Instant Scenery 2 questions

[Ken Thompson]

I have been learning this utility and I have to say that it is not as easy as the demo portrays it to be. I have been reading and re-reading the manual as well as copying many of the threads on this forum.

I have downloaded several scenery objects from the library and have been able to actually place one of them.

I have a couple problems that I can't seem to overcome.

Regarding addon scenery objects: I have them placed in the FSX "Scenery Library". They also appear in the Scenery Library/Scenery folder. However, they do not appear in the IS2 popup libraries. I have addons selected in the properties box of IS2. Should the addon objects appear in the IS2 popup libraries automatically or do I have to establish a library for them somewhere? I have established 1 airport library with objects I have placed but I have not established a library prior to placing an object.

Second issue: When I activate IS2 the object that I select flutters as does the "slew" indicator at the bottom of screen and the red item next to the cursor. When I use the left key of the mouse I get a greyed remarks that says the cursor is not pointing to the ground even though I am in the ground area of the screen. I hope that makes sense.

As always, responses are very much appreciated.

Ken

[Jim Robinson]

Hi Ken, there's a setting in IS2 somewhere to select which libraries will be available to you in IS2, by default it's setup to use only the global FSX libraries that everybody has if I remember correctly. I think you have to get into those settings and enable "Add-on global libraries".

For the "mouse cursor not pointing at the ground" issue, yeah, that's one thing that sucks about IS2. Generally in that case it means you need to slew a bit higher and look more directly at the ground. I use an FS9 native model with no VC when I use IS2, this gives an unobstructed view in all directions and you can pan around with the hat switch. Specifically I use the "crosshairs plus" scenery placement "aircraft", which give you the unobstructed VC view and also come in handy for other things. I think the file is here in the library but I give up on trying to find it, Avsim has it here:

http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php...or=&CatID=root

Jim

[Ken Thompson]

Hi Jim, and thanks. I have enabled the Add on global libraries. That is why I am confused as to why the addon scenerys are not displaying.

I also use a the standard plane without VC to view. I am learning each time I try it. I am just frustrated that I have not been able to use the nice addon hangars and other objects. I will keep plugging away. I am sure it is just something that I am not doing that is giving me the issues.

[kjb]

Try installing the add-on libraries as you would a scenery. I like to keep them completely separate from FSX in a folder named "FSX Sceneries". Under that main folder, I install each library with it's directory structure (scenery and texture) folders. Then start FSX and go to Scenery Library - Add Area and add the new library.

They should show up in IS2 and you'll be able to use them from there.

[Jim Robinson]

Also IS2 keeps a sort of database in %appdata%, I have had issues with it not updating properly and found that deletetion of everything there would force a complete rebuild the next time I ran IS2. Mine's in "C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\Flight1\Instant Scenery" (on Win7), I just emptied the entire folder with no ill effects but "instant-scenery-cache-fsx.dat" is the actual database. Maybe move that file out temporarily and see if it changes anything. A bit skeptical to whether it'll help in your case, but it might be worth a try failing all else. Grasping at straws...

(In my case the problem I had was with a duplicate object library, objects being called from the wrong library and therefore missing textures, and then IS2 failing to recognize that I'd deleted the duplicate library after having done so. Clearing out the IS2 database in %appdata% cured this problem for me, after doing so IS2 correctly recognized the remaining object library.)

Jim