32 OR 64 BIT

[jetsmell 45]

I have Prepared v4.5 and FSX SE. A few years ago I purchased a number of add-ons. They worked fine in the FSX SE Sim. I have found that many don't work in the Prepared v 4.5 Sim today. Many of those add-ons were 32 bit. Prepared v4.5 is 64 bit. What I can't figure out is that many of the add-on websites were saying they were compatible with Prepared v4.5.Can someone explain the logic here?

[Rogen 1,087]

5 minutes ago, jetsmell said:

What I can't figure out is that many of the add-on websites were saying they were compatible with Prepared v4.5.Can someone explain the logic here?

I guess those websites were making assumptions and ended up being just wrong.

Basically anything that relies on 32 bit coding is not going to function in a 64 bit sim.

That said a couple of my fav addins are 32bit and I've been using them all the way from FSX-SE, P3Dv3 and P3Dv4. They work because they run outside the sim and communicate to the sim via the SimConnect interface.

Myself, I made the journey from FSX-SE -> P3Sv3 x86 -> P3Dv4 x64 and there were a few things I had to say goodby to.

One was a C182R with a particuarly nice and well worn high rex photo retexture of a real plane, however all the gauges were 32 bit and while it does actually fly in x64 the lack of any functioning gauges doesn't make it worthwhile.

Another was a RAAS application, which did have a 64bit version but I elected to not re-purchase as I didn't get that much out of it in the first instance.

Sometimes there are work arounds, like if an aircraft's sound gauge is a Doug Dawson 32bit one, Doug has a 64 bit version to replace it.

 

What are the particular addons and any links for them ?

Always easier to help out if it's possible to have a look at the particular addin and its website.

Cheers

[C2615 319]

If they siad it's compatible but your's not, chances are you didn't get the newest installer or patch.

[Bob Scott 7,721]

Many scenery add-ons are compatible with no or little modification, as well as some aircraft that use only xml-based gauges, but any add-on that uses compiled code (most acft/panel add-ons) will have to be compiled on a 64-bit compiler to work in P3Dv4 and beyond.

To establish compatibility, some add-on developers published new installers for separate 64-bit versions, some published patches or updates, and some were able to run the add-on in both sims without modification.

[blaunarwal 432]

I have a lot of older sceneries and aircraft in my P3D5.2 HF1 running fine. 

Sceneries mostly work fine in 64bit, even if they are older. The only problem I often encounter is default buildings not beeing excluded in P3D5 and altitudes not correct to the actual default scenery. Both can be fixed in most cases, but you need to be able to rework the AFCAD or a helping hand.

Aircraft work often, if the .mdl is true FSX. You can check with an editor. It shows its version in the first line. Some FSX planes are still FS9, simply because this was possible for FSX to use them. These aircraft need a complete rework.

You can check too, if the *.mdl files consist of an exterior and an interior file. Until FSX it was possible to have this in one .mdl.

As said in posts before, the gauges must be .xml format. This can be compressed in a .gau file. If the gauges inside consist of .xml and .bmp files, it will probebly work fine. 

A good rule for aircraft is, the more complex it is, like a PMDG airliner e.g. 32 bits version will certainly not work in 64bit. If it's just a simple aircraft with no special codes, it will work well. 

There's an aircraft compatibility thread at Sim Outhouse website Prepar3Dv5 forum.

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/119238-Aircraft-Compatibility-thread-for-P3D-V5?s=74ff8d0763cd763e75a63f0444a134a3

Also one can always ask here, if someone has experience with a certain FSX plane in P3Dv5 or v4. 

Regards

Dan