Manager, but I'm not aware of any way to delete it from this location and then preform a reinstall

EDIT

The option to delete an aircraft from the Content Manager is in fact available for other items listed, but the absence of the layout.json from the Longitude folder, has removed this option for the Longitude

Edited November 30, 2020 by heavyapproach

[dobee51 346]

What happens if you add a mod for a custom livery?

Some mods install to the Community folder and contain a revised layout.json file. Others install to the Longitude folder and require you to change several CFG files.

[heavyapproach 12]

Thanks for the suggestion

Unfortunately the Longitude is completely absent from the Hangar, so installing a custom livery can't be completed

The 'master' layout.json for the Longitude is 37KB's, the two custom liveries I currently have are only 3KB and 4KB's respectively, so there must be some dependency on the master layout.json being present in the Longitude folder in order to properly display alternate liveries

It appears that the absence of the master layout.json from the Longitude folder, and my inability to move it back into the folder, has removed any functionality that may have existed in the Content Manger in order to delete and reinstall the aircraft as Bert suggested

But thanks again for the suggestion, I'll keep trying to find a solution short of a complete reinstall

 

[Fielder 3,643]

Have you tried moving files in DOS from the command line?

[Phantoms 800]

Try reading this thread:

You may not get the answer you want but you'll understand what's going on.

If that is not the problem you're running up against, you may just need to take ownership of the file and folder you want to move it too.

Edited December 1, 2020 by Phantoms

[Coneman 71]

This may not be relevant, but I couldn't move or delete files in MSFS because it was installed in the WindowsApps folder. I reinstalled the whole in thing in a different folder I named FS2020. Now I can delete or move files to my hearts content.

 

[heavyapproach 12]

16 hours ago, Fielder said:

Have you tried moving files in DOS from the command line?

Thanks for the suggestion, but no success in attempting to move the file in DOS from the command line

Also tried using PowerShell command line, but again without success

[heavyapproach 12]

14 hours ago, Phantoms said:

Try reading this thread:

You may not get the answer you want but you'll understand what's going on.

If that is not the problem you're running up against, you may just need to take ownership of the file and folder you want to move it too.

Thanks for providing the link to the other related thread regarding the files

Interesting information that does give a good explanation of how the files are encrypted and where they reside on the disk and the possible perils of attempting to delve too deeply into them

Thanks also for the link regarding taking ownership of the files. I am set as admin on the system, but followed the instructions from the link anyway just to ensure that I wasn't missing anything in the process. Unfortunately it didn't change the overall result of not being able to move the file back into the Longitude folder

This is an admittedly self inflicted problem that I've created, and at this stage I'm still reluctant to preform a complete reinstall. As stated in the other thread, that too can apparently come with it's own set of possible complications

I think the best option right now to avoid any further frustration and avoid creating any additional problems with the install, would be to wait for the next update and hope that will re-create the layout.json file in the Longitude folder. Barring this, I will have to reconsider preforming the complete reinstall

Thanks again

 

[heavyapproach 12]

12 hours ago, Coneman said:

This may not be relevant, but I couldn't move or delete files in MSFS because it was installed in the WindowsApps folder. I reinstalled the whole in thing in a different folder I named FS2020. Now I can delete or move files to my hearts content.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, this is something that I may have to consider doing in the event of requiring a complete reinstall

I'm not sure that I would attempt this on the current installation, just in the event that it somehow causes folder location confusion for the installer during the next update

[vgbaron 3,493]

Have you tried a reset or repair? That might replace the missing file(s).

 

Vic

[Bert Pieke 7,584]

36 minutes ago, vgbaron said:

Have you tried a reset or repair? That might replace the missing file(s).

 

Vic

Careful with the "Reset" option... it uninstalled the sim when I tried it.. ☹️

[vgbaron 3,493]

2 hours ago, Bert Pieke said:

Careful with the "Reset" option... it uninstalled the sim when I tried it.. ☹️

Well, the reinstall would fix the problem.  😁

[sevenflyer 12]

Use MSFS layout generator.

You place it in the affected file, run it and it will produce the .jsn file.