TUTORIAL – Mission Building in FSX
FSX Mission Building
Tools of the Trade
N
aturally, there has been a lot of
interest in FSX since its release
and one of the features that has
attracted a large amount of positive
attention is the Missions engine. Details
of this facet of FSX have been covered in
earlier issues of PC Pilot and commercial
developers and freeware designers
alike have also been quick to grasp the
potential of Missions. It provides an
opportunity to teach skills and explore
the FSX features and effects in an
entertaining, and often very challenging
way.
FIG. 1 Most of the
user data is in the
Missions Folder
40
40-43_jp.indd 40-41
In this new series, we will examine just
how you go about creating your very own
Mission to share with others. In doing so,
you will learn to appreciate the versatility of
this feature and we will hopefully get you
through some of the more demanding
parts! Be warned, once you start on this
path, it is a downward spiral to ‘Mission
addiction’ and I must confess that I have
descended to the point where I can wake at
night calling out: “No, no - you must use a
‘Proximity Trigger’ you fool!”
The tools
Even paths to deepening your flightsim
addiction require some basic tools!
Fortunately, Microsoft released the Missions
Software Development Kit (SDK) but it is
only available with the Deluxe version of
FSX. This kit not only includes the
information required to be able to plan and
execute your Mission, but the Object
Placement Tool which is the primary
interface we use to create our Missions.
As with all tweaking and scenery or panel
design and creation, you should know the
importance of backing up any file with
which you work as a precaution. It will also
help if you are comfortable with editing
basic configuration files.
Artificial gates can be used for
a tutorial or adventure
FIG. 2 There are an abundant number of categories
to choose from and you can create your own
Basic file structure
Firstly, however, we should examine the
folder structure and primary configuration
files that constitute the Missions engine.
Without this knowledge, we will waste a lot
of time and the inexperienced may also
inadvertently remove or change critical files -
requiring the dreaded phenomenon known
as – ‘a full reinstall’! While this series was
prepared using Windows Vista, the
procedures in Windows XP will be the same,
even if some of the diagrams in this series
look a little different to what you are used to
- it is purely cosmetic in this case!
PC Pilot Issue 48
Using Windows Explorer, open
your FSX main folder which is
located under the Program Files/
Microsoft Games folder just as it was
in FS9. However, you will notice a
few differences in the layout of the
folders when comparing the two
versions. The changes start to
appear when you open your main
Microsoft Flight Simulator X folder
(Fig. 1). You will notice that some
folders have disappeared, for
example, ‘Aircraft’, and you will
notice some new ones have
appeared such as ‘Missions’ and
‘SimObjects’. Open the ‘Missions’
folder and you will see a list of
folders with names such as ‘Airline
Pilot’, ‘Backcountry’, ‘Pilot for Hire’
etc (Fig. 2). As you have probably
guessed, these represent the main
categories of Missions installed on
your computer. If you have already
installed some commercial Missions,
you may also see them listed in the
developer’s own folder.
As an example, open the ‘Airline
Pilot’ folder and you will see a
collection of new folders with each
one representing a whole Mission as
you would find it in the FSX
Missions dialogue window (Fig. 3).
Open the Amsterdam folder. If you
haven’t yet flown this Mission, it
requires you to fly a default Boeing
737-800 from Amsterdam’s Schiphol
airport (EHAM) to London’s
Heathrow (EGLL) via a flight planned
route - although an emergency
forces you to make a decision
shortly after take-off.
Figure 4 displays the contents of
this folder. If we are to create our
own Missions, we must appreciate
PC Pilot Issue 48
the role each folder and file plays.
The *.PLN and *.WX files may
already be familiar to regular FS
tweakers. They recreate the weather
and flight plan details for the
Mission. Each time you save a flight
planned route, the details are kept in
a PLN file which is saved in your
‘Flight Simulator X’ Files folder of
‘Your Documents’ (‘User’ in Vista).
Not all Missions use a PLN file, for
example, a short VFR flight to a
nearby lake. The WX file contains
details of the weather conditions at
the time the flight was saved. The FLT
file contains the details of the
aircraft, its position, switch positions
etc. These three files are common
with many of your own saved flights
and hold no surprises.
The ‘Charts.html’ document
contains the navigation charts (if
any), that you have scanned or made
to supplement pilot navigation. The
‘Charts_Tab.html’ is just the same
chart with tabs for the Mission
overview and details. These pages,
and the ‘Details’ and ‘Details_Tab.
html’ files will be familiar to you as
the pages that users read when
preparing for a Mission, as are the
‘Overview’ and ‘Overview_Tab.html’
pages. You have already probably
recognized the ‘imgM_i’ and ‘imgM_
c.bmp’ images as the ones you see
when you start, and hopefully,
subsequently succeed in your
Mission! If you have any trouble
recognising these files, browse the
‘Missions’ section in FSX and you will
see how they are used to provide
you with information.
Now we get to the ‘amsterdam.
spb’ file. Even regular FS tweakers
FIG. 3 Individual
Missions are in their
own folders for
simplicity
Mission Building in FSX – TUTORIAL
FIG. 4 Standard Mission
folder contents
FIG. 5 You assemble all your charts and
diagrams into a single folder
FIG. 6 Rewards are
fun for the end-user may not recognize this beast as an
and simple to create SPB, or ‘Sim-Prop Binary’ format.
Missions will happily use either SPB
or XML format files, but SPB will give
you faster load times. FSX will also
select the SPB file in preference to
an XML file of the same name, which
has implications in the next issue
when we start creating and editing
our Mission. We will also learn how
to create SPB files from our working
XML file later in the series.
There are also usually two folders
within this particular Mission folder
itself. The images folder contains our
charts and images used by the html
files (Fig. 5), while the sound folder
contains all our recorded sound files
if we decide to create and include
them in our Mission package. Phew!
Don’t worry if it sounds a bit
bewildering. The structure of the
Missions data will become easier to
follow as we progress through
creating our own Mission, so don’t
get too caught up on the detail just
yet.
There is one more folder that for
41
3/8/07 15:23:26
 TUTORIAL – Mission Building in FSX
FSX Mission Building
Tools of the Trade
N
aturally, there has been a lot of
interest in FSX since its release
and one of the features that has
attracted a large amount of positive
attention is the Missions engine. Details
of this facet of FSX have been covered in
earlier issues of PC Pilot and commercial
developers and freeware designers
alike have also been quick to grasp the
potential of Missions. It provides an
opportunity to teach skills and explore
the FSX features and effects in an
entertaining, and often very challenging
way.
FIG. 1 Most of the
user data is in the
Missions Folder
40
40-43_jp.indd 40-41
In this new series, we will examine just
how you go about creating your very own
Mission to share with others. In doing so,
you will learn to appreciate the versatility of
this feature and we will hopefully get you
through some of the more demanding
parts! Be warned, once you start on this
path, it is a downward spiral to ‘Mission
addiction’ and I must confess that I have
descended to the point where I can wake at
night calling out: “No, no - you must use a
‘Proximity Trigger’ you fool!”
The tools
Even paths to deepening your flightsim
addiction require some basic tools!
Fortunately, Microsoft released the Missions
Software Development Kit (SDK) but it is
only available with the Deluxe version of
FSX. This kit not only includes the
information required to be able to plan and
execute your Mission, but the Object
Placement Tool which is the primary
interface we use to create our Missions.
As with all tweaking and scenery or panel
design and creation, you should know the
importance of backing up any file with
which you work as a precaution. It will also
help if you are comfortable with editing
basic configuration files.
Artificial gates can be used for
a tutorial or adventure
FIG. 2 There are an abundant number of categories
to choose from and you can create your own
Basic file structure
Firstly, however, we should examine the
folder structure and primary configuration
files that constitute the Missions engine.
Without this knowledge, we will waste a lot
of time and the inexperienced may also
inadvertently remove or change critical files -
requiring the dreaded phenomenon known
as – ‘a full reinstall’! While this series was
prepared using Windows Vista, the
procedures in Windows XP will be the same,
even if some of the diagrams in this series
look a little different to what you are used to
- it is purely cosmetic in this case!
PC Pilot Issue 48
Using Windows Explorer, open
your FSX main folder which is
located under the Program Files/
Microsoft Games folder just as it was
in FS9. However, you will notice a
few differences in the layout of the
folders when comparing the two
versions. The changes start to
appear when you open your main
Microsoft Flight Simulator X folder
(Fig. 1). You will notice that some
folders have disappeared, for
example, ‘Aircraft’, and you will
notice some new ones have
appeared such as ‘Missions’ and
‘SimObjects’. Open the ‘Missions’
folder and you will see a list of
folders with names such as ‘Airline
Pilot’, ‘Backcountry’, ‘Pilot for Hire’
etc (Fig. 2). As you have probably
guessed, these represent the main
categories of Missions installed on
your computer. If you have already
installed some commercial Missions,
you may also see them listed in the
developer’s own folder.
As an example, open the ‘Airline
Pilot’ folder and you will see a
collection of new folders with each
one representing a whole Mission as
you would find it in the FSX
Missions dialogue window (Fig. 3).
Open the Amsterdam folder. If you
haven’t yet flown this Mission, it
requires you to fly a default Boeing
737-800 from Amsterdam’s Schiphol
airport (EHAM) to London’s
Heathrow (EGLL) via a flight planned
route - although an emergency
forces you to make a decision
shortly after take-off.
Figure 4 displays the contents of
this folder. If we are to create our
own Missions, we must appreciate
PC Pilot Issue 48
the role each folder and file plays.
The *.PLN and *.WX files may
already be familiar to regular FS
tweakers. They recreate the weather
and flight plan details for the
Mission. Each time you save a flight
planned route, the details are kept in
a PLN file which is saved in your
‘Flight Simulator X’ Files folder of
‘Your Documents’ (‘User’ in Vista).
Not all Missions use a PLN file, for
example, a short VFR flight to a
nearby lake. The WX file contains
details of the weather conditions at
the time the flight was saved. The FLT
file contains the details of the
aircraft, its position, switch positions
etc. These three files are common
with many of your own saved flights
and hold no surprises.
The ‘Charts.html’ document
contains the navigation charts (if
any), that you have scanned or made
to supplement pilot navigation. The
‘Charts_Tab.html’ is just the same
chart with tabs for the Mission
overview and details. These pages,
and the ‘Details’ and ‘Details_Tab.
html’ files will be familiar to you as
the pages that users read when
preparing for a Mission, as are the
‘Overview’ and ‘Overview_Tab.html’
pages. You have already probably
recognized the ‘imgM_i’ and ‘imgM_
c.bmp’ images as the ones you see
when you start, and hopefully,
subsequently succeed in your
Mission! If you have any trouble
recognising these files, browse the
‘Missions’ section in FSX and you will
see how they are used to provide
you with information.
Now we get to the ‘amsterdam.
spb’ file. Even regular FS tweakers
FIG. 3 Individual
Missions are in their
own folders for
simplicity
Mission Building in FSX – TUTORIAL
FIG. 4 Standard Mission
folder contents
FIG. 5 You assemble all your charts and
diagrams into a single folder
FIG. 6 Rewards are
fun for the end-user may not recognize this beast as an
and simple to create SPB, or ‘Sim-Prop Binary’ format.
Missions will happily use either SPB
or XML format files, but SPB will give
you faster load times. FSX will also
select the SPB file in preference to
an XML file of the same name, which
has implications in the next issue
when we start creating and editing
our Mission. We will also learn how
to create SPB files from our working
XML file later in the series.
There are also usually two folders
within this particular Mission folder
itself. The images folder contains our
charts and images used by the html
files (Fig. 5), while the sound folder
contains all our recorded sound files
if we decide to create and include
them in our Mission package. Phew!
Don’t worry if it sounds a bit
bewildering. The structure of the
Missions data will become easier to
follow as we progress through
creating our own Mission, so don’t
get too caught up on the detail just
yet.
There is one more folder that for
41
3/8/07 15:23:26
 TUTORIAL – Mission Building in FSX
FIG. 7 The FSX Pilot Records keep your
rewards and milestones!
FIG. 8 The ‘Object Placement Tool’ will be our
main interface to create the Mission
Special effects and sounds can
also be incorporated
FIG. 9 If you need to do a manual install, you
need to locate the dll xml file
42
40-43_jp.indd 42-43
FIG. 10 Vista users may need to locate their
Application Data file to correctly place the dll
xml file
some reason is remote from the
Missions. That is the ‘Rewards’ folder
which you will find in the Main FSX
folder itself. If you take a peek in
there, you will find a number of
RWD files (Fig. 6). These are created
from JPG or BMP pictures of a
specific size that we can convert to
the correct format. While Figure 7
shows a sample of these, we will
look at these in more detail later in
the series.
From little things,
big things grow...
Well before we even start to open
files and play with variables, we
need to have a plan! This plan will
start as a small seed and over a
period of time will hopefully
develop into a complex, absorbing
and thoroughly entertaining
scenario. I found the best way to
start is with a large sheet of blank
paper and some spare time. You
need to consider the following
factors:
1. The general theme. Will it be a
rescue, a charter flight, an airline
‘milk-run’ etc?
2. What will the challenges be?
Engine failures, instrument
failures, weather, bears on the
runway etc?
3. What is the location, season,
weather, time of day?
4. What aircraft type is appropriate?
Will you use a default one or
include (with perMission) an
add-on?
5. Do you have any special scenery
that would enhance the
scenario?
You can always (and probably
will) modify these as we progress
through this series, but you need
to have a reasonably thorough plan
to start with. The ‘Object
Placement’ tool is far from a logical
tool to use, and you will find that if
you wish to make a major change
to your Mission later, it may involve
Mission Building in FSX – TUTORIAL
Even the
animated
animals in FSX
The Mission engine flexibility allows you can be part of
to create any genre the challenge!
the cover disk of our previous issue of PC Files\Microsoft Games folder and you should If you still can’t get the ‘Object
Pilot (issue 47); alternatively it is also now see a folder titled ‘Microsoft Flight Placement Tool’ to appear, go back to your
a lot of work to rebuild your available from www.FSInsider.com. Then, Simulator X SDK’. Navigate your way through SDK/Mission creation folder and open the
previous scenario. download and install the SDK’s Service Pack to the SDK\Mission Creation Kit folder. You ‘MissionCreation.html’ file and go to
After considering this for some 1A from www.FSInsider.com. Note: SDK should see a file called ‘dll.xml’ (Fig. 9). This ‘Setup’. It offers suggestions on how to
time, I came up with a plan that Service Pack 1A is a different update to the file tells FSX where to find the ‘Object check your ‘dll.xml’ file to make sure it is
should be reasonably simple to original SDK Service Pack 1! Please note that Placement Tool’ and turns on some configured correctly. Alternatively, visit the
program, but also contains some you must install SDK 1A AFTER the FSX SP1 parameters that allow it to become visible. FSX Mission forums at www.Avsim.com or
occasional advanced features to update to get it working - don’t ask me why, Windows XP users should copy the ‘dll.xml’ http://fsxMission.com/live/ for advice.
highlight the flexibility that is I just know this! file to their c:\Documents and Settings\<your
incorporated into the Mission To be sure you have installed everything user name>\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX Your homework!
engine. You may of course choose correctly, start an FSX ‘Free Flight’ and in the folder. If it is any consolation, you have now
your own scenario location and just task bar you should see a new option called Vista users please note that you must completed one of the most complex parts of
be prepared to modify what we ‘Tools’. Click on the Tools bar and you copy the dll.xml file to your c:\users\<your creating a mission! Until next time, I suggest
discuss to fit your plan. should see ‘Object Placement Tool’ username>\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX you fly as many default and add-on missions
We will divulge our entire plot displayed (Fig. 8). If this isn’t visible, folder. (In Vista, the name of the Documents as you can to help develop an idea of what
next issue but, to give you a hint, it something has gone amiss with your and Settings folder has been changed to works for you and what doesn’t. You may
will involve flying tourists around installation and you need to install it ‘Users’.) If you open the <your user name> also like to read through the SDK document
one of the world’s most scenic manually. The main reason this may occur is folder and the Application Data folder that you installed and become familiar with
harbours. Visit http://www.seaplanes. when you have a non-standard FSX doesn’t appear, simply type the folder the general terms and layout. ■
com.au to get the general idea! We installation or partitioned drives. destination into the task bar at the top left of
will also receive input from the real- To install manually, open the c:\Program the window and it will then appear (Fig. 10). Peter Stark
world company pilots to try to
ensure it becomes not only as
realistic as possible, but also
highlights some of the challenges
they may face! I also suggest you
read http://www.fsinsider.com/
developers/Documents/DesigningGr
eatMissionsforFSX1.pdf which
highlights many salient points for
Mission design which we can
incorporate into our theme.
The basic tools
Now we need to make sure we have
the relevant tools. When you
installed FSX, you probably didn’t
install the SDK, unless you are a
‘tweaker’ from way back and wanted
to explore the inner workings from
the outset. If you didn’t, put the FSX
Disc 1 into your drive and using
Windows Explorer, right click the
drive and then click ‘Explore’. Open
the SDK folder and double click the
Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK
installer icon to start the installation.
Please be careful with these next
steps as some recent updates have
confused many and caused many
lost hours trying to correct them! If
you haven’t already done so, install
the FSX Service Pack 1 supplied on
PC Pilot Issue 48
3/8/07 15:23:33
 TUTORIAL – Mission Building in FSX
FIG. 7 The FSX Pilot Records keep your
rewards and milestones!
FIG. 8 The ‘Object Placement Tool’ will be our
main interface to create the Mission
Special effects and sounds can
also be incorporated
FIG. 9 If you need to do a manual install, you
need to locate the dll xml file
42
40-43_jp.indd 42-43
FIG. 10 Vista users may need to locate their
Application Data file to correctly place the dll
xml file
some reason is remote from the
Missions. That is the ‘Rewards’ folder
which you will find in the Main FSX
folder itself. If you take a peek in
there, you will find a number of
RWD files (Fig. 6). These are created
from JPG or BMP pictures of a
specific size that we can convert to
the correct format. While Figure 7
shows a sample of these, we will
look at these in more detail later in
the series.
From little things,
big things grow...
Well before we even start to open
files and play with variables, we
need to have a plan! This plan will
start as a small seed and over a
period of time will hopefully
develop into a complex, absorbing
and thoroughly entertaining
scenario. I found the best way to
start is with a large sheet of blank
paper and some spare time. You
need to consider the following
factors:
1. The general theme. Will it be a
rescue, a charter flight, an airline
‘milk-run’ etc?
2. What will the challenges be?
Engine failures, instrument
failures, weather, bears on the
runway etc?
3. What is the location, season,
weather, time of day?
4. What aircraft type is appropriate?
Will you use a default one or
include (with perMission) an
add-on?
5. Do you have any special scenery
that would enhance the
scenario?
You can always (and probably
will) modify these as we progress
through this series, but you need
to have a reasonably thorough plan
to start with. The ‘Object
Placement’ tool is far from a logical
tool to use, and you will find that if
you wish to make a major change
to your Mission later, it may involve
Mission Building in FSX – TUTORIAL
Even the
animated
animals in FSX
The Mission engine flexibility allows you can be part of
to create any genre the challenge!
the cover disk of our previous issue of PC Files\Microsoft Games folder and you should If you still can’t get the ‘Object
Pilot (issue 47); alternatively it is also now see a folder titled ‘Microsoft Flight Placement Tool’ to appear, go back to your
a lot of work to rebuild your available from www.FSInsider.com. Then, Simulator X SDK’. Navigate your way through SDK/Mission creation folder and open the
previous scenario. download and install the SDK’s Service Pack to the SDK\Mission Creation Kit folder. You ‘MissionCreation.html’ file and go to
After considering this for some 1A from www.FSInsider.com. Note: SDK should see a file called ‘dll.xml’ (Fig. 9). This ‘Setup’. It offers suggestions on how to
time, I came up with a plan that Service Pack 1A is a different update to the file tells FSX where to find the ‘Object check your ‘dll.xml’ file to make sure it is
should be reasonably simple to original SDK Service Pack 1! Please note that Placement Tool’ and turns on some configured correctly. Alternatively, visit the
program, but also contains some you must install SDK 1A AFTER the FSX SP1 parameters that allow it to become visible. FSX Mission forums at www.Avsim.com or
occasional advanced features to update to get it working - don’t ask me why, Windows XP users should copy the ‘dll.xml’ http://fsxMission.com/live/ for advice.
highlight the flexibility that is I just know this! file to their c:\Documents and Settings\<your
incorporated into the Mission To be sure you have installed everything user name>\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX Your homework!
engine. You may of course choose correctly, start an FSX ‘Free Flight’ and in the folder. If it is any consolation, you have now
your own scenario location and just task bar you should see a new option called Vista users please note that you must completed one of the most complex parts of
be prepared to modify what we ‘Tools’. Click on the Tools bar and you copy the dll.xml file to your c:\users\<your creating a mission! Until next time, I suggest
discuss to fit your plan. should see ‘Object Placement Tool’ username>\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX you fly as many default and add-on missions
We will divulge our entire plot displayed (Fig. 8). If this isn’t visible, folder. (In Vista, the name of the Documents as you can to help develop an idea of what
next issue but, to give you a hint, it something has gone amiss with your and Settings folder has been changed to works for you and what doesn’t. You may
will involve flying tourists around installation and you need to install it ‘Users’.) If you open the <your user name> also like to read through the SDK document
one of the world’s most scenic manually. The main reason this may occur is folder and the Application Data folder that you installed and become familiar with
harbours. Visit http://www.seaplanes. when you have a non-standard FSX doesn’t appear, simply type the folder the general terms and layout. ■
com.au to get the general idea! We installation or partitioned drives. destination into the task bar at the top left of
will also receive input from the real- To install manually, open the c:\Program the window and it will then appear (Fig. 10). Peter Stark
world company pilots to try to
ensure it becomes not only as
realistic as possible, but also
highlights some of the challenges
they may face! I also suggest you
read http://www.fsinsider.com/
developers/Documents/DesigningGr
eatMissionsforFSX1.pdf which
highlights many salient points for
Mission design which we can
incorporate into our theme.
The basic tools
Now we need to make sure we have
the relevant tools. When you
installed FSX, you probably didn’t
install the SDK, unless you are a
‘tweaker’ from way back and wanted
to explore the inner workings from
the outset. If you didn’t, put the FSX
Disc 1 into your drive and using
Windows Explorer, right click the
drive and then click ‘Explore’. Open
the SDK folder and double click the
Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK
installer icon to start the installation.
Please be careful with these next
steps as some recent updates have
confused many and caused many
lost hours trying to correct them! If
you haven’t already done so, install
the FSX Service Pack 1 supplied on
PC Pilot Issue 48
3/8/07 15:23:33