eriksleu

This is probably too much tech talk, but indeed: excludes affect all the elements of the selected VTP layers in the LOD13 cell(s) that the exclude shape touches. In SBuilder, you display these blocks with F3. It might give you an idea of the affected area. So you are correct Hans, it has to do with those default scenery blocks. If you really want to suppress a single or just a few element(s) like part of a shoreline this way, it can be done but it takes several steps. Basically you would, via an import, recreate a small piece of default scenery but without the(se) element(s) and use that as an add-on. About the effect, I think this will be a global change to your sim in the case of the waves, but Bernard knows for sure. Erik

@Adrian K: made a suggestion here. Thanks, Erik

Having given this some more thought, it appears to me the issue lies at a somewhat deeper level: you cannot search for a file - at all. You can only search for a post that contains the (only) download link to a file. That is why the search options are what they are: forum-like, not file library-like. (Apologies if this has been mentioned before, in that case I overlooked.) I did read the reasons given for the site update. Apart from the need to move to new software and account-related features and the likes, I understand the aim to give uploaders more control over their files. That is actually very uploader-friendly. BUT, the price that comes with it regarding finding what you're looking for, and so the success of sharing the file(s) itself, is in my opinion too high. There was an efficient and versatile file search engine for the huge and immensely popular freeware file archive and now it's gone. I read a comment somewhere along the lines of "Uploaders will just have to come up with better file descriptions". While that sounds logical, I can see three problems with that: Uploaders (creators in most cases!) "will have to" do that ONLY because it was decided to choose an indirect file access method to their work. Giving better control over one's creations online is great, but this mechanism is awkward. The downsides of it cannot be blamed on those that shared their creations for free, especially not if they did so (long) before this radical change was made. Not all uploaders are still keeping track of their files, especially if they were made a long time ago. Part of them will even have left the flightsim world and heck, some of them even aren't alive anymore. Even when the file description, and with it the title of the post that gives access to the file, is perfect, the search engine will not always find it. For instance, searching for "FS2004 Piper Tri-Pacer For AI" (with or without the quotes), in FS2004 or FS 2004 General Aviation or all files, does NOT find this post. (situation early August '23) I think it would greatly help to include the file names (xxx.zip) to the posts in such a way that the search engine will find them. This information is available in the system, as the download button with each post representing a file is pointing to the file in question. The url under the 'Download this file' button does not contain the file name, but the info is coupled in the system somewhere. I do not expect the whole new setup of this site to be reconsidered, but I hope this option will be considered. Cheers, Erik

The main problem remains: you cannot search for a file name. This has been 'being looked at' for I don't know how long now. This simple feature is dearly missed. That said, the old search interface with its filter options was perfect. The current one mimics the whole make-over of FlightSim.com, something along the lines of "let's turn everything into a community and make things more 'organic'". I do not like it one bit, sorry. Thanks for at least still keeping the site alive and the files available, one way or the other. And of course the incredibly improved download speed, that is really great.