Instructions for FlightZone 02 Portland for FSX Patch by Larry Robbins email: admin@myflightsimblog.com website: www.myflightsimblog.com
Please follow the instructions carefully to properly install the patch and to have FZ02 Portland to function properly in FSX. You MUST have an original copy of FlightZone 02 Portland to install on your computer. I have created a FSX Patch that contains new airport configurations, exclusions, and replacement FSX trees that will improve the look and feel of FZ02 Portland in FSX. Visit www.myflightsimblog.com for more detailed instructions.
DISCLAIMER: First of all, let me be clear with you up front. I am in no way providing you with any part of the original FLIGHTZONE 02: PORTLAND scenery or Orbx addon scenery. YOU MUST ALREADY OWN AND HAVE INSTALLED THE SCENERY PACKAGE ON YOUR SYSTEM. I will, however, show you how to convert you own personal copy of FLIGHTZONE 02: PORTLAND for FS9 into a usable format that will work and look great in FSX.
STEP 1 Install the Flightzone 02 files onto your hard drive
This can be a little tricky if you do not have FS9 on your system, but its possible to do. Of course, if you already have FS9 installed and/or if FLIGHTZONE 02: PORTLAND is already on your hard drive, then you simply need to copy the folder FlightZone02_SC to your FSX Addon Scenery folder and skip to Step 2. We will be removing and adding some files to that folder later, so donÕt start up FSX just yet. You can eliminate the FlightZone02_LC folder because we will not be using the Landclass files from the FLIGHTZONE 02: PORTLAND scenery. I have adapted the airport layouts to function with the Orbx NA Blue PNW landclass instead. We will add the necessary modification files from the FlightZone02 Patch for FSX file later.
If you are trying to install a fresh copy of FLIGHTZONE 02: PORTLAND into FSX and you do not have FS9 installed on your system, then you can create a DUMMY FS9 directory on your Hard Drive. The FLIGHTZONE 02: PORTLAND installer MUST see the FS9.exe file on your Hard Drive before it will install the necessary files. I have made this step easy for you by providing a DUMMY directory inside the FlightZone02 Patch for FSX file. If needed, simply place the FS9 folder into your Program Files folder on your Hard Drive before starting the FLIGHTZONE 02: PORTLAND installer. Then be sure to point the FLIGHTZONE 02: PORTLAND installer to the correct FS9 folder path. After the FlightZone02_SC and the FlightZone02_LC folders are added to your FS9/Addon Scenery folder, you can simply drag the FlightZone02_SC file to your FSX/Addon Scenery folder. We will NOT be using the FlightZone02_LC folder. DO NOT PLACE FlightZone02_LC INSIDE YOUR FSX ADDON SCENERY.
Step 2 Remove Incompatible files from the Portland 02 SC Scenery Folder
Not all files within the Portland 02 SC Scenery Folder are compatible with FSX. We need to remove all AF1 files which change the airport layouts. They are equivalent to the old AFCAD files that were used in FS9 for airport layouts. They will be replaced by new AFX files from the Patch File download. In addition, I have spent many hours testing the other .bgl files to see which ones work and which ones do not. We need to remove any files that produce any type of texture or lighting on the runways or tarmac. FS9 Runway lights will cause a problem in FSX, as do trees and a few other misc. items. Below is a list of files in Alphabetical order that you should remove from the FlightZone02_SC file. DonÕt bother with texture files since you may inadvertently trash something you need to keep. Some graphics cards have been reported to not properly display lights and light poles from FS9, displaying black boxes instead. If that is the case, then remove any lightpole files as well. It is also worth noting that not all textures will display properly with Preview DirectX 10 checked under FSX Graphics settings. I suggest unchecking this option. Feel free to experiment with what works best for your system.
Remove these Files from the FlightZone02_SC folder
Step 3 Add the modified files to the Portland 02 SC Scenery Folder
If you have not yet done so, than download FlightZone02 Patch for FSX.zip file onto your Hard Drive. You can place the ÒDummyÓ FS9 file into your systems Program Files file if needed for the installation of FLIGHTZONE 02: PORTLAND as discussed in Step 1. Otherwise, disregard it. Open up the FS02 Patch file and drag ALL of the .bgl files to your Microsoft Games/Microsoft Flight Simulator X/Addon Scenery/FlightZone02_SC/scenery folder.
Step 4 Activate Scenery in FSX
Open FSX and go to Settings. Open Scenery Library, and then choose Add Area. Navigate to the Microsoft Flight Simulator X/Addon Scenery/FlightZone02_SC folder. Click OK. You should now see FlightZone02_SC at the top of the scenery library. It is important that you place FlightZone02_SC at a higher level than any of the Orbx FTX_NA scenery folders, otherwise, you may not see many of the FlightZone02_SC objects. Go to either KPDX, KTTD, KVUO, or KHIO with your favorite aircraft and fly.
As always, feel free to send me an email at admin@myflightsimblog.com if you get stuck or have any suggestions. Better yet, post your questions on the forums page at http://www.myflightsimblog.com/ucp.php?mode=login for others to view and comment on. Visit www.myflightsimblog.com for more detailed instructions.