.bmp format

[Frosty]

Does anyone know what sort of .bmp format is used for the UI images?

I would like to change the size and image of "ingamebrief.bmp" file, the background of the inflight checklist ("uires/help" folder). However, when I change this .bmp, it gets all kinda weird magenta and scanlines-like ingame...
Thanks!

 

[MajorMagee]

24 bit rgb.

 

[Frosty]

Thanks, that's what I found out too. I probably need to look for the file that controls this .bmp or try something else.

 

[MajorMagee]

In the Dialogs folder you will find dlgingamebriefing.xml

<Dialog Image="help/ingamebrief.bmp[1]" Movable="Yes" ZOrder="Top" Position="SouthEast">
<Button ID="Cancel" X="267" Y="4" Width="17" Height="17" NoCaption="Yes" Image="help/close.bmp[6]"/>
<Label ID="ctrl6" Caption="Briefing" X="105" Y="21" Width="80" Height="14" FontName="metaltype" Align="Center"/>
<EditBox ID="edtDescription" X="22" Y="45" Width="247" Height="182" ReadOnly="true" Image="common_screens/dropbox.bmp[1]" FontName="textfontflt" Textcolor="#000000,#000000,#000000"/>
</Dialog>

 

[Frosty]

Thanks, I did find that but I think it is "dlgchecklist.xml": changes that I make to the positions of the buttons in that file do have effect in the game and the text is "Checklist". But both dialogs use the same .bmp background indeed.

But it remains very puzzling: the file that's being called for is "ingamebrief.bmp[1]". What's that [1] doing there?
Furthermore, when I right-click the ingamebrief.bmp file and look at its properties, it says "32-bit". I think it is 24-bit with an 8-bit Alpha: When I open it in DXTbmp, it clearly shows an Alpha channel. When I open it in a picture viewer, there's a black border showing that's not there in-game. But I can't find a way to create/save my file in a similar format. Yet it is possible when I look at the changed files in MAW. Anyone from that team still around who knows what to do/ how to create such a .bmp?

 

[Frosty]

Of course, this is a little on-the-side project for the P-47 build: I came across original cockpit checklists for the various subvariants. CFS3 does have the possibility of calling up a checklist while flying but it is a horrid thing which doesn't convey any atmosphere or immersion. The original checklists do and specify size, format, fonts and their sizes. If I could get that into CFS3 it would look so much better. I could create a 3D cockpit object that works as a checklist (look to the left cockpit wall in the preview model) but why not try using a function that is already there?

I found a photo of a RAF kneeboard on some auction site. While it isn't American/P-47, it is advertised as WW2 and looks better than the orignal CFS3 checklist - at least that's how I feel. So I created a background .bmp on which the checklist items can be displayed per the various CFS3 program files. Please compare (checklist text pasted to give you an impression of how it might look in game):

Okay, maybe a bit cheesy and rather like flight sims from the beginning of the century (no 3D iPad in the cockpit, as the current civvie sims have) but it beats the stock thing by a fair margin...