FS9 cfg Terrain Max Vertex Level

[hobby]

Some time ago I installed LFAT photo and it works well on my setup. One part of the readme file instructs one to edit the following entry in the fs9 cfg to read:

TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL=21.

I did that at the time but I am now rather curious to find out the original FS9 numerical value because I should like to return that entry in the FS9 cfg to the original value 'just to see what happens'(!)

Dependent on the result I shall consider retaining or deleting the LFAT photo scenery.

Can anyone help please?

[DanKH]

19 if memory serves me correct

[DelP]

The other way I think Dan..

..the lower the number, the higher the resolution.

My .cfg hasn't been 'default' for so long I've forgotten...maybe 22 or 23.... :think:

Derek

[DanKH]

Nope sorry...

Setting the TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL=19 gives you LOD9 = 76m (which is in fact FS9 default, after a bit of research)
TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL=20 = LOD10 = 38m
TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL=21 = LOD11 = 19m
etc.
etc.

The higher the vertex level the better the resolution

Don't set it higher than the LOD of the landscape you're overflying, as it would then use too much unnecessary resources.

Btw. I don't think FS9 is capable of using more than TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL=21 if I recall correct.

To have finer details you must use FSX, and of course a mesh that corresponds to that setting.

[Bridon Bear]

Btw. I don't think FS9 is capable of using more than TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL=21 if I recall correct.

I think the update to FS9.1 made it possible...I certainly use the 21 figure on my setup with Horizon UK Terrain Mesh.

Regards.

Bridon Bear

[hobby]

Many thanks for finding the FS9.cfg default value of Terrain _Max _Vertex_Level of 19.

This afternoon I changed my fs9.cfg back to 19 and went to LFAT. I had installed LFATphoto scenery plus LFATv3 airfield. Both give very detailed and pleasing scenery of this area. I found that having changed the number from fs9.cfg TMVL from 21, which is a requirement indicated in the read me file of LFATphoto, to the default 19, that the LFATsceneries did not work. The flatten files just did not like the number 19. I then deleted the LFATphoto scenery files from FS9 and went to LFATv3 airfield - which is meant to work in concert with LFATphoto. Still the same problems, humps and bumps appear where they should definitely not appear. Deleting LFATv3 airfield from FS9 and returning to what is now the default FS9 LFAT airfield showed a smooth runway with stock buildings.

It seems that if one wishes to run those two pieces of scenery in fs9 the Terrain_Max_Vertex_Level must be set to 21.

Having had a break for an evening meal I returned to my shelves of fs9 programs. One of these is FSGlobal2005 which purports to be the ultimate in accurate coast lines. On the packaging is printed:

"In your Flight Simulator world is rendered with elevation points a massive 1.2km apart. FS Global 2005 provides new mesh terrain with points only 76m apart "

Following the reasoning given in the replies above so that the definition of scenery detail reaches the advertised 76 metres apart should the FSGlobal 2005 installation program have overwritten the default fs9.cfg TMVL to some number higher than 21?

Thank you for showing interest in this obscure fs9.cfg entry.

[DanKH]

... I think the update to FS9.1 made it possible...

Yes, even without sp1, it was possible, but alas no more than 21 I'm afraid....

If you want to let your computer work for it, you have to switch over to FSX, but still, not many meshes available are that detailed

There are some few areas available in LOD12= level 22
and even fewer (if any) in LOD13 = level 23

Here's the list:
lvl 19 ~ 76.4m = LOD 9
lvl 20 ~ 38.2m = LOD 10
lvl 21 ~ 19.1m = LOD 11
lvl 22 ~ 9.6m = LOD 12
lvl 23 ~ 4.8m = LOD 13


But the coverage of those a minimal, and the file sizes are humongous.... so my best advice is to stay at 21 in FS9, and you may creep up to 22 in FSX

Personally I've set mine to 22 (in the FSX.cfg it is this setting: MESH_RESOLUTION=22)

But generally you shouldn't be tampering with the cfg directly in FSX, but use the sliders instead, as the program has so much span in them that is more than enough for everyone given the type of hardware available today.

If you're interested there is a interesting article here:
http://www.visualflight.co.uk/vfrterrai ... /index.htm

Available free meshes can be found here:
The whole world in 70m approx 20.5 or so :-)
http://www.simviation.com/fsdterrainsrtm.htm

and especially FSX:
http://www.simviation.com/fsx_terrainmesh.htm

[hobby]

I shall not be changing to FSX in the foreseeable future.

I have gone back to 21 for my FS9 TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL and I have also re-installed LFATphoto and LFATV3 airfield.

An informative experiment.