FYI:

AutoOrtho 0.6.0-1 is out. I couldn't find the change log that was out earlier. You might like to try it.

It hasn't been tagged as the latest release (it's still tagged as a "pre-release") but here's the changelist:

https://github.com/kubilus1/autoortho/releases

Important changes include:

• Using a separate path for the XPlane install dir, separate from the scenery install dir
• Better doc building
• Use 'requests' lib to have preserved and more limited number of connections to map providers (with configurable fetch threads)

What's Changed

• Update maptypes by @kubilus1 in #321
• Fix log handler being overridden by @kubilus1 in #323
• Tiles dict should not be class variable by @kubilus1 in #325
• Allow use of requests library. Cleanup a bit by @kubilus1 in #332
• Update tests, add diagnostics by @kubilus1 in #334
• Add separate setting for XPlane install dir. by @kubilus1 in #337
• Reuse build workflow. Do a nightly build. by @kubilus1 in #338
• Use 'mike' to build docs by @kubilus1 in #341
• Fix syntax by @kubilus1 in #342
• Fetch depth by @kubilus1 in #343

So it looks more like under the hood fixes (so-called "tech debt") moreso than adding any new features or bug fixes.

What is Auto Ortho, what does it do and why is it necessary? I didn't realise that Orthos were still a thing or wanted? Does this program automatically stream realistic ground orthos into the sim? If so it's a game changer.

Edited August 30, 20232 yr by jarmstro

14 minutes ago, jarmstro said:

What is Auto Ortho, what does it do and why is it necessary? I didn't realise that Orthos were still a thing or wanted? Does this program automatically stream realistic ground orthos into the sim? If so it's a game changer.

That's exactly what it is. You install AutoOrtho, install a bit of base scenery for each zone you want (North America, Europe, Africa, etc). and then leave it running while running X-Plane. It then streams Ortho tiles for the area that you're flying in. 

It's s bit finicky for some but it's working pretty well for me and many others. If you're flying XP11 or XP12, AutoOrtho is definitely worth giving a try. 

https://github.com/kubilus1/autoortho

Edited August 30, 20232 yr by Malaromane

3 minutes ago, Malaromane said:

That's exactly what it is. You install AutoOrtho, install a bit of base scenery for each zone you want (North America, Europe, Africa, etc). and then leave it running while running X-Plane. It then streams Ortho tiles for the area that you're flying in. 

It's s bit finicky for some but it's working pretty well for me and many others. If you're flying XP11 or XP12, AutoOrtho is definitely worth giving a try. 

https://github.com/kubilus1/autoortho

Well that sounds promising. That's the sort of thing that will persuade me to give XP12 a try. Visuals matter.

Do you need separate autogen packages when using AutoOrtho?

Yes, it does orthos only. You can use something like xEurope (Simheaven) on top of it to add the autogen

It works pretty well and the performance hit is not bad. I do see some pixelated patches though.

Not sure if I've asked this before, but where does Autoortho get its mesh from?

O4XP generates its own mesh and has XP drape the orthos over it, offering some control over mesh generation properties. I'm curious if Autoortho does the same (as I want to run custom parameters for mesh generation).

Edited August 31, 20232 yr by Bjoern

Are there any videos showing it working?

7 minutes ago, jarmstro said:

Are there any videos showing it working?

Here's a nice comparison video for stock XP12, XP12 w/SimHeaven, XP12 w/ AutoOrtho, and XP12 w/AutoOrtho & Sim Heaven

 

8 minutes ago, Malaromane said:

Here's a nice comparison video for stock XP12, XP12 w/SimHeaven, XP12 w/ AutoOrtho, and XP12 w/AutoOrtho & Sim Heaven

 

Thank you! It's certainly taking the sim in the right direction.

Malaromane,

Thanks for posting the video and to the author. It's amazing that there wasn't  a bigger hit on frame rates in the comparisons - as far as I could see.......

23 hours ago, Malaromane said:

Here's a nice comparison video for stock XP12, XP12 w/SimHeaven, XP12 w/ AutoOrtho, and XP12 w/AutoOrtho & Sim Heaven

...

I assume the slowdowns are caused by caching new ortho data?

What an amazing program this is, i see the occasional fps drop but not by much and doesn't last long.

 

Edited September 2, 20232 yr by UKflyer