P3D4.4 Leisure Boats Have Vapor Trails to the Sky

[jmhelms]

Running P3D4.4 on a gaming computer
under Windows 10 (updated)...

I am just getting 4.4 up and running...I
have no add-on scenery or boats/ships installed...
I do have Orbx Base and Vector installed...

Now all my leisure boats have vapor trails
up to the sky...seems to be like an exhaust
trail...when I reduce leisure boats to "0"
the trails disappear...

I realize this may be an Orbx problem but thought I'd
check here first...I have verified the Orbx installations...

Anyt help appreciated...

[janvaane]

The effect is caused by a file called fx_wake_coastguard.fx ... search with file explorer where your file resides
in your installation folder of P3D4 you will find the file fx_wake_l.fx
make a copy and rename this copy to fx_wake_coastguard.fx and replace where it fits your search.
However this is in dutch you will see the results here: https://fseindhoven.stackstorage.com/s/ ... -id=497774

[jmhelms]

Hi Jan..thanks for the prompt reply and help...

Unfortunately, nothing helps...I may have misunderstood your
instructions....

Here's what I did/tried:

1) I found the file "fx_wake_l.fx" (File 1)...
I copied it and renamed the copy "fx_wake_coastguard.fx" (File
2)...I left both files in my "Effects" folder...that did not work...

2) I then eliminated File 1 from the Effects folder and left just File 2......that did not help...

3) I then eliminated both file 1 and file 2 from the Effects folder....that did not help..

4) I then installed File 1 from an old copy of P3D4.3...that did not work...

Hope the foregoing is not too confusing...

At a loss here...any further assistance would be appreciated...think
I should try "repairing" P3D4.4 by way of its installer?

Thanks, John H.

[janvaane]

There is nothing to repair...

?1 in which folder do you locate the generic file called fx_wake_coastguard.fx
since this file is used in Tongas Fjord scenery MM AI Ships.
If you dont have Tongas Fjord, show me the Map where this situation occurs.

[jmhelms]

Hi Jan...I did not ever find the file fx_wake_coastguard.fx
to begin with...

I created it in the "Effects" folder by copying and
renaming the fx_wake_l.fx folder which I found
initially in my "Effects" folder...all this per your instructions...

I do not have the Tonga Fjord scenery...

The effect occurs in any body of water...initial tests are
in Florida (KVPS---default airport), USA and KNGU
(Norfolk VA, USA)

I appreciate all your help...

Happy Holidays!

John H.

[janvaane]

OK! now w're getting somewhere...
This is what is is


Modification # 1 | fx_wake_coastguard.fx | When installing the files of Tongass Fjords for Prepar3D version 4.x there is a file with the filename fx_wake_coastguard.fx | This file must provide wake for a boat.
 
However, the current file fx_wake_coastguard.fx provides a water jet that enters the air vertically. The file has the size of 3.15 kB | Replace this file with the default fx_wake_l.fx This file is a default file of P3D4.x

Working method:
When installing the Tongass Fjords files, the file fx_wake_coastguard.fx has been saved twice in the folders:
 
... \ TFJ-Docks-Ships-Floatplanes-Traffic \ MM AI Ships and in
... \ TFJ-Docks-Ships-Floatplanes-Traffic \ RTMM Ships \ Effects
 
Also check whether this file may be present in the ... \ P3D4 \ effects \ folder. If so, delete this file.

Change the old files:
Locate both these files and change the name to ===== fx_wake_coastguard.fx
 
Creating the new files:
1. From the installation folder of P3D4.x, copy the file fx_wake_l.fx and
2. Rename the copy to fx_wake_coastguard.fx
3. Move or copy this file (2x) to the aforementioned folders
... \ TFJ-Docks -Ships-Floatplanes-Traffic \ MM AI Ships and to
... \ TFJ-Docks-Ships-Floatplanes-Traffic \ RTMM Ships \ Effects
4. Start P3D4.x and set to Slew 5.
Go to Navigation and select Map
6. Enter Latitude: N55 19.50 '
7. Fill in Longtitude W131 29.97'
8. Fill in Altitude +500
9. Fill in Heading 16.6
10. Fill in Airspeed 0
This is the result


Modification # 2:
map veh_Garbarge_Barge_Sm |
To prevent P3D4 from crashing when flying in the vicinity of PAKT-Ketchikan, you must completely delete the veh_Garbarge_Barge_Sm folder, including the FX, TXT and BGL file.
 
Go to the folder on your PC where you have installed the boats from .../ TFJ-Docks-Ships-FloatplanesTrafic / MM AI Ships / Simobjects" and remove the subfolder veh_Garbarge_Barge_Sm. "The BGL-file can already be placed are in the ... \ P3D4 \ Scenery \ World \ scenery folder.

[jmhelms]

Hi Jan...thanks again for all your help...

Merry Christmas!...

I understand the vapor effect and that is what I/we are
trying to fix...

I do not have the Tongas Fjords installed on my
P3D4.4....

I have no instances of the file fx_wake_coastguard.fx on my
computer except the one in my Effects folder that I created,
at your suggestion, by copying the file fx_wake_l.fx and renaming
it... I have both the aforementioned files in my Effects folder...
that does not help the problem...

Perhaps my file fx_wake_l.fx (original default file) is corrupt...
could you email a copy of yours?...my email is jmhelms2@gmail.com...

The more I think about it, the more I think it has to do with installing
Orbx Vector...seems like I did not have the problem before that...
is Vector hard to uninstall as a test?....

Once again, thanks for all your help...

Best, John H.

[janvaane]

Hi,
P3D44 does not call any .fx file in KVPS area from either P3d or ORBX; so my boats are OK;
try to eliminate the current *wake.fx files in ..\Effects folder by renaming them one by one
I thinkit's the AI one

[jmhelms]

Hi Jan...once again, thanks for all your help...
especially over Xmas...

I tried renaming the one file you suggest and it
did not help...

I will begin to rename all the suggested files one
at a time...is it OK to:

1) Leave all of them renamed as I go through the
list?...or should I immediately reactivate a file after
testing and finding it is good?....

2) Can I do the rename and test procedure without stopping
P3D, renaming the file and then starting P3D again...in other
words, will P3D catch the renamed file on the fly?

Thanks for all your help...this is a perplexing problem...

Best New Year's wishes...

John H.

[Larry_R]

Hello,

There is a high probability this problem is caused by using a wake effect that has not been updated for P3D v4.

The parts of the wake effect that are applied to the water surface now require the key Ground Decal=1 in the [Particle.x] section for each such part of the effect. All the default P3D v4 wake affects have been so modified, as well as wake effects and waterfall effects associated with Orbx products.

Any scenery that has not been updated since the release of P3D v4 could be suspect. You could temporarily disable these sceneries one by one to find out the one responsible. With that information you should be able to identify the AI boat or boats that display the issue. Look in the sim.cfg for that boat to find the specific wake effect file. If you can't find a product update, there is a lot of information available about how to manually add the needed lines to pre v4 wake effects.

[jmhelms]

Hi Jan...thnks for all the help...

PROGRESS AT LAST!...I have taken your advice and
renamed all the files containing "wake" in P3D4.4...
so now I have no "wakes to the sky" and no wakes at all...
no wakes is better than wakes to the sky...I will now
try to isolate the offending file or flies and report back..

When I had the wakes to the sky I was amazed at how many
leisure boats there were...

So, rest easy on your end...it's now all up to me...
could not have done it without your help!!...

I'll be back in touch shortly...

Best New Year's wishes...

John H.

[jmhelms]

Hi Jan...I have good news and a little bad news...

First the good news..I have found the culprit files
in my P3D4.4 and they are:

fx_wop2_p40_wake.fx;

fx_wake_ss.fx;

fx_wake_m.fx; and,

fx_wake_s.fx

All files are located in my Effects folder...to one
degree or another they contribute to the problem...
I renamed all of them...

I am using the "_l" file and the "coastguard file," the latter
probably modified as per your first suggestion...

And I have a bunch of leisure boats...

Now the bit of bad news...all my leisure boats move
about but no wakes...

I have no added scenery except for Orbx Base and Vector...

Any suggestions on solving the "no wake" problem?

As usual, appreciate all you tireless help on this issue

Best, John H.

[janvaane]

Well... at the end of the day it 's gonna work
Forget the "coastguard" _fx; that's only working with Tongass Fjord scenery
==
most of the boats use
[Effects]
wake = fx_wake_l.fx
==
...send me the 4 files..I'will check the binairies

[janvaane]

Hi John
your are running old version fx files; see my e-mail further
the last filewop2-p40 is a strange one and does not belong to p3D44

[janvaane]

SOLVED: user did copy 4.3 folders into 4.4