[exits] and performance

 

I'll carry on running with [exits] commented out for the time being, see if I notice any subjective reduction in stuttering etc.

 

However, whilst I do not use any tweaks, I still consider NickN's document a "Bible" because it does provide insights in to how FSX and its code base works.  NickN's explanations are clear and provide valuable discussion on various elements of the sim and its operation.  After all, NickN was there.  Here was part of that Aces team.  So his understanding of such things comes first-hand.

 

The information NickN provides about gate/jetway calculations is valuable information.  It hasn't caused me to try commenting out the [exits] section in any aircraft.cfg files though.  In fact, I have actually ADDED gate/jetway parameters in to some of my aircraft.cfg files.  But I've done that only for AI planes which I've downloaded from the Net where those parameters were missing.  I've not done this for any of the Traffic X aircraft.  And, as I said, nor have I removed any gate/jetway parameters for any of the Traffic X aircraft.

 

You are correct in your assumption that this just affects the connection of aircraft to jetways at gates.

 

One should also consider the NUMBER OF GATES/JETWAYS at each airport.  At a large International airport, there will generally be a lot of gates.  But, not so many at a smaller regional airport, and none at a bush airport.  Note that the NUMBER of gates shown in the sim is dependant on where the SCENERY COMPLEXITY slider is set.  You get about 25% of the gates/jetways if the Scenery Complexity is set to "Dense", about 50% if it is set to "Very Dense" and 100% if set to "Extremely Dense".  So, if you have 100% gates/jetways and every AI plane set with [exit] sections, then the performance in the sim will be different from when you have 25% of gates/jetways and every AI plane set with [exits] sections.  The point I am making is that while you might consider commenting out the [exits] sections for AI planes, you should also consider where your Scenery Complexity slider is set and thus the number of gates/jetways your sim is showing.  It would make no sense to comment out all the [exits] sections if your Scenery Complexity slider is set below the "Dense" setting (because there will be no gates/jetways showing in the sim).
 

Personally, I don't think you will gain all that much performance if you comment out the [exits] sections.  Perhaps only 1 or 2 FPS if you're lucky.  However, performance does vary from PC to PC and what works well on one PC is not necessarily going to work well on another PC.  NickN even explains that in his "Bible".

 

The way to find out is to experiment.  And I see from your post in the "Traffic X Airport Facilities" thread that you don't mind doing this kind of experiment.  If you do try it, I would be interested in your findings (post them here).  Any findings you post won't personally cause me to change or comment out my [exits] sections, it would just be nice to know.