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Scenery Object organization, or.....

Navy Chief

Navy Chief

Senior Member
In my case, DIS-organization!

Besides tackling the task of learning all about AI aircraft, flight plans, etc.., one other area that I have neglected is scenery object library organization.

I have done little, in the way of scenery modification. An object here and there; nothing major. But one of the reasons why was when I would try to find an object I wanted to use. Sheesh! So much to choose from, and no easy way to locate things!

Sooooooo, what is the best way to go about getting a scenery library in order? Pete
 
Unfortunately, most scenery libraries have no thumbnails available so you can see what the objects look like. For instance, in ADE, when you want to place an object you choose from the menu but there is no thumbnail available. This means that if you are placing trees or vegetation (an example I'm using because I am currently adding vegetation to my ongoing project), you have to place the object, compile the scenery, and update the scenery library in FSX or P3D before you can see the result. Makes for a long and tedious process.
 
You can create thumbnails of an object bgl with ModelconverterX (icon "object report" in the icon bar). It generates thumbnails of a size you can choose as well as a html page with other useful informations. The names of the thumbnails countain the GUID of each object so it is possible with a bit of handy work to use them in the SBuilderX or ADE library object mangers. It's a bit of work though.

However. I agree that a good library management application has yet to be written. Different versions of lib objects, their GUIDs and most of all the management of the texture maps can be a nightmare if you have a big object repository.
I try to mitigate the problems by categorizing my libraries (e.g. "mil-vehicles" "airfield-objects" "people" and so on) and having a strict organization in the development folders to avoid confusion. There are also two highly useful tools SDK tools that can be used to make validation checks of the productive scenery files and libraries, which are "bglscan.exe" and "mdlscan.exe". They report if the there are missing guids in the scenery and other problems like missing textures and so on.
With these analyzers I can also weed out unused texture files out of the bulk of texture maps - another major issue when dealing with large scenery libraries that evolve over the time. But this is very hands on work and consumes a lot of time. A good tool for that would be great.

Cheers,
Mark
 
Instant Scenery - payware once again! IS includes a tool creating thumbnails. Only precondition, you have to place an aircraft at a precise Position.

Bernard
 
Fair question Pete!

Here's a useful little link that lists all the FSX default library objects [including Acceleration]. http://lc0277.gratisim.fr/sceneobjects/

There is also a nice tool that might be just what you're after - ObPlacer XML made by Arno Gerretsen of FSDeveloper fame. Once set up, it can display a thumbnail preview of most of the FSX default library objects [by downloading an additional image pack] and you can place the objects as you 'slew' to a position in FSX, then save as an XML file and compile directly to a .bgl file.

Also, you can add your own XML 'User Library' or you can add 'Local Model' scenery files to create your own personal list. I'm not really sure if it's what you need or whether it'd be worth the time and energy... nothing lost having a look eh!

ObPlacer XML guide is HERE
Download ObPlacer XML tool for FSX HERE ** Note that you'll need v0.83 installed first **
And the image pack HERE

As Mark said, our own personal scenery archive of 'available' objects [considering distribution and usage limits] can be a nightmare when it comes to organizing, finding and placing a nice object that we've seen in our addon FSX scenery.

In the past, if I've spotted a good static aircraft scenery or whatever at an 'addon' airfield, then I've temporarily de-activated [unchecked in the Scenery Addon menu] all my other addon scenery in FSX apart from that airfield, then used Object Placement Tool [a rather good but 'unruly' SDK tool] to hopefully find and preview the object directly in FSX. Not the most ideal method... However:

ModelConvertor X is a much better tool when searching for specific objects in that it can open most bgl files directly from the addon scenery you have in mind. It will preview and give you all the detail you need about the objects contained within a specific bgl [if it can be read]. Again, not an exact science but better than OPT in my opinion.

Just my few thoughts Pete, Dave.
 
[SUP]Now then, what about "Instant Scenery 3"? I had bought the first release, then upgraded to the second. Apparently the third edition is better? Don't have it yet, but noticed the following description:

"Flight Simulator comes with 1000's of models that can be used for scenery objects. These include buildings, vehicles, landmarks, obstacles etc. They are organized into several "libraries". Instant Scenery allows you to use all these models in your scenery. In addition, you can download many add-on libraries made by other Flight Simulator users and use them too.

You can choose models by name, or browse through thumbnail images of all models in a specific library. Instant Scenery comes with thumbnail images for models included in global libraries that came with Flight Simulator. If add-on libraries include thumbnails, Instant Scenery can use them too. "[/SUP]
 
Navy Chief said:
[SUP]Now then, what about "Instant Scenery 3"? [/SUP]
Click to expand...

I can't say what's the difference between Version 2 and 3. Anyway it might not be significant, besides that eventually Version 2 wasn't comptabile with FSX. Obvisouly you know how to handle this tool.

Bernard
 
Navy Chief said:
[SUP]Now then, what about "Instant Scenery 3"? I had bought the first release, then upgraded to the second. Apparently the third edition is better? Don't have it yet, but noticed the following description:

"Flight Simulator comes with 1000's of models that can be used for scenery objects. These include buildings, vehicles, landmarks, obstacles etc. They are organized into several "libraries". Instant Scenery allows you to use all these models in your scenery. In addition, you can download many add-on libraries made by other Flight Simulator users and use them too.

You can choose models by name, or browse through thumbnail images of all models in a specific library. Instant Scenery comes with thumbnail images for models included in global libraries that came with Flight Simulator. If add-on libraries include thumbnails, Instant Scenery can use them too. "[/SUP]
Click to expand...
Pete, this is what I have used ever since I started doing scenery. Version 3 introduced the ability to also include roads, use the mouse to position objects, add ground polygons and a few other new features. It has always had the "thumbnail maker" feature which is a bit quirky, but does make proper thumbnails of any object available to the program. It also allows you to make model libraries, but you must have an "mdl" of the object in order for that to work and most objects you download from other sites won't include an mdl. . . .this is mostly for custom made objects you create yourself using GMax or Sketchup or some other 3D design program.

Most of us have been adding scenery to our Sim for years and so the massive amount alone of bgl files and texture files is a bit overwhelming when trying to get it all organized. The suggestions by Mark and Dave, while admittedly time consuming, are the only ways I know of to get control of the massive scenery objects we have loaded on our harddrives.
 
Golden Rocket said:
I can't say what's the difference between Version 2 and 3. Anyway it might not be significant, besides that eventually Version 2 wasn't comptabile with FSX. Obvisouly you know how to handle this tool.

Bernard
Click to expand...

That confuses me, because I was sure I was using Version 2 with FSX...... Pete
 
Navy Chief said:
That confuses me, because I was sure I was using Version 2 with FSX...... Pete
Click to expand...

A click on Flight1 website and you will see that Instant Scenery and Instant Scenery 2 are both compatible with FSX. If you still have version 2 use it, and you will see what happens. The best way not to be confused!

Bernard
 
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