Need Help Editing, Creating and Using .bgl files

[browngib]

How does one edit and create .bgl files for say buildings. Is there a software program to assist?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Gib Brown

[Blood_Hawk23]

How deeply involved do you want to get?

Gmax or FSDS - Flight Sim Design Studio, would be the programs to start with. Both are 3D modeling programs. Gmax is Free where FSDS is purchased from Abacus. If you buy FSDS you'll have to ask for the old version 2.24 to make objects for CFS2.

There are a few of us here that can help you get started. That is my recommended route.

If you want a simpler method then you could try EOD - Easy Object designer. I've never used it myself. You will be very limited as to what you can do.

Give us a little more insite as to what you'd like to do and I'm sure we can help you get there.

Till Later,
John

[Allen]

Don't forget about Model Converter X.

[Blood_Hawk23]

Allen,
I don't think I could. Oh don't forget your batch files either.

Gib,

So the next question would be, what operating system are you using? That might make a difference in what route you should take.

If you have a windows XP system kicking around then that will work perfectly. Vista or Win 7 would be the next best. Win 8 and we'll have to ask around to see what people are doing.

Allen and I both have Win XP systems to do our work on.

[No Dice]

Take a browse thru here, That should help with what you may be thinking about working on:

http://www.thefreeflightsite.com/Design.htm

Dave

[browngib]

How deeply involved do you want to get?

Gmax or FSDS - Flight Sim Design Studio, would be the programs to start with. Both are 3D modeling programs. Gmax is Free where FSDS is purchased from Abacus. If you buy FSDS you'll have to ask for the old version 2.24 to make objects for CFS2.

There are a few of us here that can help you get started. That is my recommended route.

If you want a simpler method then you could try EOD - Easy Object designer. I've never used it myself. You will be very limited as to what you can do.

Give us a little more insite as to what you'd like to do and I'm sure we can help you get there.

Till Later,
John

My opsys is win7-pro and I want to create cathedrals at York, Coventry, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. Then if I can learn and accomplish anything I will try to go on creating missing features, buildings and airfields. If you need any additional info from me just ask.

Thanks to all,

Gib Brown

[Blood_Hawk23]

Now its up to you what you want to get. If you want the free route I'd go with Gmax. There is a little more of a learning curve with it. It is a very good 3d modeler.

http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax

The next would be the Abacus FSDS.

http://www.abacuspub.com/fs-design-studio-v3-5-download

to make models for CFS2 you will want to ask for the 2.24 version after you order. I believe you will have to email or call them.

The last option is Max3D (I think that is) might be 3ds Max. I've never used it/them. I'm not sure if its free or Payware. It is comparable to Gmax if not a bit better. A few of the FSX modelers are using it. not sure if it will work for CFS2.

There are other things that you will need. different programs and plug-ins but that should get you moving.

[Allen]

Okay.

If you can't find the needed objects already made you going to need...

gMax
http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax

FS2004 gMax Software Development Kit
http://files.fsnordic.net/Flight_Sim...ellaneous/SDK/

Model Converter X
http://www.scenerydesign.org/modelconverterx/

CFS2 exploding object using gMax FS2004 and Model Converter X
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...9&linkid=16620

Now you can scrach make your objects. If you got some models from FS2000,02,04,X you maybe able to use Model Converter X to convert them to a .3ds file that can be loaded into gMax. Download GMAX_Gamepack_Info.zip CFS2 - Models-old-to new_I.zip and CFS2 - Models-old-to new_II.zip for the info on this.

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...d&page=2&pp=20

[No Dice]

John gave some great examples and he is a great artist,see here:
http://www.thefreeflightsite.com/JFortin.htm

With Win 7 pro, All the stuff here will work fine: Not with win7 (just the pro version)
http://www.thefreeflightsite.com/Design.htm

I would practice some simple stuff with EOD, after that I use FSDS for all of my objects other than the trees...I still use EOD for those because of the built in rotate to pilot command.

I think the trees come out pretty good:
http://www.thefreeflightsite.com/Projects_1.htm

I must admit to never using Gmax, but I own every copy of FSDS ever made.

Dave

[browngib]

Now its up to you what you want to get. If you want the free route I'd go with Gmax. There is a little more of a learning curve with it. It is a very good 3d modeler.

http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax

The next would be the Abacus FSDS.

http://www.abacuspub.com/fs-design-studio-v3-5-download

to make models for CFS2 you will want to ask for the 2.24 version after you order. I believe you will have to email or call them.

The last option is Max3D (I think that is) might be 3ds Max. I've never used it/them. I'm not sure if its free or Payware. It is comparable to Gmax if not a bit better. A few of the FSX modelers are using it. not sure if it will work for CFS2.

There are other things that you will need. different programs and plug-ins but that should get you moving.

Interesting, I downloaded Gmax from the turbosquid site and when I tried to run it it gave me about 20 missing paths and said use an application that is not available and it finally just said Gmax did not run.

Kind of hard to use the software.

Gib

[Blood_Hawk23]

Hummmm....

Try running it in XP mod. I think we'll need someone working in win 7 to lend a hand.

[Wayland]

I'm running G-Max in Win7 and not having any more problems. The toughest part was getting it registered. It's hosted at TurboSquid, but not supported by them. You have to go to a different site to get the key sequence to activate it. It's a total pain, but I like G-max over any of the others I've tried.

Steve

[No Dice]

Go here and click the gmax image:

http://www.thefreeflightsite.com/Design.htm

I also had a problem registering it, Seems the registration link goes no where on my rig
so I included a " notepad" file you may try in the zip.
Open and copy and paste it into the registration section ?

Dave

[browngib]

Hummmm....

Try running it in XP mod. I think we'll need someone working in win 7 to lend a hand.

I don't have XP and one of the note said it runs fine in Win 7.

I am finding that CFS2 and it's supports are convoluted, hard to find and hard to understand - even more difficult to make happen. I am frustrated. Being an aviator I am used to document, books, directions and instructions being straight forward, easy to comprehend and smooth to install. There seems to be little organization and standardization. I may be missing something here but so far have not found logic to be showing itself.

There has to be a better way.

Gib

[No Dice]

Windows 7 pro has an XP mode, I think it is in the Admin section.

I will have to ask my wife, she uses Win7 pro and get back with you.

I know that all her older software works fine in XP mode.

Dave

[Allen]

To change compatibility settings manually for a program, right-click the program icon, click Properties, and then click the Compatibility tab.

You should see Compatibility mode area at thye top. You may need to check a box if there is one than click on the drop down and use one of the many XP options listed.

[Blood_Hawk23]

Have you had any luck?

[Allen]

I loaded gMax on to my Win7 just fine. Also the code from No Dice site worked.

[Blood_Hawk23]

I loaded gMax on to my Win7 just fine. Also the code from No Dice site worked.

which version of Win 7 do you have Allen?

[Allen]

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1. I copied my FS02/04 gMax onto a thumb drive dumped it on to my Win 7 and used the No Dice code when it asked for a code and it worked fine.