Bizarre problem - SimStarterNG okay but not running P3D direct

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

I know this seems a strange post but I'm struggling to understand why I have problems with P3Dv5.3HF2 when launched independently but not when run via SimStarterNG.

 

I do this occasionally to check things so don't need all the extra programs running that SSNG gives me.

 

But here's the mystery and it's got me beat. If I start P3D from its desktop shortcut (so no SimStarterNG) the sim will load but then the problems start. Specifically,,,

 

1) Under the Add-ons menu item the Check SODE DLL connection shows no green banner and message.

2) FSDT Addon Manager interface doesn't show.

3) ChasePlane internal views work but external ones don't. The top of the ChasePlane display turns a bright green.

4) I can see AIG Ai aircraft at the airport and my lua script shows there are 12 on the ground. But Ai Companion doesn't show any aircraft. But right-clicking the P3D interface I can select Ai aircraft and switch to them.

 

All this points to SimConnect being broken. But why does it work fine when launched via SimStarterNG but not when launched independently? As far as I can establish all the DLLs, EXEs and entries in both add-ons.cfg are runnning and are identical to the entries in those parts of SimStarterNG.

 

Finally, when I close P3D it doesn't close. It hangs and has to be terminated. Programs that launched via exe.xml have to be manually terminated.

 

Sometimes I just want to check something quickly hence why I run P3D independently.

 

I appreciate this is not a SSNG problem but there must be those who occasionally run P3D directly. Does the same happen to you?

[srcooke 422]

I have no issues loading and exiting P3D directly Ray, are you running P3D directly as admin.

 

 

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

3 hours ago, srcooke said:

I have no issues loading and exiting P3D directly Ray, are you running P3D directly as admin.

 

Yes Stephen, first thing I checked. For the life of me I cannot see what the reason might be.

 

I think enabling logging for SimConnect might show the reason for it failing to work but deciphering the code might need some help.

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

I'm attaching a simconnect.log in the hope that someone might be able to tell me if simconnect has stopped working and if so, what caused it.

 

As soon as my flight is fully loaded I check the SODE test works. It does. But then I start WideClient on another PC and when I have a connection I run Ai Companion on that PC.

 

That shows the date time at the top in Live Traffic but no aircraft entries appear. After that the SODE test fails.

 

Looking at my FSUIPC6 log this is from the time simconnect connection is established up to the point where P3D has been terminated. FSUIPC also appears to have lost connection with P3D.

 

703 SimConnect_Open succeeded: waiting to check version okay
      703 Opened separate AI Traffic client okay
    14890 Running in "Lockheed Martin  Prepar3D  v5", Version: 5.3.17.28160 (SimConnect: 5.3.0.0)
    14937 Initialising SimConnect data requests now
    14937 FSUIPC Menu entry added
    14937 Offset file 'C:\FSUIPC6\myOffsets.txt' not found (info only)
    14937 LUA.1: beginning "C:\FSUIPC6\ipcInit.lua"
    14937 ... Using Prepar3D with Academic License
    14984 \\NEWCHILL\Users\RayPr\AppData\Local\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5\Prepar3D_Default.fxml
    14984 \\NEWCHILL\P3Dv5\SimObjects\Airplanes\F-35A\F-35A.air
    15031 LUA.2: server: waiting for client connection...
    28953 Weather Mode now = Theme
    30046 \\NEWCHILL\P3Dv5\SimObjects\Airplanes\Carenado PC12\PC12.air
    30046 \\NEWCHILL\Users\RayPr\Documents\Prepar3D v5 Files\temp.fxml
    41390 ### The user object is 'CARENADO PC12 3'
    41390 ### Mode is NORMAL
    41828 ### Mode: PAUSE on
    52500 Loading Complete ...
    52531 ### Mode is NORMAL
    53218 Aircraft loaded: running normally now ...
    53234 User Aircraft ID 2 supplied, now being used
    53765 System time = 07/03/2024 16:40:41, Simulator time = 16:54:02 (15:54Z)
    53781 Aircraft="CARENADO PC12 3"
    59765 -------------------- Starting everything now ----------------------
    59765 Starting WideServer now ...
    59781 Using "C:\GoFlight\GFDEV64.DLL", version 2.2.8.0
    59781 ASN active function link set
    59781 Ready for ActiveSky WX radar with additional data
    59781 GoFlight GFP8 detected: 1 device
    59781 GoFlight GFT8 detected: 2 devices
    59781 GoFlight GFLGT detected: 1 device
    59781 GoFlight GF166 detected: 2 devices
    59781 GoFlight GFMCPPRO detected: 1 device
    59781 GoFlight GFEFIS detected: 1 device
    60875 Advanced Weather Interface Enabled
   169656 === Closing session: waiting for DLLStop to be called ...
   169968 Sim stopped: average frame rate for last 116 secs = 30.2 fps
   169968    Max AI traffic was 26 aircraft
   169968 -------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

simconnect000.zip

[Capt. PERO 398]

It might be that you dll.xml / exe.xml / add-ons.cfg disable or enable files that you need.

Could you post a SupportPack? I may have a look into.

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

Hi Peter,

 

That's very kind of you, thanks. Just to confirm everything is fine when run via SimStarterNG. It's just a problem when I run P3D direct in admin mode.

 

As far as I can establish the exe.xml, dll.xml and add-ond.cfg entries are exactly the same when run via SimStarterNG and not. I have GoFlight hardware so I'm wondering if those drivers might be an issue. But why not when running with SSNG?

 

Some programs that require SimConnect like ChasePlane and Ai Companion (for Ai traffic) don't connect but others like ActiveSky P3D are fine.

 

I've just completed a two hour flight from Prague to Liverpool and no issues at all. Here's the aupport pack.

20240308-16h12m52_SIMstarterNG_DebugPackage.zip

[Capt. PERO 398]

I just checked your last SSNG flight.

 

There you are using an Add-On.xml ConfigSet which disabled these files:

C:\AIFLOW\ADD-ON.XML
C:\AIGROUND\ADD-ON.XML

 

Scenery.cfg disables:
FlyTampa-Sydney_LC

 

You are starting prepar3D.exe with a different "Affinity" = 16777215

 

This is the only difference I can see so far.

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

Hi Peter,

 

Those two executables are for controlling Ai aircraft. Nothing critical I would imagine. I did disable them.

 

The FlyTampa Sydney LC entry needs to be disabled if users have AUS v2 installed otherwise it conflicts.

 

Did you see anything strange in my SimConnect.log? All those close commands suggest it closed cleanly. I searched it for “fail” but nothing found.

 

16777215 is okay for a CPU with 24 logical processors. I’ll check that is okay when running P3D directly.

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

35 minutes ago, Capt. PERO said:

You are starting prepar3D.exe with a different "Affinity" = 16777215

Different to what? This is a new PC bought in October.

 

I checked the AM stored on SSNG against the one in my Prepar3d.cfg. They are the same. Do you store the MainThread values in SSNG? I couldn’t find them. When I viewed the JobScheduler section of the prepar3d.cfg in SSNG it showed 6, 2 and 4. Is that in SSNG or just viewing the cfg file?

 

I switched from 0, 2 and 4 to keep the OS free on 0.

[Capt. PERO 398]

vor 19 Minuten schrieb Ray Proudfoot:

Different to what? This is a new PC bought in October.

 

I checked the AM stored on SSNG against the one in my Prepar3d.cfg. They are the same. Do you store the MainThread values in SSNG? I couldn’t find them. When I viewed the JobScheduler section of the prepar3d.cfg in SSNG it showed 6, 2 and 4. Is that in SSNG or just viewing the cfg file?

 

I switched from 0, 2 and 4 to keep the OS free on 0.

 

Okay. Different to you start the prepar3d.exe without settings an Affinity. So don't mind. I just pointed out the differences.

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

11 minutes ago, Capt. PERO said:

Okay. Different to you start the prepar3d.exe without settings an Affinity. So don't mind. I just pointed out the differences.

Isn’t the AM setting in prepar3d.cfg what you’re referring to? Sorry, I’m still confused about any possible differences between the AM settings stored in SSNG and those in the Prepar3d.cfg.

 

Is SSNG loading something different?

[Capt. PERO 398]

Am 8.3.2024 um 19:32 schrieb Ray Proudfoot:

Isn’t the AM setting in prepar3d.cfg what you’re referring to? Sorry, I’m still confused about any possible differences between the AM settings stored in SSNG and those in the Prepar3d.cfg.

 

Is SSNG loading something different?

In the RunSet you've set selected cores (to set a specific affinity) to start prepar3d.exe.

But I don't think this causes the issues. But so far - I have no idea about the root cause.

[Capt. PERO 398]

Another idea to come closer to that issue:

 

1) start SSNG

2) select your common profile

3) Set RunSet to "<< DON'T START ANYTHING >>"

4) Save Profile

5) Start Profile (it just performes all config changes without starting any program nor P3D)

6) Close SSNG

7) Start PREPAR3D to see if it works fine

 

My conclusion whould be:

1) If it does not work properly: you should check the details of your RunSet / check your shortcut settings)

2) If it does work properly, it looks like some config changes do not happen if you start without SSNG

 

In general SSNG just applies config settings to text-based config files. No magic...

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for that suggestion. I’ll try it tomorrow.

 

Yesterday I moved prepar3d.cfg and started P3D so a new one was generated. Default aircraft at default airport. I then closed P3D and it closed cleanly. It also closed ChasePlane, AIG Traffic Controller and my GoFlight driver.

 

I then started it again and switched to Manchester. That was okay. A third load I switched to Manchester and switched to a Carenado PC12. I left the sim running for a few minutes and then did the SODE test. It failed and FSDT Addon Manager wouldn’t show. Closed P3D but it had hung.

 

On other loads the sim just CTD with nothing in Event Viewer. Baffling.

 

Anyway, I’ll report back tomorrow and thank you for your support. 

[srcooke 422]

Ray does P3D work correctly via direct launch after first boot of the PC?

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

55 minutes ago, srcooke said:

Ray does P3D work correctly via direct launch after first boot of the PC?

 

Yes, pretty sure of that. That includes a clean exit too. The problems appear to start with a change of aircraft. Now that's something I don't do when launching via SSNG as I have a profile for each of the 4 aircraft I fly. There's one exception. I share a profile for the Carenado PC12 and Vertx DA-62 as they're both simple aircraft. But PMDG737, Lear25 and Concorde all have their own.

 

I never change aircraft in a fully loaded sim, only at the Scenario screen when you're advised to do that for PMDG and Concorde. The default is the Piper.

 

So that's something that differs between SSNG (no issues) and P3D launching directly.

[srcooke 422]

Is the P3D default scenario not the F22 or F35?

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

1 hour ago, srcooke said:

Is the P3D default scenario not the F22 or F35?

Yes, it is. I have the Cub as my default in SSNG profiles for those aircraft that require a simple startup aircraft. You don’t get simpler than a Cub! 

 

Anyway, it’s occurred to me that I have a window into SimConnect and whether it’s working correctly. I have a laptop running Ai Companion via WideClient but it also relies on SimConnect to display AIG Ai aircraft. If the Ai show that means everything is fine.

 

Starting with the F35 at Randolph field I had a successful link showing Ai. I moved the aircraft to five other airports around the world and on each occasion AIC showed the Ai.

 

I then changed to the PC12 expecting the link to break. But it didn’t. But at least I have a method to check SimConnect which is vital to identifying and fixing this problem.

 

More tomorrow. Lots of football to watch today. 

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

Hi Peter,

 

I followed your instructions to change an existing profile to turn off RunSet so nothing was launched. I started SSNG and then closed it.

 

Next I started P3D manually and the F35 was positioned at Randolph airfield.

Then I started WideClient on my laptop and then Ai Companion. Ai were shown which means all is well.

I left P3D running for a couple of minutes during which I checked SODE was okay and also FSDT Addon Manager. Both were fine.

I closed P3D and it closed cleanly.

 

I then started SSNG again followed by P3D. At the default airfield I switched to another aircraft - Carenado PC12. Again, all is okay.

 

At that airfield I started ASP3D. I normally start it before P3D but not this time. It didn't connect to P3D. I switched airport to EGKK. It switched okay but the Ai in Ai Companion didn't refresh. And the SODE test failed and Addon Manager didn't load. P3D didn't close cleanly and had to be "end tasked".

 

I rebooted and repeated the sequence but this time I started ASP3D first. When the scenario screen loaded ASP3D was connected. Located F35 at Randolph. Ai Companion fine so too is SODE and Addon Manager.

 

Switched to Carenado PC12. All okay. Moved to EGKK. Weather updated and Ai Companion also okay. P3D closed cleanly.

 

I'm wondering if this might be a problem with a default wx file that gets overwritten by ASP3D if that's started before P3D but if ASP3D is not started first the buggy wx file might be an issue. Also ASP3D not connecting to P3D if it's loaded last seems odd and that coincides with SODE and Addon Manager not working.

 

Finally, I started P3D without starting SSNG first and even with ASP3D running and connected after switching aircraft at Randolph the SODE test and Addon Manager both failed. P3D didn't close cleanly. After end-tasking P3D I started SSNG and closed it. Started P3D and at Randolph switched to the PC12. Ai Companion didn't show any aircraft and the SODE test failed. But ASP3D is still connected.

 

Sorry for the long post. Hope it makes sense.

 

 

 

 

 

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

Hi again Peter,

 

Does SSNG hold all the values of the Prepar3d.cfg file? If so I’d like to compare it to the one in Roaming\LM\P3Dv5 and see if there any differences. Ideally exporting it to a cfg or txt file.

 

If they’re identical I can eliminate that as being a possible problem.

[Capt. PERO 398]

Am 11.3.2024 um 14:37 schrieb Ray Proudfoot:

Hi again Peter,

 

Does SSNG hold all the values of the Prepar3d.cfg file? If so I’d like to compare it to the one in Roaming\LM\P3Dv5 and see if there any differences. Ideally exporting it to a cfg or txt file.

 

If they’re identical I can eliminate that as being a possible problem.

Yes. There is a copy that is used everytime you start a profile with an assigned "SimConfigSet". The file can be found here:

 

"C:\aerosoft\SIMstarter NG P3D\data\userprofiles\P3Dv5\cfgSet_simCfg_Master.cfg"

 

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

9 minutes ago, Capt. PERO said:

Yes. There is a copy that is used everytime you start a profile with an assigned "SimConfigSet". The file can be found here:

 

"C:\aerosoft\SIMstarter NG P3D\data\userprofiles\P3Dv5\cfgSet_simCfg_Master.cfg"

 

 

Thanks Peter. I'll compare that and mine and see what differences there are. I've spent enough time trying to nail down what is causing this problem and unless the cfg comparison shows anything strange I'll probably admit defeat.

 

The important thing is that P3D when launched from SSNG is 100% stable. That's the important thing.

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

Hi again Peter,

 

I compared the SSNG cfg to the one in roaming and the differences were minimal. Certainly nothing that could cause these problems.

 

So reluctantly I’ve run out of ideas. I’ll just start P3D via SSNG whatever I need to do. Be it checking new airports, checking AFCADs or just flying.

 

Thank you for your help. 

[Ray Proudfoot 231]

Some info which may prove important. With P3D running via SSNG I decided to do some take-off watching. I positioned the PMDG737 on 07L at KLAX and then switched to the Male Avatar and positioned him to the side of the runway.

 

I then started Ai Companion on another computer but no Ai were shown even though they existed in the sim. I tested the SODE connection and it was broken. My other tests also failed.

 

The common issue here is changing vehicle inside P3D as opposed to doing it on the Scenario screen.

 

I’m wondering if something is broken or corrupted in P3D. I’d like to reinstall the part that covers vehicles. Is that Client or Content? 

[srcooke 422]

15 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

I’d like to reinstall the part that covers vehicles. Is that Client or Content? 

 

It is the content Ray.

 

Section 7 of this guide lists the various packages: Component Installers