UTX Europe Version 1.1 Release Notes

 

 

UTX Europe V1.1 is an extensive enhancement upgrade over our already popular UTX Europe version 1.0 product.    Thanks to your terrific feedback, we feel that we have taken this product another large step forward with the Version 1.1 release.    I hope you enjoy the new enhancements and fixes.

 

 

 

Version 1.1 Feature Enhancements

 

Landclass Upgrade

 

With this release, UTX Europe version 1.1 is now our first product to include a complete landclass upgrade for FSX.   In the past, we have concentrated our efforts on providing landclass enhancements to the urban areas (cities) only.    Now, you will also see major enhancements to the non-urban areas in Europe as well.

 

In addition, our algorithm for urban landclass has been tweaked.    The version 1.1 urban landclass should provide a more accurate representation of Europe’s cities and towns.

 

Because 100% of our users will never be in agreement over the way landclass should look in any given area, we have provided a way for our users to restore the version 1.0 landclass if desired.   We do not recommend switching to the version 1.0 landclass.  But, this is an option for those users that desire it.    Instructions for switching to the version 1.0 landclass can be found at the end of this document.  

  

After installing UTX Europe version 1.1, we recommend that you disable any and all other 3rd party landclass products until you have had a chance to try out the new enhancements in UTX Europe.    In the end, if you would like to use another 3rd party landclass product with UTX Europe, you can “sandwich” the landclass in as described in the UTX Europe users manual (and also in our support forums).

 

 

Water Feature Enhancements

 

Over 300,000 water polygon features are present in version 1.0 of UTX Europe.   This makes UTX Europe Version 1.0 a much more comprehensive and detailed water environment across Europe, compared to the base FSX product.   Our water features are based on TeleAtlas Europe data, plus a considerable number of hand-digitized or hand-drawn features that have been added by Scenery Solutions over the last few years. 

 

While our water data is larger and more precise in general across Europe, we found that there were isolated locations where the Navteq water data (used in FSX) was more detailed.   

 

Version 1.1 of UTX Europe adds an additional 13,500+ hand-digitized water features to the base set of over 300,000 water polygon features.   Most of these features are small farming ponds.   But, a few of the water features are smaller lakes that we did not originally have source data to cover them.  

 

The version 1.1 patch also includes fixes for 3 very large missing lakes of importance in Scandinavia.   The complexity of these water features had caused issues during the UTX Europe Version 1.0 release compilation, which went unnoticed during beta testing.    These lakes are now working and present in Version 1.1 of UTX Europe.

 

 

 

Bug Fixes And Specific Enhancments

 

We received 114 enhancement requests from our users, which have been addressed in this patch.   Of the 114 enhancement requests received:

 

 

All of these enhancements/fixes are local in nature.   However, there was one widespread problem that resulted in island coastlines throughout Europe that were reversed (inside-out).    This issue has been fixed in version 1.1.

 

If you have any questions as to why a reported issue was not addressed, please inquire about the issue in our public support forum at:

 

http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_topics.asp?FID=19

 

 

 

Acceleration Pack Concerns

 

If you are getting duplicate object models in a few locations, you are probably running UTX with Microsoft’s FSX Acceleration Pack addon.     Please follow the instructions in the support thread by following the link below to resolve this problem:

 

http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=23111

 

 

 

 

Instructions For Restoring The UTX Europe Version 1.0 Landclass

(ONLY for those with specific needs)

 

After installing the UTX Europe Version 1.1 patch, you should notice an improved landclass environment across Europe.  

 

However, if you are a UTX Europe version 1.0 user, and you actually preferred the version 1.0 landclass over the version 1.1 enhancements, you can roll back to version 1.0 by running some batch files (scripts) that were installed to your hard disk.

 

You will find these scripts in the following locations:

 

\Scenery\UtLcCity\Scenery

 

UtLcVegV10.BAT           Batch file that restores the Version 1.0 landclass used in the cities

UtLcVegV11.BAT           Batch file that restores the Version 1.1 landclass used in the cities

 

\Scenery\UtLcVeg\Scenery

 

UtLcCityV10.BAT           Batch file that restores the Version 1.0 landclass used outside the cities (rural)

UtLcCityV11.BAT           Batch file that restores the Version 1.1 landclass used outside the cities (rural)

 

To run the batch files from windows:

 

 

 

General Differences Between UTX Europe Landclass Revisions:

 

Urban/City Landclass

Version

Advantages

Disadvantages

UTX Europe V1.0

Proprietary algorithm can pick out small villages and expanded suburb areas, normally missed by older, static land-use data.   Inconsistent, but results in more urban area across Europe.

Algorithm can be tricked into creating non-existing villages, too much urban sprawl, or inappropriate urban landclass in large cities.  

UTX Europe V1.1

More accurately classified cities and towns.

Many small villages are not depicted.

 

Non-Urban, Vegetation Landclass

Version

Advantages

Disadvantages

UTX Europe V1.0

No apparent advantages

Based loosely on same source land use data used in the base FSX product.

UTX Europe V1.1

Based on new, more precise land use data source.   More accurate non-urban landclass with generally less large areas of repeating textures.

No apparent disadvantages