Post by Tom/CalClassic on Jan 27, 2009 11:50:13 GMT -5
How to place a working beacon.
by Tom Gibson v1 1/09
Update - note that ADE can place a beacon as well - right click the airport, choose Add.../Beacon and follow the prompts. You will need to set he proper elevation. Then drag where needed.
1. At your airport under construction, using Rwy 12, EZ-Scenery or Instant Scenery place either a default tower or the default gen_beaconbase1 object (a red and white tower with a beacon on top), all found in the Generic.bgl file. Or if you want to add a beacon to an existing object, you can place my beacon base object (a flat plate) found in the Core Library.bgl file (found after installing my CA59/62 scenery package). For Rwy12 users the GUID of my beacon base object is BA2A2C184F9D7B6AC26BE6B0E3C1F6F1
NOTE: You can only use this technique on objects that already have an "attach point". This includes the default towers, the gen_beaconbase1 object, and my beacon base object. You cannot add one to most other objects. Instead, place my beacon base object just below the rooftop of the other object. The beacon will project above the roof.
2. Save this object into its own BGL file, named something like KLAX_beacon.bgl, which will be my example. Do not place any other object into this file - place all other airport objects into a different BGL file. You can save it in the scenery folder of your airport under construction, just like any other BGL file.
3. Download and install BGLXML and BGLComp, to decompile and recompile the BGL file you just made. Put them into two separate folders.
BGLXML: library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=75329&Name=&FileName=&Author=&CatID=root
BGLComp: download.microsoft.com/download/b/9/3/b930da2a-b3bf-40dc-b830-b1da916eb9e2/fs2004_sdk_bglcomp2_setup.exe
4. Copy and paste your new BGL file (KLAX_beacon.bgl in my example) to your new BGLXML folder.
5. Drag the copied BGL file on top of the bglxml.exe file and let it go. An XML file should be created (KLAX_beacon.xml in the example).
6. Right click the new XML file and choose Open With..., then choose Wordpad. If not listed, select Choose Program and find Wordpad on the list. If not present, click the Browse button and go to Program Files/WindowsNT/Accessories/wordpad.exe. You may also use any XML editor you prefer.
7. You should see something like the following. The lat, long, object name, and GUID (identification number) may be different:
<!--
decoded by bglxml on 2009-01-27, 07:41:42
-->
<FSData version="9.0" xmlns:xsi='http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance'
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="bglcomp.xsd" >
<!--
Object type: 0x00000025
offset: 0x0000004C
group count: 1
unknown1: 0x00000001
table size: 0x00000010
-->
<!--
LatInfo: 0x00830ABC, offset: 0x0000005C, length: 0x00000030, count: 1
-->
<!-- SceneryObject, offset 0x0000005C (92) -->
<SceneryObject lat="33.936113" lon="-118.412164" alt="0.00"
altitudeIsAgl="TRUE" pitch="0.00" bank="0.00" heading="166.00"
imageComplexity="NORMAL">
<!-- Object gen_beaconbase1 -->
<LibraryObject name="7f38bfbc4a40e2953c3f5c8482fa2c87" scale="1.00" />
</SceneryObject>
</FSData>
This file places the library object with a GUID of 7f38bfbc4a40e2953c3f5c8482fa2c87 (gen_beaconbase1) at latitude N33.936113 and longitude W118.412164, at a true heading of 166 degrees. The altitude (above ground level (AGL) is 0, as is the pitch and bank. The scale (size) is 1.0.
8. Now we will add the beacon to this. Add the following text just above </SceneryObject> (the next to last line):
<AttachedObject attachpointName="attachpt_beacon" >
<Beacon type="CIVILIAN" baseType="AIRPORT" />
</AttachedObject>
so our file now looks like:
<!--
decoded by bglxml on 2009-01-27, 07:41:42
-->
<FSData version="9.0" xmlns:xsi='http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance'
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="bglcomp.xsd" >
<!--
Object type: 0x00000025
offset: 0x0000004C
group count: 1
unknown1: 0x00000001
table size: 0x00000010
-->
<!--
LatInfo: 0x00830ABC, offset: 0x0000005C, length: 0x00000030, count: 1
-->
<!-- SceneryObject, offset 0x0000005C (92) -->
<SceneryObject lat="33.936113" lon="-118.412164" alt="0.00"
altitudeIsAgl="TRUE" pitch="0.00" bank="0.00" heading="166.00"
imageComplexity="NORMAL">
<!-- Object gen_beaconbase1 -->
<LibraryObject name="7f38bfbc4a40e2953c3f5c8482fa2c87" scale="1.00" />
<AttachedObject attachpointName="attachpt_beacon" >
<Beacon type="CIVILIAN" baseType="AIRPORT" />
</AttachedObject>
</SceneryObject>
</FSData>
9. Now we can change the type of beacon if we wish. The code above will place a civilian (green and white) beacon on an "Airport" type base.
The type= can be "CIVILIAN" or "MILITARY".
The baseType=can be "AIRPORT", "HELIPORT" or "SEA_BASE".
The combination of these different types will cause the appropriate beacon to show up.
10. Once you have the beacon of your preference coded, save the file and quit Wordpad.
11. Copy the edited XML file and paste it into your BGLComp folder.
12. Now drag the edited and copied XML file onto the bglcomp.exe file. A new BGL file should be created (KLAX_beacon.bgl in our example).
13. Copy this new BGL file and paste it over the original BGL file we created in Rwy12, EZ-Scenery, or Instant Scenery. It should overwrite the original file you created, and should be slightly larger and have a slightly later time than the original file. This file should now be located in the scenery sub-folder of your airport under construction in any case.
14. Restart FS and take a look at your new beacon! Go to Dusk and watch it light up and turn.
by Tom Gibson v1 1/09
Update - note that ADE can place a beacon as well - right click the airport, choose Add.../Beacon and follow the prompts. You will need to set he proper elevation. Then drag where needed.
1. At your airport under construction, using Rwy 12, EZ-Scenery or Instant Scenery place either a default tower or the default gen_beaconbase1 object (a red and white tower with a beacon on top), all found in the Generic.bgl file. Or if you want to add a beacon to an existing object, you can place my beacon base object (a flat plate) found in the Core Library.bgl file (found after installing my CA59/62 scenery package). For Rwy12 users the GUID of my beacon base object is BA2A2C184F9D7B6AC26BE6B0E3C1F6F1
NOTE: You can only use this technique on objects that already have an "attach point". This includes the default towers, the gen_beaconbase1 object, and my beacon base object. You cannot add one to most other objects. Instead, place my beacon base object just below the rooftop of the other object. The beacon will project above the roof.
2. Save this object into its own BGL file, named something like KLAX_beacon.bgl, which will be my example. Do not place any other object into this file - place all other airport objects into a different BGL file. You can save it in the scenery folder of your airport under construction, just like any other BGL file.
3. Download and install BGLXML and BGLComp, to decompile and recompile the BGL file you just made. Put them into two separate folders.
BGLXML: library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=75329&Name=&FileName=&Author=&CatID=root
BGLComp: download.microsoft.com/download/b/9/3/b930da2a-b3bf-40dc-b830-b1da916eb9e2/fs2004_sdk_bglcomp2_setup.exe
4. Copy and paste your new BGL file (KLAX_beacon.bgl in my example) to your new BGLXML folder.
5. Drag the copied BGL file on top of the bglxml.exe file and let it go. An XML file should be created (KLAX_beacon.xml in the example).
6. Right click the new XML file and choose Open With..., then choose Wordpad. If not listed, select Choose Program and find Wordpad on the list. If not present, click the Browse button and go to Program Files/WindowsNT/Accessories/wordpad.exe. You may also use any XML editor you prefer.
7. You should see something like the following. The lat, long, object name, and GUID (identification number) may be different:
<!--
decoded by bglxml on 2009-01-27, 07:41:42
-->
<FSData version="9.0" xmlns:xsi='http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance'
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="bglcomp.xsd" >
<!--
Object type: 0x00000025
offset: 0x0000004C
group count: 1
unknown1: 0x00000001
table size: 0x00000010
-->
<!--
LatInfo: 0x00830ABC, offset: 0x0000005C, length: 0x00000030, count: 1
-->
<!-- SceneryObject, offset 0x0000005C (92) -->
<SceneryObject lat="33.936113" lon="-118.412164" alt="0.00"
altitudeIsAgl="TRUE" pitch="0.00" bank="0.00" heading="166.00"
imageComplexity="NORMAL">
<!-- Object gen_beaconbase1 -->
<LibraryObject name="7f38bfbc4a40e2953c3f5c8482fa2c87" scale="1.00" />
</SceneryObject>
</FSData>
This file places the library object with a GUID of 7f38bfbc4a40e2953c3f5c8482fa2c87 (gen_beaconbase1) at latitude N33.936113 and longitude W118.412164, at a true heading of 166 degrees. The altitude (above ground level (AGL) is 0, as is the pitch and bank. The scale (size) is 1.0.
8. Now we will add the beacon to this. Add the following text just above </SceneryObject> (the next to last line):
<AttachedObject attachpointName="attachpt_beacon" >
<Beacon type="CIVILIAN" baseType="AIRPORT" />
</AttachedObject>
so our file now looks like:
<!--
decoded by bglxml on 2009-01-27, 07:41:42
-->
<FSData version="9.0" xmlns:xsi='http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance'
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="bglcomp.xsd" >
<!--
Object type: 0x00000025
offset: 0x0000004C
group count: 1
unknown1: 0x00000001
table size: 0x00000010
-->
<!--
LatInfo: 0x00830ABC, offset: 0x0000005C, length: 0x00000030, count: 1
-->
<!-- SceneryObject, offset 0x0000005C (92) -->
<SceneryObject lat="33.936113" lon="-118.412164" alt="0.00"
altitudeIsAgl="TRUE" pitch="0.00" bank="0.00" heading="166.00"
imageComplexity="NORMAL">
<!-- Object gen_beaconbase1 -->
<LibraryObject name="7f38bfbc4a40e2953c3f5c8482fa2c87" scale="1.00" />
<AttachedObject attachpointName="attachpt_beacon" >
<Beacon type="CIVILIAN" baseType="AIRPORT" />
</AttachedObject>
</SceneryObject>
</FSData>
9. Now we can change the type of beacon if we wish. The code above will place a civilian (green and white) beacon on an "Airport" type base.
The type= can be "CIVILIAN" or "MILITARY".
The baseType=can be "AIRPORT", "HELIPORT" or "SEA_BASE".
The combination of these different types will cause the appropriate beacon to show up.
10. Once you have the beacon of your preference coded, save the file and quit Wordpad.
11. Copy the edited XML file and paste it into your BGLComp folder.
12. Now drag the edited and copied XML file onto the bglcomp.exe file. A new BGL file should be created (KLAX_beacon.bgl in our example).
13. Copy this new BGL file and paste it over the original BGL file we created in Rwy12, EZ-Scenery, or Instant Scenery. It should overwrite the original file you created, and should be slightly larger and have a slightly later time than the original file. This file should now be located in the scenery sub-folder of your airport under construction in any case.
14. Restart FS and take a look at your new beacon! Go to Dusk and watch it light up and turn.