Help Please with Testing New Build

[scruffyduck]

I have just uploaded a new version of ADE. It is 1.52.4686 Alpha. I have made many changes in the code and as a result I no longer feel confident that this is a Beta.

I would therefore ask for your assistance in testing. When installed it will replace 1.51.4645 which in my mind was very buggy.

The main changes that should be visible are:

AIRPORT DESIGN EDITOR - RELEASE NOTES - 30 October 2012

Version 01.52

New

• [10205] New file format for ADE projects (.ad3) This format creates on average a much smaller project file. This should load faster and should place less pressure on memory when saving large project files. ADE continues to read .ade and .ad2 file formats but all new saved files will be in .ad3 format. This is not reverse compatible with older version of ADE. However the current .ade or .ad2 project file will not be over-written by the new format.

Updated

• [10210] The image displayed in place of a thumbnail when it is not available is made clearer. It now says: Thumbnail Not Available
• [10007] The methods used to handle positional data have been revised and updated.

Fixed

• [10155] Scenery Object Flags not correctly handled [-BETA BUG-]
• [10169] Fixed CTD when editing an vertex in an apron of shape poly [-BETA BUG-]
• [10200] Fixed missing Shp2Vec Path for Prepar3D. ADE reported this as 'File Not Found' when compiling a P3D project with terrain elements. [-BETA BUG-]

Version 01.51
Updated

• [10146] Changed the handling of selection for aprons. In 1.50 the distance from the edge appeared to grow with zoom. This is now changed so that the visual distance from the edge of an apron or poly is contant irrespective of zoom level.

The installer is available here http://www.scruffyduck.org.uk/files/ade_152_4686_beta_setup.zip

I really need some general testing to see if things work correctly. This includes adding/moving/deleting objects etc etc. There are a number of bugs that should be fixed but I will wait to see if I get any new log reports before declaring them fixed. If ADE CTD's please do send in the log.

All feedback much appreciated. THANKS!

 

[GHD]

First test looks promising

AD3 file is 88KB, AD2 file is 505KB

The compiled files are the same size

Edit. I have just noticed that the xml files have different sizes

 

[scruffyduck]

My tests have ad3 files up to 20x smaller than ad2 files.

 

[GHD]

The difference in the xml is that 1.52 includes "dummy" runway markings with peculiar surface combinations:

 

[scruffyduck]

Thanks George

I think I know why this might be. Does it apply to all runways?

 

[GHD]

Does it apply to all runways?

I have no idea, there is only one runway

 

[GHD]

Another problem?

I seem to have lost the ability to set conditions such as NoCrash, NoShadow etc. on scenery objects.

Sorry, I didn't look hard enough

 

[scruffyduck]

No problem I will add the issue of dummy runway elements - not sure why it has started to generate code for them

 

[kevintampa5]

Download server is very slow. Just took 4 minutes to DL the 1.52

 

[gww53]

scenery objects don't rotate

I've just tried one new airport, but..

1. objects added from my scenery library will not rotate. If I h-ilight the object and "grab" the rotation handle, it will shift 45 degrees once and cannot be rotated any more...I can double click the object and enter a heading, and that works.

2. Dragging a parking spot also results in some very bizarre results...the taxiway line seems to jump all over the apron.

3. Brought over my object.dat file, but not all of my library objects import

I started this in the last beta, saw the post today and downloaded the new one. Could it be a problem shifting the airport from one beta to another?

Gary

 

[scruffyduck]

1. objects added from my scenery library will not rotate. If I h-ilight the object and "grab" the rotation handle, it will shift 45 degrees once and cannot be rotated any more...I can double click the object and enter a heading, and that works.

Replicated - thanks

2. Dragging a parking spot also results in some very bizarre results...the taxiway line seems to jump all over the apron.

Replicated - thanks

3. Brought over my object.dat file, but not all of my library objects import

Not sure I understand that.

I started this in the last beta, saw the post today and downloaded the new one. Could it be a problem shifting the airport from one beta to another?

No - the bugs you report are present when testing with a stock airport.

 

[gww53]

objects not brought in....

Sorry for the stupid wording--it was late. Not at home, just a minute now.

Two of the scenery objects (a building and hangar) that I've made in sketchup/mcx/library don't compile with the new beta.

With the beta "pre-yesterday", these two objects appear on the ade work space, and after compiling are present in FSX. But with the new release, the objects appear in ADE (yellow box, correct thumbnail and GUID when I hover over the box), compile with no error, but they are missing in FSX!!!

I placed 5 or 6 other of my (mis) made objects that appear just fine. I need to look to see if it was just the two objects, or if any others (cars, shrubs,lights etc) are missing as well.

Don't spend time on this one yet...I did this just before bed last night, and I'll look into it more this weekend if I get a chance. Maybe there is a problem with the mdl or library (tho I might have expected a compile error)

By the way, the overall interface of the new beta seems smoother and more responsive, but that was based on 15 minutes of playing around

Gary (GMT + 5 hrs)

 

[scruffyduck]

Sorry for the stupid wording--it was late. Not at home, just a minute now.

Two of the scenery objects (a building and hangar) that I've made in sketchup/mcx/library don't compile with the new beta.

With the beta "pre-yesterday", these two objects appear on the ade work space, and after compiling are present in FSX. But with the new release, the objects appear in ADE (yellow box, correct thumbnail and GUID when I hover over the box), compile with no error, but they are missing in FSX!!!

I placed 5 or 6 other of my (mis) made objects that appear just fine. I need to look to see if it was just the two objects, or if any others (cars, shrubs,lights etc) are missing as well.

Don't spend time on this one yet...I did this just before bed last night, and I'll look into it more this weekend if I get a chance. Maybe there is a problem with the mdl or library (tho I might have expected a compile error)

By the way, the overall interface of the new beta seems smoother and more responsive, but that was based on 15 minutes of playing around

Gary (GMT + 5 hrs)

OK - thanks. I have fixed your first report above where the parking spots are going bonkers when moved. The second I understand what is wrong - crap programming of course

 

[gww53]

taxiway nodes are multiplying!

I think the scenery object was probably an issue with one of my libraries... I can only reproduce it sporadically. Sometimes they appear, sometimes they don't...but much more (????) in the new version.

But now this. After several changes of scenery objects, but no revision of taxiways I got a compile error (but successfully parsed), and to my surprise found that dozens of taxiway nodes had been added to just one taxiway, many off of the actual taxiway. It's a small airport (KMCW) but all of the spontaneous additions occurred just on the one taxiway.

I am a little concerned that the generation of the this little project with two beta versions has led to problems.

I'll try another airport entirely in the new version

Gary

Win 7-64, 3770K sl overclock, 8GB

 

[gww53]

A few more issues

Crash with error report (emailed) when trying to move windsock of stock airport--this occurred repeatedly

When editing boundary fence and trying to add a new vertex, the new point keystroke adds a new vertex, but jumps wildly across workspace and adds it on opposite side of airport

Fault finder appears not to be working. Note picture, with series of parking spots purposely not connected to system, but not detected.

I was going along pretty well, too. Added new runway, taxiways, signs... then this (about 20 minutes into project)

Gary

 

[GHD]

Crash with error report (emailed) when trying to move windsock of stock airport--this occurred repeatedly

When editing boundary fence and trying to add a new vertex, the new point keystroke adds a new vertex, but jumps wildly across workspace and adds it on opposite side of airport

I can't reproduce either of these.

 

[GHD]

Cannot edit an approach from the "List Approaches" dialog - nothing happens except the highlight disappears.

 

[gww53]

It's most likely me..

No surprise. I should stay a "lurker" as virtually always the problem is something between my ears, not in the computer.

I wondered if there was a chance that working on the project for 30 minutes somehow "overloaded" my system (I suspect that sound pretty lame to most of you) but when I reopen the ADE file this morning, same "jump" on the fence and crash on the windsock movement.

I'll try to attach the file...at this point I don't think there is anything in it but "native" FSX stuff. Added a flatten/exclude, airport background, runway and redid the taxiways to match google earth. Then I started on the fence/windsock and was about to do aprons/scenerey objects.

I am able to delete vertices normally, it's just the add .

Again..it's probably me and no one will hurt my feelings!!!

And--thanks to all of you for your insights. I rarely post, but learn almost every day from your thoughts.

Gary

Not sure why, but I can't seem to upload the ad3 file

 

[scruffyduck]

I can replicate both the problem with the stock windsock and adding vertices to a fence. .ad3 is not an approved extension here at the moment. You would need to zip the project file first.

 

[scruffyduck]

This version is now replaced and should no longer be tested.