Lockheed Martin has released a second patch, n° 2.5.12944.0 for Prepar3D v2.5.

This second patch fixes four problems:

• sun glare with HDR,
• shadow issue with wave and bathymetry,
• SimDirector gamepad,
• dull night lights in VC

Here the links for all versions:

Version Academic - Professionnal: http://www.prepar3d.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=164

Version Professionnal Plus: http://www.prepar3d.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=165

Take care to backup old files before ... in case you want to restaore the last version

To cool to use a few hours to spare, we set the head to see what version v2.5 Prepar3D was able to do with the two types of addons: those oriented Landclass and scenes Photo Reliable.

1. These two categories are represented respectively by Orbx one side and France-VFR another. The result is that now the two can coexist on the same simulator.

2. Show that P3D 2.5 digests very well in France Brittany 3DA-VFR (latest technology but showed worries about P3D v2.4). For Orbx, our previous test had shown that the answer was a long time: yes !.

Some pictures to get started:

My Settings

In the configuration panel of  NVIDIA:

1. General Tab put all parameters on "Default",
2. Prepar3D Tab, put all parameters on  "Default"

In the file  "Prepar3D.cfg", a variable has to be set on "1" because it removes the autogen poping and works perfectly on P3D 2.5 ... on v2.4, it was not tip-top

The P3D settings:

The two scenes "Bretagne VFR 3DA" provide an extensive autogen (but different from the autogen as defined by FSX, it is the 3DA standard of France-VFR). Fortunately, France VFR offers us three possible restitutions:

For small configurations (32bit OS): a basic version (in the "VFR Voln Britain - Objects layer")

For more muscular configurations (64bit OS) a complement (in the "Bretagne VFR Voln - Objects layer 64-bit"). The name has nothing to do with 64bit files, it refers to the OS.

For very muscular configurations of objects and trafficking contained in the "Extras" directory "Bretagne VFR Voln - Ground layer" to be placed in the "Scenery" of "Bretagne VFR Voln - Ground layer".

After various tests on my configuration ( I7 4770k 4Ghz, 4MB GTX780), it turns out that the best results are obtained for the flight by disabling 64bit scenes (keep declared for any screenshots).

The generosity of the object volume has a drawback: the loading time. My PC gets stuck on 6% in "Loading field data" a good number of minutes required for the digestion of what strength P3D him swallow, but the wait is worth it.

Some details about the settings "Scenery" essential to the display of scenes:

1. "Level of detail radius" determines the radius (in thousands of m) in which objects and autogen are loaded. We have shown that its size has much less influence on the framerate of P3D than that of FSX, so the smaller the radius is bigger and better is the aspect in P3D.

2. "Scenery complexity" is to the maximum base setting recommended for Orbx products and why not FVFR for maximum performance display.

3. "... Autogen density", these settings are to be changed depending on your hardware (but the point still has two maximum).

The rest of the settings is to your taste and the power of your hardware (which manages your taste in general!).

A video tite on the spot to show the behavior of 3DA:

The 3DA objects are displayed in the radius required normally to P3D: more incongruous appearances or disappearances.

Saying that P3D v2.5 provides only a lot of unnecessary problems (full install a hotfix and third party applications that are not yet updated) is going a little fast.
Although improvements of v2.4 are not included in the list published by Lockheed Martin, the proof is: the regional scene 3DA seduced us!

In our opinion, proper waste by P3D v2.4 (at least in standard P3D), the relatively long processing time of loading shows that P3D preparing "its works" (one of the more than 2.5) the objects provided by France -VFR.

So Orbx and 3DA products works together ! In addition the two coexist because if France-VFR kept the rider used to crush the management of autogen files already installed on the PC to place his AGX product that takes no account of Orbx, integrates Orbx in its definitions 3DA object identifiers (sic).

Now that a publisher does not want to share the economic market with each other, we do not care a bit and even much since there is a simple solution for these products to coexist harmoniously on our machines.

To restore this:

1 - Go to the directory Orbx here: "C: Lockheed MartinPrepar3D v2ORBXScriptsCustom.au"

2 - Copy Files:
       AutogenDescriptions.spb
       Materials.spb
       RoofDescriptions.spb
in:
       "C: Lockheed MartinPrepar3D v2Autogen"

Friendly, cool Bede40

Lockheed Martin has released a hotfoix for Prepar3D v2.5. This hotfix is to bring 2.5.12942.0 to 2.5.12943.0.

Academic/Professional: http://www.prepar3d.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=162
Professional Plus: http://www.prepar3d.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=163

The hotfix addresses the following issues:

• Corrects issues with library object shadows
• Respects effects flagged as on ground
• Fixes issue with Scenery Library requiring a restart
• Properly handles the cursor position in SimDirector’s text boxes

Extract the appropriate zip file and copy the contained files on top of your default installation. You should accept all prompts to overwrite files (Yes or Yes to All).

The full Prepar3D download links will be updated in the near future to include this hotfix, but you are encouraged to use this hotfix patch whenever possible. Please be aware, if any third party software modified any of the dlls included in the hotfix, you will need to reinstall their content/add-on. Additionally, when using this hotfix, any Prepar3D repair or reinstallation will need the hotfix reapplied.

WARNING

PThink to backup your file "api.dll" before the update in order to be force to reactivate votre P3D. If your licencse doesn't have been clear by the patch you should send and email to Lockheed Martin and wait .....

 - Active Sky Weather has some problems with this patch.

Finally the Prepar3D new version is released this night : the v2.5 is ready to download !

It is a compete version and NOT a patch so it will necessary to uninstall the actual version after saving your configuration files in order to become operational quickly.

To keep your license on your hard drive without to send an e-mail to LM, in order to obtain a new registration order the best solution is given by  Jean Maridor from Pilote-Virtuel.com:

1. Start a new installation of Prepar3D v2.4 over the existing installation,
2. When the installer asks you if you want to repair or to uninstal, select "uninstal" and Prepar3D v2.4 will be removed from your hard disk without altering your license;
3. It remains to install the v2.5 when the previous step will be completed..

So towards the Lockheed Martin web site to downlaod 10 Go of datas: http://www.prepar3d.com/purchased_downloads

Good luck

Tips and Trucks:

Please see http://prepar3d.com/news/2015/02/98935 for detailled informations

1 - Thinks to backup theses directories:

%PROGRAMDATA%Lockheed MartinPrepar3D v2
%LOCALAPPDATA%Lockheed MartinPrepar3D v2
%APPDATA%Lockheed MartinPrepar3D v2
%USERPROFILE%DocumentsPrepar3D v2 Files

2 - In v2.4 terrain.cfg was in the main sim folder. In v2.5 LM moved the terrain.cfg into this folder %PROGRAMDATA% Lockheed Martin Prepar3D v2

All you have to do is copy the terrain.cfg to the main sim folder. Install all your ORBX addons and copy the terrain.cfg back to :

%PROGRAMDATA% Lockheed Martin Prepar3D v2

thats it

3 - In the P3D.cfg, in order to reduce reloading of textures when changing views you change the following line from:

UseGlobalTerrainView=False
TO:
UseGlobalTerrainView=True

4 - How can i make the path to put in my aitraffic? Before, all was in Main section on Prepar3d.cfg

There is now a SimObjects.cfg file inside the folder.

%PROGRAMDATA%Lockheed MartinPrepar3D v2 

Search for “Path Configurations” in the Learning Center.chm for more information.

5 - For OrbX problems: http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/91641-please-delay-your-move-to-p3d25-until-we-ship-some-new-files