# SimpleFX<no value>
The `SimpleFX` sample illustrates a basic "Engine Smoke" VFX package for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Making this example required using [The Visual Effects Editor](../../../devmode/editors/vfx-editor/the-visual-effects-editor/) to create the effect, along with the use of [The Material Editor](../../../devmode/editors/material-editor/the-material-editor/) to create a custom material for the effect particles. Note that to test this sample you will need to be in the simulation, so you should have selected an aircraft and a departure airport and started a flight before going ahead and loading the sample.

 

 

### Loading And Testing The Project

In order to load and build the project in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, you must have previously enabled Developer Mode ([see here](../../../introduction/sdk-overview/) for more information). Once enabled, simply follow these steps:

 

-   Use the **Open project...** command from the [**File**](../../../devmode/developer-mode/) menu.  

{{< image-center
    src="images/7_Samples_Tutorials/general_openproject.png"
    alt="Developer Mode Open Project" >}}

 

-   Select the file `SimpleFX.xml` from the `SimpleFX` sample project.  

{{< image-center
    src="images/7_Samples_Tutorials/Samples/Misc/SimpleFX/simplefx_1.png"
    alt="Open SimpleFX Project" >}}

 

-   The **Project Editor** should open automatically and show you the project `mycompany-simple-fx` and `mycompany-simplefx-materiallib` (if the Project Editor doesn't open, then you can open it from the Developer Mode [**Tools** menu](../../../devmode/menus/tools/))  

{{< image-center
    src="images/7_Samples_Tutorials/Samples/Misc/SimpleFX/simplefx_2.png"
    alt="SimpleFx In The Project Editor" >}}

 

-   Before exploring the contents of the packages, we will need to build them, so you should go ahead and click the `Build All In Project` button build the project and mount the created package in the [VFS](../sceneries/airportkalo/#). The packages will be named `mycompany-simple-fx` and `mycompany-simplefx-materiallib` will be output in the **Packages** folder created in the same directory as `SimpleFX.xml`:  

{{< image-center
    src="images/7_Samples_Tutorials/Samples/Misc/SimpleFX/simplefx_3.png"
    alt="The Location Of The Sample VFX Package" >}}

 

-   You can now use the DevMode editors to explore the contents of each package **asset group**. To start with, lets look at the MaterialLib, so simply *right-click* on it and chose **Load In Editor**:  

{{< image-center
    src="images/7_Samples_Tutorials/Samples/Misc/SimpleFX/simplefx_4.png"
    alt="Opening The MaterialLib In The Material Editor" >}}

 

-   This will open [The Material Editor](../../../devmode/editors/material-editor/the-material-editor/), and here you can find the material used by the package filter on the right and selecting `mycompany-simplefx-materiallib`. This should now show the "EngineSmoke" material in the materials list:  

{{< image-center
    src="images/7_Samples_Tutorials/Samples/Misc/SimpleFX/simplefx_5.png"
    alt="Finding The VFX In The Material Editor" >}}

    If you then click the `Edit` button, you can see the contents and setting of the material that the VFX will use:  

{{< image-center
    src="images/7_Samples_Tutorials/Samples/Misc/SimpleFX/simplefx_6.png"
    alt="The SimpleFX Material" >}}

 

-   To view the actual VFX that will use this material, you can go back to the **Project Editor** and select the **VisualEffectsLib** and then, as before, right click on the asset group and select **Load In Editor**. This will open [The Visual Effects Editor](../../../devmode/editors/vfx-editor/the-visual-effects-editor/) and there you can click on the `EngineSmoke.xml` to open the effect parameters in the [VFX Node Graph](../../../devmode/editors/vfx-editor/nodes/vfx-node-graph/):![The EngineSmoke VFX In The Node Graph](images/7_Samples_Tutorials/Samples/Misc/SimpleFX/simplefx_7.png)

 

-   You can test the VFX in the simulation by using the Spawn button in the VFX [Templates / Instances Debugger](../../../devmode/editors/vfx-editor/templates-instances-debugger/) window (if this isn't open you can open it from the [View](../../../devmode/editors/vfx-editor/menus/#h) menu). There you simply need to go to the **Spawner** tab, then choose a contact point to spawn the effect on, and finally, click on the {{< button "Spawn" />}} button:  

{{< image-center
    src="images/7_Samples_Tutorials/Samples/Misc/SimpleFX/simplefx_8.png"
    alt="The EngineSmoke XML In The VFX Editor Debugger" >}}

    Once you've selected the **contact point**, all you have to do is click on the Spawn button and you'll see the effect being used in the simulation:  

{{< image-center
    src="images/7_Samples_Tutorials/Samples/Misc/SimpleFX/simplefx_9.gif"
    alt="The Sample VFX Being Used In The Simulation" >}}

For details of how to use visual effects created using the Visual Effects Editor on SimObjects, please see the following page:

-   [Visual Effects](../../../devmode/editors/vfx-editor/the-visual-effects-editor/)