Workshop to convert FMS sceneries to Aerofly sceneries
(by Rainer Stein 2001-07-05)
For this workshop I will use the scenery “Schweizer.zip”.
What do we need?
- A graphics processing program (PSP, Irfan View etc.)
- ASCII Editor (notepad etc.)
Step by Step:
Unpack all files in a new folder (e.g. FMS 2 Aerofly)
Rename the file xxx.scn to xxx.geo
In our case the file “Switzerland.scn” ist renamed to “Switzerland.geo”
Modify the format of the .bmp files
a. The bitmap with the height information (Switzheight.bmp) must always have 500x500 pixels and 24Bit colour depth. This might be done with a graphics program.
b. If you do not own a graphics processing program you can use the Freeware “IrfanView”. This tool offer functions like “increase colour depth” or “decrease colour depth”. In most cases you will need to increase the colour depth.In case the “height file” can not be identified clearly you have to open the .geo file with the Notepad.
c. All other bitmaps do also have 24 Bit colour depth in general. A file for
“Quadrant” must have 256x256 pixels. You will not damage anything if
you bring all other files (except the bitmap with the height !!) to this
format.
Modify the .geo file
At first all use textures (.bmp files) must be listed. This are all .bmp files from the ZIP except our “height” file.
Example:
.................
SCENE 500 250 25
USE_TEXTURE Switz3s
USE_TEXTURE Switz4s
USE_TEXTURE Switz1s
USE_TEXTURE Switz2s
USE_TEXTURE Switz2r
USE_TEXTURE Switz4s
USE_TEXTURE SwitzBuilding
USE_TEXTURE SwitzTree
QUADRANT 0 0 1 1 Switz3s
QUADRANT 1 0 1 1 Switz4s
QUADRANT 2 0 1 1 Switz3s
...................... (Only the text in Italics is new.)
b. Now delete in all lines that contain something like “Transparent”
the word “Transparent”
...........
///////////////
// SwitzTREEs
///////////////
TEXTURE SwitzTREE TRANSPARENT
POSITION -100 -100
...............
becomes
.............
///////////////
// SwitzTREEs
///////////////
TEXTURE SwitzTREE
POSITION -100 -100
...........
· Copy the files
Now the “geo file” and the “height file” must be copied into the “Scenery” folder of Aerofly. In our case “Switzerland.geo” and “Switzheight.bmp”
All other files must be copied into the “Textures” folder of Aerofly.
That’s it.
There is just one flaw:
For example trees are not displayed like in FMS because Aerofly does not support transparent bitmaps. This can only be solved by conversion of small parts of the files or by removing the trees. But this is a very high effort.
Here a screenshot of IrfanView
Have fun,
Rainer Stein
