SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

[TedB]

I'm a nube to the forum and I've been flying sims ever sence the first one came on the market. I now have FS 2004 when it first came out and have downloaded a ton of addons. I'm having a hard time trying to understand how the directory and file structure works. I have duplicate directories and files in the FS9 directory and most of my new addons don't work. When I first install a addon I usually have to move files to different directories to get it to work. The next day the new secenery doesn't work but the default one does. It gets to confusing when I see more than one SECENERY in different directories. Are there any programs that organize and repair directory and files.
I've spent 2 days looking through the forums that might post this problem but didn't find any. Please any help would be appricated.
TedB

[groundsquirrel]

First, I would have to say too much trust is a bad thing when adding on to Fs9. There are a couple of ways to go about it. IF the author of the addon was diligent in his original file/folder structure during upload, then unzipping to the main Fs9 directory should work just fine. More often then not, however, structural errors will be present such as, "folder in folder" wherein the download will have an "aircraft" folder with another "aircraft" folder inside. This results in no display of the aircraft. Scenery is a bit of a special circumstance because there are main scenery folders and addon scenery folders. The use of an FS management program can greatly aid in troubleshooting, installation and maintenance. I personally use AdditPro, but there are a few others. About the smartest thing to do is to unzip to a temporary folder and then manually move the files to their correct locations in the FS folder. To date I am not aware of a program that can analyze and correct all FS file/folder issues automatically. If your installation is huge then we will have to tackle it one folder at a time, or have a truly trusted individual remote access your system to help instruct and make corrections. For starters, lets deal with things a little at a time. Present some specific issue and as we clear it up, then we can move on to the next.

[TedB]

About the smartest thing to do is to unzip to a temporary folder and then manually move the files to their correct locations in the FS folder.

Thats where I get confused. With so many folders having the same name how will i know which folder to use? I'm not the brightest candle on the cake :) 69 candles :) How can i tell which folders are duplicates and can be deleted. Which folders should be in the FS9 folders. This would be a good start to cleaning up the FS9 folder. Don't you think? I hate to ask a lot of question and waste somebody's time, but I've been struggling with this for a few years. I appreciate your help.
TedB

[rd]

Since GS is in his diurnal stage at the moment, I'll see what I can do for you.

First, so you know, this will be a two part post. This is the first part.

This taking into consideration that you have gotten a full aircraft download.

I'll try to make this quick, easy, and simple. And right now, we are only going to deal with aircraft(s).

In the pic below, you will see in the first box, Aircraft in red. This is where you are when you open FS9. (Mine is called "Main"). DBL click it, and it brings up your folders of all your different a/c (aircraft) that the game has. Both default and your addons.

Now, dbl click that, and you should see the contents of the a/c. Now, the parts that are in green, are the parts you HAVE to have, for a flyable a/c. On this sample, it came with various models and textures. Don't worry about them yet. Just make sure you have what is highlighted in green.

Part two will cover this.


RD

[rd]

Part Two.

Everything we will be working on/with, will be highlighted.

Lets say you downloaded a B58 hustler. (my d/l's (downloads) go to a folder called "downloads". I don't know if you do or not. If not, then whatever folder you download to, will be the same in this sample)

In the first box is the zipped folder. Unzip/extract the files, back into the same folder (2nd box).

Now open the unzipped/extracted folder (3rd box), and all you will see is "B58 Hustler".

Open that folder , and you see the following folders...Aircraft..Effects...gauges....etc. in the 4th box.

Now, open the "Aircraft folder", and notice it just says "B58 Hustler" again. (5th box). But now it is red, and not green like the others. Green highlights mean to keep going, red means to stop, you have what you need. Just keep reading.

Now that your at the second folder of the B58, open it. There you will find, in yellow highlights, what your looking for. Everything you need to make it fly, show up, etc. (6th box).

Once you have found the place of where the model, panel, sound, texture..etc is, go back to the previous folder. Yep, the one in red. Now copy/paste or drag that folder inside your a/c folder. As it is highlighted red in the far upper right folder. Which is the Aircraft folder for FS9.

Now all you have to do, is start up FS9, and it will be there.

This is how I manually install a/c. It takes alittle longer, but once you get it done a few times, you will fly through the others. This also lets me know what I am installing, and not letting some one put something there I don't want or need.

If you want/need help with things like sound, effects, gauges folders that come with a d/l, let me know. I can help you out there also.

Some may do it differently. I find it faster and safer doing it this way.

Any questions.....??? Just ask.

RD

BTW: You have to click on the 2 pics to read them clearly. 1 to open it, the second to enlarge it.

EDIT: IF you need help with the scenery part of installations, let me know. Concept is almost basically the same, just entering them into different folders. And please, if you can, post a scenery filenames (per download), and will show you how to install them correctly.

[TedB]

Ok RD I got through the 1st and 2nd parts ok. I also saved the text for future referrances. Now I'm still having trouble installing the scenery for Rhode Island which I purchased on line. I found 2 install files in my d/l folder. Don't know which one to use. Can't get either one to work. Both files need purchase info to install which is somewhere in my cp. Do you know how to remote to my cp and see if the files are installed ok? If you can I would need help setting up the connection. I will be available around 5PM edt.

[rd]

Can you send me the link to the site of the scenery you purchased???

As to access to it, it should be in an email from the author/site you got it from, that has what ever activation code to let you use/run it. Normally they are 2 different emails.

BTW, I work from 1pm to 11pm cdt.

RD

[groundsquirrel]

Dear Ted', I am so sorry to have moderated you, but I hope you will understand from my private message to you why I did it. Dont worry, we will get you straightened out. I am gone from 6:15am central to about 6:00pm central six days a week. Other than that, I am here quite a bit.

[TedB]

Thanks GS for the info. being new I'll make some mistakes.

For RD this is the web site I downloaded the file.

http://www.flightscenery.com/

Being retired I can be flexable with online time except for 3:30 to 5:30 PM eastern everyday. I take my wife for radition treatments. Sat. noon thru sunday is also good. What ever is convenient for you.



TedB

[TedB]

I finally figured out what I did wrong with Flightzone01 RI. The install was ok but when I put the files in the scenery library I put too many (2). They both had the same name except one had an LC at the end and the other had SC. I removed the LC file and open Create a flight and selected the airport in Rhode Island and the right scenery installed. Yessssssss! When I first d/l the scenery I didn't see any README file so I didn't know where to put the files or how to use the scenery library. I still have a lot more to install but not sure if the same proceedure will work. Sometimes I don't understand the README instructions. They assume to much for a novice.
I sure appreciate you guys helping me. If I get into trouble again I'll PM you.
Thx

TedB

[rd]

No need to PM us. Just post it up on the board. Somebody else may learn something.

RD