With the option to now download airports to our own devices in SU3B, are we now able to edit default airports yet? If so, is there a bgl to xml exporter that works? I have tried ADE, Airport2Project, and bgl2xml and none will decompile the bgl for KATL I have. If there is an option on the SDK to decompile, that would be great, but unsure if that exists. I do a lot of editing default airports and would like to make some changes sooner rather than later.
you probably should not discuss “decompiling game files” here
afaik that is against Terms of Use
you can, and have always been able to edit default airports - this has been doable since day one of 2020 & 2024 through the Developer Modes “Airport Editor” in game
ADE 2020 can be used for default MSFS2020 airports, and those can be used for a basis in the devmode for MSFS2024.
This is the only way I know of how to edit default airports. As stated above, I have tried ADE with 2024 files and it doesn’t work. Yes, it does work for 2020, but the files in 2024 are updated and have caused issues if I use 2020 files for 2024. I am trying to use the in game files in order to utilize what has already been completed and just update the data and buildings.
if your comfortable using ADE then learning the in game editor should not be a huge deal
and a major bonus is the product you end up with will not have pirated software in it (that is effectively what Anything you pull from a game file would be)
in addition the Scenery Hub should be opening soon, it will allow you to download the original build files (or some of it, nothing to be used in ADE) and you can directly edit them thru the sdk (frankly just working in dev mode without the hub may be less restrictive)
but again editing airports does not require you to Reverse Engineer game files - thats something we should probably stay away from (especially in the official msfs forum)
1 Like
Again, I am familiar with the SDK, but you can’t edit in game BGLs in the SDK to my knowledge. It has to be an xml for the SDK to work. I have plenty of experience using the 2020 SDK and editing default airports. The current ADE which is no longer being updated, will not open the downloaded file from SU3B. I get error message:
This is my profile on FS.to with plenty of airports having been edited:
https://flightsim.to/profile/b757/trending
You’ll need to learn to use the DevMode. You can remove and add elements from there. You can still use ADE for MSFS 2020 and load that project into the 2024 Devmode to make it current and corrected. ADE is not going to be updated for 2024, hence the need for the 2024 Devmode.
1 Like
no you cant directly edit the game files in dev mode or the sdk - thats not how your supposed to be making Scenery in this game afaik
this game allows for Dev Menu Editing of airports - both new and default
i edited my home airport in 2020 just a few months after 2020 launched (this was my first addon :P), i removed 3 buildings and an antenna, then replaced them and just moved the antenna plus a bunch of default scenery additions - all without Touching any copyrighted BGL Game files
but hey its no skin off my back
good luck expecting asobo to add tools too reverse engineer their work, they spent a Lot of time making this game editable without having to do that
1 Like
I have been able to use the 2024 SDK somewhat, and it’s not super different from 2020. I understand how to use the SDK. If I create a project in ADE from MSFS bgl, which is what I did for every single default airport I worked on in 2020, it decompiles the bgl into the xml file that then becomes editable. It has all the taxi routes, parking spots, and so on. However, I can’t do that same set of tasks with a 2024 bgl file. I don’t want to have to redo everything that Asobo has already done, I just want to add to it.
I know that inside the game SDK, you can add stuff, but 1) it doesn’t open the bgl file, and 2) there is nothing on the airport if I create a new project for an airport.
I’m not trying to pirate anything either, just want to update the current airport files for some airports that need taxiway names updated, parking spots and airline codes updated, and taxiways added like the end arounds at ATL and DFW if the are missing in the current build.
im not trying to be argumentative but ..
i still dont think your understanding what i have been trying to tell you
you Dont have to recreate a complete New bgl to edit default airports (or even 3rd party airports if you know how)
by default you can Already do this in the Dev Menu
everything your talking about doing can be done in game already
you select “Override Airport” when creating the project, and the airport is there and complete, it has Everything asobo used - you then use polygons and menu’s to remove things or just add to them
this does not Remove Anything unless you select to do so in the Properties tab
since you mentioned KATL atlanta i will use that as an example in some pics - there is Very little you can not do with scenery in game already (im not really a scenery guy but i know the basics)
I am aware that you can edit the airports with the SDK and you can add stuff, but I guess my point is not coming across in the way I meant for it cause even in your example, there is nothing under the airport to edit. In 2020, you can decompile the bgls to xmls, which is what ADE does, and then you can edit existing airports. See photo below:
There are taxipoints, gates, and everything in the original airport. I am simply wondering if there is a way currently to do the same thing to 2024 airports now that we can download them to our own drives. I am not looking to recreate airports already created. Asobo airports have many areas of improvements and that is what I am looking to do.
The BGL format has never been part of the documented API, so there’s nothing that can really be offered for that.