File Format Specifications

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
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.
OBJ8 (.obj) File Format Specification 9 Nov 2022 A complete file format specification for X-Plane 10 object (.obj) files, including all new v10 features.
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.
Standard Shading Options for X-Plane 10 Scenery 7 May 2013 This document describes the syntax and options for shading in most X-Plane scenery file formats.

Sound

Title Updated Description
Sound (.snd) File Format Specification 1 Jun 2022 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.