$FG HOME: Difference between revisions

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(Various fixes, following https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/34994540/ (my own posting, but acknowledged by James))
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[[File:Fghome-3.7.png|400px|right|Screen shot showing typical structure [[$FG_HOME]]]]
[[File:Fghome-3.7.png|400px|right|Screen shot showing typical structure [[$FG_HOME]]]]


<code>'''$FG_HOME'''</code> is a placeholder variable representing the path to where user-specific FlightGear data is stored (not application data). Unlike <code>[[$FG_ROOT]]</code>, <code>$FG_HOME</code> is '''not''' an environment variable that needs to be configured for FlightGear to work. <code>$FG_HOME</code> is the only place were FlightGear data is written to as <code>$FG_ROOT</code> is generally read-only.
<code>'''$FG_HOME'''</code> is an environment variable indicating the main location where user-specific FlightGear data is stored (not application data). <code>$FG_HOME</code> is a notable place were FlightGear data is written to, contrary to <code>$FG_ROOT</code>, which is generally read-only.


<code>$FG_HOME</code> is only used to refer to the operating system specific location for some settings/folders. The actual location of <code>$FG_HOME</code> is determined by the <code>fgfs</code> binary during startup and is a directory that varies with the operating system supported by FG (Windows, OS X and Linux).
<code>$FG_HOME</code> is normally used to refer to the operating system specific location for some settings/folders. Its default value is determined by the <code>fgfs</code> binary during startup and is a directory that varies with the operating system supported by FG (Windows, OS X and Linux). ''It is [https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/34995089/ highly recommended] to rely on the default value (i.e., not setting <code>$FG_HOME</code> yourself in any way), unless you Really Know What You Are Doing™.''


The location of <code>$FG_HOME</code> cannot be affected during installation of FlightGear, it depends solely on the operating system in use.
{{note|The <code>/sim/fg-home</code> property should be considered read-only, for similar reasons why <code>$FG_HOME</code> shouldn't be explicitly set by users.}}
 
{{note|FlightGear reads the <code>[[Fgfsrc]]</code> config file from <code>$FG_HOME</code> if it exists (<tt>fgfsrc</tt> without any leading dot), in addition to <tt>.fgfsrc</tt> from <code>$HOME</code> (with a leading dot in this case).}}
{{note|<code>$FG_HOME</code> and the <code>/sim/fg-home</code> property should be considered read-only, because they cannot be affected during startup or at runtime.}}
{{note|The <code>[[Fgfsrc]]</code> config file will not actually be saved in <code>$FG_HOME</code>, but just in <code>$HOME</code>}}


== Content ==
== Content ==
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You can determine the location of your <code>$FG_HOME</code> by using the [[property browser]] and checking the value of <code>/sim/fg-home</code>, but the usual paths are shown below.
You can determine the location of your <code>$FG_HOME</code> by using the [[property browser]] and checking the value of <code>/sim/fg-home</code>, but the usual paths are shown below.


You can also use the [[Nasal Console]] to print out $FG_HOME:
You can also use the [[Nasal Console]] to print out <code>$FG_HOME</code>:
<syntaxhighlight lang="nasal">
<syntaxhighlight lang="nasal">
var path = getprop("/sim/fg-home");
var path = getprop("/sim/fg-home");
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It is probably a good idea to have <code>~/Library/Application Support/FlightGear</code> saved on a Stickies note just in case you forget it.
It is probably a good idea to have <code>~/Library/Application Support/FlightGear</code> saved on a Stickies note just in case you forget it.


If you want/need to refer to any of these files frequently, you could make an alias of a file, or the whole folder, and place it somewhere easier to access. TerraSync data is also stored inside the user's home folder, as it is the '''only''' location we are permitted to write too, <code>$HOME/Library/Application Support/FlightGear</code>, which technically is the value of <code>$FG_HOME</code>.
If you want/need to refer to any of these files frequently, you could make an alias of a file, or the whole folder, and place it somewhere easier to access. TerraSync data is stored in <code>$FG_HOME/TerraSync</code> in the default configuration, see [[TerraSync]] for details.
 
The OS X launcher doesn't actually set this path (any more), this location is the default used by FlightGear itself. You can of course override these paths and set <code>$FG_HOME</code> or the TerraSync path manually, from the command line or a configuration file, but the default paths should do what you need.


=== Windows ===
=== Windows ===
==== FlightGear 3.0 and later ====
==== FlightGear 3.0 and later ====
<code>%HOME%/Documents/FlightGear</code>
<code>%HOME%\Documents\FlightGear</code>


<code>%HOME%</code> is usually <code>C:/Users/''User name''</code>
<code>%HOME%</code> is usually <code>C:\Users\''User name''</code>


==== Before FlightGear 3.0 ====
==== Before FlightGear 3.0 ====
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== Use in troubleshooting ==
== Use in troubleshooting ==
As one user once said, "When in doubt delete <code>$FG_HOME</code>". Many problems, including corrupted databases, broken TerraSync and many others can be fixed by deleting <code>fgfs_0.txt</code>, <code>fgfs.txt</code>, <code>terrasync_cache</code>, and the Navaids database.
As one user once said, "When in doubt delete <code>$FG_HOME</code>". Many problems, including corrupted databases, broken [[TerraSync]] and many others can be fixed by deleting <code>fgfs_0.txt</code>, <code>fgfs.txt</code>, <code>terrasync_cache</code>, and the [[Navdata cache|navdata cache]].


When you encounter problems, try deleting the files, but '''always''' keep the <code>fgfs.log</code> and <code>fgfs_0.log</code> log files to help in troubleshooting.
When you encounter problems, try deleting the files, but '''always''' keep the <code>fgfs.log</code> and <code>fgfs_0.log</code> log files to help in troubleshooting.

Revision as of 13:24, 6 April 2016

Screen shot showing typical structure $FG_HOME

$FG_HOME is an environment variable indicating the main location where user-specific FlightGear data is stored (not application data). $FG_HOME is a notable place were FlightGear data is written to, contrary to $FG_ROOT, which is generally read-only.

$FG_HOME is normally used to refer to the operating system specific location for some settings/folders. Its default value is determined by the fgfs binary during startup and is a directory that varies with the operating system supported by FG (Windows, OS X and Linux). It is highly recommended to rely on the default value (i.e., not setting $FG_HOME yourself in any way), unless you Really Know What You Are Doing™.

Note  The /sim/fg-home property should be considered read-only, for similar reasons why $FG_HOME shouldn't be explicitly set by users.
Note  FlightGear reads the Fgfsrc config file from $FG_HOME if it exists (fgfsrc without any leading dot), in addition to .fgfsrc from $HOME (with a leading dot in this case).

Content

In $FG_HOME is information stored between sessions. That information is for example configuration/preferences, properties marked with the user-archive attribute and aircraft-specific settings (using the data helper class in aircraft.nas). $FG_HOME is also the location for the SQLite-based NavDB cache.

Common paths

You can determine the location of your $FG_HOME by using the property browser and checking the value of /sim/fg-home, but the usual paths are shown below.

You can also use the Nasal Console to print out $FG_HOME:

var path = getprop("/sim/fg-home");
print("Your $FG_HOME is at: ", path);

The /sim/ property subtree is also the place where you can find other folders, such as fg-root, fg-scenery and the current working directory (fg-current).

Linux

~/.fgfs/

Mac OS X

~/Library/Application Support/FlightGear (to learn more about viewing hidden folders, see [1])

As all future FlightGear versions will take their preferences from here, it is a good idea to have their access available easily.

Desktop/Finder/Go/Go to Folder is where you need to start.

When given the option, input: ~/Library/Application Support/FlightGear

It is probably a good idea to have ~/Library/Application Support/FlightGear saved on a Stickies note just in case you forget it.

If you want/need to refer to any of these files frequently, you could make an alias of a file, or the whole folder, and place it somewhere easier to access. TerraSync data is stored in $FG_HOME/TerraSync in the default configuration, see TerraSync for details.

Windows

FlightGear 3.0 and later

%HOME%\Documents\FlightGear

%HOME% is usually C:\Users\User name

Before FlightGear 3.0

%APPDATA%\flightgear.org\

%APPDATA% is another environment variable that depends on your Windows version. On XP and older, it can be found under C:\Documents and Settings\User name\Application Data. On Vista and later it can be found under C:\Users\User name\AppData\Roaming. The folder is hidden by default. See these instructions to show the folder.

Use in troubleshooting

As one user once said, "When in doubt delete $FG_HOME". Many problems, including corrupted databases, broken TerraSync and many others can be fixed by deleting fgfs_0.txt, fgfs.txt, terrasync_cache, and the navdata cache.

When you encounter problems, try deleting the files, but always keep the fgfs.log and fgfs_0.log log files to help in troubleshooting.

Related content

Wiki articles