BGL files

[hawkeye52]

I am attempting to back-date some airports...also need to remove the ubiquitous FS high-rise buildings from taxiways!

These objects are (usually) contained in a single BGL file.

Is there a (hopefully simple) editor/decompiler that I can use to open the BGL and make changes?

- H52

[srgalahad]

Not that easy I'm afraid. To back date the airports you will need at least AFCAD 2.21 (that one is simplebut only handles the layout of the airport) to do the changes (runways, taxiways etc. To remove the buildings in most cases (even the autogen ) it's matter for creating 'excludes' around the airport (or anywhere else). There are a couple of threads in the Outhouse recently about all that stuff. Do a search for things like AFCAD inthe forums or someone may find the links.

This one first then keep searching:
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=3238&highlight=afcad

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=7259&highlight=afcad
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=5916&highlight=afcad

It's amazing what you can find with the search functions here... there are treasures in almost every thread

Rob

[Tom Clayton]

I can't remember where I got it, but BglAnalyze is what you're looking for. It comes in both BglAnalyze9 and BglAnalyzeX. If possible, it will take a bgl and decompile it into an xml file that you can edit.

But honestly, there's an easier way to get rid of the default autogen from a certain area. Get a copy of the BGLComp SDK (http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/9/3/b930da2a-b3bf-40dc-b830-b1da916eb9e2/fs2004_sdk_bglcomp2_setup.exe) (<-MicroSoft direct link) and read the section on Exclusion Rectanlgles. It's easier than trying to put exclude switches into the scenery.cfg and you can just package the exclude bgl with the afcad bgl into their own section inside your addon scenery folder.

You don't nessecarily have to know xml. Just copy their example and use it as a template. You can get the lon/lat values for your rectangles from FS by hitting Shift+Z.

[hawkeye52]

Thanks guys! I should have emphasized that back-dating the two airports I have in mind does not involve changing/adding rwys nor taxiways; simply removing inappropriate buildings and adding a few hangars. Both your replies point to "excludes" as what I need for removing structures. As for adding, I guess I can use Runway 12?
- H52