FAQ: Slovenia X (Photoreal) and Slovenia X Airports

[Ilumium]

Please read the User Guides first and their Installation instruction sections

1. WHY IS THE AUTHENTICATION / REGISTRATION A TWO-STEP PROCESS?

In the age of everything processed online and instantaneous verifications this is a valid question. Having such an infrastructure in place is demanding and if processed off-site, too costly for a small developer. Such solutions will become viable and reasonable in the future, when we will add more products in our portfolio. Until that time however, the fixed costs overpower the revenue, which we rather invest into the content creation.

2. WHY DO I NEED TO MANUALLY ADD SCENERY TO THE SCENERY LIBRARY?

We do not want to interfere with your files. Period. With that we mean files of any sort and especially not with crucial core simulator files. When it comes to writing into the core files, we need to add definitions to just one and even in this case we do not mess with it directly. To this end we use a proven and brilliant Autogen Configuration Merger (ACM) developed by SceneryDesign.org specifically for this purpose. P3D4** fosters easier implementation and cleaner additions but we develop for FSX, FSX:SE and P3D 1-3, too, which in effect do not offer the same method. This in effect would drive our installers beyond the complexity we are at the moment comfortable with.

Here is an example of how to add sloveniax_airports folder to the Scenery Library in P3D (the process would be similar in FSX):

Please pay attention to adding the scenery folders correctly! You are adding e.g. ‘sloveniax_terrain’, ‘sloveniax_objects’, ‘sloveniax_airports’, etc folder to your simulator scenery library. Do not add subfolders, such as ‘sloveniax_terrain\scenery’ or ‘sloveniax_terrain\textures’ individually! Failing to do it properly, the scenery might not display correctly and result in issue number 10. or similar. Depicted below is correctly installed and added scenery structure.

2.** P3D4 USERS – AUTOMATIC ADDITION OF SLOVENIAX

Upon receiving feedback from some of the users not being versed with above method, we decided to help you with the process (it works with P3D3.3 and later). The small package is available at your accounts, titled P3D4 automatic addition. Do as instructed in an enclosed install.txt. Within the package there is also an option that removes the addon from the list.

The downside of this method is, that you loose the ability to reposition SloveniaX in your scenery library. This is the standard P3D feature that cannot be modified. While it is welcome for airports that need to be at the top of the list, it is not a perfect method to add regions, which need to be positioned beneath certain airports. If you wanted to reposition Slovenia X folders (e.g. for prioritising LJLJ), you would need to remove Slovenia X with the enclosed remove tool and add the folders again manually as decribed at number 2.

3. “REGISTRATION FILE MISSING” DURING FIRST INSTALLATION

Registration is a two-step process. You will need to download the install files, save them in a temporary folder on a computer, where you have your simulator installed and run the exe file. It will provide the authentication code, which you send it per email as stated in the User guide – Installation instructions. Only upon receiving this information can we provide the registration data and registration file. If the message “registration file missing” still occurs, there are two possible issues – the installation files have not downloaded correctly (not very likely if you managed to came to the registration page) or there was an error or misspelling (on your or our side). You can contact us again.

4. I BOUGHT A NEW COMPUTER: “REGISTRATION FILE MISSING”

The license is bound to a computer. The existing registration data will not be accepted and new one is needed. We understand that customers buy, reformat and change hardware. If this happens in reasonable time spans, we do not ask questions and provide new registration data.

5. I HAVE THE SCENERY INSTALLED BUT DO NOT SEE THE DIFFERENCE

The difference between default and Slovenia X cannot be overlooked. If in doubt, then something is probably amis. Did you activate all appropriate folders in the Scenery Library? Are they arranged hierarchically as suggested?

6. SOME TILES ARE MISSING AUTOGEN TREES AND/OR BUILDINGS

P3D 4.4 and onwards users: we recommend that custom autogen is applied in a P3D native way. To that end you should uninstall ACM for the current version of P3D and install autgoen libraries addition via batch files provided for versions of P3D4 or P3d5 respectively. Run the batch files you find in SloveniaX / SloveniaXphoto folder (p3d4_ADD_autogen_instead_with_ACM.bat for P3D4 and p3d5_ADD_autogen_libraries_natively_NO_ACM.bat for P3D5)

FSX and P3D up to 4.3 users: If this happens after the first run, there is a high chance you forgot to do as ACM instructed: restart the simulator. This issue is also caused by FTX/ORBX central updates. When that happens, the ACM needs to do its job and it will let you know. Again, do as instructed: restart the simulator and the trees will be back. There is a simple but lengthy explanation for these issues that are too technical to be of general interest. Are my trees missing? Most probably not if you are unsure. You will know when they are, for sure. The issue is depicted below (left) and how it looks like when shown correctly (right). There were some issues reported in regard to ACM and P3D4.4. The latest ACM iterration for manual install can be found here.

ACM will only be able to do its job if your core simulator is run by administrator priviliges. If it has, the desktop icon will have a yellow blue shield attached. If it does not, please consult Windows help for instrunctions on how to achieve this or Google it. If you are still unable to solve the issue as per instructions, please turn to our support per email.

7. MY AUTOGEN HOUSES ARE BLACK

When I say black, I do not mean dark but completely and utterly black. The reason for this is that you have not pointed the installer to the correct simulator folder when asked about it. It needs to be the core simulator folder, e.g. [drive]:\Program Files\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v4\ or [drive]:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X. If this happens uninstall the installed scenery (do not delete files by hand!) and reinstall.

8. I CANNOT ACHIEVE 30 FPS WITH ALL SLIDERS TO THE RIGHT

This is a tiny country but also an incredibly detailed scenery! It will have an influence on the performance although it should be lighter as some other regions from other developers, at least based on our experience and ad hoc comparisons.

9. SLOVENIA X CONFIGURATOR

This is not an issue, just a reminder that it exist, especially if you are faced with issue 8. The Slovenia X Configurator is available and can be found in Slovenia X start group or in Slovenia X folder itself. There are many, really, many options to turn staff on/off, depending on your preference and performance goals.

10.1 TOO MANY SANDY BEACHES

The sand beach textures overall and especially in the coastal region are indication of the landclass texture issues. They can be caused by sloveniax_terrain folder not being part of the scenery library, being added incorrectly or its incorrect position in regard to other sceneries that provide landclass textures. Slovenia X folders need to be positioned above Orbx landclass products – the insertion point of those needs to be modified accordingly in FTX Central application (options). See the User Guide for further explanations and instructions. The issue is depicted below (left) and how it looks like when shown correctly (right).

10.2 SANDY BEACHES ON THE HILLS

From P3D4 itterations onwards a landclass issue start to occur, where desertification appears on moderate to steep slopes where pastures should be depicted. If the issue appears, please look for the latest update in your Ilumium Simulation account – they are always commulative and the latest will include all of the previous patches. The issue is depicted below (left) and how it looks like when shown correctly after an update (right).

11. I HAVE TERRAIN SPIKE INSTEAD OF LJHL HELIPORT

This is a known issue, again a bit technical to go into it deeper. Some of the users will come accross it, while not the others. The solution is simple. Go to “\SLOVENIAX\sloveniax_LJHL\Scenery”, find “six_airport_LJHL.bgl” and change the suffix to “.off”. The ‘airport’ will disappear from GPS and airports but remain available as heliport. You cannot get more accurate than that – this is how it is in real life. PCL will still work. The issue is depicted below (left) and how it looks like when shown correctly (right).

12. I CANNOT TURN ON THE PCL LIGHTS AT LJHL

Google up LJHL heliport and you will find the charts for the real heliport. Use the data provided. The frequency needs to be set at COM1, the default push-to-talk button in P3D is CAPSLOCK. After pressing it you should hear keying of the mic, if not, you will need to search for the proper keyboard shortcut. This in-sim push-to-talk button has nothing to do with IVAO, VATSIM or other ATC software.

13. MY AUTOGEN HOUSES ARE FLOATING IN MID AIR

This is an unsolvable FSX/P3D issue not related to the scenery add-ons. It occurs everywhere and is more prominent at land class tiles that have big elevation differences within their area. The issue gets worse with more detailed 3D terrain mesh as it is usually (and correctly so) sharper. The effect occurs because the simulator loads the simplified mesh in the distance first and then refines it during your approaching (you will see it happen if the mesh is detailed). The autogen gets loaded on the simplified mesh if your drawing distance sliders are set towards the right. The mesh is refined as you come closer but the autogen is not repositioned and thus stays in the air, floating.

14. LJLJ AIRPORT LOOKS THE SAME AS DEFAULT

Apart from mesh adaptation and high-resolution LOD17 underlay, the airport has not been covered by Slovenia X or Slovenia X Airports add-ons. Unless you have bought a third party scenery add-on or downloaded a freeware version, you are looking at the default airport. It will be misaligned with the underlay because its default location is incorrect (you can turn the underlay off in the Slovenia X configurator).

15. AUTOGEN IS MISSING ARROUND LJLJ AIRPORT

If you have third party LJLJ sceneries installed, please read the User Guide section on compatibility and different options to achieve acceptable integration. Slovenia X is compatible with the most accurate (and only payware) rendition of LJLJ so far, developed by RF Scenery Building. We have worked with them to assure the best and as seamless as possible integration.

16. MY RUNWAYS, TAXIWAYS AND GRASS TEXTURES DO NOT LOOK AS GOOD AS THOSE IN THE SCREENSHOTS

Unless you have add-on texture suits installed (such as REX Worldwide Airports HD, Texture Direct or similar) that improve the look of runway, apron, taxiway and grass textures, you are looking at the default textures. The appearance can be improved with payware and freeware add-ons that will influence – for the better – both default and also Slovenia X airports. Trees will also look better with add-ons that specialize in three textures and appearance.

17. CORN FIELDS HAVE DISAPPEARED, HAY BALES ARE MISSING AND GRASS HAS BEEN CUT

This is a part of life. Rejoice FSX/P3D for giving you seasons! We have provided even more of them. Summer and spring are the seasons where the greenery will be in abandon. The blooming will be gone by fall along with the corn. Grass will also look different and scarcer in winter.

18. ELEVATION ISSUES AT FSX/P3D SLOVENIAN DEFAULT AIRPORTS

FSX/P3D default installations include LJLJ, LJMB, LJPZ, LJCE and LJSG. The elevations of these airports are corrected in SloveniaX for them to be better integrated into the SloveniaX mesh. SloveniaX corrects these elevations seamlessly and automatically. However, if you happen to have Orbx Vector installed prior to the installation of SloveniaX and Airports, you will likely encounter elevation issues at these airports. The reason is Orbx Vector uses default airport elevations unless you run the auto-configuration in FTX Vector configurator every time you install new scenery. Most of our users tend to forget this. This will solve the elevation issues also in the case of SloveniaX. Issue is depicted on the left and the correct situation on the right (depicted is the rendition with RFSB LJLJ add-on).

19. SOLID, CONCRETE RUNWAYS INSTEAD OF GRASS STRIPS

If you happen to own FSX (with SP1 and SP2 installed) but not also Acceleration pack, you might encounter conrete runways where grass airstrips are suppose to be. This is due to the reason how transparent and semitransparent runways are treated by the simulator. Prior to Acceleration pack the sim did not feature transparent runways possibilities. The easiest solution for this issue is to install Acceleration pack. The issues do not occur in FSX:SE or P3D versions since they have all built upon and developed from FSX + Acceleration platform.

[Author]

Posts