There are 3 steps in this process... please reveiw them carefully.
STEP 1.
TEXTURE INSTALLATION
Assuming your FS9 install is in the default location of: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9
.... double click the Airport Lights.exe file. When the WinZip Self extractor box appears simply click the "UNZIP" button. The airport lights will then be installed automatically. You are NOT ready to fly. Read below about setting up the light scale in the FS9.cfg file.
NOTE!!!
If your FS9 install is NOT in the default location, DO NOT click the unzip button. Instead, click the BROWSE button and browse the WinZip self extractor to your main Flight Simulator (Flight Simulator 9) install directory. Once the WinZip self extractor is browsed to the correct location (Flight Simulator 9), then click the "UNZIP" button. You are NOT ready to fly. Read below about setting up the light scale in the FS9.cfg file.
UNINSTALL:
To uninstall and revert to the original textures, open the folder "Restore Original Lights" in the main directory of this package and follow the instructions to run Airport Lights Restore.exe. It will restore the original FS9 airport lights. If you use another package for airport lights, install that package instead of running the restore file.
VERY IMPORTANT!!
After installing the new airport lights, please make sure you edit your FS9.cfg file with the recommended entries listed BELOW so you will have either the correct or close to correct proportionately scaled airport lights. You can change those settings if you find your computer hardware renders the lights too large or too small however I would strongly suggest you start with the recommended settings I have provided and fly different airports several times in different weather conditions before making any changes.
STEP 2.
*********** SETTING THE AIRPORT LIGHTS SCALE ******************
The following assumes you do not have airport lights scalar lines in your FS9.cfg file. If you are already using these lines, simply edit them to the values I provided below. For those who have never edited their FS9.cfg file or do not use the scaling lines, I have provided comprehensive instructions for you:
======================================================================
Friendly Reminder:
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BACKUP ANY CONFIGURATION FILES THAT YOU EDIT AS YOU GO ALONG PRIOR TO MAKING CHANGES. The easiest way to do this is simply right click the aircraft or panel.cfg or FS9.cfg file before editing and select copy, and then paste it in the same directory. This will create copies of your original configuration files ready to be restored.
======================================================================
1.
Open your FS9.cfg file in notepad. If you have never done this before, here are instructions on how to locate and open it:
******Make sure "hidden files and folders" is disabled in Windows!!!********
Browse to: C:\Documents and Settings\(ACCOUNT NAME)\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9\FS9.cfg
Right click, select open with... when the list appears, select "notepad" and place a check in the box "Always use this program to open this file type" and click apply. From that point on all of you configuration files will open in notepad by simply double clicking.
2.
Scroll down the FS9.cfg file in notepad, locate the heading: [DISPLAY]
3.
Copy the following text exactly as it is presented below:
5.
Save the edited FS9.cfg file. You are now ready to fly.
I have made the above scale settings based on an ATI AIW X800XT and an LCD display size in Flight Simulator of 1280x1024. Not all displays and graphics hardware render the same. I strongly suggest you start with the settings I provided above and then make changes as needed.
If after testing you find you wish to increase or decrease the scale of the lights, refer to the next section below.
STEP 3.
************** CHANGING THE SIZE AND BRIGHTNESS OF THE AIRPORT LIGHTS**********************
If after you have tested the settings above you wish to make changes, do the following:
1.
Open the FS9.cfg file and scroll down to the entries you made above.
[DISPLAY]
RUNWAY_LIGHTS_SURFACE_SCALAR=1.2 = These are the runway border and taxiway border lights
RUNWAY_LIGHTS_VASI_SCALAR=1.2 = These are the glide slope lights
RUNWAY_LIGHTS_APPROACH_SCALAR=.8 = These are the lights marking the runway approach direction
RUNWAY_LIGHTS_STROBE_SCALAR=1.2 = These are the strobe lights which guide you to the approach
To INCREASE the size and brightness of the lights, raise each value in every line by: 0.2
To DECREASE the size and brightness of the lights, lower each value in every line by: 0.2
That's POINT 2 (.2) AND NOT the whole number 2
NOTE:
I SUGGEST YOU USE THE SAME NUMERICAL VALUE (INCREASE OR DECREASE) EQUALLY FOR EACH LINE.
THE LIGHT SCALE I LISTED ABOVE IS BASED ON A PROPORTIONATE RATIO BETWEEN EACH TYPE OF LIGHT.
2.
Save the FS9.cfg file and boot the sim to test.
Experiment with the lines to suit your taste.
NOTE:
The above light settings CAN also change other lights around an airport. Many 3rd party manufactures use the same lights for towers, buildings, parking lots, skyways, etc. Some add-on airports add their own lights to the runway, such as FlyTampa products. Be aware the above lines will NOT change any special lights added by the scenery maker.
If you decide to uninstall the airport light textures you should remove the lines in the FS9.cfg file or edit them back to your original settings before installing this package.
