Utility Review: xOrganizer v3 XP12

[Dominic Smith]

 

 

Utility Review: xOrganizer v3 XP12

By DrishalMAC2

Introduction:
xOrganizer is a fantastic tool for X-Plane 12 users, streamlining the often complex task of managing and organizing scenery, plugins, scripts, and preferences. This versatile tool is not just a time-saver but also a powerful resource for enhancing the overall X-Plane experience. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced user with a large collection of add-ons, xOrganizer is indispensable. In this review, I will explore the various features and functions of xOrganizer and discuss how it can optimize your X-Plane setup.

X-Plane 12 Integration:
Since its release, xOrganizer has been continually developed to keep pace with the latest advancements in X-Plane, including the transition to X-Plane 12. This update has introduced significant improvements, ensuring that xOrganizer remains compatible with the latest scenery formats, plugins, and aircraft. The tool now offers enhanced support for the new X-Plane 12 features, enabling users to manage and organize their content more efficiently.

Version 3.4.0 Update:
The latest update to xOrganizer, version 3.4.0, released on August 10th, 2024, introduces several new features and improvements that further enhance its functionality and ease of use. A notable addition is the Scenery Coverage Function, which provides users with a comprehensive overview of their installed scenery. This feature is particularly useful for ensuring that your scenery tiles cover the intended areas without gaps or overlaps. Additionally, the update introduces the capability to always rescan tile coverage, ensuring that your scenery information is up-to-date and reflects any recent changes accurately.

 

 

The update also introduces a Details and File Structure Window, giving users a clearer view of the contents and organization of their scenery and plugins. This feature is invaluable for those who need to keep track of complex file structures or troubleshoot issues. Coupled with the new Move Scenery Function, users can now easily reorganize their scenery files without risking disruption to their scenery_packs.ini order.

 

 

Another handy addition is the ability to list the file structure of any folder within X-Plane, which simplifies the process of identifying and managing files within large directories. The Tooltips with Notes and Version Info feature is another welcome addition, providing quick access to important details about your scenery and plugins, helping you stay informed about the versions and specific notes related to each item.

 

 

Furthermore, the update includes a Search Aircraft Livery function, making it easier to find specific liveries across your aircraft collection. This is particularly useful for users with extensive custom liveries and aircraft models.

 

 

In addition to these new features, version 3.4.0 includes several improvements and small bug fixes that enhance the overall stability and performance of xOrganizer. These enhancements make an already powerful tool even more user-friendly and efficient.

 

Installation:
Installing xOrganizer is straightforward. After downloading it from the X-Plane store, simply extract the files and place them in your preferred location. The user-friendly interface ensures an easy start, and the comprehensive documentation provides all the necessary instructions, making it accessible for even beginners to quickly master.

 

Scenery Management:
One of the most challenging aspects of managing an X-Plane installation is maintaining the correct order of scenery packs in the “scenery_packs.ini” file. xOrganizer excels in this area by automatically sorting scenery based on several criteria, including continent, country, and region. This feature alone is a game-changer for users with extensive scenery collections, as it prevents conflicts and ensures that everything loads in the correct order.

 

 

Additionally, xOrganizer offers a fantastic map view of your airports, orthophotos, and other scenery, providing a clear overview of what you have installed and where it's located. This map feature is particularly useful for identifying coverage gaps or areas where mesh might overlap, helping you fine-tune your setup for the best performance and visual quality. It has proven invaluable in my experience for seeing which Ortho4XP tiles I have already downloaded and whether they cover the airports I plan to fly to or from.

 

 

Plugin and Script Management:
Managing plugins and scripts in X-Plane can be tricky, especially when dealing with potential conflicts between them. xOrganizer simplifies this process by automatically sorting plugins by type and function and checking for missing or outdated plugin XPL files. This systematic organization significantly reduces the likelihood of conflicts and ensures that your X-Plane runs smoothly and error-free.

 

 

X-Plane Preferences and Aircraft Management:
xOrganizer extends its functionality beyond just scenery and plugins, offering sophisticated tools for managing X-Plane preferences and aircraft. The software allows you to create multiple user profiles, each tailored to different flying experiences, such as specific setups for VR versus traditional monitor use. This flexibility enables you to optimize X-Plane’s performance and reduce load times by disabling unnecessary content. This is particularly beneficial for users with lower-end systems or those with extensive add-on libraries. For instance, you could have two shortcuts on your desktop for X-Plane: one configured for VR and another for use with a regular monitor.

 

Extra Functions:
xOrganizer is packed with additional features that significantly enhance its utility:

• Scenery Checks: Automatically checks the contents of your scenery packages for missing or outdated libraries and identifies duplicate or conflicting airports.

 

 

• Plugin Checks: Ensures that all necessary plugin files are present, significantly reducing the risk of crashes.
• Backup System: Creates backups of critical files like the “scenery_packs.ini”, X-Plane preferences, and logs, which are crucial in case of issues.
• Profiles: Allows you to set up different profiles for scenery, plugins, preferences, and aircraft, enabling you to launch X-Plane with your selected profile tailored for specific types of flights.
• General Maintenance: xOrganizer can check for bad shortcuts, symlinks, and junctions, which are often overlooked but can lead to significant issues if not managed properly.

Performance Optimization:
One of the most appreciated aspects of xOrganizer is its ability to enhance X-Plane’s performance. By enabling users to disable content that isn't required for a particular session, xOrganizer can significantly reduce load times and improve frame rates. This feature is particularly valuable for users operating X-Plane on systems with limited resources or for those aiming to maximize performance during complex flights.

Ease of Use:
xOrganizer’s design is well-suited for both novice and seasoned X-Plane users. Beginners will appreciate the automated sorting and straightforward interface, while advanced users will value the detailed control and comprehensive information available for every aspect of their X-Plane setup. The tool’s ability to offer precise details about the contents of X-Plane files ensures that users can effectively manage and troubleshoot their setups.

 

Conclusion: 
In summary, xOrganizer is an indispensable tool for anyone dedicated to their X-Plane 12 experience. Whether you’re managing scenery, plugins, scripts, or preferences, xOrganizer streamlines the process, ensuring that your simulator runs smoothly and efficiently. With its extensive feature set, including automated scenery sorting, plugin management, and performance optimization, xOrganizer is essential for both beginners and advanced users.

 

If your aim is to enhance your X-Plane 12 experience and minimize time spent on repetitive tasks, xOrganizer is certainly worth the investment.

 

________________________

 

 

xOrganizer v3 XP12 is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here:

 

xOrganizer v3 XP12

Priced at US$15.00

 

Features

xOrganizer helps you manage your:

• Scenery
• Plugins/scripts
• X-Plane preferences
• Aircraft

xOrganizer does this by helping you with:

• Maintaining the right scenery order (scenery_packs.ini)
• Overviews, especially handy if you have collected a lot of stuff
• Preventing conflicts between scenery packages and between plugins/scripts
• Setting up X-Plane for a specific type of flight, but also for instance for VR versus monitor setup
• Increase X-Plane performance and load time by disabling content

Managing scenery
One of the more difficult tasks managing your X-Plane installation is keeping the right order for your scenery. 
xOrganizer uses several methods to automatically determine the type of scenery and help you create the right order.

For beginners AND advanced users

Although xOrganizer helps beginners a lot, xOrganizer is also a powerful tool for advanced users. Anything you can do
manually can be done with xOrganizer, but much quicker and easier! Furthermore, xOrganizer offers a lot of
detailed information on the contents of X-Plane files.

 

Requirements

X-Plane 12 (not for XP11)
Windows only (Windows 10 and above)
Current version: 3.4.0 (August 10th 2024)

 

Review System Specifications

Windows 11, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 32GB DDR5 RAM, RTX 3070Ti 

________________________

Utility Review by DrishalMAC2

30th August 2024

Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews

 

(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

 

 

[Sihil]

Does organizer work with Intel i9 processors? Thanks!

[DrishalMAC2]

50 minutes ago, Sihil said:

Does organizer work with Intel i9 processors? Thanks!

Hi, yes I don't see why not

[Medellinexpat]

I currently have a 9 and X-Organizer runs without any issues. Incidentally it is not a program that runs in the background while you are running Xplane. It’s a set up  app that you run and then you launch Xplane from it. Once Xplane is launched X-Organizer has finished its work. XToolbox is a companion program by the same developer you might want to look at, again available on the Orgstore,