Background Bitmap

[netman]

I have worked for two days without success to get a bitmap of the airport I want to improve aligned so that, when I click a location for a 3d macro, it will show up in that place in FS2002. I think I have tried everything. I went to the airport and, with a look-down view, I took a screen shot and imported it into my Airport 2.6 build 135 project. When I click by one of the default hangers to put in a Citation jet, it may show up out in the middle of the field. I have varied the scale, rotating, moving in the x and y directions, without joy. Please help!
Another question. Is there any way to compile without shutting down and restarting FS? That is the most time wasting activity I have ever seen. TIA Netman

[Barney]

First use "Top Down" view.
Next, pick an easily identifiable landmark, or other item that sticks out from the rest of the scenery area and using "Slew" mode, move the cross hairs over that item. Click the space bar. This orients your plane to the direction of north plus/minus the number of degrees of magnetic variation. BTW, this value for mag var should also be entered into the General Section of the design program along with the matching coordinates.

Hit the Print Screen key to take the picture.

Now when you import this pic into the design program, you will be oriented with the schematic/diagram as long as the coordinates match.

As noted, you may have to play with the resolution/scale to get it exact. If the original scenery has a runway, you can include that within your pic. Then in the design program, insert a runway of the same known dimensions and see how it compares with the one in the background picture. Adjust the scale accordingly. Then the runway can be deleted if not required.

Hope this helps.

Barney

[netman]

Thanks for that input. I think I did that but will follow your guide exactly and see. John

[Barney]

I forgot about the last part of your message. With referrence to updating after re-compiling a *.bgl. When you go back to the sim, click "World", "Scenery Library", "OK". This re-freshes everything. Having said "everything", I'll add a little warning. Sometimes if you change a texture only, the new one may not take effect after a scenery re-fresh. In this case, try "going to" another airport some distance away, re-fresh the scenery, then go back to your area of interest. If the new texture still refuses to cooperate, then I exit and restart the sim.

About your background picture; which program are you using to process the screen shot? I use the default MSPaint that comes with Windows. I also centre the crosshair of the screenshot in the centre of the MSPaint screen before "saving as". This usually ensures less shifting needed once I import into the design program (Airport 2.6).

Barney

[netman]

Got it, Barney and many thanks. John

[netman]

Hallelujah! After 3 days of slogging I finally got it to work and it was so obvious that it is embarassing! Just Sections/Background Map and move the map with the aarrows in the upper right until an identifyable location on the map has the same coordinates as in FS....Duh!! TNX for the help. John

[Ihor]

Don't worry, you are not alone!
I've done the same. The best hint I think is the runway one.
Make a runway of same dimensions and when the backgroung pic matches, you know you have the right size background.


Ihor
KBUR