6 hours ago, sevenflyer said:

Use MSFS layout generator.

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

MSFSLayoutGenerator may work in a different way for the OP. Perhaps you could find another layout.json from any of your mods and place that one in the Longitude folder. If that works, then run MSFSLayoutGenerator on it to modify it for the Longitude.

It's worth a shot if nothing else.

22 hours ago, vgbaron said:

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

 

Vic

Hi Vic

You mean reset or repair as in a 'Windows Reset'?

I considered that option, I do like the Longitude and would like to get it back....but not sure that I like it enough in it's current state to do a Windows Reset for a clean W10 install to recover it. Seemed like a drastic a step to take that would have effected too many other non sim related programs. I'm hoping (but not optimistic) that the next update will replace the layout.json file in the Longitude folder.

That being said, it would be a good option for Asobo/MS to build into the sim a way to verify the integrity of files, something similar to what's available in Steam, where it gives you the ability to validate files and re-download them from their server if required. But that would likely be something far down the priority list for them at this stage if it was even a consideration.

 

22 hours ago, Bert Pieke said:

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

Hi Bert

See my previous response to Vic on the Windows Reset option

I'd rather suffer reinstalling MFS than have to do a clean W10 reinstall

Besides, I've already run out of walls to bang my head against over this, I'd have to go to the neighbors and ask if they wouldn't mind if I borrowed one of their walls if faced with the W10 reinstall option

30 minutes ago, heavyapproach said:

Hi Vic

You mean reset or repair as in a 'Windows Reset'?

I considered that option, I do like the Longitude and would like to get it back....but not sure that I like it enough in it's current state to do a Windows Reset for a clean W10 install to recover it. Seemed like a drastic a step to take that would have effected too many other non sim related programs. I'm hoping (but not optimistic) that the next update will replace the layout.json file in the Longitude folder.

That being said, it would be a good option for Asobo/MS to build into the sim a way to verify the integrity of files, something similar to what's available in Steam, where it gives you the ability to validate files and re-download them from their server if required. But that would likely be something far down the priority list for them at this stage if it was even a consideration.

 

Actually there are two methods, both specific to MSFS. In windows goto settings apps and find MSFS entry, right click and you should get an option to either repair or reset. If you choose repair, it will validate the files and correct any errors. At least in theory.

I'm not at my flight system so the above is from memory.

Vic

19 hours ago, sevenflyer said:

Use MSFS layout generator.

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

Thanks for the suggestion, and it would be a perfect solution to the problem, if I was only able to move the layout.json file out of the recycle bin where it's currently residing at the moment. In reading the instructions it appears that placing the layout.json into the MSFS Layout Generator is required. But as James @Phantoms suggested, it may be worth a try to use an alternate Longitude livery and see if it has any effect. Worse case scenario it somehow breaks the alternate livery, it can just be downloaded again.

Thanks

13 hours ago, Phantoms said:

MSFSLayoutGenerator may work in a different way for the OP. Perhaps you could find another layout.json from any of your mods and place that one in the Longitude folder. If that works, then run MSFSLayoutGenerator on it to modify it for the Longitude.

It's worth a shot if nothing else.

Thanks for the suggestion James

Definitely worth a try using an alternate Longitude livery in MSFSLayoutGenerator, really nothing to lose at this stage

And thanks again to @sevenflyer for the original suggestion

16 minutes ago, vgbaron said:

Actually there are two methods, both specific to MSFS. In windows goto settings apps and find MSFS entry, right click and you should get an option to either repair or reset. If you choose repair, it will validate the files and correct any errors. At least in theory.

I'm not at my flight system so the above is from memory.

Vic

Really?....I wasn't aware of this

I'll definitely take a look at this

Thanks Vic

Hi Vic

I knew the 'repair' option would be far too simple a solution....it's MS.....nothing is simple

But you are correct in what the functionality of the 'repair' and 'reset' is supposed to do according to what I've read on the MSFS Forum, but that doesn't at this stage, seem to extend itself to replacing layout.json files

'Repair' is supposed to repair certain aspects of the installation, but to what degree I'm uncertain

'Reset' clearly is the nuclear option....that will completely remove the installation.....and was being hotly debated on the MSFS Forum back in September for the choice using the word 'reset' over the more commonly understood 'uninstall'

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/please-make-it-clear-that-a-reset-deletes-the-game-data-and-you-need-to-redownload/270266/26

Thanks again for the suggestion though....I have a bad feeling that if the next update doesn't recover the Longitude....that there's a 'Reset' in my future

15 hours ago, Phantoms said:

MSFSLayoutGenerator may work in a different way for the OP. Perhaps you could find another layout.json from any of your mods and place that one in the Longitude folder. If that works, then run MSFSLayoutGenerator on it to modify it for the Longitude.

It's worth a shot if nothing else.

Was totally worth a shot James.....but no success

Seems like MSFSLayoutGenerator is a useful tool.....but geared more towards devs

Thanks again though

Heavy Approach:

Any .jsn file will do. It cannot make one, it will rewrite any you put in there, so just copy any one and put it in the file as well, and run layout gen again

Edited December 2, 20205 yr by sevenflyer
forgot

2 hours ago, heavyapproach said:

Hi Vic

I knew the 'repair' option would be far too simple a solution....it's MS.....nothing is simple

But you are correct in what the functionality of the 'repair' and 'reset' is supposed to do according to what I've read on the MSFS Forum, but that doesn't at this stage, seem to extend itself to replacing layout.json files

'Repair' is supposed to repair certain aspects of the installation, but to what degree I'm uncertain

I was thinking that if the repair option at least gets the Longitude to show up in the content manager you might be able to install it.

A longshot but you might be able to trick windows - ZIP up the entire contents of the Longitude folder and save it to an external location. Leave the originals in the folder. Then add the layout.json file to the zip. Then try extracting the file into the original folder.  It shouldn't let you overwrite the existing but it might allow the json file to be extracted.

While mentioning repair and reset, just remember for Steam users that are use to using the Verify Files Integrity to make sure not to do so. Verifying File integrity in Steam will cause a complete reinstall the next time you launch the game. I know it doesn't affect this thread's situation, but thought I would put it in here for people that have the Steam version.

5 hours ago, heavyapproach said:

Hi Vic

You mean reset or repair as in a 'Windows Reset'?

I considered that option, I do like the Longitude and would like to get it back....but not sure that I like it enough in it's current state to do a Windows Reset for a clean W10 install to recover it. Seemed like a drastic a step to take that would have effected too many other non sim related programs. I'm hoping (but not optimistic) that the next update will replace the layout.json file in the Longitude folder.

That being said, it would be a good option for Asobo/MS to build into the sim a way to verify the integrity of files, something similar to what's available in Steam, where it gives you the ability to validate files and re-download them from their server if required. But that would likely be something far down the priority list for them at this stage if it was even a consideration.

 

There is no guarantee even a reinstall will fix anything. MSFS has been unusable for me since about a week  before the North American update

My sim suddenly stopped responding to all control inputs even though windows shows them properly installed and calibrated. They even show up in MSFS and the animations respond in the sensitivity tab of MSFS. Also at every start up, engines are running and switches turn on and off by themselves.

Un installing and re installing did not fix the problem. A call to MSFS xbox department claimed that corrupted files are being left on my system after uninstall but they don't know what files, or where they are stored. They said only progress files (logbook etc) are stored on the cloud so a full windows re install removing all apps and documents should fix the problem.

They were wrong. A full windows10 re install and 12 hours of re downloading MSFS, and on first startup of MSFS the problem including, all previous settings and preferences of the simulator was back.

I have reported the problem using zendesk and MSFS help desk. I got an email response that they received my bug report.

I have removed my yoke and other flight sim peripherals and back to Sim racing as my means of stress relief. At least I can use my new HP G2 there.

If MSFS was released as pre release software I wouldn't be so frustrated as I would know I was buying an unfinished product. I expected to be able to use the software. I was wrong.

Any help would be appreciated, though I doubt anyone can help as apparently even Ms and ASOBO have no clue how their own software works.

This might be a bit radical, but less so than doing a complete re-install of either MSFS or Win10:

Delete the "asobo-aircraft-longitude" folder and its contents from the "Official" folder.

I have tested this on my Steam version. Once the folder is deleted and MSFS launched, it appears in Content Manager as "In Library" and ready to download (399 mb).

The weird thing is that even with the entire contents of that folder deleted, but not the folder itself, it still appears in Content Manager as "Up to date". It is not until the folder itself is deleted that it can then be downloaded from the Content Manager again.

Hope this helps,

...jim

 

18 hours ago, vgbaron said:

I was thinking that if the repair option at least gets the Longitude to show up in the content manager you might be able to install it.

A longshot but you might be able to trick windows - ZIP up the entire contents of the Longitude folder and save it to an external location. Leave the originals in the folder. Then add the layout.json file to the zip. Then try extracting the file into the original folder.  It shouldn't let you overwrite the existing but it might allow the json file to be extracted.

Hi Vic

Windows 'tricks' me almost everyday into thinking that it's going to do what it's supposed to do....not really much different than the wife...but that's another story

In theory this sounds like a good workaround, but the layout.json file just didn't want to cooperate and refused to be moved into the ZIP

But there is more optimistic news to report further down this thread