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SOH ADMINISTRATION
Question about Multi-Installs
- Thread starter T Square
- Start date
Reply...
T Square,
A man after my own heart...oh goodie!
You can do this for more than you think!
For example, I have three copies of the FDG Curtiss P-36 Hawk. Instead of having three separate model files, I have one model file, and I direct each model.cfg on where to find the model to load the aircraft.
Example: [models]
normal=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Models\Curtiss P-36a Hawk\P36A
So in the Microsoft Games folder, I have a folder called CFS2 Models, with a folder called Curtiss P-36a Hawk, which is where the .mdl file is.
You can do this for ships, too!
Example: [models]
normal=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Models\merchant0141\merchant0141
I do the same thing for sound.cfg files in aircraft...
Example: [FLTSIM]
alias=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Engines\Single\P & W R-1830-13 Twin Wasp
But the biggest savings is scenery. If you're going to go through the trouble of setting up Rhumba's LOD 5, 7, and 8 mesh, why do it more than once? All seven of my installs run off THE SAME set of Rhumba's files.
How do I do this??
It's simple: I alias the scenery.cfg file in the same manner as I showed you above...
[Area.001]
Title=Default Scenery
Local=scenery
Active=TRUE
Layer=2
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.002]
Title=Terrain
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\World (ETO)
Active=TRUE
Texture_ID=1
Layer=1
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.003]
Title=CFS1 Library
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\library
Active=TRUE
Layer=3
Remote=
Required=FALSE
[Area.004]
Title=Airport Facilities Data
Local=Scenedb\AFDFiles
Active=TRUE
Layer=4
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.005]
Title=Scenery Ships
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\Ships
Active=TRUE
Layer=5
Remote=
Required=FALSE
[Area.006]
Title=Aircraft Weapons
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\weapons
Active=TRUE
Layer=6
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.007]
Title=Vehicles
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\veh
Active=TRUE
Layer=7
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.008]
Title=Effects
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\fx
Active=TRUE
Layer=8
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.009]
Title=Runways
Local=Scenedb\runways
Active=TRUE
Layer=9
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.010]
Title=Buildings
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\inf
Active=TRUE
Layer=10
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.011]
Title=FS2000_props
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\fs2kprop
Active=TRUE
Layer=11
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.012]
Title=DEM mesh LOD 7
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\DEM mesh LOD 7
Active=TRUE
Layer=12
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.013]
Title=DEM mesh LOD 8
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\DEM mesh LOD 8
Active=TRUE
Layer=13
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.014]
Title=SdC_Global Exclude
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\SdC_Global exclude
Active=TRUE
Layer=14
Required=FALSE
Remote=
[Area.015]
Title=cfs2_eurw_LC_su_BETA4
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\cfs2_eurw_LC_su_BETA4
Active=TRUE
Layer=15
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.016]
Title=SdC Eurw
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\SdC Eurw
Active=TRUE
Layer=16
Required=FALSE
Remote=
[Area.017]
Title=SdC_Eurw_FeaturePack
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\SdC_Eurw_FeaturePack
Active=TRUE
Layer=17
Required=TRUE
Remote=
I wouldn't recommend doing this for panels and gauges, you end up causing more problems than you solve.
For further details, have a look at Jaxon's CFS2 tips page: http://www.michael-reimer.com/CFS2/CFS2_Tips.html
T Square,
A man after my own heart...oh goodie!
You can do this for more than you think!
For example, I have three copies of the FDG Curtiss P-36 Hawk. Instead of having three separate model files, I have one model file, and I direct each model.cfg on where to find the model to load the aircraft.
Example: [models]
normal=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Models\Curtiss P-36a Hawk\P36A
So in the Microsoft Games folder, I have a folder called CFS2 Models, with a folder called Curtiss P-36a Hawk, which is where the .mdl file is.
You can do this for ships, too!
Example: [models]
normal=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Models\merchant0141\merchant0141
I do the same thing for sound.cfg files in aircraft...
Example: [FLTSIM]
alias=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Engines\Single\P & W R-1830-13 Twin Wasp
But the biggest savings is scenery. If you're going to go through the trouble of setting up Rhumba's LOD 5, 7, and 8 mesh, why do it more than once? All seven of my installs run off THE SAME set of Rhumba's files.
How do I do this??
It's simple: I alias the scenery.cfg file in the same manner as I showed you above...
[Area.001]
Title=Default Scenery
Local=scenery
Active=TRUE
Layer=2
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.002]
Title=Terrain
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\World (ETO)
Active=TRUE
Texture_ID=1
Layer=1
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.003]
Title=CFS1 Library
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\library
Active=TRUE
Layer=3
Remote=
Required=FALSE
[Area.004]
Title=Airport Facilities Data
Local=Scenedb\AFDFiles
Active=TRUE
Layer=4
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.005]
Title=Scenery Ships
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\Ships
Active=TRUE
Layer=5
Remote=
Required=FALSE
[Area.006]
Title=Aircraft Weapons
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\weapons
Active=TRUE
Layer=6
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.007]
Title=Vehicles
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\veh
Active=TRUE
Layer=7
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.008]
Title=Effects
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\fx
Active=TRUE
Layer=8
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.009]
Title=Runways
Local=Scenedb\runways
Active=TRUE
Layer=9
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.010]
Title=Buildings
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\inf
Active=TRUE
Layer=10
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.011]
Title=FS2000_props
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\fs2kprop
Active=TRUE
Layer=11
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.012]
Title=DEM mesh LOD 7
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\DEM mesh LOD 7
Active=TRUE
Layer=12
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.013]
Title=DEM mesh LOD 8
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\DEM mesh LOD 8
Active=TRUE
Layer=13
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.014]
Title=SdC_Global Exclude
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\SdC_Global exclude
Active=TRUE
Layer=14
Required=FALSE
Remote=
[Area.015]
Title=cfs2_eurw_LC_su_BETA4
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\cfs2_eurw_LC_su_BETA4
Active=TRUE
Layer=15
Required=TRUE
Remote=
[Area.016]
Title=SdC Eurw
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\SdC Eurw
Active=TRUE
Layer=16
Required=FALSE
Remote=
[Area.017]
Title=SdC_Eurw_FeaturePack
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\SdC_Eurw_FeaturePack
Active=TRUE
Layer=17
Required=TRUE
Remote=
I wouldn't recommend doing this for panels and gauges, you end up causing more problems than you solve.
For further details, have a look at Jaxon's CFS2 tips page: http://www.michael-reimer.com/CFS2/CFS2_Tips.html
Reply...
Dawg,
Here are a few threads from the past couple o' years...
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...-multiple-installs&highlight=multiple+install
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...e-install-question&highlight=multiple+install
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...iple-install-guide&highlight=multiple+install
Also, send me a PM (private message) with your e-mail.
Dawg,
Here are a few threads from the past couple o' years...
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...-multiple-installs&highlight=multiple+install
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...e-install-question&highlight=multiple+install
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...iple-install-guide&highlight=multiple+install
Also, send me a PM (private message) with your e-mail.
Rami
Scenery is easy I can direct that any where when I activate it. I put all my scenery in one folder and then add it to the applicable installs. How about gauges ? Is there a way I can direct all installs to one gauges file ? For example you have a KM P-40E in a China, install and one in a New Guinea install. I only want to install the Gauges in one file, not in both installs. How would I do this without having to rewrite panel cfg files ?
Scenery is easy I can direct that any where when I activate it. I put all my scenery in one folder and then add it to the applicable installs. How about gauges ? Is there a way I can direct all installs to one gauges file ? For example you have a KM P-40E in a China, install and one in a New Guinea install. I only want to install the Gauges in one file, not in both installs. How would I do this without having to rewrite panel cfg files ?
Reply...
Tsquare,
Well yes, but you'd probably be in a padded room with four walls and a little window by the time you are done.
What you would have to do is to go into every panel.cfg of the aircraft you have, and look for the into where the gauges are located, as in this example...
// This Panel.cfg file created by CfgEdit
// Built Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 07:29 Build:16969
[Window Titles]
Window00=Fairey Battle -- Main Panel
Window01=THROTTLE
Window02=Stick
[Window00]
file=fairey battle_640.BMP
file_1024=fairey battle_1024.bmp
size_mm=640,480
window_size_ratio=1.00
position=7
visible=1
ident=MAIN_PANEL
sizeable=1
render_3d_window=1
window_size= 1.000, 1.000
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000
gauge00=Hurricane_1!Altimeter, 217,425,57,60
gauge01=Hurricane_1!Attitude, 279,357,64,65
gauge02=Hurricane_1!Heading_Indicator, 284,427,52,65
gauge03=Hurricane_1!Magneto, 105,371,22,30
gauge04=Hurricane_1!Vertical_Speed, 349,356,60,59
gauge05=spitfire_mki!Airspeed, 214,359,62
gauge06=spitfire_mki!Turn_Indicator, 344,416,71,70
gauge07=hurricane_1!Fuel, 365,275,54,51
gauge08=hurricane_1!Clock, 140,386,53
gauge09=hurricane_1!Fuel_Selector, 424,296,38,40
gauge10=hurricane_1!Boost_Pressure, 490,356,55,54
gauge11=hurricane_1!Tachometer, 436,343,54
gauge12=p47d!Oil_Pressure, 428,420,43,40
gauge13=hurricane_1!Oil_Temperature, 471,422,43,40
gauge14=f4f4_wildcat!Cylinder-Temperature, 523, 405 ,51,50
gauge15=f4u1a_corsair!Fuel_Pressure, 472,465,40,39
gauge16=f4f4_wildcat!Icon-Map, 205,466,12
gauge17=f4f4_wildcat!Starter, 109,423,10,21
gauge18=bomb_bay_lt, 428,402,15
And do the same aliasing trick, so that it would look like this:
gauge00=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Gauges\Hurricane_1!Altimeter, 217,425,57,60
For every single gauge, in every single panel, of every aircraft, in every install of CFS2 that you have!!!
If you have that kind of patience, you're a better man than I!
Tsquare,
Well yes, but you'd probably be in a padded room with four walls and a little window by the time you are done.
What you would have to do is to go into every panel.cfg of the aircraft you have, and look for the into where the gauges are located, as in this example...
// This Panel.cfg file created by CfgEdit
// Built Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 07:29 Build:16969
[Window Titles]
Window00=Fairey Battle -- Main Panel
Window01=THROTTLE
Window02=Stick
[Window00]
file=fairey battle_640.BMP
file_1024=fairey battle_1024.bmp
size_mm=640,480
window_size_ratio=1.00
position=7
visible=1
ident=MAIN_PANEL
sizeable=1
render_3d_window=1
window_size= 1.000, 1.000
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000
gauge00=Hurricane_1!Altimeter, 217,425,57,60
gauge01=Hurricane_1!Attitude, 279,357,64,65
gauge02=Hurricane_1!Heading_Indicator, 284,427,52,65
gauge03=Hurricane_1!Magneto, 105,371,22,30
gauge04=Hurricane_1!Vertical_Speed, 349,356,60,59
gauge05=spitfire_mki!Airspeed, 214,359,62
gauge06=spitfire_mki!Turn_Indicator, 344,416,71,70
gauge07=hurricane_1!Fuel, 365,275,54,51
gauge08=hurricane_1!Clock, 140,386,53
gauge09=hurricane_1!Fuel_Selector, 424,296,38,40
gauge10=hurricane_1!Boost_Pressure, 490,356,55,54
gauge11=hurricane_1!Tachometer, 436,343,54
gauge12=p47d!Oil_Pressure, 428,420,43,40
gauge13=hurricane_1!Oil_Temperature, 471,422,43,40
gauge14=f4f4_wildcat!Cylinder-Temperature, 523, 405 ,51,50
gauge15=f4u1a_corsair!Fuel_Pressure, 472,465,40,39
gauge16=f4f4_wildcat!Icon-Map, 205,466,12
gauge17=f4f4_wildcat!Starter, 109,423,10,21
gauge18=bomb_bay_lt, 428,402,15
And do the same aliasing trick, so that it would look like this:
gauge00=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Gauges\Hurricane_1!Altimeter, 217,425,57,60
For every single gauge, in every single panel, of every aircraft, in every install of CFS2 that you have!!!
If you have that kind of patience, you're a better man than I!
Hi T Square,
"Maybe a wizbang programer will see this and come up with some little program that would do it."
- It has been done by Jean "Bomber" Cornichon. His download " Easy Multi Install" shows you how to do it. You use batch files. These can be edited by changing the .bat extension to .txt.
You only have one CFS 2 engine driving any number of installs. You have multiple aircraft, campaign, mission, quick combat, pilot log, texture and UIRES folders. Only a single gauge, objectdp, scenedb, ships and sound folder is needed.
Only one problem - I can't remember from which website I downloaded it.
"Maybe a wizbang programer will see this and come up with some little program that would do it."
- It has been done by Jean "Bomber" Cornichon. His download " Easy Multi Install" shows you how to do it. You use batch files. These can be edited by changing the .bat extension to .txt.
You only have one CFS 2 engine driving any number of installs. You have multiple aircraft, campaign, mission, quick combat, pilot log, texture and UIRES folders. Only a single gauge, objectdp, scenedb, ships and sound folder is needed.
Only one problem - I can't remember from which website I downloaded it.
Ali Cat
Charter Member
T Square,
kdriver beat me to the punch but that may be good as his solution sounds better. I Googled “CFS2 Easy Multi install” and got the following link – it seems to be it.
http://www.simviation.com/cfs2utilities1.htm
But that is not why I am responding as you could have done the above yourself. Today, at lunch, I drafted a reply but did not post when kdriver did first. After further refection it seems that you or someone else may find that response interesting so here it is.
For this you don't have to be a wiz-bang programmer (such text file manipulations are very easy to code) but writing an application is not were I would look first. At Google I noticed right off that “text search and replace tool” was a standard search string. To this I added “open source” at the end to find something free (I'm hesitant of using “free” or “freeware”). Hit number 3 was sourceforge and it is interesting – here's the link.
http://csart.sourceforge.net/
Note that the description says …
“csart - Clever-Search-And-Replace-Text Search, find and replace text in named files or recursive in all directories (-r). If choosen, strings are only replaced if another key-string occures in the line (-w)”
It sounds good but of course you would have to try it to know. The point is that such a text search and replace is almost certainly already out there. Also note that there are a number of reputable open source sites and though I am not the expert here, both “sourceforge.net” and “gnu.org” I trust.
AC
kdriver beat me to the punch but that may be good as his solution sounds better. I Googled “CFS2 Easy Multi install” and got the following link – it seems to be it.
http://www.simviation.com/cfs2utilities1.htm
But that is not why I am responding as you could have done the above yourself. Today, at lunch, I drafted a reply but did not post when kdriver did first. After further refection it seems that you or someone else may find that response interesting so here it is.
For this you don't have to be a wiz-bang programmer (such text file manipulations are very easy to code) but writing an application is not were I would look first. At Google I noticed right off that “text search and replace tool” was a standard search string. To this I added “open source” at the end to find something free (I'm hesitant of using “free” or “freeware”). Hit number 3 was sourceforge and it is interesting – here's the link.
http://csart.sourceforge.net/
Note that the description says …
“csart - Clever-Search-And-Replace-Text Search, find and replace text in named files or recursive in all directories (-r). If choosen, strings are only replaced if another key-string occures in the line (-w)”
It sounds good but of course you would have to try it to know. The point is that such a text search and replace is almost certainly already out there. Also note that there are a number of reputable open source sites and though I am not the expert here, both “sourceforge.net” and “gnu.org” I trust.
AC
On the computer I'm on now I have 16 copy's of CFS2.Only one is named CFS2.The rest are variously named for example-CFS2-eur1,CFS2-eur2,CFS2-pac2,CfS2-kor---and soforth.inside each install is a textfile made with notepad.this file has the same name as the folder has.for instance- 01 CFS2-pac2.You don't have to write anything in the actual file unless you want to. when you pass your curser thru the folder the 01 will make the name pop up first in the little bit of info you see there.you know quickly what the name of your cfs2 folder is. NOW when you change to a differant install rename the one folder named CFS2 to the name on this text file.then change the name of the install you want to use to CFS2.I also keep a shortcut to Microsoft Games on my desktop so I can get to these files fast.Its been working for me for years.Good luck and have a good one.
BLONDI:cost1: