Cloud Popping: Error in original FX edit code

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Many of you may be aware of the edit made to the SwarmCloud.fx file posted many years ago

What you may NOT be aware of is there was a ERROR in that edit as well as the original FSX code that was never fixed by ACES

I fixed that error many years ago but recently it came to my attention the original edit with the missing code was still being passed around. 

Case in point: http://www.simforums.com/forums/vanishing-wing-in-clouds_topic48028_post294440.html?KW=SwarmCloud%2Efx#294440    that edit is NOT correct

I have been reading here there are people seeing clouds pop in and out of the scenery which MAY NOT be related to weather updates and ARE related to the original FSX code as well as if you edited SwarmCloud.fx and left out the missing code, you WONT see any change.

The effect of that edit fixes the following:

a. All clouds disappearing and then reappearing

b. Sky flashing or flickering

c. A series of the same type of clouds popping out and back into the scene

There CAN still be cloud changes during weather updates.. this fix has nothing to do with that but what many think is a weather update is actually defective code in the shader file for clouds.

BE AWARE That this does not effect Prepar3D or FSX Steam as they fixed this code with the first release of their versions of FSX. This ONLY EFFECTS the original FSX Box editions

To fix this permanently in FSX box (Gold or any other original FSX product edition) do the following: 

1. Go to this folder:

FSX\ShadersHLSL\misc

There you will find a file called SwarmCloud.fx. 

2. Make a backup copy of this file somewhere. 

OPTIONAL:   You may download this file, unzip and drop into the overwriting the original, NO edit is required, its already edited

uploads/12417/SwarmCloud.zip

3. Open the original (or the one you edited in the past) SwarmCloud.fx in notepad and then scroll down a bit from the top. You will see this entry:

const bool EffectDeclaration

Under that you will see this line: 

  bool   NewMaterialUsage = true;

CHANGE THE TRUE to:   = false;  

then just below that add:

> = true;

The entire section should look like this when you are finished: 

const bool EffectDeclaration
<
    string Name     = "SwarmCloud";
    string Class    = "Basic";
    bool   NewMaterialUsage = false;
> = true;

You CAN simply copy/past the entire section above and overwrite the original

4. Save and close the SwarmCloud.fx

===================================

FYI INFORMATION:  Originally the edit that was specified left out this code:

> = true;

That is the reason people were NOT seeing a change after making the edit in the past

========================================

5. Browse to: 

Windows Vista/7/8
C:\Users\<YOUR USER NAME>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\FSX\Shaders\Misc

Windows XP: 
C:\documents & settings\<your username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX\Shaders\Misc

Inside the MISC folder, delete the file: SwarmCloud.fx_0x0000000000000000_0x0f

Note the numbers following the name may not be exactly as I show, simply delete the file named SwarmCloud.fx_<number>

Once done open the sim..  cloud pops that are NOT related to weather updates should STOP completely 

 Stephen, I suggest you make this a sticky here..   it will save you a lot of headaches and I suggest you make the same edit to your FSX box install SwarmCloud.fx file too so you don't go nuts trying to code for something that your weather engine is not and never did cause. 

Again, this only effects the original FSX box editions and not P3D or Steam.

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NickN Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Certified Professional Joined: November-21-2007 Points: 21104	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickN Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Cloud Popping: Error in original FX edit code Posted: February-19-2015 at 12:04am
	Many of you may be aware of the edit made to the SwarmCloud.fx file posted many years ago What you may NOT be aware of is there was a ERROR in that edit as well as the original FSX code that was never fixed by ACES I fixed that error many years ago but recently it came to my attention the original edit with the missing code was still being passed around. Case in point: http://www.simforums.com/forums/vanishing-wing-in-clouds_topic48028_post294440.html?KW=SwarmCloud%2Efx#294440 that edit is NOT correct I have been reading here there are people seeing clouds pop in and out of the scenery which MAY NOT be related to weather updates and ARE related to the original FSX code as well as if you edited SwarmCloud.fx and left out the missing code, you WONT see any change. The effect of that edit fixes the following: a. All clouds disappearing and then reappearing b. Sky flashing or flickering c. A series of the same type of clouds popping out and back into the scene There CAN still be cloud changes during weather updates.. this fix has nothing to do with that but what many think is a weather update is actually defective code in the shader file for clouds. BE AWARE That this does not effect Prepar3D or FSX Steam as they fixed this code with the first release of their versions of FSX. This ONLY EFFECTS the original FSX Box editions To fix this permanently in FSX box (Gold or any other original FSX product edition) do the following: 1. Go to this folder: FSX\ShadersHLSL\misc There you will find a file called SwarmCloud.fx. 2. Make a backup copy of this file somewhere. OPTIONAL: You may download this file, unzip and drop into the overwriting the original, NO edit is required, its already edited uploads/12417/SwarmCloud.zip 3. Open the original (or the one you edited in the past) SwarmCloud.fx in notepad and then scroll down a bit from the top. You will see this entry: const bool EffectDeclaration Under that you will see this line: bool NewMaterialUsage = true; CHANGE THE TRUE to: = false; then just below that add: > = true; The entire section should look like this when you are finished: const bool EffectDeclaration < string Name = "SwarmCloud"; string Class = "Basic"; bool NewMaterialUsage = false; > = true; You CAN simply copy/past the entire section above and overwrite the original 4. Save and close the SwarmCloud.fx =================================== FYI INFORMATION: Originally the edit that was specified left out this code: > = true; That is the reason people were NOT seeing a change after making the edit in the past ======================================== 5. Browse to: Windows Vista/7/8 C:\Users\<YOUR USER NAME>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\FSX\Shaders\Misc Windows XP: C:\documents & settings\<your username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX\Shaders\Misc Inside the MISC folder, delete the file: SwarmCloud.fx_0x0000000000000000_0x0f Note the numbers following the name may not be exactly as I show, simply delete the file named SwarmCloud.fx_<number> Once done open the sim.. cloud pops that are NOT related to weather updates should STOP completely Stephen, I suggest you make this a sticky here.. it will save you a lot of headaches and I suggest you make the same edit to your FSX box install SwarmCloud.fx file too so you don't go nuts trying to code for something that your weather engine is not and never did cause. Again, this only effects the original FSX box editions and not P3D or Steam.

Opus Software Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: April-12-2012 Location: Grantham, UK Points: 15407	Post Options Post Reply Quote Opus Software Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February-19-2015 at 2:37am
	Wilco. Thanks Nick. Stephen

VladimirNikitin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Intermediate Group Joined: October-12-2013 Location: DR Points: 86	Post Options Post Reply Quote VladimirNikitin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February-19-2015 at 12:19pm
	Now no more pop ups at all, your fix fixed it completely. Thank you Nick for recommendation on getting OpusFSI. I had ASN before, but its very stupid to compare. Never could imagine that FSX can be so real.
	Windows 7, i7 3770k 4.8, gtx-980 4 GB, 8GB RAM, 2xSSD Vertex 4 128gb.

777simmer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: May-08-2012 Location: Vienna Points: 2217	Post Options Post Reply Quote 777simmer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February-20-2015 at 2:57pm
	Oh boy oh boy......I would not be surprised if that gets rod of my "black flashes" I have come to accept as normal by now. I tried the popping cloud fix two years ago but it did not help. Ofcourse I did not add that second "true" line back then. I will try again as soon as I have time......probably in about 10 days from now. thx for the heads up. EDIT: unfortunately, in my case the flashes (all weather simply disapears for a split second causing a flash like effect) do not stop with this fix. The only way to stop these flashes for me is and allways has been by using the FSX scenery setting for water at Midx2 rather than Lowx2.
	Rob PC1:i7 3770k 4.4Ghz, Asus Max V Formula,GTX780,8GB 2400@9-11-11-31 PC2: i7 4770K@4.2Ghz, ASUS Z87, 8GB DDR3 2400@9-11-11-31, GTX780 Building 10900k, ASUS Max Hero XII 4x8GB CL15-16-16-36, no GPU

EdK Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: April-29-2018 Location: Florida Points: 26	Post Options Post Reply Quote EdK Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May-07-2019 at 3:47am
	Hello,I know this is an old topic but I recently tried the swarm cloud fix because I was tired of the flashing clouds I see every time I fly. I followed the instructions per the post but when I set up a flight after the fix I found I had no clouds at all. I currently use REX essentials plus overdrive but only use it for the textures as I did not care for the sudden changes when the weather updated. I would also get a strange flashing effect across the top of the monitor every time the weather engine updated. Anyway I set up the weather using the user defined option in FSX to create different cloud layers as I like to fly with plenty of clouds. I did back everything up prior to doing the fix and changed it back to it's original state but for several flights after switching back the clouds were still a no show. What is strange is that the clouds were only missing when I used the user defined option. Clouds/weather were present if I used one of the weather themes and were also present if I turned on the REX weather engine. Anyway since the time of the original fix attempt, the clouds have returned and so has the flashing but I guess flashing clouds are better than no clouds at all. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I really don't understand what happened. Thanks Ed
	Ed

Opus Software Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: April-12-2012 Location: Grantham, UK Points: 15407	Post Options Post Reply Quote Opus Software Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July-06-2020 at 10:07am
	Are you using OpusFSI weather engine to generate and inject the weather. If not then this post is somewhat misplaced. Stephen