The folder you need is the main ADE folder.  If the folder you select does not contain the main ADE program (Airport Design Editor.exe) then you will get this warning.  The importer will not work until it has a valid ADE installation

Once you have entered a valid path to an ADE installation the Import Options will become available.  The state of these will depend on what ADE finds in the source installation.  The data will automatically be taken from the matching version folder.  So if you have opened the new ADE version for FSX then ADE will only import data from that version in the source version.  You will need to repeat the import for each version that you use ADE with.

Some may be greyed out which means that for some reason it is not possible or required to import that information.  The remainder will be enables and have the checkbox checked.  You can choose whether or not to import the information.  If you don't want to import something then un-check it.  You should generally not change the settings unless you are aware of the implications.  In most cases you would want to import as much data as possible.  Let's look at each option in turn

The ProKey is stored in the main installation and you will only import it once.  The message above shows that the ProKey is already installed in the new version.  This option will also be greyed out if there is no ProKey installed in the source installation.  If it is available in the source version and not installed in the new version then this option will be enabled and checked

The settings file is the main file containing your settings and options.  You should always import this unless you clearly have a reason not to;  such as you want to reset all the settings in the new installation.

Color settings contain the colors used to display elements of the airport in ADE.  If you have

This is the data about the library objects you have told ADE about.  This is probably one of the data files that gets changed most as users add new libraries.  You can also import the thumbnails that you have for these objects.

This file contains the airline codes and color settings used with parking spots.  

Taxi link defaults were recently introduced.  If the source version you are copying from does not contain this file then this option will be unavailable

Project settings files contain settings information for each project and should be imported if they are available.  Since these were introduced in 1.62 your source installation may not have them so this option will be unavailable.  If it is available you should import this data if you plan to use the new version with existing projects.

From version 1.65 ADE allows you to create different layouts for each list type in the lister.  This option allows you to import these settings into your new installation:

• If the version you are importing from does not support lister settings then this box will be disabled
• If the version does support these settings then you will see the box above
• Lister settings apply to all sim versions in ADE so they only need importing once.  If you do import again, or import a different version then this entry will be enabled without the checkbox.  If you want to import them again just check the box

ADE stores data about the generic buildings you save and use in a specific folder.  Importing will copy any generic buildings that are in the source folder and not in the new version folder.

Thumbnails are generally stored in a default folder in ADE.  However there is the option to use a different folder and some users may have a single folder for thumbnails that they use for all ADE versions.  There are three options here:

1. ADE needs to find the source version settings file to be able to find out where the thumbnails are.  If it can't find the settings file then it will disable this option and you will not be able to import thumbnails.  Generally the settings file will be there and if it is not it signifies some issues with the source installation
2. The source thumbnails are in the default folder.  In this case you will see the option as displayed above and ADE will just import thumbnails from the source installation to the new one
3. If the source installation is using a specific folder for thumbnails you will see:

You have a choice.  You can either:

• Copy the thumbnails from the specific folder into the default folder in your new installation or
• have your new installation point to the same folder used by the source installation.  In this case no thumbnails are copied and both versions will use the same folder for thumbnails

If you are not sure what to do then use the copy option.  While this is less efficient in terms of disk space it does mean that if you deleted the specific folder at any time you would not lose the thumbnails in the new version.  

Custom Ground Polys is a feature present from version 1.60.  ADE will import your texture settings, definition files and textures from the source version to the new version

• If the source version does not support custom ground polys then this box will be greyed out
• If the source version does support them then you will see the box above
• Custom ground poly settings apply to all sim versions in ADE so they only need importing once.  If you do import again, or import a different version then this entry will be enabled without the checkbox.  If you want to import them again just check the box

When you are ready click the Import Button.  It may take a short time depending on how much data is being moved but you will then see

Click OK to go back to the New User Wizard