I made some use of UserCfg.opt when the Sim was new, about three years ago. In the past couple of years I’ve had no reason to open that file. At this point I do have a need to modify it (in order to give a program the option of setting LOD higher than the in-sim graphics settings). However, the file bears little resemblance to the one with which I was familiar. There is no longer a separate section for VR, and the TLOD and OLOD used to be included as the most recent settings in the Sim. Now, the only reference to them is in the form of a “factor 1.5.”
When did these changes get made?
Is UserCfg supposed to look like I describe?
How would one now enter an LOD setting slightly higher than allowed in the Sim?
MSFS probably has made changes with each update adding, modifying, or changing parameters and their values.
I’m not sure exactly what you are looking at. Note that MSFS writes a new UserCfg file each time it exits with the current graphics settings in use.
It is possible for you to edit the file with whatever LOD and other settings you want. However, your settings may be changed by MSFS depending on what you do in the sim. You may have to check and edit the file each time before you start MSFS. You should also review every update’s Release Notes for any changes that might impact the values you use.
The LOD and other parameters have changed over the years including the min/max values in the graphics menu sliders. In addition changes have been made for how the LOD values work. That is, the LOD setting of 200 from 3 years ago works differently than today’s value of 200. You should plan on spending some time testing the changes you make.
MSFS has never supported upward compatibility of UserCfg because all graphics configuration changes are supposed to be made using the graphics menus.
That was a very good idea, but usercfg.opt is not “read only.”
I still don’t know where the bottom section for VR graphics went. It was there for at least a year or two, which I know from editing it back in 2020-21; I haven’t changed anything in it since then.
So I launched the sim, switched to VR graphics, actually made some changes in the sim, even though I’m not yet using VR, exited the sim, and voilà, the VR section in usercfg.opt reappeared as if by magic (not really, I fully expected it), but I still don’t know how it got deleted in the first place. It shall remain one of those inscrutable computer mysteries that we are forced to ascribe to gremlins romping on the motherboard.
Thanks for the help and suggestions.