Is there any way in the API to get a bitmap preview of the FLT file?

No... While the OpenFlight API allows you to load and modify elements in your OpenFlight model, it has no inherent rendering capability.

Creator, however, lets you do this using the Attributes>Generate Report command. It can create JPG files containing previews of your OpenFlight files.

Thanks Steve.

I need to be able to do it from inside my own app...

I have been trying to utilize some 3rd party stuff for use in QT, but have not gotten anything to work yet.

For now, I am launching a process which starts up the OSGViewer app...

Yea... the OpenFlight API is really better for editing, not rendering... Sorry about that.