FS9 Default Flatten Question

[Snowman]

Hi Rob.
Seeing as how you are NZs resident Scenery expert, i thought you might be able to help me with this one...................
NZWR Whangarei,....... where would i find, or do you know which files are the default FS9 flattens for NZWR ???
I would like to disable them, for the purposes of building a new scenery for the airport.

Lawrie.

[toprob]

Did you ask me that before, and did I do some research, and did I forget to get back to you?
I can certainly tell you which file contains the flatten for this, but you really have to think about what you are then going to do. Removing a default flatten for fS2004 is not an ideal solution -- I learnt that when I tried to remove the Wellington flatten, and it messed up Nelson.
I'd be more inclined to just add localised flattens -- around the water edge, and under the airport -- which would be a bit fiddly, but less dangerous.
However, if you are feeling brave, then this is how I'd remove a default flatten:

By the way, the flatten is included in FL994440.bgl in Scenery\Ocen\scenery

I'd use Sbuilder to open this file. (New: Append... LWM Bgl)

Then I'd find the flatten for Whangarei (you can start at Whangarei in FS2004, then use Show Aircraft in Sbuilder to find the flatten.)

I'd then select the Whangarei flatten and delete it. How I'd select all the remaining flattens and compile as a BGL.

Now I'd build a new flatten, and compile that.

To get things in the right place, you then need to disable the default flatten -- by renaming FL994440.bgl to a different extension -- and place your new reworked flatten in Scenery\Ocen\scenery.

The trouble with this method is that the resulting flattens for all the other airports, even though they appear to retain their proper elevations, sometimes don't work as expected in FS. This means that you end up with a change in elevation. Maybe another tool would do a better job, but I haven't looked for one.
You also need to somehow disable the default flatten as part of your installer.

Disabling in FSX is a lot easier -- you simply 'cross out' the flatten with an exclude BGL, then build a replacement -- no messing around with default files, and everything can just be distributed in your normal scenery folder.

[Snowman]

Yes, .............i did ask you that a while ago, and .... yes,.................. you did forget to get back to me.
Sweet as, i know your busy with more important things....
Hmmm, looks like i am going to have to tread very carefully here............... Dont want to destroy the levels that i have managed to get perfect at a lot of other airports.
What the heck, in for a penny, in for a pound, may as well have a go at it, got nothing to lose for trying but some of my time, and if the worst happens, i can always restore the default flatten if other airports go haywire.
Many thanks Rob, the help is much appreciated.

Lawrie.

[Snowman]

Ho Rob.

Did you get my PM about this subject ..... ?????????

Lawrie.

[toprob]

QUOTE(Snowman @ Oct 3 2007, 04:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ho Rob.

Did you get my PM about this subject ..... ?????????

Lawrie.

Sorry, yes, I will get on to that, but at the moment I'm working on a project which will take about another 10 days. (This is the only non-FS job I still do from my graphic design days. It pays for Christmas

[Snowman]

QUOTE(toprob @ Oct 3 2007, 05:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, yes, I will get on to that, but at the moment I'm working on a project which will take about another 10 days. (This is the only non-FS job I still do from my graphic design days. It pays for Christmas:)

Sweet As Rob,................ yeah, Jolly old fat man time isnt far away, and we all spend far tooooo much money at that time of the year.
At least i know that you got my PM,.......... i was wondering,......... considering all the trouble you were experiencing in the past with copious quantities of spam.
Many thanks mate, very much appreciated.

Lawrie.

[Snowman]

Just sent you an e-mail with some attached files for you to look at regarding the northern flattens.

Lawrie.

[Snowman]

Hi Rob.

Just e-mailed you the NZDA Dargaville scenery to the windowlight site addy.
Might make it easier for the flatten to have the scenery to work with.

Lawrie.

[Snowman]

Hi Rob.

Just replied to your e-mail re the NZDA local flatten.
Sent mail to the windowlight site addy.

Lawrie.