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MSFSLayoutGenerator explained..

Javis

Javis

SOH Staff
Staff member
...atleast that's what i hope to get with this here message... ;-)

Can somebody please explain the working of "MSFSLayoutGenerator" to me ??…..

Working with it for MSFS2020 (or atleast something similar, maybe under another name ?...) a few years ago, no problem whatsoever. Used it many times mainly for converting FSX/P3D models for use in MSFS2020, easy peasy. Here, with MSFS2024, all i get is a seemingly unstoppable process of 'compressing' that even continues after i click 'annuleren' (cancel). No idea what's going on..

The manual says "drop the json file onto the layoutgenerator.exe". However after downloading and opening'MSFSLayoutGenerator-1.1.1.zip' i see lots of files but no .exe file... Continuing search i found a seperate MSFSLayoutGenerator.exe. Tried that, put it in a new blank folder and placed a json file on top of it wich quickly produced " no files found".... I get that. So i tried pasting the Generator.exe in the root aircraft folder with the above mentioned result.

I was trying to get the DC-4 to show up in MSFS2024 but just copy and paste the FS2020 DC-4 folder doesn't cut the mustard ( i re-installed FS2020 on my new computer just for that...). It's there in the 'hangar' alright (first icon is blank, rest shows various liveries) but seems too shy to show itself in the sim...

So what exactly is the deal with the current MSFSLayoutGenerator ??..... How exactly do i get it to work ? (i have .NET Framework 4.7.2 (or recent update) on my computer)

Thank you !!
 
Here's what I do, Jan:

1760973780456.jpeg

Copy & Paste MSFSLayoutGenerator.exe onto the desktop.
Move my aircraft mod folder out of my Community folder and onto the desktop (this is to avoid the 'filename too long' error).
Open the aircraft mod folder and drag the layout.json file onto the MSFSLayoutGenerator.exe icon and drop it.
Command prompt window pops up for a few seconds and closes again.
Move my aircraft folder back into my Community folder and launch MSFS.
 
github.com

Release v1.1.1 · HughesMDflyer4/MSFSLayoutGenerator

Fixed encoding issue when manifest.json contained unicode characters (issue #7) Updated layout.json file exclusions Removed exclusion for business.json Added exclusion for MSFSLayoutGenerator.exe ...
github.com github.com

I just copy and past the exe file into the whatever airplane I am working on and leave it there, it's a small file and if and when I make changes it's right there to use again. Just drag and drop the layout file over it and you are good to go.



1760977384239.png1760977384239.png
 

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Bingo !! Thanks guys ! :ernaehrung004:

That is i can't seem to get *your* method working, Tiger... I do get the command promt alright but everytime i tried ( a.o. the B-24 as well) it says " this is not a valid json file. changes will not be saved"... Funny huh, if it was not valid the B-24 wouldn't work. It works (almost) perfectly in FS2024.

Got more luck with Ed's way, just dumping the LayoutGenerator straight into the DC-4 folder, put the json file on top of it et presto ! Bingo ! :encouragement:

I have now had the pleasure of admiring Mike's wonderful DC-4 in FS2024 ! I was a little bit dissapointed with literally no clickspots to find anywhere. But, unlike the DC-6, the flaps worked right away ! Hurray !! ;-)

Sound not exactly to write home about neither but i'll go look into replacing it with the DC-6 sounds.

Do we know that one or more enthousiasts are trying to upgrade the DC-4 for 2024 use ? ( like Duckworks did for the DC-3 ? Love that ! )

In any case, very happy with the LayoutGenerator now working as it should. Thank you very much again, Tiggie and Ed !! :cool:

Cheers,
Jan

 
For the DC-4, I had asked the same question a few weeks ago but no one answered.
As far as I’m concerned, it was on this plane that I took my first trip and I think that once the PBY is finished, I would try to update it to have a more immersive DC-4.
 
Bonjour Lagaffe,

Nothing would give me more pleasure than to help you get that DC-4 up to FS2024 scratch but when FS2020 arrived i thought my FS dev intricacies had run its course (roughly for 35 years..). Thought this was the best chance to finally start using FS for what it is made: virtual flying ! ( as you know you can (almost) not do both.. ;-)

The sight and sound of the DDA (Dutch Dakota Association) DC-4 taxiing up onto the DDA platform in 1996 after landing at Schiphol,Amsterdam for the first time was something so incredibly beautiful and unforgetable and a true boost of what i was allowed to experience as a little boy so long ago also at Schiphol. I have always thought i was privileged to have a father who loved aeroplanes and undeniably infected me with it. An antidode was never found ( imagine a platform full of DC-3's, DC-4's, DC-6's, DC-7's, Connies and Convairs.... ;-)

Great to know about your interest in Mike's DC-4 and your intention to maybe try and get it to accept FS2024's demands to a certain level. If there's something i can help you with without too much knowledge of 2024 development let me know, Ok ?

Cheers,
Jan

dda-dc48.jpg
 
lagaffe said:
For the DC-4, I had asked the same question a few weeks ago but no one answered.
As far as I’m concerned, it was on this plane that I took my first trip and I think that once the PBY is finished, I would try to update it to have a more immersive DC-4.
Click to expand...
I answered here! It would be cool however, if someone did pick up the DC-4 and give it an overhaul!
 
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Not looked at this for an age - but do virtual cockpits work from an older format model?

Would love to get my P3D SR-71 into FS2024 seeing as Blackbird sims appear to never be releasing theres (at this rate anyway!)
 
I think i can safely say: 'work' (i.e. clickspots) : usually not that much. 'Looks and gauges' : to some extent oké. The Flight Replicas DC-4 model discussed here looks very nice in MSFS2024, both external and VC model, but i, for one, have a big problem with the fact that regarding clickspots the VC is dead as a dodo. I will try and get as much stuff workable via key bindings or buttons and handles on my flightstick. The sound is terrible, not sure about the flight dynamics, haven't flown it yet.
 
Jan, if you want to participate in the upgrade of a DC-4 then it’s also OK for me. Initially, I will try to retrieve as much documentation as possible to know as much as possible about this plane.

As for the VCs created for an old model (mdl), they will not work as is.
If the gauges were in 2D for sure, if they were made in 3D with animated needles, their use is possible but the XML code might need to be adapted. As Jan says, the mouse zones that worked in the first versions of FS2020 no longer work now so these functions will no longer be usable: Asobo removed this function from the MDL starting in 2021.
 
Great to know, Lagaffe ! :cool:

If you like and to begin with, i can send you all photo's i've made of the DDA DC-4. Mainly cockpit photo's. Such a tragedy it couldn't last. The DDA was not givin permission by the dutch aviation authorities to fly the DC-4 with passengers. Same thing happend with the Connie but it's still there in the Aviodrome museum. The DC-4 was sold back immidiately to the former South-African owner. The few days i could spend in the cockpit nevertheless became another aviation hobby highlight for me.. ;-)

Do you have Mike's source files of his DC-4, Lagaffe ? What software are you going to use for a possible upgrade ? I have worked with 3DS Max during the last 10 years. But i understand that there's a lot of other CAD software around now. F.i. i tried Blender and Gimp but that's already a couple years ago. Very nice indeed. (not 3dsMax though.. ;-)
 
Good Luck to you both. It would be great to have a DC-4 with a cockpit like Lagaffe did for the PBY. Yes, indeed the government screwing things up again. You were very luck Jan to have access to that DC-4 and a PBY was at Amsterdam too if I remember correctly. Oh, and the DC-3. That was back about 20 years ago I think?
 
Well, things are going forward ;)

To talk a little about myself, I started developing planes in 2010 with Gmax but I also used 3DS Max 2012 for 3 years
Since 2019 I switched to Blender 2.83 and I have 4 versions of Blender in parallel, each with plugins dedicated to different tasks:
- daily work with 2.83,
- import of glTF models with the 2.93 & 3.3.3,
- last export of asobo with a 3.6 for complicated exports
- Blender 4.2 for 3D painting with PBR Painter.
Blender 4.2 has an import function for Max files that I have tried a bit and which seems to work on simple files. otherwise I go through Arno’s MCX and Blender 2.93 to import into Blender from the MDL files.

No I haven't this sources. The only DC-4 that I use on FSX it's the one of Jens B. Kristensen (v3.0) but finding a litle I just find another model from Michael Pearson:
=> https://mpai4fs.com/2022/12/27/douglas-dc-4-c-54-64-bit-conversion
Perhaps it's the one of Mike ?

When I was working with Paul we exchanged via my dropbox but megaupload or other clouds could perfectly suit. I also have an Onedrive that I probably need to reactivate.
 
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