FS2004 3rd Party Libraries Question

[flynby]

I have ADE Questions concerning 3rd Party Libraries Used. First , I have used ADE for less than a month, so bear with me. Using v1.50.11.

I downloaded ga_hangers_ss_vol_2_v1.zip and followed the instructions on how to place the folder.

Simply put, I am not able to view the new thumbnails in the Library Object Manager.
The default thumbnails are seen.

How to I correct this? I "think" my problem is adding these objects to the ADE9X Library Object Manager.

Not to computer savvy. Thanks in advance

 

[scruffyduck]

Adding library objects and adding thumbnails are separate things. Loading a library of objects into LOM does not automatically add thumbnails. Unfortunaltely ADE is not able to generate thumbnails for objects on the fly.

If the library did not come with thumbnails then you would need to create them. If it does then you would need to add them to your active thumbnail folder. That is the folder specified in the LOM dialog

Also in the screenshot is a button that lets you capture a thumbnail. This assumes that you have the object loaded in FS so you can make a picture of it.

 

[David Butler]

Inside the ADE9X folder there is a folder called ga_hangers_ss_vol_2_v1.bgl this folder should be inside your ADEX thumbs folder.
Then follow Jons message by "pointing" to them after you have opened ADEX

Dave Butler

 

[flynby]

Today is a Good Laugh Day!! What am I doing wrong to get such results??
HELP!!

<a href="http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/flynby/?action=view&amp;current=ViewedHangerInFS2004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/flynby/ViewedHangerInFS2004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[tgibson]

It may not be your fault - it might be one of those rare situations where two objects have the same GUID number (that long number/alpha string). Check that bridge object and see if it has the same GUID.

 

[flynby]

tgibson, thank you so much for the replay and idea. Unfortunately, this happens every time I use the Library Object feature. Something I am doing is just not right. Using the Generic Building feature works perfect. So it's me.

I may have not mentioned this, But, In ADE, the Thumbnail shows the item I want. Looks perfect. It's in FS2004, that something else shows up.
Just where should I put the jpeg images? That "might" be my problem.

 

[flynby]

tgibson, thank you so much for the reply and idea. Unfortunately, this happens every time I use the Library Object feature. Something "I am doing" is just not right. Using the Generic Building feature works perfect. So it's me.

I may have not mentioned this, But, In ADE, the Thumbnail shows the item I want. Looks perfect. It's in FS2004, that something else shows up.
Just where should I put the jpeg images? That "might" be my problem.

 

[scruffyduck]

Am I understanding that ADE is showing a thumbnail for one object but placing another?

If so it might be worth explaining how ADE applies the link. ADE will look in the users specified thumbnail folder for a file that contains a GUID that matches the GUID of the library object. By definition a GUID should be unique and the chances of generating a duplicate very small. FS9 requires that the GUID is generated outside the model so when folks extracted stock objects into new libraries they would generate new GUIDs. However since these should be unique it is hard to see how a thumbnail for one object could be assigned to another object - unless that thumbnail has gotten the GUID of the other object.

If ADE is used to create the thumbnail then it should match the GUID. Stock thumbnails are generated in such a way as to match GUIDs.

However if the thumbnails were generated by a user in some other way then I can surmise that a GUID could be assigned to a thumbnail that is not for the matching object.

The only help I can offer is if ADE is generating the wrong GUID in a thumbnail - that would be a bug that would need to be fixed.

 

[flynby]

Airport Design Editor

Am I understanding that ADE is showing a thumbnail for one object but placing another? Yes sir, that is correct.

I fail to mention this trying to explain my problem: In Tools\Libraries Used,
should I see my downloaded file "ga_hangers_ss_vol_2_v1.zip" here? When I
open this window, I see "No Third Party Objects Used".

Would this possibly help explain my problem? Appreciate the help guys..

 

[scruffyduck]

Then there are only two explanations for the thumbnail issue - the first is that someone took a thumbnail of the wrong object and the second is that somehow the same GUID was generated twice - if this is so then the whole edifice of FS, Microsoft dot Net and heavens knows what else will come crashing down since it is based on the fact that is is impossible to generate the same GUID twice.

I am still trying to understand where you have put this library that you refer to. To get the object information into ADE you need to add the objects via the Library Object Manager - have you done this?

The statement you bold would indicate that you have placed no third party objects in your project - only stock objects. This report is intended to help developers to identify the third party libraries that are used in the project. There is no point in reporting stock objects since it is a reasonable assumption that end users will have these.

 

[n4gix]

Then there are only two explanations for the thumbnail issue - the first is that someone took a thumbnail of the wrong object and the second is that somehow the same GUID was generated twice - if this is so then the whole edifice of FS, Microsoft dot Net and heavens knows what else will come crashing down since it is based on the fact that is is impossible to generate the same GUID twice.

Well, not totally impossible really. Just very damned unlikely! The odds are such that the entropy of the universe will be a close fraction above zero first...

While each generated GUID is not guaranteed to be unique, the total number of unique keys (2^128 or 3.4×10^38) is so large that the probability of the same number being generated twice is very small. For example, consider the observable universe, which contains about 5×10^22 stars; every star could then have 6.8×10^15 universally unique GUIDs.

Well, technically, it is not really 2^128, because in a v4 GUID, you have one hex digit that will always be a 4 (effectively removing 4 bits), and two bits further on are also reserved. However, 2^122 valid V4 GUIDs still leaves about 5x10^36, which will do for me. and for you too. Each star will have to accept just about 1.1x10^14 GUIDs apiece.

There is of course one guaranteed method to duplicate a GUID; copy/paste!

 

[flynby]

Airport Design Editor

I am still trying to understand where you have put this library that you refer to. To get the object information into ADE you need to add the objects via the Library Object Manager - have you done this?

Yes sir, I have. The folder is found at C:\Program Files\ADE_150\FS9\Thumbs\ga_hangers_ss_vol2_v1.bgl. That is where the readme file said to place it, I think!!

I tried to use photobucket just now to send a copy of a picture with the long guide number. No luck. I notice the default pictures have a seperate guide number. Is that the problem?

 

[scruffyduck]

No that does not make any sense. Why put the bgl file into the Thumbnail folder. I know of no instructions that tell you that.

The bgl file goes into an active FS folder along with any textures. Thumbnails go into the Thumbnail folder and bgl files do not contain thumbnails.

What happens is

• Put the bgl file and textures in an active scenery area in FS
• Go to the ADE Library Object Manager and use the Add button
• Navigate to the location where you put the Bgl file and select it
• ADE will load data about the objects. - This does not load any thumbnails
• If you want thumbnails then you will need either to find out if someone already created them or capture your own.

The reason that the default has a different GUID is that Sidney extracted stock objects and re-compiled them into a new file. Thus they exist twice on your system. The first time they are locked to a region. to unlock them Sidney put them in a new library - when you do this in FS9 you need a new GUID.

I think we have covered the likelihood of a GUID being duplicated by chance

 

[flynby]

I guess I misunderstood line 2 of the read me file.

If you are using ADE9X to place scenery objects in FS9, this will allow you to view thumbnails of these objects while placing them. Do the following AFTER you have completed one of the installation procedures above.

1. Go to wherever you unzipped ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.zip and open folder ADE9X.

2. Move the entire ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.bgl FOLDER, not just its contents, into your Airport Design Editor 9X/FS9/Thumbs folder.

I will try your way immediately!! Thank you so much for the time and all viewers help.

 

[Sidney Schwartz]

Works for me....see pic.

For Jon's benefit, here are the installation instructions I include with my scenery objects. If I've gotten something wrong with regards to ADE, please let me know. I've not had anyone else contact me with this problem. (ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.bgl is the thumbnail folder for this library.)

*****************************
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
*****************************
There are two different installation procedures for this scenery object library, "RWY12" and "Everyone Else". The "RWY12" instructions are ONLY for those who will be using the RWY12 program to place these scenery objects in FS9. Install the library using the "RWY12" procedure ONLY if you are creating your own scenery using RWY12! If you are installing the library because you have downloaded a scenery that requires it, follow the "Everyone Else" installation procedure!

The "Everyone Else" installation procedure is for users of EZ-Scenery, Instant Scenery, and pretty much any other program that can be used to place scenery library objects in FS9, EXCEPT RWY12. It is also for anyone who is not creating their own scenery but is installing this library because they have downloaded a scenery that requires it.

============================
RWY12 Installation Procedure
============================
1. Unzip ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.zip to a temporary location. You should end up with four folders: ADE9X, ALL USERS, RWY12, and SBuilder. You should also have a text file called PLEASE READ.txt and some jpg files. The jpg files can be deleted.

2. Open the ALL USERS folder. Move ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.bgl into your FS9/Addon Scenery/Static Objects Library/Scenery folder. If you are also using the Instant Scenery or EZ-Scenery programs, also move ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_V1.txt into that same folder, otherwise ignore it.

3. Move all the bmp files into your FS9/Addon Scenery/Static Objects Library/Texture folder.

4. Open the RWY12 folder. Move add_ga_hangers_ss_vol_2_v1.xml into your Rwy12 Object Placer/Rwy12 folder. Move the entire add_ga_hangers_ss_vol_2_v1 folder, not just its contents, into your Rwy12 Object Placer/Rwy12/img folder.

You're done. The next time you run RWY12 ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1 should appear in your Category list, and you should see thumbnails of these objects and be able to place them in FS9.


====================================
Everyone Else Installation Procedure
====================================
1. Unzip ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.zip to a temporary location. You should end up with four folders: ADE9X, ALL USERS, RWY12, and SBuilder. You should also have a text file called PLEASE READ.txt and some jpg files. The jpg files can be deleted.

2. Open the ALL USERS folder. Move ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.bgl into your FS9/Addon Scenery/Scenery folder. If you are using the Instant Scenery or EZ-Scenery programs, also move ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_V1.txt into that same folder, otherwise ignore it.

3. Move all the bmp files into your FS9/Addon Scenery/Texture folder.

OR: If you know how to create and use scenery folders, you may install these files into a scenery folder of your own.

You're done.


================
ADE9X
================
If you are using ADE9X to place scenery objects in FS9, this will allow you to view thumbnails of these objects while placing them. Do the following AFTER you have completed one of the installation procedures above.

1. Go to wherever you unzipped ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.zip and open folder ADE9X.

2. Move the entire ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.bgl FOLDER, not just its contents, into your Airport Design Editor 9X/FS9/Thumbs folder.

3. If you haven't already, add these objects to the ADE9X Library Object Manager. Consult the ADE9X manual for instructions. Once you've done this, you should see a thumbnail of each object and be able to place the objects in FS9.


========
Sbuilder
========
If you are using Sbuilder to place scenery objects in FS9, do the following AFTER you have completed one of the installation procedures above. This procedure requires that you know how to edit text files.

IMPORTANT: These instructions were tested with Sbuilder version 2.05 revision 6. That is the most current version as of this writing. If you are using an older revision of Sbuilder version 2.05, this may not work. You should go to http://www.ptsim.com/ and download the most current version.

1. Go to wherever you unzipped ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.zip and open folder Sbuilder.

2. Move obj_ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.txt into your Sbuilder/Tools folder.

3. Open folder obj_ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1_sbuilder and move the CONTENTS of the folder into your Sbuilder/Tools/Bmps folder.

4. Using a text editor, open the file objects.txt in your Sbuilder/Tools folder and add the following line:

include=obj_ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.txt

Save and close objects.txt.

The next time you run Sbuilder and click to place an object, you should see ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1 in the Objects Category list on the Library Objects tab, and a thumbnail image of each object.

 

[Sidney Schwartz]

OK, noticed problem. Flynby's properties for this object are on the left, mine on the right. GUID's and names are both different. The name of that object is ga_hanger_ss_36A...I don't know where the heck "closed quansat hanger" came from. Also, the size is different. In feet ADE shows mine as being 215.29 X 378.67, and in both the scale is set at 1.

Flynby, where did you download that hanger library from?

 

[scruffyduck]

My bad Sydney. I did not realize that ga_hangars_ss_vol_2_v1.bgl was a folder - I thought it was the library

 

[Sidney Schwartz]

That's what I would have thought if it wasn't me who named it.

If I leave the .bgl off the folder name will ADE still know what library those thumbnails are associated with?

 

[scruffyduck]

That's what I would have thought if it wasn't me who named it.

If I leave the .bgl off the folder name will ADE still know what library those thumbnails are associated with?

It doesn't need to Sidney. Provided the thumbnails follow the naming convention and they are in a folder inside the Users Thumbnail directory. ADE looks for the guid in the name to get the thumbnail.

 

[Sidney Schwartz]

OK. Seems to have worked for everyone else...at least no one else has reported a problem. I'll be interested in hearing where flynby got that version of the library he's using.