APLGEN 2.6 Adventure and Waypoint Builder for Flight Simulator
APLGEN 2.6
Adventure and Waypoint Builder for Flight Simulator
Created by Ernie Alston, 71302.3415@compuserve.com
Page Last updated Jul 11 2000 (Previous update was Apr 10 2000)
(Previous program update was Feb 24 2000)
Status of Aplgen 2.6
What is Aplgen ?
Voice ATC files
APLGEN Downloads
FS98/FS2000 Add-on's supported by Aplgen
Links
FAQ's
New Project Titled FSBuild see details here !
FS2000 Update for Wilco van Deijl GPWS98 adventure here !
Aplgen 2.6 now supports the FS2000 GPS file format !!.
Aplgen 2.6 now supports the very popular FS Navigator .FSN file format !!.
How to Use Aplgen guide at Masamitsu Oodono's home page (Japanese)
Aplgen 2.6 is now being endorsed by Virtual Airlines who know a good thing when they see it !
Cardinal Express (CARDEX)
Shore Airways LAX Hub
WestWind Miami Hub
Cyber Virtual Airlines
Austrian Virtual Airlines
Aplgen has been featured in the Articles below.
Avsim SATCO special feature by Doug Horton
Avsim Understanding SID's - Preferred Routes and, STARs Tutorial
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Status of APLGEN 2.6
Version 2.6 will be a progressive update, I'll be adding a new build every couple of weeks,
since I have written over 500 new flight plans. Build-2 is the second installment, about 70
flight plans. This is mostly a flight plan update, but there are some small changes in the
program to note.
Separate F2000 and FS98 directory options removed, so there is only a single Flight
Simulator directory (complete).
Separate Navstar99 directory option (not available yet)
Change all airport coordinates to ramp area of each airport, so when the FS2000 .PLN file
is loaded FS2000 places the aircraft at the airport ramp area (50% complete)
Improve ATC Approach vectoring (60% complete).
Various small user reported database errors fixed.
I should note here now, I'm the process of changing the airport, and runway coordinates to
be optimized for FS2000. Meaning there could be some unexpected results in a few cases for
FS98 users (but only a small number of cases).
From the Aplgen Vancouver - Juneau (CYVR-JNU) route Doing the LDA approach for runway 8
in the Boeing 737. Be carefull not to turn too early there's some high ground in front of runway 8 !.
Isn't that Alaskan scenery great ?
Way cool thingy # 35 in Flight Simulator 2000, look at how the GPS drew the track Aplgen's
ATC vectors from Sister Island (SSI) to the Localizer for LDA rwy 8 approach.
(Ver 2.6)Build - 1 Feb-24-2000
(Ver 2.5)Build - 1 Nov-7-1999
(Ver 2.4)Build - 3 Oct-27-1999
(Ver 2.4)Build - 2 Oct-6-1999
(Ver 2.4 Build - 1 Sep-20-1999)
(Ver 2.3 Build - 5 Aug-28-1999)
(Ver 2.3 Build - 4 Aug-9-1999)
(Ver 2.3 Build - 3 Jul 19 1999)
Added: (Build 2 (Mar 9 2000)
- 75 new flight plans (use the 'W' filter to view the new flights), the new flights in
Build - 1 are still listed.
- Flights to
CEDAR RAPIDS (IA)
KOGOSHIMA (JAPAN)
KOMATSU (JAPAN)
MATSUMOTO (JAPAN)
MEMANBETSU (JAPAN)
OBIHIRO (JAPAN)
OITA (JAPAN)
TOKUSHIMA (JAPAN)
YAMAGATA (JAPAN)
Fixed
Filter display in error, flights outside of Filter were being displayed.
Added: (Build 1 (Feb 24 2000))
- Almost 100 new flight plans added (use the 'W' filter to view the new flights).
- Flights to 8 New Cities added
ACAPULCO (MEXICO)
ACCRA (GHANA)
AMAMI (JAPAN)
DAMASCUS (SYRIA)
RIYADH (SAUDI ARABIA)
KUWAIT (KUWAIT)
BEIRA (MOZAMBIQUE)
Lots more to come in the coming weeks.
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What is APLGEN ??
Aplgen builds flights using a database of pre-written flights (2,331 in the current
release). You select the flight; APLGEN builds the adventure, and the selected
Navigation and waypoint files to be used with the more popular GPS/Nav type add-ons
for Flight Simulator.
APLGEN is a flight 'builder', builder not Flight planner. The flights are already
pre-written, basically you have hundreds of flights and adventures already pre-written
(2,331 in this release).
APLGEN primarly is an adventure creator, but the information used to create the
adventure is used to build the files for the FS add-ons such as GPS98, EFIS 2.5,
EFIS98, NAVDASH, DPGPS, ACS-GPS, NAVSTAR99, FSNavigator, and Apollo's First Class
747 Panel, FS2000 GPS.
APLGEN creates realistic ATC adventures for IFR Airliner type flights.
The ATC adventures are "Text" by default, but voice can be added to them if
your willing to record the voice files. A script for each adventure is provided
for those who wish to add voice.
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Voice ATC
Voice ATC .WAV files available for selected routes.
aplgnwav.zip Generic Voice files (used for all flights)
lax-wav.zip Los Angeles Int'l
san-wav.zip San Diego Lindbergh
Flights which have Voice ATC from the files above.
SAN-LAX San Diego Los Angeles
LAX-SAN Los Angeles San Diego
More will be added as I get time, or others record some and let me know about it.
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APLGEN Downloads
The latest release is APLGEN 2.6, its freeware, get it at the Link below.
FS98 Aplgen supported Add on's
Flight Simulator 2000 GPS
FSNavigator 3.0 (Helge Schroeder)
Giants of the Sky Boeing 747 Panel
Navstar99 (David Drouin)
EFIS98 (Papa Tango/Chris Brett)
GPS98 (David Drouin)
EFIS 2.5
NAVDASH 2.5
SQUAWKBOX FMS
DPGPS
ACS-GPS98 V1
ACS-GPS98 V1
First Class 747 Panel
Aplgen 2.6 now supports 11 different FS98 add-on formats, by far more than any other FS98 add-on !!.
Aplgen 2.6 now supports the FS2000 GPS format, just load the .PLN file from the FS2000 planner menu.
For creating Navstar99 files, Aplgen needs Data Access Objects (DAO) 3.5 to talk to the the Navstar99
databases, and create Navstar99 flight plans.
If you have an Office 97 component (ie Word,Excel. Acsess,etc), Visual Basic 5/6
or Visual C++ 5/6 then you have DAO 3.5 on your CD.
If you don't have the above products, download DAO 3.5 from one of these sites
(See the Aplgen manual for how to install DAO 3.5).
The DAO 3.5 install instructions are also here.
Dao 3.5
Dao 3.5
Dao 3.5
Dao 3.5
Dao 3.5
Dao 3.5
APLGEN FAQ's
(This is by far the most often asked question).
1) How do I access the adventure(s) created by Aplgen from within FS98?
Aplgen creates the adventure source code, you need to compile it for use
with FS98. The adventure source file is written to the same directory where
the aplgen.exe program is running (unless you changed it in the options)
So say you selected the first route (DIAP-GMMN), after pressing "Build"..
a) The adventure source would be in a file named "DIAP-GMMN.TXT"
b) You then need to compile the source using an APLC compiler. If you don't have a
compiler, you need to download one. The FS98 SDK has one included, I recommend
Martin Smith's APLC32 Compiler.
(Optional Http link)
c) Once you install the compiler, go to the 'Options' page in Aplgen (Page 2), and enter
the directory "and filename (ie aplc32.exe) where you installed the APLC compiler
(it can be the same directory as Aplgen if you wish) (don't forget to press Save config
options button).
d) For Martin Smith's APLC32 compiler, run the "Options.exe" program, and 'check'
the option named "force output to FS adventure directory".
After the above steps are done Aplgen will automatically call the APLC compiler,
and the compiler will automatically send them to your FS98/ADV directory. (IOW
you'll see them in your FS adventure list right after the build).
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2) What File format are the .DBF files in ? I can't open them in MS Access, Dbase etc.
The .DBF files are plain ascii text, use Notepad or Wordpad to read and edit them.
However I'd advise you to be carefull when editing these files.
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4) Is there a way I add my own routes to Aplgen.
There is, but it there are several steps involved, and its a manual
process (in some ways tedious). So that information is by request only, so I only
have to deal with people really serious about doing it.
E-mail me for the 28 page file describing the steps involved in adding your own
routes.
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APLGEN PROBLEM REPORTS
1) Unable to Compile the adventure source files. The .TXT file is created, but
the compiler is not called. My directories in the options are correct as far
as I can tell.
A problem passing file names with spaces in them to the APLC compiler.
Example: C:\Program Files\Aplc 32
The best workaround is to...
a) Copy your APLC32.EXE (or APLC.EXE) file to the directory where you
installed APLGEN.
b) Start Aplgen.exe
c) Go to Page 2 (Options)
d) Leave the "APL Source Dir" box 'blank'
e) In the "APLC(32) Compiler" box enter "APLC32.EXE" (that's all no path)
f) Click the "Save Config Options" button
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2) Unable to compile adventure, Compiler returns message(s) (MS SDK Compiler)
"366 Invalid number"
"THEN with no IF"
An ARTCC center frequency (Guam) was in the wrong format, the SDK compiler returned
the errors above.
Dowload the latest release which fixes this problem.
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3) Aplgen won't recognize my EFIS98 directory.
Problem handling long file names.
Download the latest release which fixes this problem.
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4) Aplgen display too big for the screen, would like to resize it, but
cannot.
On smaller monitors (like 14" 800X600,etc) with low resolution this is a
problem. Unfortunately In Visual C++ property pages with embedded multiple
property sheets like Aplgen has cannot be resized via normal mouse dragging.
As all three pages would be resized together likely making a mess of the display.
Download the latest release which now has a smaller
screen (Minimum 800X600 supported)
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5) Navstar99 Export stops with "No record found" error.
Download the latest release which fixes this problem.
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6) Navdash 2.5 the runway displayed for the departure Airport is off by
several degrees.
I hadn't earlier anticipated Navdash needing that information, this
is now corrected in the current release.
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7) Duplicate Script file being displayed on display list, but .SCR has different
file name for 2nd file.
Dowload the latest release which fixes this problem.
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8) SquawkBox to Navdash Converter not converting all items in the SquawkBox
.SBP file to the Navdash file.
Dowload the latest release which fixes this problem.
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Sites with links to APLGEN 1.6 & 1.7
Tornado.be
Wings.Ark.com
FSA Forum de Simulacoes Aereas (under "ferramentas (utilities))
Fly Homepage
Flight Sim America
Flight Brasil
Sites with links to APLGEN 2.6
UKSIM For Pilots
INFORMATION ABOUT AIRCRAFTS, FLIGHT SIMULATOR 98
Johan Cranenburgh's great site (Simtakeoff.com)
Vol virtuel l'annuaire des simulateurs de vol et de l'aviation
Navdash 2.5 site
Aéroport de Brest-Guipavas LFRB pour Flight Simulator&trade
Bernard's Home Page
These Flight Simulator Add-Ons/Utilities/Sites,etc are recommended for use with Aplgen 2.6
Phoenix 777-200 PRO
FSNavigator 3.0 (Helge Schroeder)
NAV 30 (Ted Wright)
Giants of the Sky Boeing 747 Panel (Flight-1)
Navstar99 (David Drouin)
First Class 747 Panel (Apollo)
SquawkBox (Joe Jurecka)
GPS98 (David Drouin)
GPWS98 (Wilco van Deijl)
APLC32 ver 1.25 (Martin Smith)
Microsoft FS98 SDK
NAVDASH 2.5 (E-Chan)
DPGPS (Mazakazu Irie)
ACS-GPS98 V1 (Alain Capt)
ACS-GPS98 V1 (Alain Capt)
EFIS 2.5, EFIS BASE v1, EFIS DATA
EFIS98 (Chris Brett/Papa Tango)
Precision Manuals 707,747,757,767 Manuals and Aircraft
Charts:
Aplgen makes heavy use of SID's, STAR's and airways. Fortunately now many of these procedures and charts are
"freely" available on the Internet. Below I have listed web sites that have charts in electronic form for
'free' downloading.
There are the 3 main web sites sites which have charts available for free download.
SAS FSS Site (Great place for SID's & STAR's)
(Most charts are now free).
"Clearance Unlimited web site" U.S. only (SID's and STAR's now available).
U.S & Canada Airport Diagrams (Taxiways)
U.S. SID's & STAR's (Charts to-go)
FS CHARTS Worldwide easy to read Navigation charts (USA,CANADA,ALASKA,CARIBBEAN,HAWAII,EUROPE,MIDDLE EAST,AFRICA)
(The Map Base) Digital Charts and Maps Online Free
Below are charts I've found available from sites "other" than the 6 sites listed above.
Anchorage http://www.aviationseminars.com/anchorage/airports.htm
Athens http://avsim.com/greece/artcc/
Atlanta http://www.cnvi.com/atlartcc/atl.shtml
Baltimore http://www.idsi.net/~christie/NY_CTRnav.html#TERPS
Berlin http://195.222.212.220/
Bogota http://skbo.sistenet.com/english/airports.html
Bordeaux http://www.belka.fr/ARTCC_FRA/us/navaids.htm
Boston http://members.home.net/petdocvmd/Boston/file.htm
Boston http://www.idsi.net/~christie/NY_CTRnav.html#TERPS
Charlotte http://www.cnvi.com/atlartcc/clt.shtml
Chicago http://www.clearanceunlimited.com
Chicago http://www.flash.net/~snady/chicago/chifiles.htm
Cleveland http://members.tripod.com/CLE_CTR/charts.html
Copenhagen http://home8.inet.tele.dk/klose/public_html/ekch.htm#sidkenik
Dallas http://home.earthlink.net/~snady/ftw/index.html
Denver http://www.coffey.com/~glwidup/deninfo.html#star
Dusseldorf http://195.222.212.220/
Frankfurt http://195.222.212.220/
Hamburg http://195.222.212.220/
Houston http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/tcaphou/pil.htm
Kansas_City http://smarkb.home.mindspring.com/artcc/plates.html
London http://www.satuk.org.uk
Los Angeles http://idt.net/~alstone/lactr/Airports.htm
Marseille http://www.belka.fr/ARTCC_FRA/us/navaids.htm
Memphis http://www.dboard.com/~marty/memphis/kmem.htm
Miami http://home.adelphia.net/~toddt/
Minneapolis http://members.tripod.com/ianabel/msp_artcc
Munich http://195.222.212.220/
New York http://www.idsi.net/~christie/NY_CTRnav.html#TERPS
Newark http://www.idsi.net/~christie/NY_CTRnav.html#TERPS
Nice http://www.belka.fr/ARTCC_FRA/us/navaids.htm
Oslo http://www.sol.no/games/flightsim/file/Kart/Kart_fra_AIP-Norge/Oslo Gardermoen/
Ottawa http://www.satcan.satco.org/fltops/default.html
Paris http://www.belka.fr/ARTCC_FRA/us/navaids.htm
Philadelphia http://www.idsi.net/~christie/NY_CTRnav.html#TERPS
Pittsburgh http://www.idsi.net/~christie/NY_CTRnav.html#TERPS
Providence http://www.idsi.net/~christie/NY_CTRnav.html#TERPS
Rio De Janeiro http://www.firbs.satcosa.com.br/sbglc.htm
St.Louis http://smarkb.home.mindspring.com/artcc/plates.html
San Juan http://home.coqui.net/elprieto/SJUARTCC/page3.html
Sao Paulo http://www.firbs.satcosa.com.br/sbspc.htm
Sydney http://www.acay.com.au/~willt/yssy/enthus/welcome.html
Toronto http://www.satcan.satco.org/fltops/default.html
Toronto http://www.satcan.satco.org/ontario/toronto/downloads.html
Vancouver http://www.satcan.satco.org/fltops/default.html
Vancouver http://www.satcan.satco.org/cyvr/yvrdown.htm
Vienna http://195.222.212.220/
Washington DC http://www.idsi.net/~christie/NY_CTRnav.html#TERPS
Washington DC http://dc-center.hypermart.net/jpeg.html
Windsor Locks http://www.idsi.net/~christie/NY_CTRnav.html#TERPS
Zurich http://195.222.212.220/
Ernie's other stuff on the web
Flight Manager 1.1 Review (SimFlight.com)
SATCO Boston ATC Party Article (SimFlight.com)
Jet Operator 99 Review (Simflight.com)
EFIS98 / First Class 747 Article (Simflight.com)
Giant's of the Sky Boeing 747 review (Simflight.com)
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Strategies and Secrets Book review (Simflight.com)
New York Mets history
Adventure Programming Language Page
Ernie's Aviation page (lots of outdated links however, no time to update them)
McDonnell Douglas Aircraft page (hasn't been updated in along time)
Since Sep 20 1999