Using FSLandClass.EXE

Since the limits of each land class file are fixed by RESAMPLE, there is user friendly interface for doing this. Whenever you want to create a new or read an existing land class file, you will get the following dialog. Here you can see the geographical limits of the land class file in the place where I live. Using the interface you can easily move one (or 10 with the outer buttons) land class files in each direction to select the precise area you want to work on. If you try to go outside the geographical limits, the program will not respond. In the lower window you always see the name of the land class file. Note that the buttons are disabled in the demonstration version of the program. You only can work on the file LCE76N07 - which contains the isle of Jamaica. The program will allow access of any area on the earth as soon as you copy a suitable license file into the ..\FSLandClass directory. Note that the geographical information comes in separate country kits. |
After selecting a specific landclass file, the program cannot change to another. Just quit and start again, or start several instances of FSLandClass to work simultaneously on adjacent regions. If you finish with one area, choose Close from the File menu, which will permit you to read or create another file. If you select Create new file in the File menu, you will be presented with the above dialog, which asks where on the earth's surface you want to create new landclass data. If, on the other hand, you read in an existing land class file, select New fill to get a new coverage of the land class squares with textures. You can either choose to use one specific type, or you can select one of the 3 predefined random classes. You can see the three random classes - taken at the same position - in the next table. |
This example now shows the FSLandClass window after a "random plains" land class has been created. In the status line at the bottom of the program, you can see the mouse coordinates, the position in the land class array, and the actual land class beneath the mouse pointer. To make working on the file easier, you can zoom into any of the four quadrants of the file for a closer look. Now you can click on any coordinate to modify the specific location. |
Again you get a list of available land class types, from which you can choose a specific type for your given coordinate. Note that all these actions are automatically stored into a list file. This is very important. If you check the box "Read Force" in the Create dialog from above, all changes that you have made will be written to the new file (but not in the demo version). If you press the ctrl - key for subsequent left clicks with the mouse, the same class will be used again without you having to use the selection dialog. |
To save your work, just go to the File menu and select Write. This will write the relevant files, so that you can continue your work later by using the Read menu to use them again. If you select Write Resample, the files will be saved and the SDK tools will be used to create a new land class scenery for you. Copy or move this into the FS2002\scenery folder and start FS2002 and you will see the new land class textures. Note that the bin-file contains additional information, so it cannot be used successfully to resample outside of the program.
| The above method can be used to change single squares from one class to another. Many users have requested a fast way to change multiple squares with a single action. This has been implemented using mouse clicks while the shift key is pressed. Hold down the shift key an click a corner of a rectangular area you want to modify. With a second shift click at the opposite corner you will see the above dialog again - with the difference that the operation applies to all squares in the rectangle defined by the two corners. You will get the following dialog. If you select "Change all squares", all the squares inside the rectangle will be affected. If you edit the number and press "Only change from:", only those squares inside the rectangle that have the given class number will be changed.
Predefined Random Classes |
"Random fields" selection. This gives a low density populated agricultural area. |
"Random plains" selection. Most grasslands, some browner areas, sparse 3D vegetation. |
"Random desert" selection. I must say I do not want to live here. Mostly dry, mixture of half desert and full desert. |