How do you manage scenery?

[Virtual-Chris]

I have some regional or global add-ons like GAIST and marinas but whenever I do a flight, I go to Flightsim.to, search for scenery add-ons at my departure and destination, download it, apply it (using add-on manager) and do the flight. Then for the next flight, I remove the previous scenery, then rinse and repeat. That way, only relevant scenery is added at any given time.

(Note I only use free scenery - never buy.)

Is that what you guys are doing? Do you keep all scenery you’ve ever used in your community folder? Is there any impact to the sim if you’ve got a scenery pack added that’s not in your flight path? Is it best to keep your addon scenery minimal?

Edited August 15, 2023 by Virtual-Chris

[mryan75]

Look up "MSFS Addons Linker" on FS.to. You're welcome 🙂

[Steve Dra]

25 minutes ago, mryan75 said:

Look up "MSFS Addons Linker" on FS.to. You're welcome 🙂

All those using addon linker who see your request will chime in here and sing its praises (including me).  It does exactly what you're looking for @Virtual-Chris and I use it for that as well...makes loading MSFS so much faster and keeps the community folder clean and neat.

Over 275,000 downloads already...its a must-have piece of software for MSFS IMO.  Here is the link https://flightsim.to/file/1572/msfs-addons-linker

 

Ahh that you use addon linker...so add to my reply concering your question.

No....I don't keep all my scenery in the Community folder...most (but not all) is in another folder that addon linker creates its symbolic links to.  The ones in the community folder are ones that I didn't feel comfortable installing off-community folder like commercial purchases that are using an installer.

The great thing is that you can arrange your addons in logical folders that works best for you.  For me...I use the following you see below, with the USA sub-divided in to 4 major areas..as I fly there most and only load the airports I might visit in the current MSFS session.

 

Edited August 15, 2023 by Steve Dra

[turbomax]

didn't the op mention it already himself?

"apply it (using add-on manager) "

[Steve Dra]

3 minutes ago, turbomax said:

didn't the op mention it already himself?

"apply it (using add-on manager) "

I may have overlooked that...but it looks like he edited it to maybe include that (I can't recall the original text)...so I ammended my reply when I say it to answer his post.

[kerosene31]

I just keep a simple spreadsheet.  Airport code, airport name, state (if needed) and country/region.  Honestly I've never used an add-on manager.  I've installed tons of freeware (most of which I'll never use) and I've not had a problem. 

[turbomax]

45 minutes ago, Virtual-Chris said:

Is there any impact to the sim if you’ve got a scenery pack added that’s not in your flight path? Is it best to keep your addon scenery minimal?

I have all my add ons permanently activated via addons-linker, even those that are not en route, and have never felt any negative impact. I think Asobo's scenery management is clever enough to parse the complete Community folder and then only load into memory whatever is within a certain bubble around your current position.

Edited August 15, 2023 by turbomax

[MrFuzzy]

32 minutes ago, Virtual-Chris said:

Is that what you guys are doing? Do you keep all scenery you’ve ever used in your community folder? Is there any impact to the sim if you’ve got a scenery pack added that’s not in your flight path? Is it best to keep your addon scenery minimal?

Personally, I find external programs not very useful. I created a shortcut to a folder called _Addons (in this way it's always on top of the list) in the Community folder, and in the Addons folder there is another shortcut pointing to Community named _Community. I can just drag and drop instantly items from a folder to another and choose which ones to use.

By the way since I upgraded to the 7800X3D my loading time is about 1'10" (!) with or without addons in the Community folder (40 GB) so I rarely touch it.

[turbomax]

5 minutes ago, MrFuzzy said:

since I upgraded to the 7800X3D my loading time is about 1'10" (!) with or without addons

true. that's about the only time I observe a temperature rise from around 70 to 85 degrees Celsius in my 7850x3D, same with x-plane12.  asynchronous file loading seems very efficient running simultaneously on all available cores.

Edited August 15, 2023 by turbomax

[Bert Pieke]

45 minutes ago, Virtual-Chris said:

Do you keep all scenery you’ve ever used in your community folder? Is there any impact to the sim if you’ve got a scenery pack added that’s not in your flight path? Is it best to keep your addon scenery minimal?

I use addons linker to load only scenery that I will be using.

My MSFS Addons folder is 200 GB and my Community folder is 10 GB.

[sidfadc]

15 minutes ago, MrFuzzy said:

Personally, I find external programs not very useful. I created a shortcut to a folder called _Addons (in this way it's always on top of the list) in the Community folder, and in the Addons folder there is another shortcut pointing to Community named _Community. I can just drag and drop instantly items from a folder to another and choose which ones to use.

By the way since I upgraded to the 7800X3D my loading time is about 1'10" (!) with or without addons in the Community folder (40 GB) so I rarely touch it.

40GB Community folder, mine is about 400GB hahaha

[turbomax]

36 minutes ago, sidfadc said:

mine is about 400GB hahaha

mine is bigger, hohoho

that's why I don't fly without addons linker. addons management should have been part of MSFS itself.

Edited August 15, 2023 by turbomax

[bigifooti]

56 minutes ago, Virtual-Chris said:

Is that what you guys are doing? Do you keep all scenery you’ve ever used in your community folder? Is there any impact to the sim if you’ve got a scenery pack added that’s not in your flight path? Is it best to keep your addon scenery minimal?

I don't manage.

 

I like the feature of flightsin.to so you can check if scenery has been updated. 

 

Further more I don't notice overflying other scenery. So I guess no impact. 

[Dave_YVR]

 I always keep them all installed and loaded. Just like in P3d, the sim doesn't load them into memory until you are in close proximity. 

[edpatino]

5 minutes ago, Dave_YVR said:

 I always keep them all installed and loaded. Just like in P3d, the sim doesn't load them into memory until you are in close proximity. 

But please remember, tons of addons concurrently installed will slow down the MSFS start-up process considerably.