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CFS2 Mission Builder / Editor

D

Dataman

Members +
To All,

My apologies in per chance asking a rather simple question, but where or how do I find the CFS2 Mission Builder / Editor?

I am not so much interested in creating new missions, but rather altering planes in current ones.

Thank you for whatever guidance you can offer.

I have checked through all of my CFS2 folders and cannot seem to see it.

Data / Kris
 
Data,

The mission builder is integrated in the CFS2 program itself. To use it you create a CFS2 shortcut. Rename the shortcut to Mission Builder. Then right click on the shortcut you created and select properties. In the target window box change the target to read C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\cfs2.exe" /BUILDER:

That creates the MB shortcut. When you click the shortcut it will then take you to the mission builder.
 
Data

I should have added that if all you are looking to do is swap out planes in existing missions you will want to use Morton's utility Mk_cfs2_util_v2. Some missions are hand edited and opening them up in Mission Builder erases the hand edits, spoiling the mission. If you use the utility you can swap out the planes without disturbing the mission programming. It's simple to use and much, much faster.

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=49&id=6207
 
It should also be in Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2
 
Captain Kurt,

Thank you!

I have downloaded the utility you were kind enough to provide a link for.

The plane swapping I was going to do would be in reference to the built in missions that come as a default with CFS2 (in the USN and the IJN Campaings, of course backing up all originals before doing so).

Would the CFS2 Mission Builder / Editor still not be appropriate to use for it might erase the hand edits?



Allen,

Thank you but for some reason I may have deleted it after the original install as I do not have it.
 
Hi Data,

Using MB for the stock campaigns isn't a problem.

Hand edited missions have been done by certain individual campaign makers like Rami, Guy Boullenger, and myself. Read the information included by the maker in the campaign file to find out if any of the missions were edited by hand. Hand editing allows things like different markings on planes in a formation, take off starts from locations other than the stock end of the runway, etc. Cody Coyote's Mission Builder Tutorial discusses some of the possibilities that hand editing can produce if you are interested in reading more about it. Most campaigns are done with only the Mission Builder so opening those missions isn't a problem.
 
Thank you Captain Kurt! :salute:

Another question along these lines, whether using the CFS2 Mission Editor or the Morton's utility Mk_cfs2_util_v2 .....

If I wish to basically substitue planes, when I used the CFS2 Mission Editor, only a limited range of aircraft appeared, yet when I checked the airplane folders, there were many more.

I was hoping to substitute US Planes for British planes in the standard campaigns, but those planes were not available, at least using the CFS2 Mission Editor.

Would Morton's Utility provide beter luck or is what I am asking for a major overhaul / re-write?
 
Reply...

Dataman,

Could you please be more specific about the planes that you intend to use and are not available? I think I have an idea of what you're driving at, but need more information.
 
Rami,

Thank you for your response and happy to provide more information.

Using the mission builder in CFS2, load the Campaign Mission for Japan called "A Mauling over Moresby"

Down toward the botom right corner of the control panel, there are green arrow buttons that advance the flight information for the mission.

When you get to the 3rd flight, P-39 Aircobra, if you use the drop down arrow to change the plane, there are no British aircraft.

I have seen the "Hurricane_I", "Mosquito", and a couple of "Spitfire" folders under the 'AIRCRAFT' directory in CFS2, but yet they do not figure within the drop down selection list.

Is it possible to add them somehow, either using the CFS2 Mission Editor or the Morton's utility Mk_cfs2_util_v2?

I hope this makes sense.
 
Reply...

Dataman,

Those aircraft are "legacy" aircraft from CFS1. There are many aircraft, as a matter of fact, that are not flyable in the original game.

The only ones that you can fly are the A6M2 Zero, A6M5 Zero, N1K2J George, P-38F Lightning, Grumman F4F Wildcat, Grumman F6F Hellcat, and the Vought F4U Corsair.

I would highly recommend replacing all the stock aircraft with overhauled models, making all aircraft in the folders for the Pacific flyable, and thus selectable in mission builder.

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links_search.php?action=show&userid=105&sort=d

As far as the European-based models are concerned, which ones are you interested in?
 
Response ....

Rami,

Thank you.

Do I need to make the British aircraft flyable if I will be basically flying for Japan and these planes will be AI controlled by the computer?

Please advise.
 
Reply...

Dataman,

No, they will not be used...they are from CFS1 Europe. However, if you were flying certain campaigns where the British were involved..(Skylane's campaigns, for example) you might need the Hurricane.

I would recommend replacing all of those CFS1 legacy aircraft with better ones, there are a myriad of better choices out there.
 
Thank you Rami.

So basically I will not be able to substitute those AI planes either using the CFS2 Mission Builder or the Morton's utility Mk_cfs2_util_v2, if I fly as Japan IJN and I wish to fly against British AI?
 
Reply...

Dataman,

You should be able to use them as AI, it makes me wonder whether the sound files are aliased to the A6M Zero.
 
Dataman,

I think there is some confusion here. :engel016:I note you say above there are a/c folders, but the a/c cannot be selected. When CFS 2 installs, it creats a lot of different aircraft folders, but doesn't actually put anything in the folders - it's a quirk of the install. If these folders have no contents, the aircraft will not appear in the a/c selection screen. I think this is what you are seeing.

Now, what Rami is talking about is also true - you should look for better CFS 2 native a/c models. Once you've downloaded them & installed them in your a/c folder, they will appear in Morten's utility for selection, & you will be able to replace a/c in any of the missions without opening Mission Builder. (You can also replace ships as well)

There are a few caveats - back up the original missions, or rename the ones you're swapping a/c in BEFORE you swap. Mortens utility doesn't rename missions. In doing so, remember each mission has a .mis file & a .dyn file - change the name of both files, otherwise the mission won't work properly.
Also, remember you are just replacing the aircraft callout - so all the waypoints & speeds & loadouts will match the original mission a/c. This can sometimes give unexpected results, so it's not a perfect solution, but it's a quick way to get a new mission template you can tweak yourself in mission builder if need be.

Hope this helps.
 
Thank you UncleTGT!

You hit the nail on the head.

The aircraft folders with the British planes are in fact empty (and many other folders for Paific planes that you would think would have information).

You also made an acute observation about the missions itself as planes would have different travelling distances / weapons / etc which of course would have to be factored in or else face those unexpected results you mentioned.

What I will need to do is find files for those aircraft folders (I guess using Rami's link) and then move forward from there.

Thank you all and my apologies if I caused confusion on what the objective was I was trying to achieve.
 
Kurt says:

The mission builder is integrated in the CFS2 program itself. To use it you create a CFS2 shortcut. Rename the shortcut to Mission Builder. Then right click on the shortcut you created and select properties. In the target window box change the target to read C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\cfs2.exe" /BUILDER:

That creates the MB shortcut. When you click the shortcut it will then take you to the mission builder.


I tried to do that and I get an error message that the target name is invalid.
I have no tab for the MB in the Start menu of my PC.

This is very frustrating. The Slashes in what Kurt writes for the target data are 2 types, backslash and foreslash. Is that normal??

Does CFS2 give you a Mission Builder install option when your first install it?

My CFS2 is in K:\CFS2, and not in the usual, default address.

I run Winodws 7.
 
Jinx,

I have had trouble creating a shortcut in the past. This process has worked for me.

Try a copy and paste of this into your properties target window box.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\cfs2.exe" /BUILDER

If your drive letter is something other than C: make sure you change it.

Hope this helps,
B24Guy
 
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