Traffic in Addon Scenery folder.

[Col7777]

I had a thought, it probably has been done already I don't know but I gave it a try.
What I did was move ALL the traffic files from the Scenery/World/Scenery folder to a new folder.
I placed a new folder in the Addon Scenery, I called it AI Traffic, then I put another folder inside that called Scenery, in that I placed all the traffic files I moved from the default world folder, I started the sim went to add new scenery, activated it and saved it the normal way then started the sim and there was the traffic.

So the new folder path is: Addon Scenery/AI Traffic/Scenery

I doubt it is making much difference to the way it runs normally but I'm now wondering if another place could be used, may be not even in the sim, like some of these other add on programs work?

[Col7777]

Thinking on from this seeing as it works, I'm wondering if it is another way of having 2 or more sets of traffic instead of having multiple installs of FS, this is going back the the renaming of the file before you start the sim, but it does keep the files in an orderly fashion?

[wwtowers]

I haven't tried this, but I would think that if you "up-date" your AI traffic with Traffic Tools or some other program, it would put it back in the original location. Not sure if you can change the path on those programs.

[Col7777]

Yes there is a facility in TTools to change where the files are updated from and to.

It is working OK but as I say I can't see much benefit except for it does keep all the traffic files in one place plus the possibility of of eliminating duel installs perhaps.

[Tom/CalClassic]

Hi,

My AI Traffic instructions include this very same process to create separate Modern AI Traffic and CalClassic AI Traffic scenery layers. Then you can select your era with a click of the mouse.

If you only have one FS installation it does make things easier. If you have two separate FS installations it's not very useful.

[Col7777]

Hello Tom,

I know you mentioned this before but I didn't understand properly, sorry mate.
so how do you select the era by the click of a mouse, is it by sending the the folder further down the list and having the one you want higher up, if so does the the other still not show or am I missing something, sorry for being a bit of a numb skull?

[Tom/CalClassic]

Hi,

Go to your Scenery Library and take a look. There is a red check mark at the left of each one. Click it and the check mark goes away. You have inactivated that layer - it will not appear in FS. Now click OK, quit, and restart FS. That scenery will no longer be there.

So to switch from Classic to Modern AI traffic, all you have to do is make sure there is a red check mark next to the Modern AI Traffic layer, and NO check mark next to any CalClassic AI Traffic layer, and voila! You will have modern traffic.

My classic AI traffic works the same way - I have 3 separate layers for 3 different years. You put a check mark next to the desired year's layer you want to run - 1957, 1959, or 1962. That way your AI traffic always matches the plane you are flying.

Hope this helps,

[Col7777]

Duh!

All this time I seemed to have missed this, what I did was select the era I wanted and never installed the other 2, what an idiot!

Any way I've got the files in place now plus my own modern era, I selected an early era and did as you said, disabled the others, brilliant, I got the props, then I tried the modern era and disabled the early and I got the jets, you are a genius Tom!!!

So why do people do multiple installs when they can do this, or am I missing something else?

[Tom/CalClassic]

Hi,

You learn something new every day.

BTW, the correct term is Doh! (If you're a Simpsons fan).

If you have the hard drive space for two installations, all you need to fly in the modern or classic eras is just double click the relevant shortcut - easier than messing about in the Scenery Library. I, for one, have LOTS of classic scenery layers loaded (probably around 30 or even more?), and that's a lot of checking and unchecking when switching eras.

Hope this helps,

[johnfromoz]

Don't worry, Tom, I noticed and appreciated!

I've been exploiting the idea like mad, too. I have been playing with military AI, and interesting spots like Singapore have vastly different traffic in the 1950s to the 1960s, for example - Lincoln bombers are quite unlike Canberras. It's great being able to switch back ten years just by spending a minute checking a different scenery choice.

It's also useful to put AFCAD variations there - provided both options are compatible with any 3D scenery.

Col7777 - a case of great minds thinking alike, maybe? But as for multiple installs, I have three, because the sceneries are often radically different. Also I like to try different textures and autogen, and packs like "Golden Wings" and "Silver Wings" do that. Just in my own area, the city, suburban spread and airfields changed radically enough to justify the installations, and I guess that would apply to many places. And I still find the multiple folders in "Addon Scenery" useful. FS is great for "mixing and matching" to our own tastes.

[Col7777]

Duh! or Doh! it must be my accent Tom, sorry bout that.

John,
I read you post, I wasn't thinking about various afcads/scenery, yes I understand now. Not sure about great minds though John.

[johnfromoz]

Accent? You should hear what the Aussie for "Doh!" is! (maybe this will give you an idea - www.youtube.com/watch?v=p64yUG3VAVE)

I like the concept of putting traffic in scenery folders. As for the AFCADS, I'd do that only if the basic structure of the airfiled was consistent, but where, for example, there was a change from open apron to airbridge type parking over a period, or whether park allocations came and went for particular users.

The Cal Classics core scenery can of course be switched on or off in a similar way and I think additional sceneries from the Cal Classic community can usually be dropped in with the core, though I know many people prefer not to over-merge.

The big barrier would be all the modern addon sceneries which probably don't all merge so nicely, which would also need switching on and off. That's where multiple installs suit me.

[Col7777]

Heck John, you've given me more ideas here. I used to have Dave Maltby's Manchester EGCC airport scenery, the main reason was it fit in with the classics plus that was how Manchester airport looked when I started work there.
I took it out when I decided to have the modern stuff installed as well because there wasn't any room plus I only had one runway, now I will put it back I think.

As for the accent thing, I have been to your country, I went to visit a cousin who lives in Perth, I also have an Uncle who lives near Sydney but I haven't seen him since I was around 5 yrs old.

[nmlw]

I found an easy way to manage my Retro land Modern scenery folders easily without having to make the changes in FS9 exiting and rebooting by using the following program:

FS Scenery Manager for FS 2004
Copyright (C) 2007 Lionel Uzan

You can define folders any way you like and change and save them before starting FS9. Works great for me. It's available on flightsim.com and avsim.com.

[Col7777]

Thanks Larry,

I got it and tried it, works great, I don't know how I missed this program, now no more multiple installs.