FSDreamTeam forum

Products Support => Las Vegas FSX/P3D => Topic started by: GerdD on April 21, 2009, 10:01:29 pm

Title: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 21, 2009, 10:01:29 pm
After I have installed and activated KLAS, ALL FSDreamteam FSX-Airports
are without the terminal buildings i.e. looks like in test mode. All have been
bought and have activated status. FS9 installations are still fine.
Re-Installations does not change this.
How can this be fixed?

Thanks
Gerhard Dresch
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 21, 2009, 10:07:25 pm
just forgot...    Addon Manager is available and shows active status.

Gerhard Dresch
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 21, 2009, 10:24:37 pm
This doesn't have anything to do with activation. Your activation hasn't been lost.

It's just that KLAS requires all the previous sceneries to be updated.

The KLAS installer automatically updates all your older sceneries, but of course only the ones it finds when it runs. If you re-installed other FSDT sceneries using the installers you already had, after installing KLAS, you have undone the update.

So, you need to do ONE of these:

1) Re-run the KLAS installer, after you have finished installing the other FSDT sceneries

2) Download the Stand-alone Addon Manager and run that one, after you have finished installing the other FSDT sceneries

3) Download again and install the full installers for the other sceneries, because they have been all updated

Any method will work the same, just choose whichever way you prefer.
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 21, 2009, 11:04:48 pm
Thanks for immediate response.
Have re-installed LSZH, LSGG, KORD and KJFK but nothing changed.
Also re-installed addon manager. Also KLAS is still without terminal.

Any further idea?

Gerhard Dresch
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 21, 2009, 11:10:16 pm
Thanks for immediate response. Have re-installed LSZH, LSGG, KORD and KJFK but nothing changed.

I haven't told you to reinstall the other sceneries (unless you re-download them all), you need to reinstall KLAS again, so it can update the *other* sceneries. If you install the other sceneries using the installers you already have, it's normal you have lost KLAS.

So, I'll repeat it again: you need to do ONE of these:

1) Re-run the KLAS installer, after you have finished installing the other FSDT sceneries, so it can update the other sceneries.

2) Download the Stand-alone Addon Manager and run that one, after you have finished installing the other FSDT sceneries, so it can update the other sceneries.

3) Download again and install the full installers for the other sceneries, because they have been all updated

Any method will work the same, just choose whichever way you prefer. Don't reinstall the other sceneries, unless you re-download them all now.
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 21, 2009, 11:20:36 pm
Sorry, but this is absolutely missleading.
Does this mean the old downloads are changing
after the installation and are not usable anymore?

So whenever You say, "install the other sceneries",
You mean "first re-download them"?
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 21, 2009, 11:41:27 pm
Does this mean the old downloads are changing after the installation and are not usable anymore?

Of course not, just that you always need to run the KLAS installer AFTER them, so it can get the chance to update them.

If you want to keep your older downloads, and (for any reason) you don't want to reinstall KLAS (which doesn't create any problem, anyway), you should at least download the current Stand Alone Addon Manager, which is a much shorter download, because it includes only the updates for the sceneries, not the full sceneries.

You should only re-download the older sceneries, if you don't want to remember the fact you need to always install KLAS or the Stand-Alone Addon Manager after the other sceneries to update them.
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 22, 2009, 12:23:25 am
Understand. But things must be a bit more complicate this end.
I have re-downloaded and re-installed KLAS now. Nothing else.
Do You agree, that at least I should have terminal at KLAS, independant
what´s gona happen with the older installations? (which I have not checked yet)
Unfortunately I don´t have!

Gerhard
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 22, 2009, 12:30:59 am
Do You agree, that at least I should have terminal at KLAS, independant what´s gona happen with the older installations? (which I have not checked yet)Unfortunately I don´t have!

Yes, of course. You should see at least KLAS, even if you other sceneries are not updated.

If you see the Addon Manager in the menu, and it says KLAS is active, than it's active and the program runs properly. However, in FSX you also need the other module ( Couatl.exe ) to run, in order to see the scenery.

Do you see the "Couatl powered plugin..." menu under the Addons menu ?
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 22, 2009, 09:57:08 am
No, dont see that.

How can I fix it?

Gerhard Dresch


Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 22, 2009, 10:47:24 am
No, dont see that.

That's why you don't see anything. Do you at least remember if you had a request to trust it ?

Can you please try this once, Uninstall KLAS, and say it to remove both the Addon Manager and the Couatl engine at the end ?

Then, go to your FSX.CFG, located at %APPDATA%\Microsoft\FSX and open it with a text editor.

Find, under the [trusted] sections, all the lines that have a reference to Couatl.exe inside (it will be a long line with many random characters inside) and remove the whole line, and repeat this for every line that contains Couatl.exe, if there are more than one.

Then, reinstall KLAS, and check you get asked about trusting the Couatl Scripting Engine at start. You need to reply Yes, of course.

If you don't see the Couatl menu under Addons the first time, it's not a problem. Just launch FSX again.

If you still don't see it, then report back.
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 22, 2009, 07:48:32 pm
At the end of uninstalling KLAS got error-message when updating exe.xml:
"End tag Launch.Addon does not agree with start tag Simbase.document"
Exe.xml has not been updated.
Remember that I´ve seen it already at the end of the installation.

Furthermore have no Couatl.exe entries at all in FSX.CFG.
Have stopped at this point. How shall I proceed?

Gerhard Dresch
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 22, 2009, 09:11:22 pm
Regarding the error on updating the EXE.XML....
To me it looks like that FSDT-installer does not update this file
properly as far as the tags are concerned. Maybe only if there is already an
entry from another addon available which is the case here. I already got this error on
other FSDT-Installations except the first one and I never recognized
Couatl in FSX-menu. However my other airports (LSZH,KORD,KJFK,LSGG)
were fine untill the KLAS installation. Strange.

Gerhard Dresch
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 22, 2009, 09:22:11 pm
At the end of uninstalling KLAS got error-message when updating exe.xml: "End tag Launch.Addon does not agree with start tag Simbase.document" Exe.xml has not been updated.

This message means your EXE.XML was already corrupted before the installation. The installer will FIRST check it, and if any syntax error is found, it will not touch it. As you said yourself, you did see the error during installation, meaning the corruption was due to something else, because the first thing the installer does is to check the file and, if any error is found, it will NOT dare to touch it, and it would issue a warning that the file has an error and should be fixed first. This was probably caused either by another addon, or by hand-editing the file.

If you post your EXE.XML I can fix it for you, it will proably just a missing closing tag. Or, if you just delete it, our installer will create a new one from scratch that is surely correct.
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: JamesChams on April 22, 2009, 09:24:24 pm
Regarding the error on updating the EXE.XML....
To me it looks like that FSDT-installer does not update this file
properly as far as the tags are concerned. Maybe only if there is already an
entry from another addon available which is the case here. I already got this error on
other FSDT-Installations except the first one and I never recognized
Couatl in FSX-menu. However my other airports (LSZH,KORD,KJFK,LSGG)
were fine untill the KLAS installation. Strange.

Gerhard Dresch


Mr. Gerhard Dresch,

I have had the same EXE.xml file issue since the release of KJFK and the Coualt engine's ParkMe/YouControl.  Recently, Virtuali suggested that I try seperating the TAG entires statements on seperate lines and that fixed it; in my case the <PATH> and <NAME> tags were listed on the same lines and this screwed up the way the installer would install/update the EXE.xml file by completely deleting the original EXE.xml file and replacing it with its own new File; instead of just inserting the necessary code for coualt.  This resulted in countless attempts on my part to figure out what was causing this only to find out that TIDY.exe (a component of the installer) wasn't doing the job properly.  Apparently this happens for the freeware AICarrier tool and many of Wilco's aircraft models that install/use the EXE.xml file.  I always backed-up my exe.xml file just to be sure; for me the AICarriers code was being deleted.

Next, thank you for placing this "Disapearing" scenery elements issue on the forums; I just noticed this post after I'd reported it to Virtuali via PM.  Now, I know what to do to try and resolve it.  But, I have another (private) issue with addon manager that Virtuali is helping me to resolve and that is why I didn't post this before here.  Not to worry it has NOTHING to do with the product; its a windows registry issue.

Anyway, hope this helps you and thanks for helping me.  ;)

==============================================

PS: Virtuali,
I'll use the re-install KLAS as my option to see if that will resolve the disappearing scenery elements that I mentioned to you in the PM; Also, do let me know about the other question in the PM. Thanks.
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 22, 2009, 09:56:02 pm
Can confirm that updating the EXE.XML was the issue.
Just to summarize, I did the following:
- replaced EXE.XML by a version before FSDT
   (this version had already a functioning entry from another software)
- installed KLAS
   (this installation has used the start tag for it´s own entry so that one start tag was missing)
- corrected EXE.XML with missing start tag
- started FSX with trusting Couatl
..and everything was fine again!

So FSDT should correct it´s installation into EXE.XML if there is already another entry available.

Many thanks for all the help, ideas and patience.

Gerhard Dresch
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: JamesChams on April 22, 2009, 10:11:26 pm
...So FSDT should correct it´s installation into EXE.XML if there is already another entry available....
Mr. Gerhard Dresch,
I said that to them once too... and, do you want to know what they told me then?  ???

The famous words "Its NOT a problem here."  ;)

But, in all fairness, I was the only one reporting it as an issue at the time and honestly, untill now, I'd never seen anyone else report it.  But, for me the issues is resolved although, it might happen in the future for another product so it might be a good thing for them to look at it again and get "TIDY.exe" to tidy-up a little better.

Later!
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 22, 2009, 10:26:07 pm
So FSDT should correct it´s installation into EXE.XML if there is already another entry available.

Don't you think that something as obvious as that has been tested already ? If it wasn't, we would have the installer to fail for EVERY user that has more than an entry on EXE.XML!! Which of course it's not the case.

So, your EXE.XML before the installation must have had something different than usual, and it might be helpful to have a look at it, otherwise there's no chance to improve the installer.

Most of the code in the installer is there JUST to fix issues or anomalies created by others, that's why we first run the XML file with the MS XML validator BEFORE touching it.
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 22, 2009, 10:50:54 pm
I cannot justify if my EXE.XML had something "unusual".
The only entry in there was always from Goflight´s driver and
was not currupt and worked all the time. This one was always proved
from your installations and found ok. But was corrupt AFTER the FSDT installation
so that the next FSDT installation had problems. (You remember, I have all the 5 airports)
That was the reason why Couatl never came up in FSX for trusting.

These are the facts from a customers perspective. You can accept this and talk to your developer
or you can ignore it and getting faced with the same again. It is not a shame if something does
not work perfectly, but it is a shame not to accept it if it´s obvious.

Kind Regards
Gerhard Dresch
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 22, 2009, 11:11:48 pm
P.S.
Have sent 2 EXE.XML files to your support email.
The one before FSDT installation and the one after.
Hope this helps identifying and fixing the installer problem.


Gerhard Dresch
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 22, 2009, 11:44:36 pm
This one was always proved
from your installations and found ok. But was corrupt AFTER the FSDT installation

I'm sorry, but I've just tested the files you sent me now, and there's are no problems with the installer. Your file was correct BEFORE running the installer, and it's still correct AFTER.

This is the file you sent me:

Code: [Select]
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?>
<SimBase.Document Type="Launch" version="1,0">
  <Descr>Launch</Descr>
  <Filename>EXE.xml</Filename>
  <Disabled>False</Disabled>
  <Launch.ManualLoad>False</Launch.ManualLoad>
  <Launch.Addon>
    <Disabled>False</Disabled>
    <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
    <Name>GoFlight Hardware Interface</Name>
    <Path>C:\Programme\GoFlight\GFDevFSX.exe</Path>
    <CommandLine></CommandLine>
    <NewConsole>True</NewConsole>
  </Launch.Addon>
</SimBase.Document>

and this is the modified file I've get after installing KLAS:

Code: [Select]
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="Windows-1252"?>
<SimBase.Document Type="Launch" version="1,0">
  <Descr>Launch</Descr>
  <Filename>exe.xml</Filename>
  <Disabled>False</Disabled>
  <Launch.ManualLoad>False</Launch.ManualLoad>
  <Launch.Addon>
    <Name>Couatl</Name>
    <Disabled>False</Disabled>
    <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
    <Path>fsdreamteam\couatl\couatl.exe</Path>
  </Launch.Addon>
  <Launch.Addon>
    <Disabled>False</Disabled>
    <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
    <Name>GoFlight Hardware Interface</Name>
    <Path>C:\Programme\GoFlight\GFDevFSX.exe</Path>
    <CommandLine></CommandLine>
    <NewConsole>True</NewConsole>
  </Launch.Addon>
</SimBase.Document>

So, the installer doesn't corrupt it, it must have been something else.

Could be one of your FSDT installers was older ? Because, we keep updating its code, each time we found new "unusual" things, like in this case the empty <CommandLine> tag, which is not illegal, but not very common. The current installer is able to deal with it, but I'm not sure since when, probably after one of the LSGG updates.
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 23, 2009, 12:25:10 pm
The shown file did not agree with the one I´ve sent you.
In my one the first line was not in. Please check my mail again.

In the file "after Update" I´ve sent you, line 13 was missing.
As this file was updated from the installer in KLAS yesterday,
for me this installation does corrupt this file.
(you remember, I replaced EXE.XML with the one I´ve sent you before the update)

Perhaps this missing 1st line is causing the problem.
I can asure that EXE.XML has never updated by any other
software excpt Goflight + FSDT. Also not manually.

Gerhard Dresch
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 23, 2009, 01:53:37 pm
The shown file did not agree with the one I´ve sent you.In my one the first line was not in. Please check my mail again.

Yes, you are right, your email file didn't have the XML header.

So, that's the issue: which just confirms what I was saying all along: you had an unusual EXE.XML file, because it didn't had the XML header, which is mandatory for XML docs encoded with the Windows codepages, it's optional only for UTF-8 or UTF-16 files, which is not the case here so, it's good practice to always include one. In fact, the sample EXE.XML provided by Microsoft FSX SDK has the header, and all XMLs produced by any of the MS SDK tools always have an header, and anything on MSDN says the header must be present. And, the companion DLL.XML that is installed together with FSX (EXE.XML is not automatically created, but DLL.XML is) has an header so, I guess this should be considered the official standard.

I think this issue is that the GoFlight installers that originally created your EXE.XML, didn't put the header, and that confused our installer. FSX probably tolerates the file anyway, because it just assumes Windows 1252 code page but, I wonder what might happen on a Japanese or Russian FSX...

So, we just need to add another special case of fixing strange stuff created by others in the installer. Fixing the missing header, before doing anything else, in this case...
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 23, 2009, 02:31:18 pm
GerdD,

Please, disregard my latest message, I tought the missing XML header in your file might have been a problem, but I haven't checked for it.

I made another test, with exactly the same file you sent me, without the header, and IT WORKS OK! The installer IS able to fix an EXE.XML, even without the header, and there are no problems with GoFlight lines.

However, I need you to do me a favour: can you try again on your system, with the XML file with the missing header, and install the Stand-Alone Addon Manager, being absolutely sure it's the current version we have online right now (it has been updated on KLAS release date ) ?

It's best to use the Stand-Alone version, so there are no issues with uninstalling sceneries, but the XML modying routine is exactly the same so, it's a check that is valid for all installers.

Because, the XML fixing stuff is made launching an included executable program we include with the installer so, if this has failed on your system, it might be a reason why the XML with the missing header hasn't been fixed, and it might be interesting to know why, if this is the case.
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 23, 2009, 05:57:46 pm
Have downloaded the latest AddonManager and installed it against
EXE.XML without the missing header. (the one I sent You)
The result is below:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="Windows-1252"?>
<SimBase.Document Type="Launch" version="1,0">
  <Descr>Launch</Descr>
  <Filename>exe.xml</Filename>
  <Disabled>False</Disabled>
  <Launch.ManualLoad>False</Launch.ManualLoad>
  <Launch.Addon>
    <Name>Couatl</Name>
    <Disabled>False</Disabled>
    <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
    <Path>fsdreamteam\couatl\couatl.exe</Path>
  </Launch.Addon>
  <Disabled>False</Disabled>
  <ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
  <Name>GoFlight Hardware Interface</Name>
  <Path>C:\Programme\GoFlight\GFDevFSX.exe</Path>
  <CommandLine></CommandLine>
  <NewConsole>True</NewConsole>
</Launch.Addon>
</SimBase.Document> 

As You can see, the 2nd start tag <Launch.Addon>
is missing. The same as in my yesterdays KLAS installation.
It looks like the missing header is causing something wrong.

Gerhard Dresch
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: virtuali on April 23, 2009, 06:54:58 pm
As You can see, the 2nd start tag <Launch.Addon>  is missing. The same as in my yesterdays KLAS installation.

It looks like the missing header is causing something wrong.

Yes but, as I've said, it only happens on your machine. I just made a test with the file without the header, and the installer both put the header back as it should, and it does not get confused by the lack of it, because all the <Launch.Addon> tags are correct.

Are you sure you haven't seen any error messages during the installation ?
Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 23, 2009, 07:15:10 pm
Absolutely no error messages during installation.


Title: Re: After installation + activation of KLAS all FSDT-FSX sceneries are in test?
Post by: GerdD on April 23, 2009, 09:17:54 pm
Made another test.
At my end Addon Manager definitely only updates properly
if the first line is in the EXE.XML.
My system is a very up-to-date XP SP3.
If it updates properly on other systems without this first line,
only Microsoft components could make a difference.
For example, I also have installed MS C++ 2008 Redistributable.