• 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.

SbuilderX Initial Configuration

D

dcmiller58

Messages
349
Hello to all and, although this is my first post, thank you for help I have already gleaned by reading your conversations.

I have a couple of questions regarding the initial setup of SbuilderX:

1. If all I want to accomplish is creating polys for airport boundaries, flattens, and autogen excludes do I need the map toolbars and packs?

2. How do I configure the Preferences page? I don't know what cache files I am to use or what I am supposed to edit in the .ini file.

3. The version I installed is 3.00.00. Is this the current version?

After five hours of searching forums I am at a dead standstill with this program. I have read through Scruffyduck's Airport Regression tutorials paying strick attention to the Sbuilder methods but I just can't seem to get out of the blocks. So, back at square one I am trying to make sure I have the thing setup correctly to begin with.

Thanks in advance,

Derrick
 
Conclusion

The problem has to be that this program redevelopment is in its infancy.

I keep thinking I am missing something because I cannot correlate this version with the version used in the tutorials.

Moving on to the next tool.

Thanks anyway.

Derrick
 
Hi Derrick,

If those are the only tasks you wish to perform then SBuilderX is an ideal tool.

You don't need to use the toolbar pack, that's only needed if you want a Virtual Earth/Google Maps etc background image in order to trace line and polygon elements.

You don't need to set the cache folders unless you are using the said background imagery.

If you open the .ini file you will see various settings, you can change them if you need to but it's not strictly neccesary to edit this file, I haven't needed to yet and I use SBuilderX for exactly the same tasks as you wish to.

If you have FSUIPC installed, you can use the "Show Aircraft" command in order to get the points for your polygons by slewing around the airport.

It's true that SBuilderX is in it's infancy but it is already capable of performing the tasks you require and if the FS9 version was anything to go by then Luis will eventually create a very useful tool, don't give up on it yet ;) Making scenery for FSX is difficult but I'd imagine making FSX scenery tools is even more so :eek:

If you need any further assistance just ask, there's also the SBuilder support forum here:

http://www.ptsim.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=18

Regards
 
High Hopes

Alan,

I am grateful to Luis for this program. Like you said, the FS9 version was impressive from what I can tell.

I look forward to revisiting this program in the near future and appreciate the encouragement.

I ended up using FSX_KML, TCalcx (?), and SDE alongside the OPT. I used the areadefinition rectangle to set dimensions of the airport background; used TCalc to retrieve the coordinates by slewing the aircraft over each corner of the rectangle, edited a KML polygon by hand and then processed it in FSX_KML.

My project is to create a set of backcountry airfields in British Columbia, five satellite fields and one base with both tarmac and water runways. The base is done and four of the five smaller fields are constructed but need a little ambiance via log cabins and such.

I am having so much fun! SDE saved me a couple of times when coding the base airfield. I just found an airfield with a similar feature and checked in SDE to see how it was done. My base has two refuel_repair stations due to that handy tool. BGL2XML was employed a couple of times as well.

I even discovered I could park in a hangar if I used the <NoCrash/> thing.

My thanks to the developers who created these tools and that includes SbuilderX. I need to go back, now that I have a firmer understanding of my tasks, and figure out how to put down and airfield using that tool.

Will need help soon, I am sure! LOL

DCM
 
Hi Derrick,

Glad to hear you're enjoying your scenery creation and getting to grips with the various tools on offer whilst you do, I'm having fun with SDE myself at the moment.

Your project sounds interesting, I'll look forward to seeing the completed scenery :)

You're certainly in the best place for help with scenery design, there are lots of very knowledgeable folks using these forums, I'm sure you'll get everything you need here.

Regards
 
Alan, Why didn't you tell me?

Alan,

Well I downloaded the new terrain tutorial listed in the forum and guess what? I didn't know you had to right-click on the poly to get to all of the goodies!

All is going well. I can see that tools like SBuilderX are going to send me off on bigger projects that a few back-country airstrips if I keep going.

Anyway, that explains my frustration and confusion. It was all just one little mouse click.

Take Care,

Derrick
 
Hi Derrick,

Don't forget to right click on the poly in SBuilderX to access it's parameters ;) :D

Had a very quick look at your first airfields, one thing I can say is that you've chosen some beautiful locations, keep up the good work :cool:
 
Nice tip! Thanks ;)

Re: Northstar Project

Thanks for taking a look. The project is very rudimentary. I have some serious problems with design at the base field that need to be cleaned up, like having a refuel station just a few feet from the runway, the ominous presence of planet earth at the end of that runway, etc. I wouldn't be getting any government approval for this design.

So, I downloaded FAA regs (even thought the project is in Canada) on airport design and I am making the ascent on that particular learning curve. It has added a lot of depth and satisfaction to my simming.

I have to get over to Cumbria and see what you folks are up to.

Take care,

Derrick
 
Confused now? Just wait til you find some plug-ins for sbuilderX. These are for maps, sattilite access I guess. The readme file says to add these to the tiles folder. I'm sorry- some people do not know how to teach. How do we "add" this? After unzipping I have this folder called tile server pack.

Do I just put the whole folder into the tiles folder, or do I open it up and put various parts into other folders, or do certain items replace other items?

Try this with some kids or even adults.... (sure you've heard of this:))
Have a jar of peanutbutter, a knife, a plae and a loaf of bread ready.

Ask those present-- Will you tell me how to make a peanutbutter sandwich? All they can do is talk. They cannot touch anything.

Your job... do EXACTLY what they say. Exactly.

Example- they say- Ok, put the bread on the plate. ME- I take the loaf of bread, still in the wrapper, and I put it on the plate. The class goes nuts with laughter. You did exactly what they said. and so on, etc. :)

My point- There are many of us who are reading and have read much and still have trouble 'getting out of the gate'. The trouble we are speaking to demi-gods. :) And the demi-gods are speaking in terms they understand but we do not. They speak in quantum physics, and we hear in Dingbat! We are trying hard to learn as much as possible, but it is rather difficult when we don't even know what many terms are. I typed in a search for Tcalc. Got to this page - it surely is discussed here and there but where do I get it?

It must be said that I and many of us are so very greatful for all the help we have been given. Sorry for the rant. Bob
 
Hi Bob:

I actually enjoy reading (and writing) a good "satirical" Rant now and then, along with Quantum physics... and a laugh with the class ! :D

No doubt it can be frustrating to hunt throughout FS Forums scattered all over the internet to find the info we seek on FS, but at least FS Developer has a good search engine and the highest concentration of info on most older and recent FS development subjects; for older subjects (FS8, FS9) one can search AVSIM forums too. ;)

You'll also find the "Similar Threads" links at the bottom of all FSDeveloper thread pages are, more often than not, quite informative and well worth a browse. :)


Here's a link to TCalcX version 002 for you: :spushpin:



http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4273

GaryGB
 
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Thank you for the link. Again, the help here has been incredible. Much thanx to all once again. It's just that it is tough at times when our demi-gods here speak quantum physics while many of us speak dingbat! bwahahaha! But we're still learning. What the hey! Bob
 
Hi Bob:

I almost forgot to mention that in addition to TCalcX, you might also wish to look at George Davison's utility as well:


His IdentifyTile utility (the FSDeveloper posted link no longer works !)

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4272&highlight=IdentifyTile


http://www.geo-davison.demon.co.uk/IdentifyTile.zip


...has been re-written to become IDTileX:


http://www.visualflight.co.uk/forum...uote&REPLY_ID=55647&TOPIC_ID=8827&FORUM_ID=73


http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache...rchid=885601+IDTileX&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us


http://www.geo-davison.demon.co.uk/IDTileX.zip


Hope this helps ! :cool:

GaryGB
 
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