*.XML & *.MDL Files Inside FS2004 Scenery & Texture File Folders

[Richard Gilbert Sharpe]

Hello All:

I am installing most of Ed DesRoches & Brent Robillard's Canadian airport Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 sceneries presently. I am using them just as an example for this query. What are these oddly placed *.MDL and *.XML files scattered randomly throughout the scenery and texture file folders within these and numerous sceneries by other authors? I have listed six of them below just so you know what I mean:

BEIGE_HANGER.MDL
BLUE_ROOF.MDL
CARP_OFFICE.MDL
OPEN_L_STEEL_HANGER.MDL
RED_ROOF.MDL
SML_HANGER.MDL

Some authors' scenery and texture files within their scenery and texture file folders have corresponding *.XML document files of the same name in there too. They are scattered throughout nearly all of these authors' Canadian airport sceneries within either or both of the scenery and texture file folders. I am not a Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft or scenery designer, but I have a feeling that they are the ''leftovers'', so to speak, from when the authors created each scenery, and were just probably left there by accident before uploading to either Aviation Simulation (AVSIM) Online or Nels Anderson's FlightSim.com. Are these important simply for the scenery to function and be seen within FS2004, or can I delete all of the *.MDL and *.XML document files present if I have no intention of modifying the scenery myself? I have a hunch that the usual *.BGL scenery files are the only files that are necessary in any FS2004 scenery folders and that the usual *.BMP texture files are the only files that are necessary in any FS2004 texture folders for it to function correctly.

Also, occasionally I'll find *.JPEG files within some authors' texture folders alongside the usual *.BMP texture files. Are these just misplaced screenshots or are they placed in there purposely for the scenery to function correctly in FS2004? Please let me know on all three file types: *.MDL, *.BMP and *.JPEG. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Richard Sharpe

[opaplano]

Hello All:

I am installing most of Ed DesRoches & Brent Robillard's Canadian airport Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 sceneries presently. I am using them just as an example for this query. What are these oddly placed *.MDL and *.XML files scattered randomly throughout the scenery and texture file folders within these and numerous sceneries by other authors? I have listed six of them below just so you know what I mean:

BEIGE_HANGER.MDL
BLUE_ROOF.MDL
CARP_OFFICE.MDL
OPEN_L_STEEL_HANGER.MDL
RED_ROOF.MDL
SML_HANGER.MDL

Some authors' scenery and texture files within their scenery and texture file folders have corresponding *.XML document files of the same name in there too. They are scattered throughout nearly all of these authors' Canadian airport sceneries within either or both of the scenery and texture file folders. I am not a Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft or scenery designer, but I have a feeling that they are the ''leftovers'', so to speak, from when the authors created each scenery, and were just probably left there by accident before uploading to either Aviation Simulation (AVSIM) Online or Nels Anderson's FlightSim.com. Are these important simply for the scenery to function and be seen within FS2004, or can I delete all of the *.MDL and *.XML document files present if I have no intention of modifying the scenery myself? I have a hunch that the usual *.BGL scenery files are the only files that are necessary in any FS2004 scenery folders and that the usual *.BMP texture files are the only files that are necessary in any FS2004 texture folders for it to function correctly.

Also, occasionally I'll find *.JPEG files within some authors' texture folders alongside the usual *.BMP texture files. Are these just misplaced screenshots or are they placed in there purposely for the scenery to function correctly in FS2004? Please let me know on all three file types: *.MDL, *.BMP and *.JPEG. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Richard Sharpe

From your description I would venture to say that 99% of what you are seeing are indeed leftovers or misplaced files. Jpgs for sure are not normally needed in FS2004.

Rather than go whole hog deleteing such files, I would recommend making a temp folder in each scenery folder where you see such files and simply move what you feel may be unnecessary files into that folder. Then check out the airport.

You probably will see no ill effect - but having them still "available" will make it much easier to restore if necessary.

Good Luck!