Visual Docking Guidance System VDGS

Troubleshooting

Basic troubleshooting

If you are encountering any issues or difficulties with the VDGS module, you can try the following troubleshooting steps to resolve them:

  1. Install the latest version of the module
    Click here to download.

    If installation fails:

    1. Uninstall MSFS Visual Docking Guidance System from Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features.
    2. Download and run Microsoft troubleshooter to remove corrupt files that block installation.

    If you are unable to use the installer:

    1. Download a ZIP release.
    2. Follow instructions in enclosed INSTALL.txt file.

  2. Check autostart entry
    The VDGS package includes the vdgs-util.exe program, which automatically starts with Microsoft Flight Simulator to scan through airport packages for installed VDGS devices, and to establish a datalink with VATSIM.

    To enable this functionality, you need to have an entry in the autostart configuration file exe.xml (location). It is usually added automatically by the installer.

    The entry should look like this:

    <Launch.Addon>
  <Name>noolaero-module-vdgs</Name>
  <Disabled>False</Disabled>
  <Path>C:\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages\Community\noolaero-module-vdgs\Binaries\vdgs-util.exe</Path>
</Launch.Addon>

    If you cannot find this entry or have moved the VDGS module from its original location, you must manually add the entry to the exe.xml file. Ensure that the <Path> value points to the valid location of the vdgs-util.exe program.

  3. Start Flight Simulator
    Information regarding installed VDGS devices is stored in the Community\noolaero-module-vdgs\Cache folder. Whenever you start Flight Simulator, you should notice that the “Last Modified” time of the files in this folder changes by the time the main menu loads.

    Once the VDGS module is properly installed and configured to autostart, the docking devices should function correctly when you taxi into a stand at airports equipped with VDGS.

Additional details

  • The vdgs-util.exe will start with Flight Simulator, gather information necessary for docking devices, and quit. This entire process usually takes just a few seconds. If you chose the optional VATSIM datalink feature during installation, the program will remain running to receive information from VATSIM.

  • Information about VDGS devices needs to be updated only when new VDGS-capable airports are installed or updated. Should you prefer not to use VATSIM datalink and not to have the program launch automatically with MSFS, you can remove the entry for exe.xml completely and trigger data referesh manually by clicking on Rescan devices in the root folder of noolaero-module-vdgs package.

  • Internal module errors and configuration mistakes are logged to the MSFS developer console. To access it, enable Developer Mode in the MSFS options and open Windows > Console from the black menu bar that appears. For filtering VDGS-related messages, simply enter noolaero-vdgs into the console search box.