Systems

161: Adding Scenery Under FlyZone Switcher

| Tom Tsui

For those subscribers who has completed the system preparation and verification processes for the FlyZone Switcher, followings are the procedures for adding new scenery addons under FlyZones.   Though it may look long and complicated, it is simply just a variation to the FlyZone preparation steps you have gone through.

Essentially, the installation procedures ensure that the core files and their corresponding base files required by the Switcher are in-sync at all time.

  1. autogen files
  2. scenery.CFG
  3. DLL.XML
  4. fsx.CFG

Below, I will use the installation of my recently purchased Jackson Hole (KJAC) scenery as an example to illustrate the procedures required to ensure the FlyZone Switcher continues to function properly.

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159: FlyZone Switcher Sys Preparation #5

| Tom Tsui

For those subscribers who signed up to request my coming FlyZone Switcher utility, this is the  LAST step-by-step system preparation plus utility installation guide.   Note again that this preparation step (including the previous 4s) is mandatory in order to run my utility properly.

Moreover, by the time you see this post, the FlyZone Switcher utility should be sent to your mailbox already.

Download it first and then follow the instructions below to complete the last part of system preparation for the FlyZone Switcher.

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158: FlyZone Switcher Sys Preparation #4

| Tom Tsui

For those subscribers who signed up to request my coming FlyZone Switcher utility, this is the 4th step-by-step FSX system preparation guide.    Note again that these preparation steps are mandatory in order to run the utility properly.

Last time we have created 14 scenery configuration files, which load corresponding scenery addons according to the FlyZone selected.   This time we continue to prepare respective fsx.CFG files to work with them.

Compared to the setting up of scenery files, the process of this fsx.CFG file creation is quite simple:

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157: FlyZone Switcher Sys Preparation #3

| Tom Tsui

For those subscribers who signed up to request my coming FlyZone Switcher utility, this is the 3rd step-by-step FSX system preparation guide.    Note again that these preparation steps are mandatory in order to run my utility properly.

Frankly speaking, all these preparation steps are not difficult to handle.   They are just a little complex and tedious and require proper carefulness.

Don’t forget that this FlyZone approach is somewhat restructuring your whole FSX system setup.

Even so, when the preparation processes are done,  the restructured FSX system is still pretty easy to maintain.   Furthermore, all files created and modified during preparations will be served as extra backups for the most important FSX configurations.   This no doubt gives additional safety and security when something unexpected happens.

As of today, the modification of the first version of my FlyZone Switcher is basically completed, except that there are minor adjustments to be made.    Initially, I was planning to have no more than 9 Zones for this first version.    Eventually, it ended up with 14 FlyZones altogether with another 22 possible areas to be added in the future.

The 14 FlyZones currently designated are shown below and they are grouped into four regions as follows:
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156: FlyZone Switcher Sys Preparation #2

| Tom Tsui

For those subscribers who signed up to request my coming FlyZone Switcher utility, this is the 2nd step-by-step FSX system preparation guide.    The steps below may be a bit wordy but I prefer to keep it that way so that users can follow them easily because these preparations are mandatory in order to work properly with my utility.

Do follow exactly of what I am instructing for now.    You will be able to customize some of the contents later once you complete and master the concept of my FlyZone Switching approach.

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155: FlyZone Switcher Sys Preparation #1

| Tom Tsui

For those subscribers who signed up to request my coming FlyZone Switcher utility, following is the 1st step-by-step FSX system preparation guide.   These steps are relatively simple to follow.

However, keep in mind that all system preparation procedures described here and in the future are mandatory in order to work properly with my utility.   Do follow exactly of what I am instructing for now.    You may be able to customize some of the contents later once you complete and master the concept of my FlyZone Switching approach.

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154: FlyZone Switcher Countdown Started

| Tom Tsui

For those who are waiting for the FlyZone Switcher, the good new is I have figured out a way to generalize my current highly customized configuration into a simpler version.

The bad news is Continue reading →

152: Downgrade to Radeon Version 11

| Tom Tsui

Besides the latest OpenGL issue with TrackIR, Radeon’s 12.x driver has been giving me a subjective impression that FSX micro-stutters a little bit more than its predecessors.   This is even more significant after upgrading my system with Orbx’s latest patches.

Busy work is the excuse that keeps me using this version.   Since I am a bit free this weekend, I downgraded the video driver to 11.12 to verify my subjectivity a fuss or not.

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141: FlyZone Switcher Update

| Tom Tsui

As mentioned in Post 137,   I’ve been working on an exe program that aims to integrate all my flying zones, which used to be run by separate batch files in BASIC, together.    Over the holidays,  I have completed:

  • The Core programming;
  • Redesigning the layout of the interface;  and
  • Restructuring all fsx.CFG, scenery.CFG, DLL.XML, and other related files.

At present, the program, I call it FlyZone Switcher, is now fully functional, and six areas have been implemented with no errors.   Followings are the images capturing the flow of switching from Orbx’s North America to FSX’s Default Central America: Continue reading →