Terminal Problems in FSX

[aguirrem2]

Hi, I'm remodeling all the airports that I frequent in FSX, and in one of them (MGGT to be exact) I first tried to add the terminal from KDEN using ADE and copy paste, when I compiled the airport, and loaded FSX, the gate was there, but not the jetway, or most importantly, the terminal itself, there was just blank space. What did I do wrong? And I've had this problem at other airports too. Oh, another thing, when I copied the default terminal from MGGT onto MGGT to make the second terminal, It appeared, I also tried with terminal e from KDFW, and it didn't work. And to finish off with my terminal problems, when I added gates and jetways to the MGGT terminal (the one I copy pasted) They are either INSIDE the terminal or way far out of the terminal, so does anyone know how to fix this besides trial and error?
As for jetways, my only question is how do I get glass jetways instead of the ugly stock off-white FSX ones? I'm not good at 3D modeling so if that's the only option then no big deal. Oh and is there any simple way to make the stock "large controll tower" any taller?
I read the "Quick Terminal Buildings" thread, and it said that terminals are "region locked" but when I tried using a guatemalan terminal (from MGGT) in another guatemalan airport (MGJS), it didn't show, so I'm guessing I'm doing something wrong, no surprise as I am VERY new to ADE.
Oh, also I'm having some problems with a runway I added. I created an exclusion and flattening polygon where my airport should be. However part of a new runway (that lies entirelty on the polygon) has some mounds of grass and earth on it, but its only about the last 25% of the runway, how do I fix this, I already tried to enlarge the polygon, but that didn't work
Thanks! and sorry if this has already been posted.

 

[jvile]

Hello aguirrem2

I'm remodeling all the airports that I frequent in FSX, and in one of them (MGGT to be exact) I first tried to add the terminal from KDEN using ADE and copy paste, when I compiled the airport, and loaded FSX, the gate was there, but not the jetway, or most importantly, the terminal itself,

There are normally 2 types of buildings at the airport.

LibraryObject Buildings = Light Yellow color
Generic Buildings = Light Blue

LibraryObject Buildings are modeled by Artist and are very hard to copy and paste into other areas of the world. That is not to say it cannot be done but would require a tutorial to accomplish. It is not the actual GUID that is the problem but knowing what Textures to copy also to the new area of the world. It is best to leave these type buildings at the airport they are assigned.

Generic Buildings can be copied and placed anywhere in the world.

As for jetways, my only question is how do I get glass jetways instead of the ugly stock off-white FSX ones?

There is only one animated Jetway for FSX and some that are not animated. You can also add other Jetways from 3rd party designers but for the most part they do not move.

Oh and is there any simple way to make the stock "large controll tower" any taller?

Yes. What do you mean by taller. Are you refering to the actual visual model of the control tower or the view from inside the control tower. Both are possible but use different ways to control the actual height.

 

[aguirrem2]

Yes. What do you mean by taller. Are you refering to the actual visual model of the control tower or the view from inside the control tower. Both are possible but use different was to control the actual height.

I would like to edit both.

and, do you know where I could find a tutorial to copy the light yellow buildings?

Thanks!

 

[scruffyduck]

and, do you know where I could find a tutorial to copy the light yellow buildings?

AS Jim mentioned this is going to depend on the building. Many terminal buildings are 'autogenerated' library objects. As such they are designed to be placed at a single airport and the placement code is located with the object. As Jim mentions you could move one but you would have to find the textures that are used in that building and move them so that they are in the Texture folder along with your customized scenery. Finding the textures can take a bit of work as well. Perhaps you could give us the name of the object you are trying to relocate?

 

[aguirrem2]

AS Jim mentioned this is going to depend on the building. Many terminal buildings are 'autogenerated' library objects. As such they are designed to be placed at a single airport and the placement code is located with the object. As Jim mentions you could move one but you would have to find the textures that are used in that building and move them so that they are in the Texture folder along with your customized scenery. Finding the textures can take a bit of work as well. Perhaps you could give us the name of the object you are trying to relocate?

Thanks, I'm trying to relocate the main terminal at KDEN in ADE it appears as "den mainterminal" with its GUID "72b6f5a5-8d2e-43bd-a1ab-ed9242474ef6" (oh, if someone could tell me what GUID is and what it is for I would appreciate it) im also trying to copy concourse B from KDEN GUID:50a3b000-9bfb-4ab1-a99e-108a96947f86 appears as "den concourseb". and terminal e from KDFW GUID:e6de6c27-7053-4339-9a2a-9a6dcbd27fb5.
Thanks alot for the help and the great program!

 

[scruffyduck]

Thanks, I'm trying to relocate the main terminal at KDEN in ADE it appears as "den mainterminal" with its GUID "72b6f5a5-8d2e-43bd-a1ab-ed9242474ef6" (oh, if someone could tell me what GUID is and what it is for I would appreciate it) im also trying to copy concourse B from KDEN GUID:50a3b000-9bfb-4ab1-a99e-108a96947f86 appears as "den concourseb". and terminal e from KDFW GUID:e6de6c27-7053-4339-9a2a-9a6dcbd27fb5.
Thanks alot for the help and the great program!

GUID stands for Globally Unique ID. It is a 32 byre long number that is statistically unique. That means that you should not find two the same (unless you do it deliberately) They are used throughtout FSX to identify something uniquely - a bit like a telephone number or address. All library objects (such as the buildings you refer to) are identified by their own GUID.

 

[jvile]

aguirrem2

Let me address the Tower height issue first so others might want to do the same.

Atlanta Airport built the tallest Control Tower recently which is over 450 ft high. In order to get the new Tower up that high I added a Generic Building and placed the Control Tower on top of it based on new pictures available from the KATL web site. The new Generic building is the approach/departure radar control building in real world.

The old Tower was demolished including some buildings so I deleted those that were displayed at the default FSX airport using ADE and placed the new tower at its present position.

It looks like this

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The view from inside the Control Tower looks like this
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Looking at the first picture there are 3 pieces of XML data that make up the Generic building the Control Tower is sitting on, the Tower itself and the view. In ADE it looks like the following
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Now lets seperate the 3 pieces of data so we can get at the properties of each like so
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I double click on the Control Tower so the properties window displays in ADE.
1. I selected 01b Tower
2. I scaled it larger to 1.5
3. I uncheck the altitude is AGL
4. I set the altitude to 1140 ft

Let me explain no.3 and 4. When you uncheck Altitude is AGL you are now working with Altitude from Sea Level. Atlanta as per ADE is 1026.0 ft above Sea Level. I add 411 ft. to 1026 ft and that = 1140 ft. This becomes the new altitude the model.mdl ft value of the control tower is sitting at which places it on top of the Generic building rather then on the ground (see 1st picture again).
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Now it is time to get the view height set. Open the properties window for the red circle "T". I used 411.398 for altiude view height which is distance from the ground to the inside view of the tower looking out of the Glass. If you want the view to be higher then the Glass then add more height such as 475 ft to clear all antennas above the Control tower.
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Drag the 3 pieces back to their original position (see picture 3) and save the .ade and compile. Go to your airport and visually look at your Control Tower and then enter view mode. Tweak the altitudes as needed to give you the proper results.

As a point of interest, KATL also added a 3 story parking garage next to the new Control Tower. Up in the front of the Main Terminal (out of sight of my pictures) are several 7 level LibraryObject parking buildings. I copied one over to the control tower area and lowered it into the ground by 4 levels. This now makes it a 3 level parking garage as per current KATL pictures from their web site.

This is also the way that FSX handles many antennas you see sitting all over the world. There is only 1 height for certain antennas so FSX burys them into the ground to give the correct height above the ground.

 

[jvile]

and, do you know where I could find a tutorial to copy the light yellow buildings?

I made a tutorial several years ago for moving FS9 LibraryObjects such as Main Terminal buildings from one side of the world to another side. That tutorial was removed from the forum that was hosting it when new owners took control.

FSX handles LibraryObjects that are placed by FSX Artist differently then what FS9 did. It is of no use to use a FS9 tutorial for moving FSX #DIR #File or City bgl libraryobject buildings unless you use the FS9 BGLComp compiler and place the compiled bgl into FSX.

In due time I may get to a point I can explain the process of moving complex FSX LibraryObject model.mdl buildings from one part of the world to another without violating MS copywrite statements.

 

[jvile]

aguirrem2


I have designed several different FSX version of KATL that are over on AVSIM. The following picture is one version that adds the planned South Terminal Buildings for all the Commuter flights into KATL.
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These LibraryObject Model.mdl Buildings all came from the Miami Airport and placed at Atlanta. They are actually 4 different parts of the Main Terminal of Miami, placed differently and pieced together in Atlanta which resembles the new future Commuter Terminal.

Also notice the Jetways. These are the original FS9 static KMIA Jetways that match the Terminals I used. Contrary to popular belief and what others post on forums about Jetways, FSX has a large selection of Jetways which are all the special models that were in FS9. There are about 19 different Jetways available in FSX but only one is made as a animated Jetway. The Parking Garages are also FSX KMIA model mdl garages.

A newer version of FSX KATL is in the works that adds the new projected International F Terminal Building. The Main Terminal building in Narita, Japan is built on the same design that the Atlanta Airport Authority Planners are looking at now. If you have FS9 on your Computer and one of my KATL FS9 versions of Atlanta you will see that Japan Terminal at Atlanta.

ADE is not capabile of placing these type objects from one area to another yet. That is not to say it can't do it but it is not a Novice procedure and requires working with XML and texture placement identification.

We have many many planned version updates for ADE that continues to push the envelope that no other current Airport Design utility can do.

Each new version of ADE is a stepping stone to the next version. Every single beta member has priorities they would like to see in a newer version. Sometimes we have to vote but in the end our fearless leader Jon as the ultimate say based on code consistency and other issues.