No. Every DSF edit creates a new file in the Studio cache; the source DSF is only read. The Studio writes into the X-Plane installation only in the X-Plane scenery view and in the Operations › Test in X-Plane tab, always after your confirmation, and it deletes nothing there (what it removes goes to a bin):
scenery_packs.ini editor – only the Custom Scenery\scenery_packs.ini file (order and enabling of the lines; a line can be removed, the pack folder stays), always after a preview and with a sha256 confirmation; a backup to _zalohy_scenerii before every write. While X-Plane runs, the change takes effect after its restart – the Studio never closes X-Plane,
test – the pack Custom Scenery\ZZZ_RFS_<name>, its line in scenery_packs.ini, ini backups and the bin of finished tests in the _zalohy_scenerii folder of the X-Plane installation,
before/after screenshots – the Studio plugin into Resources\plugins\PythonPlugins (uninstalling moves it to _zalohy_scenerii\_kos_pluginu), commands for the plugin and the screenshots into Output\rfstudio; only in the BEFORE/AFTER mode (AFTER shot only turned off) are the DSFs inside the test pack temporarily renamed during a series.
The Studio writes nowhere else in the X-Plane installation.
How do I change the scenery order or restore an old scenery_packs.ini?
In the X-Plane scenery view: the checkbox enables or disables a pack, dragging or Alt+↑ / Alt+↓ moves it and Preview… shows the diff and the affected tiles; it is written only by Write scenery_packs.ini. Backups… › Restore… brings back an older state (also from manual scenery_packs*.ini copies). When another pack provides the tile mesh than you want, use Tile mesh from on the Tile tab.
Do I need RenderFarm?
No. RenderFarm is an optional scenery generator. DSF viewing and editing, the editor, the airport check, orthophoto, patches and the X-Plane test all work without it. Without RenderFarm you do miss:
the Configs and Rasters views, in the Map the inputs, terrain and vegetation prediction and “Why here” (the reality in the DSF, the hillshade from the DSF and orthophotos are shown by the Map even without RenderFarm) and, in Operations, the Run cockpit and Config check,
DEM raster Suggestions from the INPUT-elevation folder when inserting a DEM,
in the DSF view Difference on the map, the Map buttons at defects and the saving estimate by config in the Density tab.
Per-tile OSM shapefiles (in the editor Water from OSM and Import from OSM for beaches, in Import OSM the RenderFarm shapefiles (per tile) source) do not need RenderFarm: their folder in Settings › Scenery folders is enough. With RenderFarm and no setting, Tvorba\Input-OSM is used. Own file (.osm, .pbf, .gpkg, .shp) in Import OSM works without RenderFarm too.
Do I need DSFTool?
No. The Studio reads and writes DSFs with its own code. DSFTool can be set up only as an independent check of written files.
Can I edit the Laminar default scenery?
Yes – the Studio reads it from your installation (also packed in 7z) and saves the result as a new DSF. Do not share such an edited DSF (nor a Base copy from the editor, see Editing the base scenery) though; share only a patch that everyone replays on their own copy.
How do I get an edited DSF into X-Plane?
The easiest way is Operations › Test in X-Plane. By hand: create a pack in Custom Scenery with the structure Earth nav data\<block>\<tile>.dsf, put it into scenery_packs.ini above the scenery it replaces and restart X-Plane.
Why did nothing change in X-Plane?
Most often the test pack is below another scenery with the same tile in scenery_packs.ini, or X-Plane was not restarted after the ini change. Check Log.txt in the test. See Troubleshooting.
How large an area can I edit?
The tools are for local edits – an airport, a valley, a piece of coast. One DEM insert operation handles at most 100 km² (recommended up to 40 km²), there can be more places. For whole tiles a generator (e.g. RenderFarm) is better. See Performance.
What does the elevation −32768 mean?
In X-Plane 12 DSFs it means the vertex has no height of its own and takes it from the height raster (DEMS "elevation"). The Studio shows and measures it the same way as X-Plane.
Does it work with Ortho4XP?
Yes, the Studio recognises Ortho4XP tiles and keeps the photos when editing the mesh. The support is so far verified only on a synthetic tile, not on a real one. See Ortho4XP.
Is the ICAO airport check a certification?
No. The rating uses ICAO Annex 14 limits as a yardstick of scenery quality in the simulator. Some limits are heuristics and the quoted values have not been checked against the latest edition of the standard.
Where do I find all versions I created?
In DSF › History of the tile (the version tree) and in the DSF list on the left under "Studio edits". The files are in the dsf_upravy folder of the cache.
How do I undo an edit?
Edits are never written into the source, so it is enough not to use the new version. In the editor Ctrl+Z undoes a step; a saved version can be moved To bin… in History and restored from the bin with Restore.
Does the Studio send anything to the internet?
No – it sends nothing and downloads no data. The exceptions are the base map tiles (OpenStreetMap or the provider from Settings) when choosing the tile of a new project, for the OSM toggle in the editor and in the OSM base map layer of the Map (on by default): the Studio downloads them identifying the application, into a cache; Settings › Base map offers Offline – cache only. The tile provider sees your IP address and the map areas shown. The second exception is the OSM import from the internet: OpenStreetMap data from an Overpass server are downloaded only after a click and a confirmation (the server sees your IP address and the queried area). The third is a place name search in the editor (Go to a place): after Enter the typed text is sent to Nominatim (OpenStreetMap); coordinates and X-Plane airports are searched offline. A problem report is only saved to a file.
How much does RF Studio cost and what is its license?
Nothing – RF Studio is closed-source freeware for non-commercial use. Commercial use, including creating sceneries and other outputs that are sold, is permitted only with prior written consent – write to RFstudio@simulators.cz. The terms of use are set by the license agreement (EULA, version 1.2) you accept when installing; the licenses of the libraries used are in the THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt file. You find both in, more in License and sharing.
Where do I send a bug, an idea or a comment?
By e-mail to RFstudio@simulators.cz or in the discussion forum simulators.cz/forum. For a bug, first create the file with Report a problem and attach it to the e-mail. What is worth trying in the beta is described in the Beta version chapter.
Can I print the manual?
Yes: in the manual Print / PDF (for a PDF choose the "Microsoft Print to PDF" printer) or Save as HTML and open it in a browser.
Based on the RF Studio manual (F1 › Manual, version 0.11.2-beta). Post your questions and experience in this thread.
Will RF Studio overwrite my scenery or X-Plane?
No. Every DSF edit creates a new file in the Studio cache; the source DSF is only read. The Studio writes into the X-Plane installation only in the X-Plane scenery view and in the Operations › Test in X-Plane tab, always after your confirmation, and it deletes nothing there (what it removes goes to a bin):
Custom Scenery\scenery_packs.inifile (order and enabling of the lines; a line can be removed, the pack folder stays), always after a preview and with a sha256 confirmation; a backup to_zalohy_sceneriibefore every write. While X-Plane runs, the change takes effect after its restart – the Studio never closes X-Plane,Custom Scenery\ZZZ_RFS_<name>, its line inscenery_packs.ini, ini backups and the bin of finished tests in the_zalohy_sceneriifolder of the X-Plane installation,Resources\plugins\PythonPlugins(uninstalling moves it to_zalohy_scenerii\_kos_pluginu), commands for the plugin and the screenshots intoOutput\rfstudio; only in the BEFORE/AFTER mode (AFTER shot only turned off) are the DSFs inside the test pack temporarily renamed during a series.The Studio writes nowhere else in the X-Plane installation.
How do I change the scenery order or restore an old scenery_packs.ini?
In the X-Plane scenery view: the checkbox enables or disables a pack, dragging or Alt+↑ / Alt+↓ moves it and Preview… shows the diff and the affected tiles; it is written only by Write scenery_packs.ini. Backups… › Restore… brings back an older state (also from manual
scenery_packs*.inicopies). When another pack provides the tile mesh than you want, use Tile mesh from on the Tile tab.Do I need RenderFarm?
No. RenderFarm is an optional scenery generator. DSF viewing and editing, the editor, the airport check, orthophoto, patches and the X-Plane test all work without it. Without RenderFarm you do miss:
Per-tile OSM shapefiles (in the editor Water from OSM and Import from OSM for beaches, in Import OSM the RenderFarm shapefiles (per tile) source) do not need RenderFarm: their folder in Settings › Scenery folders is enough. With RenderFarm and no setting,
Tvorba\Input-OSMis used. Own file (.osm,.pbf,.gpkg,.shp) in Import OSM works without RenderFarm too.Do I need DSFTool?
No. The Studio reads and writes DSFs with its own code. DSFTool can be set up only as an independent check of written files.
Can I edit the Laminar default scenery?
Yes – the Studio reads it from your installation (also packed in 7z) and saves the result as a new DSF. Do not share such an edited DSF (nor a Base copy from the editor, see Editing the base scenery) though; share only a patch that everyone replays on their own copy.
How do I get an edited DSF into X-Plane?
The easiest way is Operations › Test in X-Plane. By hand: create a pack in Custom Scenery with the structure
Earth nav data\<block>\<tile>.dsf, put it intoscenery_packs.iniabove the scenery it replaces and restart X-Plane.Why did nothing change in X-Plane?
Most often the test pack is below another scenery with the same tile in
scenery_packs.ini, or X-Plane was not restarted after the ini change. Check Log.txt in the test. See Troubleshooting.How large an area can I edit?
The tools are for local edits – an airport, a valley, a piece of coast. One DEM insert operation handles at most 100 km² (recommended up to 40 km²), there can be more places. For whole tiles a generator (e.g. RenderFarm) is better. See Performance.
What does the elevation −32768 mean?
In X-Plane 12 DSFs it means the vertex has no height of its own and takes it from the height raster (DEMS "elevation"). The Studio shows and measures it the same way as X-Plane.
Does it work with Ortho4XP?
Yes, the Studio recognises Ortho4XP tiles and keeps the photos when editing the mesh. The support is so far verified only on a synthetic tile, not on a real one. See Ortho4XP.
Is the ICAO airport check a certification?
No. The rating uses ICAO Annex 14 limits as a yardstick of scenery quality in the simulator. Some limits are heuristics and the quoted values have not been checked against the latest edition of the standard.
Where do I find all versions I created?
In DSF › History of the tile (the version tree) and in the DSF list on the left under "Studio edits". The files are in the
dsf_upravyfolder of the cache.How do I undo an edit?
Edits are never written into the source, so it is enough not to use the new version. In the editor Ctrl+Z undoes a step; a saved version can be moved To bin… in History and restored from the bin with Restore.
Does the Studio send anything to the internet?
No – it sends nothing and downloads no data. The exceptions are the base map tiles (OpenStreetMap or the provider from Settings) when choosing the tile of a new project, for the OSM toggle in the editor and in the OSM base map layer of the Map (on by default): the Studio downloads them identifying the application, into a cache; Settings › Base map offers Offline – cache only. The tile provider sees your IP address and the map areas shown. The second exception is the OSM import from the internet: OpenStreetMap data from an Overpass server are downloaded only after a click and a confirmation (the server sees your IP address and the queried area). The third is a place name search in the editor (Go to a place): after Enter the typed text is sent to Nominatim (OpenStreetMap); coordinates and X-Plane airports are searched offline. A problem report is only saved to a file.
How much does RF Studio cost and what is its license?
Nothing – RF Studio is closed-source freeware for non-commercial use. Commercial use, including creating sceneries and other outputs that are sold, is permitted only with prior written consent – write to RFstudio@simulators.cz. The terms of use are set by the license agreement (EULA, version 1.2) you accept when installing; the licenses of the libraries used are in the
THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txtfile. You find both in, more in License and sharing.Where do I send a bug, an idea or a comment?
By e-mail to RFstudio@simulators.cz or in the discussion forum simulators.cz/forum. For a bug, first create the file with Report a problem and attach it to the e-mail. What is worth trying in the beta is described in the Beta version chapter.
Can I print the manual?
Yes: in the manual Print / PDF (for a PDF choose the "Microsoft Print to PDF" printer) or Save as HTML and open it in a browser.
Based on the RF Studio manual (F1 › Manual, version 0.11.2-beta). Post your questions and experience in this thread.