How do I install liveries to Project Airbus A321/A320?

[cmgs]

Hello, I've been trying to install some liveries to my Project Airbus A320. I already have a few liveries which came with the package, but I've looked everywhere on the internet and none of them seemed to help me.

For the Project Airbus A320, I just drag the texture folder to the PA320 folder. Then I add in the codes to the PA320 aircraft.cfg file. Most of the time, after I do this, the liveries don't show up on FSX. I even ticked 'show all variations'. But when they do show up, there are two more problems: Either I will get an error message: 'Failed to startup the flight model' or there is no VC. As in the VC view is completely invisible and I can't see any textures or gauges, but the 2D cockpit is visible.

For the Project Airbus A321, I follow the instructions but there isn't a livery installer bat file!!

Can anybody help me?
Thank you

[JJ FSX]

Sounds like the aircraft is not installed correctly in the first place. Your VC issues have nothing to do with additional liveries.

Many freeware packages instructions are incorrect because of several reasons, one of which is many times they didn't zip it up correctly (or as they thought they did) and so their instructions aren't any good. But once you understand where items normally go you can use that knowledge to work around the problems in the packages. Many times I can tell when I read their instructions and look inside the contents of the .zip file that it really would not work to follow the instructions.

Is that a payware or freeware package? If its a freeware package, tell me the full filename and where you downloaded it from. I'll take a look at it for you and tell you if following the instructions would work or not. And if not I'll tell you how to work around it. I have found several Project Airbus freeware packages that have errors in the way they were put together or in their instructions.

Once you get it working correctly as is, then worry about installing liveries and the issues you have to deal with there.

Below is a link to a decent tutorial on installing liveries but even it is old and talks about the root folder of the Boxed version, so be sure you don't take them literally, adjust for the Steam Edition default root path. The default root for FSX Steam edition is:

Driveletter:\SteamLibrary\Steamapps\common\FSX

UNLESS you made it something different when you installed, if so, adjust for that. Everything below the root is the same as it was in the Boxed version. (except for a few additional folders the boxed version never had)

https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content.php?2064

[3 Wire]

Many of these livery add on's are usually just a texture folder and a "pre configured" text file for you to cut and paste in to the the aircraft.cfg file. Depending on who the painter was, there could be a mismatch in his cfg file.

Check these carefully to be sure the "sim =" line in the cfg file matches the one in the first entry, ie. [flightsim.0]

I've encountered this sort of problem from time to time with freeware add on AC, and even some payware ones, and there's usually some kind of mismatch between the info in the first 5 or 6 lines of the first aircraft.cfg entry and the ones for the add on livery.

If you could cut and paste the first cfg entry from your project airbus A320 and then one from an add on livery and post it here, I might be able to spot what's going on here..

Altrnatively, like JJ said, you could link us the downloads for the original PA A320 you are using, and one of the add on liveries so we can analyze what's going on.

[cmgs]

Originally posted by JJ FSX:

Sounds like the aircraft is not installed correctly in the first place. Your VC issues have nothing to do with additional liveries.

Many freeware packages instructions are incorrect because of several reasons, one of which is many times they didn't zip it up correctly (or as they thought they did) and so their instructions aren't any good. But once you understand where items normally go you can use that knowledge to work around the problems in the packages. Many times I can tell when I read their instructions and look inside the contents of the .zip file that it really would not work to follow the instructions.

Is that a payware or freeware package? If its a freeware package, tell me the full filename and where you downloaded it from. I'll take a look at it for you and tell you if following the instructions would work or not. And if not I'll tell you how to work around it. I have found several Project Airbus freeware packages that have errors in the way they were put together or in their instructions.

Once you get it working correctly as is, then worry about installing liveries and the issues you have to deal with there.

Below is a link to a decent tutorial on installing liveries but even it is old and talks about the root folder of the Boxed version, so be sure you don't take them literally, adjust for the Steam Edition default root path. The default root for FSX Steam edition is:

Driveletter:\SteamLibrary\Steamapps\common\FSX

UNLESS you made it something different when you installed, if so, adjust for that. Everything below the root is the same as it was in the Boxed version. (except for a few additional folders the boxed version never had)

https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content.php?2064

Hi, thank you so much for your response. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Here's where I downloaded my Project Airbus A320 from:
https://simviation.com/1/download-file?file=PA320.zip&fileId=35011

And here's where I downloaded some of my liveries from:
https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fslib.php?searchid=68376221
(I got all the A320 liveries on the front page, the first, second, fourth and fifth result.)

[galax17]

Those links dont lead to the pages where the actual plane and livery is. If you link to the pages where they are we can look at the content without the need to do the download.

[cmgs]

Originally posted by galax17:

Those links dont lead to the pages where the actual plane and livery is. If you link to the pages where they are we can look at the content without the need to do the download.

Okay, sorry. Here's some of the livery folders and their contents:
https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fsview.php?do=list&fid=203690
https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fsview.php?do=list&fid=201934
https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fsview.php?do=list&fid=190933
https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fsview.php?do=list&fid=190920

I couldn't find the original link for the PA320.zip file though, because I was redirected straight to the download link from a YouTube video.

[3 Wire]

I looked at your original PA320.zip, lines 3 thru 6 in the aircraft cfg file look like this..

sim=pa320-cfm56-2
model=
panel=
sound=

Then I checked the cfg files of all your downloaded repaints and the info in those lines doesn't match the original, you're going to have to edit those to match the original or they won't work.

What's more, one of those repaints (the second one down in your list) is for an IAE engine version, that won't work because your original PA320 is a cfm56 engine version, and you can't use repaints for a different engine version than the original model.

[cmgs]

Originally posted by 3 Wire:

I looked at your original PA320.zip, lines 3 thru 6 in the aircraft cfg file look like this..

sim=pa320-cfm56-2
model=
panel=
sound=

Then I checked the cfg files of all your downloaded repaints and the info in those lines doesn't match the original, you're going to have to edit those to match the original or they won't work.

What's more, one of those repaints (the second one down in your list) is for an IAE engine version, that won't work because your original PA320 is a cfm56 engine version, and you can't use repaints for a different engine version than the original model.

Thank you, so do I add the whole livery folder into FSX/SimObjects/Airplanes folder or do I have to extract the texture folder in the PA320 file, and change the PA320's aircraft.cfg config?

I found a livery only containing the texture file and install codes, and lines 3 - 6 were already matched up with the PA320.zip aircraft.cfg file. But there's still no VC textures. the VC is completely black, except for some gauges.

Here's where I got this livery from^
https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/4364/fsx-airphil-express-airbus-a320/

And here's a photo:
https://imgur.com/a/tjMWUWN

Thanks

[3 Wire]

Originally posted by cmgs7:

Thank you, so do I add the whole livery folder into FSX/SimObjects/Airplanes folder or do I have to extract the texture folder in the PA320 file, and change the PA320's aircraft.cfg config?

I found a livery only containing the texture file and install codes, and lines 3 - 6 were already matched up with the PA320.zip aircraft.cfg file. But there's still no VC textures. the VC is completely black, except for some gauges.

Here's where I got this livery from^
https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/4364/fsx-airphil-express-airbus-a320/

And here's a photo:
https://imgur.com/a/tjMWUWN

Thanks

No, Just add the texture folder from your repaint zip to the original PA320 folder, thus you are only adding the textures needed for your repaint along with all the other existing textures in your PA320 folder. Then add the aircraft cfg entry from your repaint zip to the PA320 aircraft cfg file, making sure that lines 3 thru 6 match up, and it is in logical order, ie. it should be numbered in sequence with the other entries.

I'll take a look at your flyawaysimulation download when I get a chance, and see if I can figure out whats going on...

[3 Wire]

Originally posted by cmgs7:

I found a livery only containing the texture file and install codes, and lines 3 - 6 were already matched up with the PA320.zip aircraft.cfg file. But there's still no VC textures. the VC is completely black, except for some gauges.

Here's where I got this livery from^
https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/4364/fsx-airphil-express-airbus-a320/

And here's a photo:
https://imgur.com/a/tjMWUWN

Thanks

OK, I checked out your flyawasimulation repaint, and the aircraft cfg entry looks fine, i'm not sure why the VC textures aren't displaying...

[cmgs]

Originally posted by 3 Wire:

Originally posted by cmgs7:

I found a livery only containing the texture file and install codes, and lines 3 - 6 were already matched up with the PA320.zip aircraft.cfg file. But there's still no VC textures. the VC is completely black, except for some gauges.

Here's where I got this livery from^
https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/4364/fsx-airphil-express-airbus-a320/

And here's a photo:
https://imgur.com/a/tjMWUWN

Thanks

OK, I checked out your flyawasimulation repaint, and the aircraft cfg entry looks fine, i'm not sure why the VC textures aren't displaying...

Thanks... I downloaded a bunch of liveries of the internet and did this, but all of them did not have a VC/or VC textures. :( Thanks for your help though.

[cmgs]

Originally posted by JJ FSX:

OK so I have read you guys interaction and downloaded and installed this aircraft. The VC works fine for me. So...I have the following info for you to ponder and that may help.

1. First of all, understand that repaint textures only apply to the exterior of any aircraft. They have nothing to do with anything on the interior. So get that out of your head.

2. The 2D panel uses texture files that are located in the panel folder of the aircraft. If they are missing or corrupt the 2d panel background will look just like your VC panel does. This aircrafts panel folder contains 4 files:

a.) Airbus_A321.cab (this is the file the plane gets its guages from)
b.) airbus_a321_panel_background.bmp (this is the 2D panel background for daytime)
c.) airbus_a321_panel_background_night.bmp (2D panel background for nighttime)
d.) panel.cfg (This contains all the entries for the 2D and VC cockpits and Pop-Up guages.)

Verify these exist on your system, if your missing any of them, thats an issue. If they all do exist and you still have a problem, you might try re-installing this folder in case any of them got corrupted during your original install. But since you have the guages it appears that your system can read panel.cfg and the Airbus_A321.cab file. You never mentioned if your 2D panel works or not, if so than it appears all is good here. If its black too thats something to take note of for now. So onto item 3.

3. VC panels are created in memory by FSX as needed, they do not have an associated texture file. Don't look for one. (Notice texture=$A321_1 and texture=$A321_2 in the entries below, they are not references to files, they are references to the panel object that will get created in memory)

4. The entries for the VC panel are in the panel.cfg (they are usually near or at the bottom after the popup guages entries) and here is what they look like for this aircraft on my system just after installing it and verifying it works. So check that yours match this.

[VCockpit01]
size_mm=1024,1024
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$A321_1
background_color=0,0,0

gauge01=Airbus_A321!popup_overhead, 1,1,761,354
gauge02=Airbus_A321!hsi_backup, 859,735,114,135
gauge03=Airbus_A321!ecams2, 2,356,283,282
gauge04=Airbus_A321!ecams, 2,639,283,282
gauge05=Airbus_A321!attitude_backup, 858,518,105,104
gauge06=Airbus_A321!annunciator_panel_1, 574,412,438,103
gauge07=Airbus_A321!ias_backup, 4,941,79,79
gauge08=Airbus_A321!altimeter_backup, 91,940,79,80
gauge09=Airbus_A321!popup_radio, 765,114,246,296
gauge10=Airbus_A321!popup_ecu, 576,517,279,479
gauge11=Airbus_A321!popup_clock, 859,626,105,105
gauge12=Airbus_A321!pfd_mfd_select_panel, 765,1,207,110
gauge13=Airbus_A321!pfd, 287,357,283,282
gauge14=Airbus_A321!mfd, 287,640,285,285
gauge15=n_number_plaque!n_number_plaque, 574,360,89,25

[VCockpit02]
size_mm=512,512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$A321_2
background_color=0,0,0

gauge00=Airbus_A321!popup_gear, 19,12,252,277
gauge01=Airbus_A321!autopilot, 19,297,339,110


5. Tell us what you find. If all of this looks the same on your system and a re-copy of the panel folder from pa320.zip (to ensure no file corruption) does not fix anything then we go to the next step.

6. If with this new information you don't find something obvious, if I were you I would stop messing with the liveries until you get the issues with the original aircraft as it came resolved. We need to solve one issue at a time. Since we don't know what you did when you first started installing liveries and since its a simple folder copy install, I suggest you start over from scratch, you may have done something when you started installing these additional liveries. It may save us all a lot of time if you just move or delete the entire folder out of there, re-install and test it as it came out of the box, so to speak, before you add any additional liveries. This is good practice (one change at a time and test) with FSX.

This is not related to your current problem but I found during my install, that the instructions just said "copy all the files in the effects folder and paste into your FSX effects folder", when in reality within the effects folder there is another sub folder also named effects and then the files. If a person installing doesn't catch that and drill down to the actual files they will have another effects folder under the parent effects folder and that is obviously wrong too. Did you catch that problem when you installed it the first time? In other words, verify.

I've just checked the PA320 folder, and it matches the description in your reply. I have all the files in the panel folder and none are missing, the 2D panel is working perfectly fine, and the entries for the panel.cfg file are all matching.

If I didn't mention it already, there are already current liveries that came with the folder, and they were working perfectly fine with the VC fully functional with all the textures needed. But for some reason, any downloaded livery wouldn't work and the VC would either be completely missing or completely black (except for the gauges).

First, I download the liveries off from the internet. Most of which do not have a proper installation guide or a readme file. Then, I take the texture.(name) folder and put it in the PA320 folder. Then, I take the aircraft.cfg file's entries from the livery file and put that entry into the PA320's aircraft.cfg file. I change the [fltsim.x] line with the number that corresponds with the previous one.
But I also couldn't help to notice that there were still multiple files in some of my livery folders, such as a 'model.cfm_200' folder, an 'FS X' folder, a 'panel' folder, and a sound folder. (Inside the FS X folder, there was an 'Effects' folder, another 'model.cfm_200' folder, another 'panel' folder, and another 'sound folder'. I'm not sure if that has any relevance to anything.

Some of the liveries DO have a readme file, and they might tell you to simply put the livery folder into your FSX/SimObjects/Airplanes. I have tried this, but there is still no VC/black VC.

I've already tried reinstalling the PA320 folder multiple times so the files don't seem corrupted.

Thank you

[JJ FSX]

RE: Here's where I got this livery from
https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/4364/fsx-airphil-express-airbus-a320/

OK, I just downloaded and installed this livery. Sure enough,the VC panel background is no longer working, (black like yours).

So you didn't make any mistake on installing it. Your mistake is NOT READING THE DESCRIPTION. This livery is not for this aircraft and if any of the others you have installed do this also, they aren't either.

Description of this download:

Airphil Express Airbus A320. A repaint of the Project Airbus CFM model in the colors of Airphil Express. Airphil Express is a airline based in the Philippines. Textures only,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REQUIRES the base pack from Project Airbus (PA32X_FSX_MODELS.ZIP). By Diego Roxas. Airphil Express Airbus A320 on runway.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Solution:

1. Read the description/requirments of the liveries you downloaded and installed to this aircraft.

2. Uninstall all liveries that do not belong with this aircraft.

3. Delete all downloaded liveries that do not belong with this aircraft OR download the aircraft that the liveries were made for, install those aircraft and install the liveries to those aircraft.

4. Pay attention to detail in descriptions/requirments of all liveries before you download and install them to aircraft that they don't belong with.

Problem Solved.