FX Editor vs FXTool

[cookedinlh]

I've made several special effects for P3D 2.3 and I can see them and edit them with FX Editor and FXtool for SDK 2.3. They look and behave quite differently when viewed in FXTool in P3D2.3 compared to how they preview in FXEditor. When I try to load them into FX Editor in V P3D 1.4 SDK the effect will load and display parameters properly in the left panel . . but as soon as I RESTART the effect the tool freezes and says (not responding).

Strangely the effects will load and display using FXTool panel but it only recognizes the first effect loaded. Every subsequent effect loads and show it's parameters but P3D 1.4 if I launch the effect it will only ever activate the first one that was Loaded until I completely shut down P3D 1.4 and reload everything. I can then load any different effect that then becomes the only one it will ever launch in that session.

Any Ideas . . I'd really like to make my effect work properly for 1.4 and FSX . . but I do not have FSX or FSX SDK installed.
Thanks
David

 

[Tejal Bernardo]

problably don't have to do with this issue, but I had once a weird problem as this, the tool "FxTool" from SDK usually crashed, this was because there was too many Fx files in the Fx folder (too many addons), so I took out a bunch of them and this was the weird solution.
But here we are talking about P3D

 

[cookedinlh]

Thanks for the idea . . my FX Folder is pretty stock . . only added 6-8 new effects I've tried to create and this is P3D 1.4. I have a separate folder for P3D 2.3 and I suspect it has something to do with where it is calling the FXs from

 

[lt.jrichey]

Mine is not a comment as much as it is a question; I have installed many aftermarket addon's to FSX manually and one in particular requires I go into the aircraft cfg. file and add this [fltsim12] and some other items following this at the end of the last numbered airframe in that row. My question is; I cannot find anything that will let me do this, does anyone know what program will work and work without crashing itself or other programs? I have a file extension reader that opens all these types of files, but will not let me edit them. Signed, Just want to fly my new Helo.

 

[GaryGB]

Mine is not a comment as much as it is a question; I have installed many aftermarket addon's to FSX manually and one in particular requires I go into the aircraft cfg. file and add this [fltsim12] and some other items following this at the end of the last numbered airframe in that row. My question is; I cannot find anything that will let me do this, does anyone know what program will work and work without crashing itself or other programs? I have a file extension reader that opens all these types of files, but will not let me edit them. Signed, Just want to fly my new Helo.

Hello:

The Aircraft.Cfg file for an aircraft (whether FS default, freeware or payware add-on) can be edited using any text editor such as Windows NotePad.

CAVEAT: Make a backup copy of the original Aircraft.Cfg file ex: under the name Aircraft_Cfg_BAK.txt, or add a copy of the original to a *.ZIP or *.RAR file written into the original folder location before doing anything else.

Do not use a *.CFG file extension within the same folder for the "backup" copy of Aircraft.Cfg, or it may 'confuse' or crash FS !


FYI: The liveries (aka "repaints") for an aircraft are numbered beginning with [fltsim.0] and ending with the last livery, so that if you have 5 different liveries, they will be numbered:

[fltsim.0]
[fltsim.1]
[fltsim.2]
[fltsim.3]
[fltsim.4]


The sub-section for "Effects" is typically located farther down somewhere after the livery listings inside the aircraft.Cfg file.

I'm not sure if the exact physical location within the sequence of existing subsections matters as long as it is somewhere below the [General] section.

However, most aircraft / rotorcraft will already have an Effects subs-section which can simply be edited, as seen in this example from the default FSX Bell 206B JetRanger:


[EFFECTS]
wake=fx_wake
water=fx_spray
dirt=fx_tchdrt
concrete=fx_sparks
EngineFire=fx_heliFire


Rather than modifying the original entry for an existing effect mapping, IMHO it is best to copy the entry line for an Effect mapping and place it on the next line below the original, then modify it.

NOTE: "comment" or "remark" out the original entry line to disable it by placing 2 slashes followed by space at the beginning of its line:

[EFFECTS]
wake=fx_wake
water=fx_spray
dirt=fx_tchdrt
concrete=fx_sparks
// EngineFire=fx_heliFire <--- this line is now disabled
EngineFire= // <--- substitute FX name goes here


If a new type of Effect is being added, it can simply be added at the bottom of the existing Effect sub-section (do not include comments in Red):

[EFFECTS]
wake=fx_wake
water=fx_spray
dirt=fx_tchdrt
concrete=fx_sparks
// EngineFire=fx_heliFire // <--- this line is now disabled (original info is saved as a backup if needed)
EngineFire= // <--- substitute FX name goes here
landrotorwash=fx_rtr_lnd // <--- this line is a new entry


After making edits as directed by the add-on documentation, save the Aircraft.Cfg into the same folder, allowing it to over-write the original.

CAVEAT: When using NotePad, one must set the 'Save as type' to "All Files (*.*)" in order for the *.cfg file extension to be used instead of the *.txt file extension utilized by NotePad as a default.


BTW: If adding any new Effect (*.FX) files to FS, one must place them in:

[FSX install path]\Effects\

If new Effects have special mapped textures, those textures must be placed in:

[FSX install path]\Effects\Texture


CAVEAT: FS must be restarted fully from the desktop after adding any new Effects.


PS: FSX Helicopters are located at:

[FSX install path]\SimObjects\Rotorcraft\


Hope this info helps !

GaryGB

 

[lt.jrichey]

Hello:

The Aircraft.Cfg file for an aircraft (whether FS default, freeware or payware add-on) can be edited using any text editor such as Windows NotePad.

CAVEAT: Make a backup copy of the original Aircraft.Cfg file ex: under the name Aircraft_Cfg_BAK.txt, or add a copy of the original to a *.ZIP or *.RAR file written into the original folder location before doing anything else.

Do not use a *.CFG file extension within the same folder for the "backup" copy of Aircraft.Cfg, or it may 'confuse' or crash FS !


FYI: The liveries (aka "repaints") for an aircraft are numbered beginning with [fltsim.0] and ending with the last livery, so that if you have 5 different liveries, they will be numbered:

[fltsim.0]
[fltsim.1]
[fltsim.2]
[fltsim.3]
[fltsim.4]


The sub-section for "Effects" is typically located farther down somewhere after the livery listings inside the aircraft.Cfg file.

I'm not sure if the exact physical location within the sequence of existing subsections matters as long as it is somewhere below the [General] section.

However, most aircraft / rotorcraft will already have an Effects subs-section which can simply be edited, as seen in this example from the default FSX Bell 206B JetRanger:


[EFFECTS]
wake=fx_wake
water=fx_spray
dirt=fx_tchdrt
concrete=fx_sparks
EngineFire=fx_heliFire


Rather than modifying the original entry for an existing effect mapping, IMHO it is best to copy the entry line for an Effect mapping and place it on the next line below the original, then modify it.

NOTE: "comment" or "remark" out the original entry line to disable it by placing 2 slashes followed by space at the beginning of its line:

[EFFECTS]
wake=fx_wake
water=fx_spray
dirt=fx_tchdrt
concrete=fx_sparks
// EngineFire=fx_heliFire <--- this line is now disabled
EngineFire= // <--- substitute FX name goes here


If a new type of Effect is being added, it can simply be added at the bottom of the existing Effect sub-section (do not include comments in Red):

[EFFECTS]
wake=fx_wake
water=fx_spray
dirt=fx_tchdrt
concrete=fx_sparks
// EngineFire=fx_heliFire // <--- this line is now disabled (original info is saved as a backup if needed)
EngineFire= // <--- substitute FX name goes here
landrotorwash=fx_rtr_lnd // <--- this line is a new entry


After making edits as directed by the add-on documentation, save the Aircraft.Cfg into the same folder, allowing it to over-write the original.

CAVEAT: When using NotePad, one must set the 'Save as type' to "All Files (*.*)" in order for the *.cfg file extension to be used instead of the *.txt file extension utilized by NotePad as a default.


BTW: If adding any new Effect (*.FX) files to FS, one must place them in:

[FSX install path]\Effects\

If new Effects have special mapped textures, those textures must be placed in:

[FSX install path]\Effects\Texture


CAVEAT: FS must be restarted fully from the desktop after adding any new Effects.


PS: FSX Helicopters are located at:

[FSX install path]\SimObjects\Rotorcraft\


Hope this info helps !

GaryGB

Hey Gary,
Thanks a million for the in depth answer.
You have seriously helped me with your detailed explanation of the inner workings of the infamous FSX cfg. file. There is one little issue however... I used Windows Notepad to add the particular line as I was instructed, but for some reason the Notepad program threw up a box when I went to save my work. It read "Access Denied!"
So, I was left going through the texture folder way, copying and pasting. It works, but I was left picking and choosing what textures I enjoyed most.
Anyway, I really just wanted to update you and most importantly, Thank You for you assistance.


Lt.J.A.R.

 

[GaryGB]

Hi again:

Assuming that you are referring to editing the Aircraft.Cfg file used for all user-pilot-able aircraft in FSX located within the [FSX install folder]\Simobjects\ folder chain, and that you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7 NotePad, new Windows security functions referred to as User Account Control (aka "UAC") and/or System Folder chain write-protection may have disrupted the ability of NotePad to save the edits when you first attempted to do so.


You may be able to prevent write-protection disruption in the future by right-clicking the NotePad shortcut link, then:

1.) In the right-click context menu pop-up: select "Properties"

2.) Click on [Security tab]
a.) For each Group or User under "user names", set "Administrator" level permission to allow full read and write capability.

Hope this helps a bit more !

GaryGB