Brand new need help

[phantomflyer]

Hello folks,

I joined yesterday and read the FAQ's on installation and am confused. I downloaded a 1.9 GB zip file named "BigFile_Orbiter_2010" then unzipped it to look at its contents. Then I came here to find another zip file available 139Mb size named "Orbiter100830.zip"...

What is the difference between these (aside from the obvious huge size discrepancy)?

Inside the "BigFile..." there is an MSI installer which I really would rather not use as I don't want to have any registry entries.

I also downloaded D3D9Client R12 zip so I could use better Direct x rendering features - this I got when I downloaded the Big File.

What file should I use to install? Why is there such a huge difference in size between the file I got from a linkon the FAQ's page here and the one I got from the Orbiter site?

I have a registered copy of WinZip and know how to unzip using folder names, but the confusion starts when I see these differences - which one (a file name would be helpful) is the latest, most stable Orbiter release without having to download additional files so I can get up into space in timely manner? I see so many different files - some for sound (can't I get sound in my 1st install?), Does the "BigFile..." have Direct x 9 capability or do I add that later?

To state it simply, can someone please tell me what to download and whether I should allow the msi to install automatically, so I can get going here?

My system specs: Win7pro64bit/GTX780/i79500 at 3.1Ghz/8GbDDR3

Any "getting started" advice would be appreciated seeing there are so many different files sitting on my desktop.

Thanks

 

[orb]

Where did you download the BigFile_Orbiter_2010 from? It isn't available in the original distribution. This "bigfile" is probably Orbiter 2010 additionally packaged with all official high resolution planetary textures.

You can get Orbiter ZIP file instead of MSI installer for example from there:
http://www.orbiter-forum.com/download.php

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I didn't use the MSI installer myself. I keep the zip file around in the event that I catastrophically break one of my Orbiter installations, I can always go back to a baseline.

For sound, you'll need this...http://orbiter.dansteph.com/forum/index.php?page=download

While your there, you might as well consider getting the DG-IV also, it's pretty much a workhorse and is much easier to fly than the stock DG.

Something else you might need is Spacecraft3 and Multistage2. Many add-ons need it, and you never know when not having it will give you a CTD. http://users.swing.be/vinka/

Something to consider also is JoneSoft Generic Mod Enabler. It really can help with adding and dumping add-ons. Plus it makes troubleshooting a breeze (neww add on causes CTD, you can get rid of it with a simple mouse click, rather than delete all the files manually). Additionally you get to keep all the mods in one convenient location, arranged neatly in it's own sub-directory.

The D3D9 client is an external graphics client, and needed to run Orbiter_ng.

I seriously doubt that any two of us have the same Orbiter setup. There just so much out there (Space1999, World of 2001, Trek, AMSO, etc.).

BTW, Welcome to the forums!

 

[ADSWNJ]

Hi PhantomFlyer and welcome aboard. Do what Orb says (always of course , and specifically what he said above this post).

Go to the Addons tab and have a look at the recommended addons for Orbiter 2010. Then go to Tutorials and read Go Play In Space.

A few things I'd install to get started:
1. Orbiter 2010 P1 zip file
2. Orbiter Sound
3. D3D9 graphics client (not mandatory, as you can always run Orbiter.exe with the built in DirectX 7 client - and for some things its still recommended, but running Orbiter_NG.exe and enabling the DirectX 9 client written by folks here gives very pretty graphics and much faster framerates)
4. The XR-series spacecraft (XR2, XR5, etc) ... for many people here, the nicest ships to fly bar none.

Beyond this, it's personal choice. Deep space fighters, graphics textures for outer planets, a selection of over 1000 different multifunction displays (MFDs) for all manner of things, the realistic craft (launchers, Shuttle, Apollo, etc), new spaceport (e.g. Wideawake International) ... or get into space station construction (e.g. see the Orbiter Forum Space Station sub-forum for the current OFSS IV project).

People here are friendly and hugely knowledgeable, so feel free to ask any questions you need to get going. You'll be into the details of TransX or IMFD deep space maneuvers before you know it .

P.s. although this sounds weird ... start off at Brighton Beach on the Moon, rather than Kennedy Space Center on Earth. Less gravity, no air resistance, and for the basic maneuvers to get to orbit and back to base ... it's a good training ground.

---------- Post added at 02:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:57 PM ----------

PS. We now have a Phantom flight of 2 on the forum

 

[phantomflyer]

Where did you download the BigFile_Orbiter_2010 from? It isn't available in the original distribution. This "bigfile" is probably Orbiter 2010 additionally packaged with all official high resolution planetary textures.

You can get Orbiter ZIP file instead of MSI installer for example from there:
http://www.orbiter-forum.com/download.php

Sorry I made an error with the name. It is "BigFile_Orbiter_2012_100830.zip"

It has the same folders (unzipped) as the "Orbiter100830.zip" does, but also has another folder "Textures_Orbiter_2012_100830" with a bunch of folders in that, namely "Csphere100830"/ "DioneL7"/ "Earth091124_11_14"/ "Mars091218_11"/ "Moon090730_L11"/ "Planets_and_moons" within all except the "Csphere100830" folder are "Textures2" folders. Within the "Csphere100830" folder are a "Config" and "Textures" folder. Also, there is the "Orbiter100830.msi" (Windows Installer).
So, I really don't know what to do with all those other folders (within the aforementioned "Textures_Orbiter_2012_100930" folder), unless I either configure my winzip to extract it all using folder names, or (something I'm loathe to do) simply run the Windows Installer.

Thanks for the other info I got about sound and other things that can prevent CTD's. It sounds logical to me - that's always a plus for my near 60 year old brain!

For now, I would like to get the program running so I can familiarize myself with it. After that, I will expand as I become comfortable running the program. Of course, I'd love to implement high definition textures, sound, direct x9, and the use of my joystick from the get-go if at all possible.

I've been an avid flight simmer for at least 2 decades but getting quite bored with it. I used to designed and uploaded freeware aircraft panels for a few years, but gave it up as it took a lot of time.

Cheers,
Bill

---------- Post added at 23:22 ---------- Previous post was at 23:17 ----------

Wow - thanks for that ADSWNJ! That's exactly what I needed to know...

Thanks for the welcome. I know this is going to be a great experience.

Lol - 2 Phantoms here now. My Avatar looks a lot like PhantomCruisers'. I hope it doesn't cause confusion when I finally peg it to my profile!

 

[orb]

For now, I would like to get the program running so I can familiarize myself with it. After that, I will expand as I become comfortable running the program.

For starting the Orbiter experience this way, I'd recommend 1st starting only with orbiter100830.zip, which is available on the page I linked. You can unpack it somewhere and check how it works / familiarize yourself with it for an hour or 2, before you for example add high resolution Earth textures or D3D9Client or OrbiterSound. The high resolution textures and D3D9Client and add-ons you can download and install after the first familiarization just fine at a later time.

 

[phantomflyer]

A big thank you to everyone for the advice and welcome. It really assisted in dispelling my confusion. :thumbup:

 

[Ripley]

Welcome to OF!
You've just met the most terrific community on the Web! Enjoy your ride!
Just to sort this out: since that "'bigpack" is not an official release, where did you download it from?

 

[phantomflyer]

Welcome to OF!
You've just met the most terrific community on the Web! Enjoy your ride!
Just to sort this out: since that "'bigpack" is not an official release, where did you download it from?

Hello folks,

Nice to be here and thanks for the welcome! I'm really having some educational times with Orbiter and am sure lots more to grasp before I stop crashing into the space station!

I can't even figure out how to lower the landing gear in the shuttle or how to switch views. I think I'm missing a big document that tells how to fly in space. I will search for it again as I'm sure I saw it somewhere. There seems to be so much available and that becomes somewhat daunting at this juncture. But I'm slowly getting there.

I believe I got it from http://d3d9client.codeplex.com/ . I somehow wound up there when searching for the D3D9 client and saw the file "BigFile_Orbiter_2012_100830.zip" somewhere in a link they provide. It's hard to track exactly where I got it from but it is 1.97Gb in size. It has exactly the same folder as "Orbiter100830.zip" with an additional folder named "Textures_Orbiter_2012_100830" which is 2.78Gb unzipped, and the orbiter.msi executable (I have no idea how to utilize the contents of that folder without the possibility of messing up my Orbiter 2010 program). I did an experiment and unzipped it using folder names, but it still wound up exactly the same as "Orbiter100830" (129Mb) does when unzipping using folder names with the exception that there's still the same huge folder (I named all its contents here earlier) plus the "Orbiter100830.msi" (I chose not to go that route).
I'm fairly sure that all the extras in that folder are available piece-meal from the add-on section here. I hope that I will eventually get an idea how to implement those (extra planets/moons in H/D I suspect) as there are no instructions included.

When I finally do want to add H/D planets, etc., and run into difficulties, I certainly will ask for assistance.

Thanks!

 

[PhantomCruiser]

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/tutorials.php

If it'd been a snake..

 

[Tommy]

Look inside your Orbiter folder for the "Doc" folder, inside you will find the Orbiter manual which will help with things like landing gear (press <g> key), changing cameras, etc.

After that, look around the tutorials section here for "Go Play In Space". It's a bit dated, but still the best general "how to" available for a newbie.

 

[phantomflyer]

Thanks gentlemen. "Go play in space" is the one.

 

[Ripley]

...and the orbiter.msi executable (I have no idea how to utilize the contents of that folder without the possibility of messing up my Orbiter 2010 program)...

Main Orbiter core distribution comes in 2 flavours: zip and msi.
You install either one or the other, so you don't need to run the msi.
The mysterious Orbinaut who packaged that big_file together obviously put everything in there, but it must be a kind of "personal package", not intended to be downloaded by newcomers.

From the official page at http://www.orbiter-forum.com/download.php

Manual ZIP file extraction is the traditional method for Orbiter installation. Download the ZIP file, create an Orbiter folder, and extract the contents of the ZIP file into the folder. That's all, and you are ready to launch orbiter.exe. This method is non-intrusive (it doesn't change the registry or system resources), allows multiple copies of Orbiter on a single system, and can be uninstalled by simply deleting the Orbiter folder.

The MSI (Microsoft installer) method installs Orbiter like a normal Windows application. Just run the MSI file to start the interactive installation process. This method will automatically create a desktop shortcut and start menu entry, including an uninstall option. This method is easy to use, but a bit more restrictive.

 

[fort]

Hello,

Welcome to OF!
Just to sort this out: since that "'bigpack" is not an official release, where did you download it from?

On Ggle there is only two links to that bigpack ( on the same site; the second seems to refer to statistics about that package ):

http://www.karelia.topfiles.ru/archives/file/BigFile_Orbiter_2012_100830/9227593.htm

http://www.karelia.topfiles.ru/archives/statistics/9227593.htm

 

[Matias Saibene]

Hello,



On Ggle there is only two links to that bigpack ( on the same site; the second seems to refer to statistics about that package ):

http://www.karelia.topfiles.ru/archives/file/BigFile_Orbiter_2012_100830/9227593.htm

http://www.karelia.topfiles.ru/archives/statistics/9227593.htm

The link on this web page redirects to the official Orbiter download site. Site that is advertised on the main page of Orbiter as File distribution host.

That file "Bigfile" looks official, because it is in the official download page.

The first time I found Orbiter, I downloaded it from that site.