Problem with Global Scenery Editor

W

wsmwsm

Charter Member
I am trying to make additions to the GSL. I have reviewed Lindsay Watt's GSL tutorial many times. However, after having followed the instructions and made the additions while attempting to save by CONTROL + ALT + S, I receive error messages and usually one which reads "Can't open the scenery layer file gsl\cfs2.gsl for writing."

Mission Builder then freezes and I need to use task manager to exit.

I do hold CONTROL + ALT + SHIFT + G before editing.But whether I hit those keys once or hold them down for a time, it doens't appear to have an effect of activating the GSL edit mode.

Oddly enough - on rare occasions (let's say, 5 percent of the attempts) - it does work and I am able to place objects permanently.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks.
 
Reply...

Wsmwsm,

I would suggest contacting Martin Wright about obtaining his GSL editor. It is much more user-friendly.
 
Rami said:
Wsmwsm,

I would suggest contacting Martin Wright about obtaining his GSL editor. It is much more user-friendly.
Click to expand...

...agreed and it's more user friendly. Use the gob checker to check layouts against what is already there, change them by adding or delete them. Be sure to back up your original CFS2 GSL!!!
 
When I was using the automatic install for cfs2bob I had this problem. So I installed into another cfs2 and transferd the important files over to the install I was using, problem went away. Now I have used Rami manual install problem back. I know there may be a problem within the manual install of cfs2bob because when I use a gsl file without it everything is fine. PS I have not installed many gsl files with gslman to one gsl file so there could be the same type of problem somwhere else.
Hope this helps.
 
Thanks. But has anyone had this problem previously? I'm trying to make small changes to the CFS2 install. I hoped there was a simple fix or that I had overlooked something.
 
Re name your cfs2 gsl file cfs2bck. get the empty gsl file name it cfs2 add layout to this.
use gslman to add cfs2bck to your new cfs2. keep cfs2bck just in case.
Robert John
 
Robert John said:
Re name your cfs2 gsl file cfs2bck. get the empty gsl file name it cfs2 add layout to this.
use gslman to add cfs2bck to your new cfs2. keep cfs2bck just in case.
Robert John
Click to expand...

Gosh, a bit lost here. Not certain what you mean in terms of the backup gsl file. So, here is what I've done when trying to add something permanently to the GSL, something a simple as a single hanger.
1. Started CFS2 Mission Builder;
2. Held down CONTROL+ALT+SHIFT+G;
3. Placed the object(s);
4. Hit CONTROL+ALT+S. . .

At this point, I receive the error message noted above and screen locks. I never reach the point where the infrastructure is save to any GSL file and never get to hitting CONTROL+E.

If I'm going wrong somewhere, can someone advise please.
 
wsmwsm said:
Gosh, a bit lost here. Not certain what you mean in terms of the backup gsl file. ....
Click to expand...

Simply open the game folder, open the GSL folder, copy and rename the GSL file to GSL_BU or create another folder there and name it GSL Orig, copy and paste the original file into that folder and then close everythin.

Note: If you don't know how to back up a simple file, then maybe you should LEAVE IT ALONE.
 
Shadow Wolf 07 said:
Simply open the game folder, open the GSL folder, copy and rename the GSL file to GSL_BU or create another folder there and name it GSL Orig, copy and paste the original file into that folder and then close everythin.

Note: If you don't know how to back up a simple file, then maybe you should LEAVE IT ALONE.
Click to expand...

I know how to back up a file. Not my question at all but I can see the confusion. I don't understand how having an additional GSL folder gets me over the hump of being unable to implement the GSL changes made. I don't even seem to reach the point where I can save anything to a dummy GSL folder.
 
Ok - I completely see and understand your frustrations. Those of us that LOVE this game want to improve the experience.
So - Follow these steps (Don't question them at this stage as you will understand them in the end).

Do you have a copy of an Empty.GSL File? Also do you have a copy of GSLMan.exe?
If not PM me with your E-mail address and I will send them to you. If so continue on to step 1.

Close CFS2 it should not be running!

Step 1 - Inside the folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\GSL
Create a Folder called "Back-Up".
Step 2 - Copy your existing GSL file from C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\GSL - to your new folder (back-up).
Now open the file cfs2.CFG with NOTEPAD. It's location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2
Under the line of [PREFS] add this line -----> UseGSL=empty.gsl. Save and close.
Step 3 - Go back to the folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\GSL.
You should have in this folder 1 file named cfs2.cfg, 1 file named empty.cfg, and a file called GSLMan.exe
Step 4 - Close all unnecessary programs that may be running "IE, Anti-Virus, and so on".
Step 5 - Fire up CFS2 Mission Builder (Click your Link to Combat Flight Simulator /Builder).
Step 6 - Load a mission that has your desired objects you would like to add to the GSL file or create a new mission and add them.
Step 7 - With your objects in View press (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+G). (Activates the GSLeditor).
Step 8 - Now press (Ctrl+Alt+S). (Saves to the GSL file).
Step 9 - IMPORTANT STEP - Now Press (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+G). (De-Activates the GSLeditor).
Step 10 - Close CFS2.
Step 11 - Go to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\GSL
Open GSLMan.exe and select (Highlight) your Empty.gsl file "It should be displayed in the list".
Now click on "Add" selected gobs to the default gsl.
Step 12 - Go to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2 and again open your cfs2.CFG file and remove the line under [PREFS] UseGSL=empty.gsl. Save and close.
Step 13 - LOL 13 steps oh boy! Last step Fire up CFS2 (Start CFS2).
Open a mission that contains the location of where you placed your New Objects. (Not the mission you used to create the objects as you will see duplicates).
You should now see your new objects. Enjoy!

Lastly the only reason you back up your cfs2.gsl file is because if you damage or corrupt this file your game will not RUN! It’s one of those files that’s a show stopper.

Steve2112


 
Steve2112:

Yes, I have the file and GSLMan. But one question regarding step 7.

Thus far, I have pressed CONTROL+SHIFT+ALT+G prior to placing the objects. Do I understand you correctly that I hit this key combination AFTER placing the objects? The GS Scenery Editor tutorial says to start MB then activate the editor with those keys, i.e. prior to object placement.

Thanks.
 
No - I would recommend activating GSLeditor after all of your objects have been placed.
Then save that mission as Example: new objects.mis or whatever you want to call it.
Then load up your new mission file.
Then activate GSLeditor and proceed.

Steve2112
 
I will start by asking if you checked to see that your current GSL file is not write protected.

After that I would suggest that you place all of you new objects in mission builder and save not only the mssion but the layout, too- hilite all objects and press "ctrl + w" is how that goes I believe.

Then open a new mission, go to your location of interest and place your saved object layout- using "ctrl + L", placing a check in the "place at original location" box. Then activate the MB GSL editor using "ctrl + alt + shift + G". Then press "ctrl + alt + S". Then press "ctrl + alt + shift + G".
 
I believe the reason you get the error - "Can't open the scenery layer file gsl\cfs2.gsl in the first place is because when you activate the GSLeditor and then begin to place objects while the editor is active it causes what I believe is a READ/WRITE error issue.
Hence the reason you get this error.
It's a PAIN. I to through trial and error learned the hard way and of course asked for assistance.
MaskRider, “A PRO” makes some very good points and those short cuts make a big difference when creating large layouts.
Thanks MaskRider - Good to see you by the way. :wavey:

Steve2112
 
wsmwsm said:
I do hold CONTROL + ALT + SHIFT + G before editing.But whether I hit those keys once or hold them down for a time, it doens't appear to have an effect of activating the GSL edit mode.
Click to expand...

Part of the issue may lie here. First off, off course, upon activating the MB GSL editor, you won't see any visual indicator that the editor has been activated. A quick way to check would be to click on an existing (stock) scenery object and see if you can hilite and delete it.

WRT "hit those keys once or hold them down for a time" the procedure should be to hold down the ctrl + alt + shift keys all at once, hit the G key just once, and then release the others. Holding down the G key beyond a click may very well activate, deactivate, reactivate, deactivate, etc.. Its the G key that does the turning on and off.

This may not apply to what you have been doing wsmwsm, but I just thought that a little clarification on this point might help
 
Folks,

Well, I think we are making progress here. I made a small series of additions to the global layer without any error messages although I activated the editor prior to placing the objects. I also de-activated (I think) the read only settings of the individual files contained in the GSL folder. So I am not sure what did the trick so far. I did use the GSL.MAN to, in effect, transfer the changes from the "empty" GSL file to the stock cfs2.gsl, then deleted the use empty gsl command from the CFG file. I had not gotten that far previously because I encountered the error messages.

Thanks all. I will let you know how things continue.

PS: I was also very careful when pressing ctrl+alt+shift+g so that may be a factor as well.
 
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