User Guide – Microsoft Flight Simulator & Prepar3D

## How to use Tacview with Microsoft Flight Simulator or Lockheed Martin® Prepar3D®?

### Which versions of Flight Simulator are supported by Tacview?

Tacview has been tested and validated with the following editions of Flight Simulator:

* Microsoft Flight Simulator (both retail & Steam editions)
* Microsoft Flight Simulator X (both retail & Steam editions)
* Lockheed Martin® Prepar3D® (v1 to v4)
* VRS TacPack & Superbug

### How should I use `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` to record flights?

* First, make sure you have downloaded and installed the latest version of Tacview. This will install `MSFS2ACMI.exe` and `FSX2ACMI.exe` on your computer.
* Use `MSFS2ACMI.exe` for Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) and `FSX2ACMI.exe` for all other versions including Microsoft Flight Simulator X.
* Launch `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` from Windows start menu or search box. As long as `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` is running, it will record all your Flight Simulator flights automatically.

### Why do I get an error when I launch `FSX2ACMI.exe` with Prepar3D?

Like many universal add-ons, `FSX2ACMI.exe`needs Microsoft Flight Simulator SimConnect to be properly installed to access telemetry data. If you are using Prepar3D®, you have to manually install SimConnect by running: `C:\Program Files\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v4\redist\Interface\FSX-SP2-XPACK\retail\lib\SimConnect.msi`

### How do I stop the recording of my flight?

You can either close `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` or Flight Simulator. `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` will also automatically start a new recording when it detects a major change in the current flight (like time or mission change).

### Where are my flights recorded?

You will find all your flight recordings in `\My Documents\Tacview\`. You can click on the corresponding hyperlink in `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` to open this folder. You can also change this folder for another one by using the appropriate option in Tacview.

## General Questions

### Does Tacview work with network flights?

MSFS2ACMI.exe and FSX2ACMI.exe do not differentiate between local and remote objects, meaning that Tacview displays everything that MSFS or FSX exports at a given time. This may or may not include other pilots.

### Do `MSFS2ACMI.exe` and `FSX2ACMI.exe` support add-ons like Tacpack?

Yes, you can use `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` with any add-on. If you are using it with Tacpack, you will get two flight recordings, one from Tacpack and one from `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe`. In that case, the one from `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` may give better results since `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` are always supporting the latest features of Tacview like the advanced telemetry.

### When I replay my flights in Tacview, the terrain is either empty or low-res. How can I improve that?

Tacview Starter does not offer terrain coverage for the whole earth this is why you will probably see water most of the time. Tacview Standard offers am ETOPO1 base map for the entire world. This is much better than just water; however it may look kind of blurry. Here are some ways you can improve the default terrain:

* First, you should try on of the official terrain add-ons.
* You can also import official SRTM maps from NASA. These are the exact same maps Flight Simulator is using by default.
* Or you can ask me to add the terrain of your choice in the download section. Please be patient in that case. Even if I will do my best to deliver you the map quickly, I'm quite busy on other tasks...

### Can `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` slow down my computer?

No, it should not. On today's computers `MSFS2ACMI.exe` or `FSX2ACMI.exe` use about 1% of CPU while recording. This has been tested on a 2012' PC running FSX at maximum quality and 100% AI air and ground traffic (between 400 and 800 moving objects).