Current File Formats
General
| Title | Updated | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Flightplan files - v11 .fms file format | 19 Feb 2023 | The new v11 .fms flightplan format allows saving and loading flightplans with coded instrument flight procedures. These files are understood by the X-Plane 11 GPS (GNS430W/530W), G1000 and FMS. |
| Joystick Configuration (.joy) File Specification | 11 Oct 2021 | This article describes how to create joystick configuration (.joy) files. |
Modeling
| Title | Updated | Description |
|---|---|---|
| lights.txt File Format | 10 Jun 2020 | The lights.txt file provides X-Plane's rendering engine with instructions on how to make lights with names for other parts of the art system to reference |
Airport & NAVAID Data
| Title | Updated | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Airport Data (apt.dat) 12.00 File Format Specification | 22 Dec 2023 | |
| Navdata in X-Plane 11 and 12 | 20 Nov 2023 | This document explains the new Nav data format for X-Plane 11. |
| Airport Data (apt.dat) 11.00 File Format Specification | 19 Nov 2021 | This document defines core airport data for current version of X-Plane (11.00 and onwards). |
| Astronomical data (astro.dat) File Format Specification | 19 Nov 2015 | This document describes the file format and codes used in X-Plane's astro.dat file, usable with X-Plane version 7.40 onwards. |
Aircraft
| Title | Updated | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft VR Configuration (_vrconfig.txt) File Format Specification | 18 Jan 2024 | Explains how to create a text-based configuration file that customizes VR interactions for your aircraft. |
Scenery
| Title | Updated | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Shading Options for X-Plane Scenery | 10 Oct 2024 | This document describes the syntax and options for shading in most X-Plane scenery file formats. |
| OBJ8 (.obj) File Format Specification | 23 Jul 2024 | A complete file format specification for X-Plane 10 object (.obj) files, including all new v10 features. |
| DSF Usage In X-Plane | 22 Feb 2024 | This articles explains how X-Plane interprets raw DSF data to render scenery. |
| Vector Network (.net) File Format Specification | 30 Jan 2024 | Describes X-Plane's vector network definition (.net) file format, which is used to render road networks. |
| Library (library.txt) File Format Specification | 26 Jan 2023 | Describes X-Plane's library.txt format, which tells X-Plane how to use the objects & other graphic resources located in other parts of the simulator. |
| Forest (.for) File Format Specification | 10 Nov 2022 | A detailed file format explanation for X-Plane forest files. |
| X-Plane 10 Autogen Scenery File Format | 9 Oct 2019 | This document describes the syntax of the X-Plane 10 autogen art asset file formats. |
| DSF File Format Specification | 3 Oct 2019 | A low-level specification of X-Plane's binary DSF scenery file format. |
| Painted Line (.lin) File Format Specification | 18 Jul 2019 | Describes X-Plane's painted line (.lin) file format, which defines taxiway markings that can be draped over DSFs in scenery. |
| Terrain Type (.ter) File Format Specification | 28 Jun 2018 | Describes X-Plane Terrain (.ter) files, which tell X-Plane how to paint terrain patches. Discusses the contents of TER files and how DSF files are combined with a TER file to create a mesh. |
| X-Plane 10 Facade (.fac) File Format Specification | 5 Feb 2018 | This document describes the complete X-Plane 10 facade file format. |
| Autogen String (.ags) File Format Specification | 16 Dec 2015 | Describes X-Plane's autogen string (.ags) file format, which is used to place a large number of tile-based scenery buildings around a polygonal shape. |
| Autogen Block (.agb) File Format Specification | 16 Dec 2015 | Describes X-Plane's autogen block (.agb) file format, which is used to tightly fill and pack rectangular scenery areas. |
| Draped Polygon (.pol) File Format Specification | 2 Mar 2015 | Describes X-Plane's draped polygon (.pol) format, which defines how a DSF polygon should be draped over the existing terrain mesh. |
| Object String (.str) File Format Specification | 25 Jun 2014 | Describes X-Plane's object string (.str) files, which place objects (such as taxiway lights) along a bezier curve. |
Sound
| Title | Updated | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sound (.snd) File Format Specification | 19 Aug 2024 | X-Plane .snd files integrate custom FMOD sound into an aircraft. |
Legacy File Formats
| Title | Updated | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Airway Data (awy.dat) File Format Specification | 22 Mar 2017 | This explains the legacy earth_awy.dat file format for X-Plane version 7.40 – 10.52. |
| Fix Intersection (fix.dat) File Format Specification | 22 Mar 2017 | This explains the legacy earth_fix.dat file format for X-Plane version 7.40 – 10.52. |
| Navigation Data (nav.dat & earth_nav.dat) File Format Specification | 22 Mar 2017 | This explains the legacy nav.dat file format for X-Plane version 8.10 – 10.52. |
| X-Plane nav-aid data file definition (740 version) | 22 Mar 2017 | This explains the legacy nav.dat file format for X-Plane version 7.40 – 8.09. |
| Airport data (apt.dat) 715 version | 22 Mar 2017 | This defines the legacy apt.dat format for X-Plane version 7.15 – 8.06. |
| Airport Data (apt.dat) 10.00 Version | 22 Mar 2017 | This document defines core airport data for X-Plane 10.00. |
| Airport Data (apt.dat) 850 Version | 22 Mar 2017 | This defines the legacy apt.dat format for X-Plane version 8.50. |
| Airport Data (apt.dat) 1050 File Format Specification | 22 Mar 2017 | This defines the legacy apt.dat format for X-Plane version 10.50-10.52. |