VLC Library

[cooldad]

Hi guys,

I'm hoping somebody will know the answer to this question.

I'm having a go at placing scenery objects using Whisplacer under Windows 7. How do I get around the User Access Control on the FSX folder? Everytime I import library objects nothing is done because the program doesn't have the rights to modify the files. This happens with any file I replace/modify in FSX and it is really annoying. I am the only user and I have administrator rights but that isn't enough

Please help me someone....

Paul

[Ian Warren]

I'd have to go back, its a off changing your cfg. file names from 'True' to 'False' it dose get a little tricky first time out even placing an object - best place to start is to find yourself a small airfield or made up to tinker on .

[cooldad]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Mar 6 2014,4:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd have to go back, its a off changing your cfg. file names from 'True' to 'False' it dose get a little tricky first time out even placing an object - best place to start is to find yourself a small airfield or made up to tinker on .

Thanks Ian. I started to tinker but can't export the library to FSX. It says file not found but I'm sure it's the access control getting in the way.

I'll have to find and read the user manual I think (don't think Win 7 was thought of when this program was written!).

Paul

[toprob]

If you plan to do a lot of tinkering, Paul, you really should think about reinstalling FSX outside the Program Files folder, as this is the only way to get around the over-protectiveness.

[cooldad]

QUOTE (toprob @ Mar 6 2014,6:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you plan to do a lot of tinkering, Paul, you really should think about reinstalling FSX outside the Program Files folder, as this is the only way to get around the over-protectiveness.

Ah Ha, thanks Rob. That sounds like a plan, a big plan

I do remember that being a consideration brought up on this forum a long time ago now, long before I thought I'd have Win7!

Cheers,
Paul

[cooldad]

Well I've moved FSX and all appears fine.

I have Whisplacer running.

Now my problem is: How do I select an object to insert into FS. Everything I do it always uses a generic hanger, no matter what I choose. I've exported all the libraries as instructed.

Another thing I've noticed is that the VLC libraries aren't selectable from the thumbnails but the standard objects are, (even though they don't appear in FS)

Can anyone help???

Paul

[toprob]

Yes, when you start Whisplacer the default object is that hangar. Just double click on it once it is placed to get the edit window, and click on the thumbnail to change it.

Once you've placed one library object, it'll use the previous model whenever you use Insert again, until the end of your session. You can also use copy/paste.

Not too sure about your second issue -- selectable where? It may be useful if you list the steps you take to get to this stage.

[cooldad]

Thank-you Rob,

I've managed to put a house in my street!

I was going wrong because I was selecting 'add library object' then browsing the thumbnails to select.

My next problem is: how do I get rid of an AGN house that is already there? I've tried 'add exclusion' but not sure how it works.

Paul

[toprob]

I'm not too sure about excluding autogen, as I nearly always work with photo scenery, so I would just change the autogen annotation. However the simplest way is to put an object on it, objects placed with Whisplacer will by default exclude autogen, although you can choose not to.

[cooldad]

Yes, you're right Rob. All good.

Now let the fun begin.....

Paul

[cooldad]

Another question ....

I'm having a problem placing my model in FSX. I can visually see it when connected to FSX through Whisplacer but when I save and compile the BGL into FSX the model doesn't show up. Other items from the VLC Library come in fine. I've exported the model library in Whisplacer. I suppose the model wouldn't be seen in FSX while connected if this wasn't successful. I'm at a loss to understand why it doesn't export to FSX. The file it produces is only 1k so I'm sure something is missing.

I save the scenery file as a scenery placement file, XML, then manually compile it. Other VLC objects work fine.

Can anyone help a complete novice at this?

Paul

[Timmo]

There are two methods to place a model- You can simply provide a reference to a model in a library, which is what Whisplacer does or you can include the model in the actual BGL (which is what Whisplacer doesn't ). The Whisplacer method allows re-use of models in many different scenery projects whereas including the actual model inside the placement bgl will mean it's wrapped up in that particular bgl.


So, you'll need to add your model (.mdl file) to a library XML, compile to a bgl and then place it in an active scenery folder (and place the associated textures in the texture folder) as well as putting the placement bgl there too. You can make and compile a XML library using a tool from FS Developer called 'Library Creator XML'.


(The reason why the VLC objects you placed show up is because the libraries are already present in an active scenery directory)

[cooldad]

Thanks Timmo,

I think I have done all that. I've used 'Library Creator'. Strange as I can see the model fine with Whisplacer. My scenery folder is activated in the
fs scenery library. I must be doing something wrong where I manually compile the XML to the BGL file within Whisplacer.

[Timmo]

Ahh yes there is one little bug in whisplacer, you need to save you compiled boy as a different file name otherwise it won't show! Try that

[cooldad]

Hi Timmo,

Well that didn't fix it. I had a look at the XML file and found an error is reported when it displayed. the message reads:

Error loading schema 'bglcomp.xsd' Could not find file ...in my scenery folder.

Where does this file come from and what does it do?

As I said I used two objects in my scenery, my house model and an elephant (just to show the process works). The elephant shows up but not my house. They both appear in FS under Whisplacer.

Weird...

Paul

[Timmo]

BglComp.xsd is a file that needs to be present in the same directory as bglcomp.exe
If you've moved bglcomp.exe from the SDK folder and put it somewhere else, then you'll need to ensure the bgl.xsd is copied from the SDK folder as well.
I'm not sure if that's causing your problems though....

How have you added your house in the library to Whisplacer? Is the library bgl in an active scenery folder?

[cooldad]

Hi Timmo, I think Whisplacer has got corrupted somewhere. I found one of my first attempts to export and it is 134kb. This works in FS. Now when I compile I get a 1k file, which according to ModelConverterX doesn't contain a model.

The above error results from using an XML Viewer, same error even with the good file. Red herring I think.

I'll reinstall Whisplacer and see where that leads.

Thanks for your help,

Paul

[toprob]

I'll chip in here, but really I don't have a good idea of what method you use to place the scenery, so I can't pinpoint a solution.
There are two ways to add an object via Whisplacer. One way is to add a Library object (default or custom library) and save the resulting placement file. This file will be small, as it only includes placement info.
The other way is to include models with the placement file. This doesn't access or require a library, as it is self-contained. However it does prevent the object from being used by other scenery.
So if you do things the first way (I only use this method) then you won't have any models in the resulting Whisplacer BGL, just references to library objects.

[cooldad]

Hi Rob,

I've reinstalled Whisplacer and rebuilt the libraries. Still no change.

The library BGL file produced from LibraryCreaterXML is 134kb. The compiled BGL from Whisplacer is only 1k.

I'm following the instructions in the PDF that came with the latest VLC library updates. It says to save as an FS placement file then manually compile.

Does FS only need the XML in the scenery folder to show the new objects?

It's all a big mystery a t the moment


Paul

[toprob]

QUOTE (cooldad @ Apr 10 2014,11:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does FS only need the XML in the scenery folder to show the new objects?


Paul

Yes, the placement file only includes the object GUID which points to the library object, and the location/orientation information etc. So a file placing a single object should be roughly 150 bytes, which Windows would round-up to 1Kb.
Normally I manually export directly to a BGL, but you do have to include the .bgl extension in the filename, as Whisplacer doesn't do this for some reason.