FSX to Prepar3D Migration Tool - Flightsim Estonia

FSX to Prepar3D
Migration Tool
Version 1.8.2
Developed by NGO Flightsim Estonia
Visit us at http://www.flightsim.ee/

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Developed by NGO Flightsim Estonia
Registration no. 80338374
Address
MTÜ Lennusimulatsioon
Uus 1
80011 Pärnu
Estonia
Support
http://www.flightsim.ee/support/
This software is protected by copyright laws. The
software is licensed, not sold. You may install and
run one copy of the software on one computer for
personal or commercial use.
This manual by NGO Flightsim Estonia is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs
3.0 Unported License.
Last modified: 2012-12-09.
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Table of Contents
Overview.....................................................................5
Important Notes...........................................................6
Technical Requirements................................................6
Installation..................................................................7
Internet Activation....................................................7
Offline Activation......................................................9
Using the Tool............................................................10
Startup..................................................................10
Enabling and disabling virtual FSX...........................11
Closing..................................................................13
Uninstallation.............................................................14
Support.....................................................................15
Appendix...................................................................16
Re-activation..........................................................16
Backups.................................................................18
Side-by-side Mode..................................................20
Legacy Mode..........................................................21
Versioning and updates...........................................22
TrackIR..................................................................23
Orbx Modules.........................................................24
Installer Issues.......................................................25
Compatibility Information .......................................27
Change Log............................................................28
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Note Highlighted text throughout this document denotes
changes that have been made since the last version.
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Overview
In January 2009, Microsoft decided to axe Flight Simulator's
development team. Their new simulator, Microsoft Flight proved
to be sub-par and earned general shunning from serious
flight simulation community. Fortunately, Lockheed Martin
meanwhile picked up the old Flight Simulator and is actively
developing it further, now under the name of Prepar3D.
In its core, Prepar3D shares many traits with former Flight Simulator
X and FSX's addons almost always function properly in
Prepar3D. Still, several crucial configuration files have changed
their name and location, and so old installation programs
written for FSX don't work for Prepar3D. Some development
teams have already released updated installers, others have
long time ago disbanded and no Prepar3D compatibility updates
will ever be released.
Migration Tool makes Prepar3D installation look like it is FSX
installation instead, and old installers will be able to extract
their contents to Prepar3D.
This truly is the best of both worlds – a wide selection of
superb FSX addons combined with new and evolving Prepar3D
flight simulator.
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Important Notes
Flightsim Estonia cannot guarantee the quality of third party
installation programs. Even though we have taken every
precaution available to us, a poorly programmed third party
installer may still damage your FSX and Prepar3D installations.
To lower the risk of data corruption or loss, it is highly recommended
that you make regular backups of your computer
using tools such as EaseUS Todo Backup, freely available from
http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backupsoftware.htm.
Technical Requirements
• Lockheed Martin Prepar3D simulator must be installed.
Flight Simulator X is not required, but may be installed.
• Supported operating systems:
• Windows XP (32 bit only, and at least SP2),
• Windows Vista (32 and 64 bit),
• Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit).
• Administrator privileges are required to install and use
the tool.
• One-time activation is required. Both online and offline
activation are available.
• Once installed, the tool uses about 10 megabytes of
disk space.
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Installation
FSX to Prepar3D Migration Tool comes with an automatic
installer. Download it from link emailed to you, run the
program and follow on-screen instructions.
Internet Activation
When you run FSX to Prepar3D Migration Tool for the first time
after installation, an activation screen will pop up:
Enter the activation code that was sent to you and click Next.
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Another window will then pop up:
You will be asked to enter a password and an email. They are
needed for additional your protection. Should your activation
code become public, it will still be protected from illegal use by
the password you enter here. If you forget your password, you
can later retrieve it to the email address you enter here.
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Offline Activation
If online activation fails because of connection errors, license
file FSX2Prepar3D.lic will be created in tool's root folder, which
is by default located at C:\Program Files\Flightsim Estonia\FSX
to Prepar3D Migration Tool.
Locate the .lic file, transfer it to a computer connected to the
Internet (on a USB memory stick, for example), start your web
browser, navigate to http://www.flightsim.ee/support/ and
click on „Offline Activation“.
You will be asked to upload the .lic file, after which you will
receive .cdm key file. Transfer it into Migration Tool's root folder
and run the program. You should see a message informing
you about successful activation.
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Using the Tool
You can access the tool and this manual through Start menu
Programs list. You will find them under Flightsim Estonia.
Startup
On the initial run Migration Tool asks if Flight Simulator X is
installed. If FSX is installed, it carries out repairs to make sure
that Migration Tool and all other software correctly detects FSX
from now on. In case FSX is not installed, it removes leftover
registry keys to avoid any ambiguity.
Next, Migration Tool makes a backup of vital FSX and Prepar3D
files. This is carried out on the initial run, and from then
on each time Migration Tool detects major changes, such as
the addition, removal or updating of FSX or Prepar3D.
Backups can be accessed through Start Menu Programs list
shortcut. Navigate to Flightsim Estonia, open FSX to Prepar3D
Migration Tool an click on Backups. See pg 18 for details.
Migration Tool does not use the contents of Backups folder.
You may delete older backups to conserve disk space.
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Enabling and disabling virtual FSX
Once Migration Tool has started, a simple window will be
shown.
(1) (2) (3)
(7)
(4) (5)
(6)
At the moment, File menu (1) only has Exit. Options menu (2)
allows to turn on Native TrackIR support (see pg 23), which by
is default off, and change the location of backups (see pg 18).
Help menu (3) provides easy access to the manual and version
information, and its Check for updates refreshes update availability
status (7).
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Click on Enable virtual FSX (4) to make Prepar3D appear like
FSX, and click on Disable virtual FSX (5) to restore Prepar3D
back to its original state.
Explore Prepar3D folder (6) opens Prepar3D root folder in Windows
Explorer.
Statusbar (7) displays the result of automatic update checking,
which is carried out on each startup. See pg 22 for details.
If you have only Prepar3D installed:
Keep virtual FSX permanently enabled.
Disable it only when installing addons that support both FSX
and Prepar3D (like FSDreamTeam GSX) to avoid having FSX
version installed to Prepar3D.
If you have both FSX and Prepar3D installed:
Keep virtual FSX disabled when using FSX or installing addons
to it.
Enable virtual FSX when installing FSX addons to Prepar3D. It
is suggested to keep virtual FSX enabled when using Prepar3D,
but in most cases, there are no side-effects to not having
virtual FSX enabled.
See pg 20 for additional information.
Note Migration Tool does not copy any addons automatically
from FSX to Prepar3D, if both simulators are installed. You are
required to run installers once again.
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Closing
Migration Tool does not have to be running at all times when
virtual FSX is enabled. Migration Tools installs a service that
takes care of functionality that has to be available at all times.
Once virtual FSX has been enabled or disabled, Migration Tool
can be closed. It will save its state to configuration file and
restore it back to its state next time it is run.
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Uninstallation
To uninstall FSX to Prepar3D Migration Tool, click Start, select
Control Panel and then click on Uninstall a Program. You will
see a list of all installed programs. Look for FSX to Prepar3D
Migration Tool and double-click on it. A wizard will guide you
through uninstallation process.
Alternatively, you can start uninstallation from Start menu
Programs folder, the uninstaller is located right under Flightsim
Estonia in FSX to Prepar3D Migration Tool subfolder.
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Support
For best response time, we suggest that you visit our issue
tracker at http://tracker.flightsim.ee/. It allows you to file tickets,
upload attachment to them. You may follow all of your
tickets and responses to them from that single location as
well.
Our support forum is at http://board.flightsim.ee/.
If you prefer to communicate via email, contact us at
support@flightsim.ee.
Before you contact support we advise you to look through
appendix at the end of this document for general advice and
remedies for most common issues.
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Appendix
Re-activation
If for any reason Migration Tool needs to be re-activated
(significant hardware change, etc), then it will display the
following re-activation dialog on startup:
Enter the Activation Code you received when you purchased
Migration Tool (it usually consists of 20 uppercase letters and
numbers) and click Next.
In case there are any connectivity problems, you can enter
proxy settings by clicking on Proxy Settings. If this does not
solve them, then please use offline activation, available from
http://www.flightsim.ee/support/offline-activation. See page 9
for details.
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Next, you will be shown the second re-activation dialog:
oldpassword
newpassword
newpassword
Please enter your current password (the one you entered last
time you activated) to the topmost input field and a new
password twice to the two input fields below it, as highligted
on the image above in red.
New password has to be unique, meaning that it must not
have been previously used. Once all fields are filled, click Re-
Activate.
If you have forgotten your password, then click on Forgot your
Password button to retrieve it via email. If it takes more than
10 minutes for the password to arrive to your email inbox,
then please check its spam folder. Alternatively, you can
contact support for manual retrieval of the password. Contacts
can be found at http://www.flightsim.ee/support.
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Backups
Backups of vital FSX and Prepar3D files are made on the initial
run of every new version of Migration Tool, and when
Migration Tool detects major changes to FSX and Prepar3D.
By default, backups are located at:
C:\Program Files\Flightsim Estonia\FSX to Prepar3D Migration
Tool\Backups
On 64 bit versions of Windows, backups are located at:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Flightsim Estonia\FSX to Prepar3D
Migration Tool\Backups
Backups folder contains subfolders with FSX or P3D prefix
and timestamp in YYYY-MM-DD HH-MM-SS format:
Each of these folders contains the following subfolders:
Refer to the following table for contents of each subfolder.
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Backup folder contents
Folder Remarks
AppData Copied from:
%AppData%\Microsoft\FSX
%AppData%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D
Most importantly contains dll.xml, exe.xml and
fsx.cfg configuration files.
ProgramData Copied from:
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\FSX
%ProgramData%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D
Contains scenery.cfg.
MyDocuments Copied from:
My Documents\Flight Simulator X Files
My Documents\Prepar3D Files
Contains saved flights.
Root Selected files copied from FSX and Prepar3D
root folder.
FSX: fsx.exe
Prepar3D: Prepar3D.exe, language.dll
Warning To conserve disk space, no backup is made of My
Pictures\Flight Simulator X Files and My Pictures\Prepar3D Files
folders, which contain screenshots.
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Side-by-side Mode
Starting with version 1.1, it is possible to have side-by-side
installation of FSX and Prepar3D. However, any files installers
create in any common system folders (such as Start menu
shortcuts) will point to where the addon was last installed. If
you installed Digital Aviation Fokker 70 first to FSX and then to
Prepar3D, Start menu shortcuts will point to manuals and load
manager that are associated with Prepar3D copy of Fokker 70.
Similarly, if you uninstall an addon that was installed to both
simulators, the uninstaller may accidentally delete files required
to have the addon working in the other simulator. In that
case, you're going to have to reinstall that second copy.
Before you install or uninstall Flight Simulator X or any
of its addons or run any FSX utilities, disable virtual
FSX.
Also disable it before you install any addons such as
FSUIPC that already support both FSX and Prepar3D.
As long as FSX is detected, the following warning of side-byside
mode is shown:
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Legacy Mode
Flight Simulator X runs as process named fsx.exe and Prepar3D
runs as Prepar3D.exe. This difference causes some addons
to not find the simulator when they are started by Prepar3D.
To overcome this limitation, Migration Tool allows starting Prepar3D
in additional Legacy Mode, which has better support for
older addons.
To run Prepar3D in Legacy Mode, navigate to Start menu
Programs list, then to Lockheed Martin and Prepar3D, and
click on Prepar3D Legacy Mode.
Note Legacy Mode shortcut is present only when virtual FSX
is enabled.
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Versioning and updates
Migration Tool checks for updates on each startup. Check for
updates can be manually triggered from Help menu. Result of
the check is displayed in Migration Tool's status bar.
Announcements are posted to the Internet only when there
are features added or critical bugs fixed. Notification about minor
changes is available through Migration Tool's Check for update
function only.
Starting with version 1.7.0, Migration Tool uses the following
versioning convention:
A.B.C
A stands for major version number. It is incremented only
when there are fundamental changes to Migration Tool.
B stands for minor version number. It is incremented each
time features are added or critical bugs are fixed.
C stands for build number. It is incremented each time minor
tweaks and bug fixes of small importance are added.
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TrackIR
There are three ways of getting TrackIR working with
Prepar3D.
Official drivers
Beta drivers for Prepar3D are available through NaturalPoint:
http://forum.naturalpoint.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?
ubb=showflat&Number=53140
EZdok Camera Addon
With older drivers, TrackIR can be made to run through EZCA,
with EZCA istalled to Prepar3D with the help of Migration Tool.
Install TrackIR, enable virtual FSX, install EZCA and then start
Prepar3D in Legacy Mode (see pg 21).
Native TrackIR support
With older drivers, the alternative to using TrackIR with EZCA
is so-called language.dll workaround. Install TrackIR, then
start Migration Tool, click Options and then click on Native
TrackIR support to enable language.dll workaround. Enable
virtual FSX to apply changes.
Note Workaround can be enabled and disabled only when
virtual FSX is disabled. Workaround causes Prepar3D window
title to read Flight Simulator X.
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Orbx Modules
Some Orbx sceneries feature custom modules that enhance
the simulator with animations and other advanced features.
Their modules are smart enough to ask you on startup if you
wish to run them:
If clicked „Run once“, they will usually crash Prepar3D in a few
seconds. Fortunately, Orbx has released updated modules for
some airports. For example, a patch of CE4J airport is available
from Orbx forums:
http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/43268-cej4objectflow-patch-for-users-of-p3d-v13/.
Please keep an eye on their forums for any other Prepar3Drelated
updates.
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Installer Issues
Some installers only offer Repair or Uninstall options, if you
are running in side-by-side mode. This is because there is information
in computer registry stating that an addon is already
installed.
To bypass this limitation, we implement tailored fixes. However,
these fixes are far from covering all available addons. If
you happen to find such addon, please let us know! Then
we'll be able to include fix for your addon, too.
In case you are impatient and you wish to install your addons
as soon as possible and don't mind a bit of effort, then please
follow these steps (read them through before starting):
1. Click Start. Write regedit.exe into Search box and press
enter. Registry Editor tool will start.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall.
3. You will see a large list of installed software. Every piece of
software has its own folder in file tree on the left. This is the
same list you see when you open Control Panel and use "Uninstall
a Program" tool.
4. Look through the entries and locate the ones that correspond
to the addons you have trouble installing. Alternatively,
you may use the find tool, available from Edit > Find menu.
For example, Captain Sim 757 appears there under
"B752PRO_FSX". To confirm that this is indeed 757, look "Display
Name" value on the right hand panel. It should state sof-
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tware's name in more readable form. For 757, it is "757-200
Base Pack".
5. To delete entry about CS 757, select "B752PRO_FSX" on the
left-hand folder tree, make a right click and select "Delete".
6. Done! Now you can install Captain Sim 757 even if it is already
installed somewhere in your computer. Repeat these
steps for any addon that has similiar problem and be careful to
delete only entries that are about Flight Simulator addons.
If you feel inconfident about editing the registry on your own,
use a backup tool to create a backup of it and be safe, or even
better, contact our support and we'll help you through it.
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Compatibility Information
Unfortunately, addons sometimes use hacks to extend their
functionality in Flight Simulator X. Such addons may not work
with Prepar3D since those hacks may not behave as expected.
For up-to-date technical compatibility information, visit our
website at http://www.flightsim.ee/ or look around on our
support forum at http://board.flightsim.ee/.
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Change Log
2012/12/09 – Version 1.8.2
• AivlaSoft EFB fix still triggered Basic Theme on
Windows 7. This has now been finally solved.
2012/12/01 – Version 1.8.1
• AivlaSoft EFB fix for Prepar3D does not trigger Basic
Theme anymore on 64 bit systems.
2012/12/01 – Version 1.8.0
• Migration Tool now supports AivlaSoft EFB.
• Easy to use automatic updating has been implemented.
• Registry search and analysis functionality has been
improved.
• Added re-activation guide to the manual.
2012/11/19 – Version 1.7.2
• Only one instance of Migration Tool can now be run at
a time.
• Improved background service.
• Solved freezing problems on some 64 bit Windows 7
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systems.
2012/11/08 – Version 1.7.1
• Improved maintenance and system integrity verification
functionality.
• Virtual links to FSX default aircraft are now created so
that addons can reference their sounds, etc.
• Backups folder can now be relocated.
2012/11/01 – Version 1.7.0
• FSDreamTeam Ground Services X now works out-ofthe-box
in Legacy Mode.
• Support of certain A2A installers.
• Native TrackIR support now optional.
• Additional verification of path to FSX root folder.
• Automatic backup of vital FSX and Prepar3D files.
• Automatic repair of many common problems.
• Many changes to user interface.
• Automatic update checking.
• Better handling of log files.
• Separate virtual FSX folder no longer required.
• Dummy FSX program file does not trigger fallback to
basic theme.
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• Icons are refreshed each time FSX.exe is replaced with
and restored from a dummy.
• Many parts of the manual relocated or rewritten.
• New versioning convention.
2012/09/30 – Version 1.6
• Improved handling of leftovers from a certain range of
InstallShield installers.
2012/08/28 – Version 1.5
• TrackIR may now work without the need for EZdok
Camera Addon (experimental feature).
• Better disabling of fsx.exe.
• Several general improvements in program logic dealing
with installation / uninstallation / reinstalls to reduce
potential harm from manual tweaking.
2012/06/19 – Version 1.4
• Windows XP support (32 bit only).
• Much better handling of installers that halt if uninstall
information is already in the registry (from previous
installations to FSX).
• FSUIPC registration information now loaded when
running in Legacy Mode.
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• Utilities that work with shader files now supported.
• FSX.exe relocated when virtual FSX is enabled to keep
users from running real FSX (causes conflicts).
2012/05/10 – Version 1.3
• Fixed minor, but still annoying issue with backups of
FSX folders that were sometimes not deleted after real
FSX installation had been restored in side-by-side
mode.
• Prepar3D Legacy Mode shortcut now automatically
created to Start menu Programs list.
• Increased the number of custom tailored fixes for addons.
• Increased error checking and the capability of the tool
to recover on its own from some errors.
• SimBase Documents dll.xml and exe.xml now automatically
created to both Prepar3D if they do not exist.
2012/05/08 – Version 1.2
• Check of Prepar3D installation now in main program
instead of installer. Program setup wizard no longer
requires FSX or Prepar3D installed at the time of
installation.
• FSX registry entries now pointing directly to Prepar3D
instead of virtual FSX folder. This previously caused
issues with Orbx installers.
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• Custom support for EZ Camera Addon has been added.
At this stage, this is considered experimental.
• Many Captain Sim aircraft can now be installed to both
FSX and Prepar3D at the same time.
• Program buttons and messages renamed to give better
idea what they do.
2012/05/06 – Version 1.1
• Now supports installations where Prepar3D is not located
on the same drive as Windows itself.
• Side-by-side installations with FSX present also
supported.
• Added many additional checks to remove leftovers
from FSX.
2012/05/04 – First release
• (In hindsight, this release had more bugs than anticipated.
Many thanks to all customers who restrained
themselves from burning us alive.)
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