gray eagle
SOH-CM-2026
Looking for help in converting freeware MSFS 2020 scenery to P3D V5. Please PM me if you can help.
Thanks
Thanks
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Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.
Convert MSFS 2020 scenery to P3D
- Thread starter gray eagle
- Start date
As a dev myself I know a few things about scenery design (MSFS and P3D) and I don't know any method which could do that. The systems are just too different, expecially if you do not have the source files.
Cheers,
Mark
Cheers,
Mark
gray eagle
SOH-CM-2026
I found some info about the process and it looks like a lot of minutiae is involved:
Converting scenery from Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) to Prepar3D (P3D) generally involves adapting the scenery's 3D models and placement data to be compatible with P3D's format and systems. This often requires tools like ModelConverterX to convert the models and potentially adjusting texture formats and placement data.
1. Understanding the Differences:
Model Formats:
MSFS uses glTF for 3D models, while P3D primarily uses MDL files. You'll need to convert the models using ModelConverterX.
Texture Formats:
MSFS uses DDS textures with specific settings for alpha, bloom, albedo, etc. P3D may require adjustments to these settings or even using original source images (PNGs).
Placement Data:
MSFS uses XML files for placement data, while P3D uses BGL files. You may need to convert XML files to P3D's format.
Scenery Libraries:
Both simulators use scenery libraries. You may need to add libraries and their objects to P3D's scenery library to make them appear correctly.
Converting scenery from Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) to Prepar3D (P3D) generally involves adapting the scenery's 3D models and placement data to be compatible with P3D's format and systems. This often requires tools like ModelConverterX to convert the models and potentially adjusting texture formats and placement data.
1. Understanding the Differences:
Model Formats:
MSFS uses glTF for 3D models, while P3D primarily uses MDL files. You'll need to convert the models using ModelConverterX.
Texture Formats:
MSFS uses DDS textures with specific settings for alpha, bloom, albedo, etc. P3D may require adjustments to these settings or even using original source images (PNGs).
Placement Data:
MSFS uses XML files for placement data, while P3D uses BGL files. You may need to convert XML files to P3D's format.
Scenery Libraries:
Both simulators use scenery libraries. You may need to add libraries and their objects to P3D's scenery library to make them appear correctly.
This pertains only to scenery objects, which is true. You may need to convert also the textures, as has been said. And need to recompile them so P3D can use them in the classic way (object library bgl and textures in their respective folder).
My initial response was targeted at the scenery itself, airports, vector data, satellite images. There are fundamental differences in between the simulators. If you do not have the source files I'd say it is impossible (e.g. compiled vector and satellite data is encrypted, you can't decompile it).
If you want to have an exact overview then post the question "is it possible to convert msfs 2020 scenery to p3d (prepar3d) ?" in an AI (Grok, ChatGPT, Gemini....) of your choice. It will give you a very detailed answer, which is probably too much for this thread.
It will also describe the exact route if you want to convert scenery objects.
Cheers,
Mark
My initial response was targeted at the scenery itself, airports, vector data, satellite images. There are fundamental differences in between the simulators. If you do not have the source files I'd say it is impossible (e.g. compiled vector and satellite data is encrypted, you can't decompile it).
If you want to have an exact overview then post the question "is it possible to convert msfs 2020 scenery to p3d (prepar3d) ?" in an AI (Grok, ChatGPT, Gemini....) of your choice. It will give you a very detailed answer, which is probably too much for this thread.
It will also describe the exact route if you want to convert scenery objects.
Cheers,
Mark