• Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:

    • Tag FS2020 specific questions with the MSFS2020 tag.
    • Questions about making 3D assets can be posted in the 3D asset design forum. Either post them in the subforum of the modelling tool you use or in the general forum if they are general.
    • Questions about aircraft design can be posted in the Aircraft design forum
    • Questions about airport design can be posted in the FS2020 airport design forum. Once airport development tools have been updated for FS2020 you can post tool speciifc questions in the subforums of those tools as well of course.
    • Questions about terrain design can be posted in the FS2020 terrain design forum.
    • Questions about SimConnect can be posted in the SimConnect forum.

    Any other question that is not specific to an aspect of development or tool can be posted in the General chat forum.

    By following these guidelines we make sure that the forums remain easy to read for everybody and also that the right people can find your post to answer it.

FSX Planner Release 19 now available (July 2nd)

R

rf360m

Messages
961
Hi all,

Release 19 of FSX Planner is now available.

This fixes several bugs associated with the Leg elements, as well as adding more runway detail and several new peices of functionality.

In this release:
* The 'smart' taxiway option has been added. This option will set the properties of a taxiway drawn on top of a runway to inherit the properties of that runway. This should reduce the time needed to develop an airport as the taxiway will automatically be assigned as a RUNWAY type as well as being assigned the correct width, surface type, runway number and designator. This option will override the option of inheriting the properties of the previous taxiway path if the new taxiway path is drawn over a runway. This option can be turned off by unchecking the 'Taxiways drawn on runways should inherit the runways properties' checkbox in the Properties dialog.

* You can now cut apron edge light strings, boundary fences and blast fences into multiple segments. To do this, select the apron egde light string, boundary fence or blast fence you wish to cut, and then select the vertex that you want to cut it at. The vertex must be displayed in the object properties display for the cut button to be enabled. Clicking the cut button in the object properties display, or right clicking and choosing the option from the popup menu, will cut the object into two objects after the selected vertex. This is useful for many things such as correcting apron edge light strings that are incorrectly read, or for creating space in an existing fence for a road, etc.

* You can now join two boundary fences, blast fences or apron edge light strings together. To do this drag an end vertex of one fence over an end vertex of another fence and hold the shift key down as you release the mouse button. The two fences, or apron edge light strings, will be joined at that vertex into one longer fence, or apron edge light string.

* Runway VASI, PAPI, etc lights are now displayed as appropriate.

* Runways numbers (idents) are now displayed on the runways as appropriate.

* Runway precision and alternate precision markings are now displayed properly.

* Single ended runways are now displayed properly.

* Inserting an new object will now cause that type of object to be displayed if it is not already so. This is intended to remove issues resulting from trying to insert a VOR, for example, when the Display VORs option is not selected.

* The selection and dragging of vertices has been improved. Aprons, apron edge lights, boundary fences, blast fences and their vertices are all now displayed using the same visual style when they are selected. Vertices associated with boundary fences, blast fences and apron edge lights can now be moved with the generic pointer tool. Just click on a edge light string or fence to select it, then you can click and drag a vertex. You still need to use the specific tools to create, add and remove vertices. This also allows you to cut these strings and fences into two parts without having to use the specific tool.

* There are now shortcut buttons for adding and ILS to a runway. These appear in the runway properties display and allow you to add an ILS, with DME and Glide Slope, to either the primary or secondary end of the runway. Right clicking on a runway will display a popup that also contains the option of adding an ILS to that runway.

* The Clean Up Aprons option has been enhanced to also check for Apron Edge Light strings that have only one vertex. Any that are found will be deleted.



Bug fixes:
* Adding objects and copying and pasting objects was causing extra unneccessary undo/redo events to be generated. This has been fixed.

* Fixed a bug associated with the airport test radius. FSXPlanner was not converting nautical miles to feet or meters. This had a side effect of not reading in VORs, NDBs, Markers and Windsocks if the airport test radius was in nautical miles.

* Fixed a bug associated with writing the XML code for approach Leg segments when the leg had a distance of zero.

* Fixed a bug associated with writing the XML code for approach Leg segments when certain optional parameters were blank.


It can be downloaded here: http://www.zbluesoftware.com/clients/FSXPlanner.zip

-Russell
 
Last edited:
Excellent news!
The only thing now "missing" is the function of beeing able to open bgl files direct from ex. FSX and edit an airport and then save it as a FSX compatible file. (the second part is working already).

This would speed up my work. I am currently working with a project that remakes all the airports in the world... My work is non profit!

But the time will come. In the meanwhile, I really appreciate you taking time to do this great program!

Happy 4th of July!
 
mikael1984 said:
This would speed up my work. I am currently working with a project that remakes all the airports in the world... My work is non profit!
Click to expand...

All the airports in the world?!? Wow, that is a lot of work! I'd be interested to see your progress on that.

Thanks for using FSX Planner!

-Russell
 
Great job you are doing, Russell (and team),

Some ideas I fell into (I am using currently build 19), while working in my airport AFCAD. Maybe some of them can be implemented:

1- Place the file name somewhere visible (program or menu bar, or whereever), without requiring looking at the View menu.

2- A check box in the delete section of compilation options that will allow default taxi signs to be deleted is missing. There is however the same box to select the write option for signs.

3- Select several items adding them to the selection with the Ctrl key, in order to delete, duplicate (copy-paste) or even change different parameters (if they are of the same type).

4- Undo icon on the bar.

5-Undo should work for deletion of items (not just for Long-Lat movment.

6- Would it be possible if you change a runway number that the pahways over the runway and start point be numbered automatically?

7- Is there a way to make a jetliner parking to have fueling attribute, without a visible fuel installation? (to depict underground facilities). These require pumping vehicles but this is another story.

Jorge
 
jalsina said:
Great job you are doing, Russell (and team),

Some ideas I fell into (I am using currently build 19), while working in my airport AFCAD. Maybe some of them can be implemented:

1- Place the file name somewhere visible (program or menu bar, or whereever), without requiring looking at the View menu.
Click to expand...

Good idea. We'll add that.

2- A check box in the delete section of compilation options that will allow default taxi signs to be deleted is missing. There is however the same box to select the write option for signs.
Click to expand...

Taxiway signs are actually not deleted with the Delete tag. That is why there is no taxiway option in the delete section.

To delete taxiway signs you need to use exclusion rectangles. The best way to do tis is to draw an exclusion rectangle over the area that you want to delete taxiway signs from. This may be the entire airport. Then check the exclude taxiway signs option from the exclusion rectangle properties.

3- Select several items adding them to the selection with the Ctrl key, in order to delete, duplicate (copy-paste) or even change different parameters (if they are of the same type).
Click to expand...

This is coming.

4- Undo icon on the bar.
Click to expand...

We thought about this, but think it would just take up space, as you can use CTRL-Z to undo as a shortcut.

5-Undo should work for deletion of items (not just for Long-Lat movment.
Click to expand...

The undoing or deletes, and adds or objects is coming.

6- Would it be possible if you change a runway number that the pahways over the runway and start point be numbered automatically?
Click to expand...

Another good idea. We'll look into this.

7- Is there a way to make a jetliner parking to have fueling attribute, without a visible fuel installation? (to depict underground facilities). These require pumping vehicles but this is another story.
Click to expand...

A visible fuel installation is only there if you create a scenery object next to the fuel parking location. To make what you are describing above, you'd create a fuel parking location with a fuel trigger covering it. Then when you parked at that location you would not see a fuel installation, but would get refueled.
 
Thanks for the signs exclusion tip.
And, I should have figured out the fuel small tank in my airport was in fact an object. I will do some testing with this.

As for the multiple items selection, I want to go further. I was in need today to translate a full small airport. I know there are tools for it, but selecting the full airport and moving it to the final place (moving the airport center) is probably needed by many scenery designers.

But, what if the full selected items transfer need editing the airport latitude and longitud? Think about it.


Jorge
 
jalsina said:
As for the multiple items selection, I want to go further. I was in need today to translate a full small airport. I know there are tools for it, but selecting the full airport and moving it to the final place (moving the airport center) is probably needed by many scenery designers.

But, what if the full selected items transfer need editing the airport latitude and longitud? Think about it.


Jorge
Click to expand...

This is already possible in FSX Planner. Select Move Airport from the Edit menu, enter a new lat/lon coordinate for the airport and the entire airport will be moved to that location.

Note that this is a physical move only. So you may have to update navigation, approaches, etc. It also does not take into account autogen.

-Russell
 
I tried an exclusion rectangle for the signs. It worked fine.
However in FSXPlanner, the rectangle remains colored above every other items and then I can't select the objects below the rectangle.

To solve the problem temporarily, I drag the rectangle out of the airport reach, work in the different items and later, before compiling, I drag it back into its place.

It would also be interesting to be able to edit the rectangle with the mouse, by allowing to drag one of their points (which actually would change coordinates in two more points, since after all, it has to remain a rectangle shape).

Jorge
 
jalsina said:
I tried an exclusion rectangle for the signs. It worked fine.
However in FSXPlanner, the rectangle remains colored above every other items and then I can't select the objects below the rectangle.

To solve the problem temporarily, I drag the rectangle out of the airport reach, work in the different items and later, before compiling, I drag it back into its place.

It would also be interesting to be able to edit the rectangle with the mouse, by allowing to drag one of their points (which actually would change coordinates in two more points, since after all, it has to remain a rectangle shape).

Jorge
Click to expand...

You can choose to not display the exclusion rectangle after you create it. The Display menu lists everything that can be drawn and lets you choose not to draw some of them. So just uncheck the Exclusion Rectangles option in the Display menu and then the rectangle won't be drawn even though you have created one. You can also use the shift-ctrl-E short cut to toggle the display of the rectangles.

You can also adjust the size of the rectangle by clicking on the corners and dragging them. You need to make sure you are zoomed in on one of the active corners to do this. Click the rectangle to select it, then zoom in enough so the corner is large enough for you to click on. You can only click on the corners marked '1' or '2'.

-Russell
 
rf360m said:
........

You can also adjust the size of the rectangle by clicking on the corners and dragging them. You need to make sure you are zoomed in on one of the active corners to do this. Click the rectangle to select it, then zoom in enough so the corner is large enough for you to click on. You can only click on the corners marked '1' or '2'.

-Russell
Click to expand...

To be able to catch the 1 and 2 points to resize the rectangle, I have to zoom in in such a way, I loose view of what is going around the point. So I am not sure what happens with the overall rectangle. I suggest enlarging the vertices red dots.

I found this:
If I select the ILS, in my case with DME and glideslope, and uncheck the DME or glideslope or both boxes, the visual graphs for these two items dissapear from the UI (as in fact they have to). When I check them back again, the graphical view of these items, is displaced aside the ils graph in the opposite edge of the runway.

AFTER EDITION of this message I have found that in fact the glideslope and DME are displaced because their coordinates are being changed, with just uncheck, check back the boxes. It could be a bug.

Jorge
 
Last edited:
jalsina said:
To be able to catch the 1 and 2 points to resize the rectangle, I have to zoom in in such a way, I loose view of what is going around the point. So I am not sure what happens with the overall rectangle. I suggest enlarging the vertices red dots.

I found this:
If I select the ILS, in my case with DME and glideslope, and uncheck the DME or glideslope or both boxes, the visual graphs for these two items dissapear from the UI (as in fact they have to). When I check them back again, the graphical view of these items, is displaced aside the ils graph in the opposite edge of the runway.

AFTER EDITION of this message I have found that in fact the glideslope and DME are displaced because their coordinates are being changed, with just uncheck, check back the boxes. It could be a bug.

Jorge
Click to expand...

This is not a bug. By unchecking the DME and Glide Slopde you are removing them from the ILS, not just hiding them from view. So when you then check the box again you are creating a new DME and Glide Slope, not just making the old one (which has now been deleted) visible again. So the position of the new DME and Glide Slope is set to the default DME and Glide Slope position.

-Russell
 
jalsina said:
To be able to catch the 1 and 2 points to resize the rectangle, I have to zoom in in such a way, I loose view of what is going around the point. So I am not sure what happens with the overall rectangle. I suggest enlarging the vertices red dots.
Click to expand...


We'll look into this.

-Russell
 
The taxiways allow entering a one-letter name from A to M.
My airport uses letters beyond M.
In some large airports like KJFK there are taxiways with double letter designation like AA, SD, QF.

It's possible there are names around the world with more letters

I suggest the choice to enter anything there, though I am not sure what is the limit allowed by FSX.

Jorge
 
jalsina said:
The taxiways allow entering a one-letter name from A to M.
My airport uses letters beyond M.
In some large airports like KJFK there are taxiways with double letter designation like AA, SD, QF.

It's possible there are names around the world with more letters

I suggest the choice to enter anything there, though I am not sure what is the limit allowed by FSX.

Jorge
Click to expand...

Do you mean in the Taxiway Name dialog? Or just that in the drop down for the taxiway name in the taxiway properties display that A-M are all that are available? If the latter is true, then it's because you need to edit the available taxiway names using Edit -> Taxiway Names.

-Russell
 
rf360m said:
Do you mean in the Taxiway Name dialog? Or just that in the drop down for the taxiway name in the taxiway properties display that A-M are all that are available? If the latter is true, then it's because you need to edit the available taxiway names using Edit -> Taxiway Names.

-Russell
Click to expand...

I referred to the drop down. Sorry again for not looking at it more rigurously!

Is there a message somewhere that will help in a sort of tutorial on how the "Edit Approach" part of FSXPlanner works?

Jorge
 
jalsina said:
I referred to the drop down. Sorry again for not looking at it more rigurously!

Is there a message somewhere that will help in a sort of tutorial on how the "Edit Approach" part of FSXPlanner works?

Jorge
Click to expand...

Well once we are finished creating the app we will write a manual. That will contain everything you need to know. That should help.

And who knows, maybe we'll do some cool online flash movies with voice overs showing you how to do various things in FSX Planner!

-Russell
 
Hello,

first of all Congratulations This seems to become a very nice tool and very handy to use. :)

But I would like to report a bug.

After decompiling the file APX51130.bgl (in folder 0601) with BGL2XML and try to open it with FSX Planner the following error message appears:


Code: 
[Fatal Error] APX51130.xml:47448:22:
Element type "Leg" must be followed by either attribute specifications, ">" or "/>".

Here is the corresponding portion of the XML file. The same 'error' appears more then one time (at line 47645 as well)

Code: 
               <Leg
                  type="VR"
                  flyover="FALSE"
                  recommendedType="VOR"
                  recommendedRegion="ED"
                  recommendedIdent="LEG"
                  rho="0.0M"
                  magneticCourse="190"
                  altitudeDescriptor="+"
                  altitude1="1219.2M"
                  <Leg
                     type="CF"
                     fixType="TERMINAL_WAYPOINT"
                     fixRegion="ED"
                     fixIdent="TAKOR"
                     flyOver="FALSE"
                     turnDirection="R"
                     recommendedType="LOCALIZER"
                     recommendedIdent="ILZW"
                     theta="104.3"
                     rho="17413.25M"
                     magneticCourse="284"
                     distance="5557.42M"
                     altitudeDescriptor="+"
                     altitude1="914.4M"

The /> is missing after -altitude1="1219.2M"-

Maybe there are 'Sub' Legs? It looks so after decompilation but I couldn't find anything in the FSX SDK or is it a decompilation error?

Heiko
 
Make sure you are using the most up to date version of Bgl2Xml GUI
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top