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FSX Planner - The Basics
FSX Planner Overview
FSX planner is a graphical editing tool intended to allow its users to easily modify all aspects of an
airport for use within Microsoft’s Flight Simulator X, both visible and invisible. The visible parts
of an airport that can be modified include everything from the runways and taxiways to the taxiway signs
and windsocks and scenery objects, as well as everything in between. The unseen parts of an airport that
can be modified include everything from the airport services and fuel triggers to the communication
frequencies and navigation information.
This range of functionality allows FSX Planner to be of use to a wide range of people, from the casual
user who wants to improve a small airfield by updating a few parking locations, to commercial groups
who want to completely revamp an entire major airport. FSX Planner does not present any restrictions
on the airports that are created or modified through its use.
The creation or modification of an airport within flight simulator can be quite a daunting task. There
are many variables that may affect other airports in addition to the one you are modifying. These tutorials
attempt to teach the basic concepts needed to design a fully functional airport using FSX Planner. However,
complete knowledge of all aspects of airport design is something that is learnt over time. We hope that
this is a good starting point, and also recommend all users to read the SDK provided by Microsoft, especially
the section regarding Compiling a BGL file.
The use of XML and BGL files
One of FSX Planner's main philosophies is that XML files are considered source files and BGL files are
considered a compiled file. Just as in the writing of a Java computer program, where you would not constantly
compile and decompile a class file during your work, FSX Planner does not save your airport to a BGL file.
All work should be saved to an XML file. It is only when you are ready to place the airport into the simulator
that you should compile it to a BGL file.
There are several advantages to this philosophy, the first of which is speed. It takes much less time to
open an XML file than it does to parse and then open a BGL file. XML files are also extremely easy to hand
edit, allowing the user to option to make modifications by hand if they so choose. The XML and BGL files
produced by FSX Planner are completely compatible with the flight simulator, meaning any application that
is itself 100% compatible with the simulator will be able to read or write them without problems.
FSX Planner does store some additional code in the XML file as needed for certain items such as background
images. This information is entered as comments and does not affect the compilation of the XML file in any
way.
Adding and Removing Vertices
Throughout FSX Planner, the shift key and control key are used in conjunction with left clicking the mouse
on the following tools: Apron tool; Apron Edge Light tool; Boundary Fence tool; Blast Fence tool; Fuel
Trigger tool. The shift key allows you to add a vertex to the selected item. The control key allows you
to remove a vertex from the selected item.
To add a vertex to a selected item, hold down the shift key while you click at the point where the vertex
should be added. Note for item that are polygons, such as aprons and fuel triggers it is best to zoom in
and click just slightly inside the border of the polygon.
To remove a vertex from a selected item, hold down the control key and click on the vertex you want to remove.
Panning Around the Airport
FSX Planner provides you with two ways to easily pan around the airport. You can select the pan tool from
the toolbar and the left click and drag the mouse to reposition the airport. Alternatively, if you have a
mouse with a clickable central wheel, you can click and hold down that wheel and drag the mouse around to
reposition the airport.
Returning to the Airport Center Point
A quick way to return the airport to the default pan and zoom is to select Edit -> Return To Center, or
type Control-R. This will recenter the airport over the Airport Reference Point and restore the default
zoom level.
Adjusting the Zoom Level
The zoom level of the airport may be adjusted in onw of two ways. You can select the Zoom In or Zoom Out
tool from the toolbar to adjust the zoom. Clicking on the airport with one of these tools will zoom in
or out as well as recentering the display on the location that was clicked. Alternatively, if you have
a mouse with a central wheel, you can roll the wheel up to zoom in or roll it down to zoom out.
FSX Planner displays more detail the closer you zoom in. For example, taxiway edge lines and lighting
are are not displayed at low zoom levels. At higher zoom levels, certain objects, such as Jetways,
Parking Spaces, Scenery Objects and Navigation Aids will also display text describing themselves.
We hope that this tutorial has explained some of the fundamental concepts of FSX Planner. FSX Planner
contains many more features, and we hope that you are able to explore and benefit from them.
Download FSX Planner
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