FSX install!

[paul26may]

I know this has probably been asked 17,000,000 times, but I am having great difficulty in getting my HJGs to show up in FSX. The one particular problem that I don't feel I have addressed is renaming the 'aircraft' file. How exactly is it done? I used to install into FS9 blindfolded!

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

Have you revised Dan's 3 excellent FSX installation tutorials on this forum page ?

The appropriate threads are pegged and basically entitled ....

ONE WAY OF INSTALLING

EASIEST WAY TO INSTALL

EVEN A 3RD WAY TO DO IT

I'm sure you'll find the solution to your problem within these very thorough service notes/tutorials

A common issue that folk do overlook when installing these aircraft into FSX (those using default FS Panel and Sound that is) .... is that both the PANEL.CFG and SOUND.CFG alias= data needs to be changed/edited to read the FSX specific default "B737-800" rather than it's current FS2004 default B737-400 assignment.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[paul26may]

I've just spent 2 hours downloading and following the instructions step by step, word for word, and it's still not there! I'm giving up and going back to FS9 for HJG. If I can be bothered!

[Herman]

Hi paul26may;

Do'nt get so easyly discouraged. Do a forum search regarding your problem. There are numerous articles about this.

In addition to the advice from Mark please take note of some of the items I had to do in order for the aircraft to display in FSX on my system. ( Windows Vista )

1. Make sure that the DX10 preview in FS FSX is unchecked.

2. When renaming your "Aircraft.cfg" and "Panel.cfg" rename them to "Aircraft" and "Panel" only. This step is important depending on you system "file name" extention set up.

3. Some HJG aircraft, depending on the author, have a folder inside another folder. So make sure that you are using the second folder to copy and paste.

Also let us know which aircraft you are trying to install into FSX.

Cheers; Herman

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

Thank you Herman !

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[jymp]

Lord yes, watch the .cfg on the end of "Aircraft' and "panel"

[paul26may]

I have somehow managed, before I started this thread, to load a 707 120. By accident it seems! However, on comparing this with my subsequent efforts, 707 320c and 2 DC8s, I can see no difference and I hace been careful to rename the aircraft files.

[Herman]

Hi, paul26may;

I know it is annoying when things are not working, however, if you have tried all the above suggestions the next step is for you to post the following.

1. Your installed opened HJG aircraft folder.

2. Your opened aircraft file.

3. Your opened panel file.

This may give us a clue where the problem may exist.

Herman

[kenwig0556]

Paul, if your downloaded/installed aircraft simply are not showing up in FSX, it is probably one of a few common install errors produced by the subtle, but significant, differences between FS9 and FSX setup styles. Check again for these items:

1. Do you have a .jpg pic of your plane in EACH "texture" folder AND is the .jpg named "thumbnail"?

2. Do each of your airplanes "model", "panel" and ".air" file names EXACTLY match the aircraft's listing in the "aircraft" config.? In other words, if your panel folder is named, "panel.707" does the aircraft config read, "panel=707"?

3. Have you placed all of your gauge files in the root FSX "Gauges" directory?

4. If you are using a FS9 type "fsconv" or other "alias" setup, double and triple check it. Unless you are pinched for harddrive space, I recommend against this type of setup for FSX. Rather, setup each aircraft with its own folders.

5. Most (all?) HJG aircraft come with TWO panel config and aircraft config files. The ones simply entitled, "aircraft" and "panel" are the FS9 versions. Running FSX you need to delete or remove or rename those and then rename the ones with the "FSX" suffix simply, "aircraft" and "panel" - NOT "aircraft.cfg" or some such.

Best wishes to you and hang in there! Way back in the archive is a LONG thread where I was having similar problems when I first came onboard here. This is just my way of giving back. Please don't hesitate to ask questions! There are NO DUMB QUESTIONS!!!

[SpeedKingZR1]

Hello guys, newbie to the forum here, I am also having some difficulty with this install in FSX, I followed the directions in all three tutorials to the T but still can't get anything to show up. Can someone explain what an .air file is and where is it in the aircraft folder? Thanks in advanced

[kenwig0556]

Nov 11, 2010 2:51:02 GMT SpeedKingZR1 said:

Hello guys, newbie to the forum here, I am also having some difficulty with this install in FSX, I followed the directions in all three tutorials to the T but still can't get anything to show up. Can someone explain what an .air file is and where is it in the aircraft folder? Thanks in advanced

The ".air file" is a file with ".air" as its suffix or file extension. It is a component of the core files/gauges package and is placed in the aircraft folder. For example: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\DC-9-30\DC-9-30.air.

The prefix must match exactly in your aircraft config's statement for the airplane in question. In other words, "sim=DC-9-30" in this example:

[fltsim.0]
title=DC-9-30 Eastern Air Lines '1967'
sim=DC-9-30
model=01
panel=HJG_DC-9_jt8d-11
sound=
texture=eal_1967_n8918e
description=HJG McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 v1
kb_checklists=
atc_id=N8918E
atc_airline=EASTERN
atc_flight_number=918
atc_heavy=0
atc_parking_codes=EAL
atc_parking_types=GATE,CARGO,RAMP
ui_manufacturer=McDonnell Douglas
ui_type=DC-9-30
ui_variation=Eastern Air Lines '1967'
ui_typerole=Commercial Airliner
ui_createdby=Historic Jetliners Group

The .air file or "sim" is the file that tells the airplane to act the way it does. By this explanation, you can see how critical it is to correctly match the names of an aircraft's files and folders in the statement for them in the aircraft config. When FOLDERS, on the other hand, are simply named, "panel" or "model", for example, the "=" line is left blank, as it is the SUFFIX only, if there is one, that is recited in their case. See, the example for the correct way to list the panel folder that is entitled, "panel.HJG_DC-9_jt8d-11". A little weird and confusing, I know, but you'll get the hang of it in short order. Config files are easily editable in Notepad (right click>open with>notepad).


One small, but significant, suggestion: Many HJG textures (paints) are produced primarily for FS9 (Flight Simulator 2004) and therefore do not have a "thumbnail" .jpg file in the texture folder. If there is not one, you must put one there; otherwise, the plane won't show up in your FSX startup hangar. To make a thumbnail, you can right click on any photo and follow the pop up menu. I recommend using the photo right beside the download dialogue for the HJG texture.

If you download the necessary components for the aircraft (core files/gauges, texture, panel) and carefully install per HJG's instructions and the above, your plane WILL show up. Each aircraft must have the following in its "airplanes" folder: "model", "panel" and "texture" folders; "aircraft" config file and an .air file. The sound file is important, but it doesn't affect the plane showing up.

Good luck!

[SpeedKingZR1]

I got the 727 to work ok except when I switch to the cockpit I see the panel but all gauges and switches are missing. Also no other pop up panels show up except for the trim panel. Any suggestions?

[kenwig0556]

Sounds like you've got two things going on there, SpeedKing:

The plane showing up, but not the gauges and switches is most probably that you don't have the gauges installed correctly or don't have the right gauges (a component of the right "core files") for the right plane. Please go back and re-download the "core files" for the 727 variation you wish to fly (there are different core files for different variations) and carefully follow the instructions - particularly as to whether to drop the whole gauges folder into your root FSX "Gauges" directory or just the CONTENTS. (If it isn't abundantly clear what to do, please let us know which 727 variation you are trying to install and we can walk you through it step by step.

The pop-up panels not showing up is most certainly due to not installing the correct "panel" config. Inside your "panel" FOLDER are a number of bitmaps (.bmp files) and one or two config files. If one is named, "panel" and the other is named, "panel.FSX" or some such, then this is what you have: The one simply named, "panel" is for Flight Simulator 2004. The other is for FSX. If you are running FSX, then delete or otherwise get rid of the first one and rename the one, "panel.FSX" as simply, "panel". It is a "panel" only named config that FSX is looking for. BTW, this is the same problem I had a year ago when I first came to this forum!

Let us know how it goes!

[SpeedKingZR1]

I downloaded the 727-200 advanced aircraft and panels. Installed just as described in the instructions.. I deleted the fs2004 panel like you said and still can't get it to work..

[SpeedKingZR1]

Btw, I also have Vistaliners 1st FSX 727-200 aircrafts package installed, Would that cause a conflict?