I've recently returned to the CFS2 world after some absence and have uploaded all the new mods that will bring me up to date on my old CFS2 theaters. But I get, all too often, a "failure to initialize (aircraft)" message when I try to actually fly an updated mission or campaign using a new aircraft. Why is this? Is there a work around or 'fix'?
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The Staff of SOH
Initialization of aircraft problem
- Thread starter Archive1
- Start date
Sometimes aircraft are uploaded with an aircraft.cgf instead of aircraft.cfg (main aircraft directory). You just have to change the extension.
Also, a common issue is the sound file. It could be just a link to the sound directory of another aircraft. But this one must be present. In this case you just have to modify the link to catch an existing aircraft.
Also, a common issue is the sound file. It could be just a link to the sound directory of another aircraft. But this one must be present. In this case you just have to modify the link to catch an existing aircraft.
Reply...
Archive1,
Also, you must make sure that the aircraft or ship required is in the simulation, and it is named the same as it is in the mission or campaign. Additionally, check to make sure that you are not, with aircraft and additional textures or "skins," over the 100-plane limit.
Archive1,
Also, you must make sure that the aircraft or ship required is in the simulation, and it is named the same as it is in the mission or campaign. Additionally, check to make sure that you are not, with aircraft and additional textures or "skins," over the 100-plane limit.
Rami:
Yes the aircraft are in the main aircraft file of the sim. I've downloaded the aircraft (many of them in your updates of older campaigns, thank you for the work) as listed by your text describing scenery, objects etc required for each campaign as written. The names used are correct - I would expect them to be, but have checked the aircraft called for by each mission against the aircraft included in the main aircraft directory, and that's what's confounding. I can change the aircraft called by the mission and direct it to a different aircraft in the main listing, and it works, but I am not interested in going through all the missions and rewriting the appropriate lines (Battle of Britain ? ... whoa!) Now the question about the 100 aircraf limit may be the problem and I will have to check on that. The sim resides on a different computer elsewhere so I can't do it in real time.
Thanks to all for the responses. Would like to correct this and dip back into some of those older campaigns using upgraded aircraft, effects, the amazing new scenery, all on a faster computer, but am stymied by this initialization problem.
Yes the aircraft are in the main aircraft file of the sim. I've downloaded the aircraft (many of them in your updates of older campaigns, thank you for the work) as listed by your text describing scenery, objects etc required for each campaign as written. The names used are correct - I would expect them to be, but have checked the aircraft called for by each mission against the aircraft included in the main aircraft directory, and that's what's confounding. I can change the aircraft called by the mission and direct it to a different aircraft in the main listing, and it works, but I am not interested in going through all the missions and rewriting the appropriate lines (Battle of Britain ? ... whoa!) Now the question about the 100 aircraf limit may be the problem and I will have to check on that. The sim resides on a different computer elsewhere so I can't do it in real time.
Thanks to all for the responses. Would like to correct this and dip back into some of those older campaigns using upgraded aircraft, effects, the amazing new scenery, all on a faster computer, but am stymied by this initialization problem.
Cody Coyote
SOH-CM-2024
The 100 plane limit only affects you when you try to fly in Free Flight or use Mission Builder. You can fly missions and campaigns with several hundred planes loaded and not have a problem. Also the 100 plane limit error message is a "failed to initialize the databases" message and you are describing a "failure to initialize (aircraft)" which would point to a specific aircraft being the problem, not the total number of aircraft.
If the error message is pointing to a specific plane check to see if you can use that plane in Free Flight (I suspect not). If not check all the usual suspects; open that aircraft's folder and check to make sure the appropriate files and folders are in there. Check the sound and panel aliases and see if they point to aircraft you have. If you still can't find it, come back her and list one or two of the specific aircraft causing the problem.
If the error message is pointing to a specific plane check to see if you can use that plane in Free Flight (I suspect not). If not check all the usual suspects; open that aircraft's folder and check to make sure the appropriate files and folders are in there. Check the sound and panel aliases and see if they point to aircraft you have. If you still can't find it, come back her and list one or two of the specific aircraft causing the problem.
Shadow Wolf 07
SOH-CM-2025
Initialization errors sometimes occur also when you have several aircraft/textures in one folder. Try separating each texture with the sound, model, panel, dp, cfg and air into a seperate aircraft folder, named for the cfg/texture. eg: FDG2 F4F-3_Wildcat_VF3 O'Hare, FDG2 F4F-3_Wildcat_VF72 USS WASP, FDG2 F4F-3_Wildcat_VMF224 Galer and FDG2 F4F-3_Wildcat VF41 OpTorch were originallt packaged in one FDG F4F-3 folder.
Reply...
Good afternoon,
I don't know if this will help, but have a look at this page, the first two sections might be of use to you.
http://www.michael-reimer.com/CFS2/CFS2_Tips.html
Good afternoon,
I don't know if this will help, but have a look at this page, the first two sections might be of use to you.
http://www.michael-reimer.com/CFS2/CFS2_Tips.html
Cody/Rami ; Thanks for some good advice. I think I have run all of these, but will go over them again. Am not a newby at this, but sometimes things slip.
Rami: The Reimer piece is excellent and much appreciated. I groan at the time it would have saved me a few years ago as I started into the modification world and much of what I tried to do crashed the program regularly. I guess we've all been there.
Cody: You are correct, no Free Flight. I will recheck panel and sound aliases...actually did not do that as I now reflect. Arggh! I know to do that.
Wolf: I don't worry too much about specific skins for aircraft and never have multiple skins for any. Worry more about performance and game-play specifics. But I appreciate the response.
A bit off topic: I cannot find a decent flyable JU-87 of any model (a,d,g...etc). Anybody know of one? And I may come back in a different thread to find out where one can find mission-required aircraft that are no longer available from a defunct website recommended as a source in the requirements list text of updated campaigns.
Good to come back to the air sim forum fold. Been a rather long time.
Rami: The Reimer piece is excellent and much appreciated. I groan at the time it would have saved me a few years ago as I started into the modification world and much of what I tried to do crashed the program regularly. I guess we've all been there.
Cody: You are correct, no Free Flight. I will recheck panel and sound aliases...actually did not do that as I now reflect. Arggh! I know to do that.
Wolf: I don't worry too much about specific skins for aircraft and never have multiple skins for any. Worry more about performance and game-play specifics. But I appreciate the response.
A bit off topic: I cannot find a decent flyable JU-87 of any model (a,d,g...etc). Anybody know of one? And I may come back in a different thread to find out where one can find mission-required aircraft that are no longer available from a defunct website recommended as a source in the requirements list text of updated campaigns.
Good to come back to the air sim forum fold. Been a rather long time.
Reply...
Archive1,
Some good news on those counts. Your request for a Junkers Ju-87b is valid. Here are some links for you...
The Junkers Ju-87b by Wolfi (JU87B_Stuka.zip, JU87B_Stuka_MDL_fix.zip)
Location: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/downloads/download.php?lloc=downloads&FileID=6345
Model fix: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/downloads/download.php?lloc=downloads&FileID=6366
There are many skins to choose from (wolfi_ju87pack1.zip, wolfi_ju87pack2.zip, mk_dlw_ju87bx4.zip)
Skin pack I: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=16&id=916
Skin pack II: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=16&id=917
Morton’s skins: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=16&id=661
As far as your request for "mission-required aircraft for updated campaigns," it is my honor to inform you that many of the classic campaigns for CFS2, especially for the ETO and MTO, have been thoroughly updated by me, and they include hyperlinked readme files which contain links like you see above. Here's a link to the new library's campaign and missions section.
Campaigns: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=44
Missions: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=43
You can also click on the links in my signature.
Archive1,
Some good news on those counts. Your request for a Junkers Ju-87b is valid. Here are some links for you...
The Junkers Ju-87b by Wolfi (JU87B_Stuka.zip, JU87B_Stuka_MDL_fix.zip)
Location: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/downloads/download.php?lloc=downloads&FileID=6345
Model fix: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/downloads/download.php?lloc=downloads&FileID=6366
There are many skins to choose from (wolfi_ju87pack1.zip, wolfi_ju87pack2.zip, mk_dlw_ju87bx4.zip)
Skin pack I: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=16&id=916
Skin pack II: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=16&id=917
Morton’s skins: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=16&id=661
As far as your request for "mission-required aircraft for updated campaigns," it is my honor to inform you that many of the classic campaigns for CFS2, especially for the ETO and MTO, have been thoroughly updated by me, and they include hyperlinked readme files which contain links like you see above. Here's a link to the new library's campaign and missions section.
Campaigns: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=44
Missions: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=43
You can also click on the links in my signature.
Rami and Cody:
Am embarrassed to say that I had forgotten to check sound/panel files for aliases to aircraft not in the Aircraft main file...I removed the Zero for example, since this updated version is to be ETO only, and that aircraft was aliased by several of the planes I was trying to load. Ah well, now am back on track. Sorry for bothering anyone.
As for not finding aircraft listed as required for some of the upgrades, what I referred to is something like the link http://myzone59.free.fr/rebuffat/luft/109g6/Barkhorn.zip that is listed as needed in the Battle for Europe installation guide. But the website no longer exists as far as I can tell and the 'Barkhorn' is not listed in the aircraft download section of SOH. Now it must exist somewhere, but where is that somewhere? There are a few other links that result in the same deadend for needed stuff...not many, but a few.
One other comment. Some of the NDB 'frequencies' listed for UK airbases for use in the INFO/airbases file (and a couple of GE/FR airbases) conflict with one another. For example: UK - Detling and UK- Kemble are both listed as 429, UK - Bodney and UK - Luton both listed as 344, etc. Conflicts for freqs 438 and 322 also. Any way to fix this?
Thanks for the JU87 link. Will use.
-=dcp=-
Am embarrassed to say that I had forgotten to check sound/panel files for aliases to aircraft not in the Aircraft main file...I removed the Zero for example, since this updated version is to be ETO only, and that aircraft was aliased by several of the planes I was trying to load. Ah well, now am back on track. Sorry for bothering anyone.
As for not finding aircraft listed as required for some of the upgrades, what I referred to is something like the link http://myzone59.free.fr/rebuffat/luft/109g6/Barkhorn.zip that is listed as needed in the Battle for Europe installation guide. But the website no longer exists as far as I can tell and the 'Barkhorn' is not listed in the aircraft download section of SOH. Now it must exist somewhere, but where is that somewhere? There are a few other links that result in the same deadend for needed stuff...not many, but a few.
One other comment. Some of the NDB 'frequencies' listed for UK airbases for use in the INFO/airbases file (and a couple of GE/FR airbases) conflict with one another. For example: UK - Detling and UK- Kemble are both listed as 429, UK - Bodney and UK - Luton both listed as 344, etc. Conflicts for freqs 438 and 322 also. Any way to fix this?
Thanks for the JU87 link. Will use.
-=dcp=-
Reply...
Archive1,
Which version of "Battle for Europe" are you using? My older version from the dusty archives or the newer version from the Warbirds Library / My website?
Did you also check out the additional mission add-on..."BFE - The Regensburg raid"?
Archive1,
Which version of "Battle for Europe" are you using? My older version from the dusty archives or the newer version from the Warbirds Library / My website?
Did you also check out the additional mission add-on..."BFE - The Regensburg raid"?
Rami:
I have just been downloading from the Warbirds/CFS2/Campaigns/Battle for/of Europe ...have no idea if that's dusty or not. It's captioned as:...and this is what I am referencing...
Submitted by Rami
March 5th, 2011
1.17 Mbytes Hits 293
Now I don't really know what that means. I now know that I can go directly to your website and look at what's there. Will do so for all the upgrades I have already downloaded and am now mplementing. BTW, I does look like the first mission in the BoE campaign series (I test things by dropping various sections of a campaign into the mission list)...I think it's "August something" crashes just as the Brit aircraft takes off and the gear comes up. Don't know where in the .mis file the problem is.
To repeat one bit from my message above: can one change the NDB settings for any given airbase merely by inserting into the last line of the base code in the Info/Airbase decription for the selected airbase, the statement "NDB = xxx" below the Lat/Long/Alt/Heading lines for the specific airbase and create a new NDB setting for the airbase, and thus eliminate conflicts?
-=dcp=-
I have just been downloading from the Warbirds/CFS2/Campaigns/Battle for/of Europe ...have no idea if that's dusty or not. It's captioned as:...and this is what I am referencing...
Submitted by Rami
March 5th, 2011
1.17 Mbytes Hits 293
Now I don't really know what that means. I now know that I can go directly to your website and look at what's there. Will do so for all the upgrades I have already downloaded and am now mplementing. BTW, I does look like the first mission in the BoE campaign series (I test things by dropping various sections of a campaign into the mission list)...I think it's "August something" crashes just as the Brit aircraft takes off and the gear comes up. Don't know where in the .mis file the problem is.
To repeat one bit from my message above: can one change the NDB settings for any given airbase merely by inserting into the last line of the base code in the Info/Airbase decription for the selected airbase, the statement "NDB = xxx" below the Lat/Long/Alt/Heading lines for the specific airbase and create a new NDB setting for the airbase, and thus eliminate conflicts?
-=dcp=-
Reply...
Archive1,
The version you have is the newer one, because it is from the Warbirds Library, or from my website. I was just wondering if you have the one from the archive, (the older section) which is from 2009, but that is a non-issue.
As far as a "crash," are you FLYING the Brit aircraft, or is it an AI? (which would make it so that you're flying a German crate) The reason why I ask is the the first mission (number one) is a USAAF Rodeo over Holland or a Freie Jagd over Holland, depending on which side you're on. The only Allied missions involving British aircraft that you fly as a player are missions ten, twenty-three, twenty-six, twenty-two, twelve, thirteen, twenty-seven, and twenty-eight.
Also, do you get a CTD error, or does the mission just end unexpectedly?
Archive1,
The version you have is the newer one, because it is from the Warbirds Library, or from my website. I was just wondering if you have the one from the archive, (the older section) which is from 2009, but that is a non-issue.
As far as a "crash," are you FLYING the Brit aircraft, or is it an AI? (which would make it so that you're flying a German crate) The reason why I ask is the the first mission (number one) is a USAAF Rodeo over Holland or a Freie Jagd over Holland, depending on which side you're on. The only Allied missions involving British aircraft that you fly as a player are missions ten, twenty-three, twenty-six, twenty-two, twelve, thirteen, twenty-seven, and twenty-eight.
Also, do you get a CTD error, or does the mission just end unexpectedly?
Rami:
Here's an example of the problem with having two different computers with things on each. And an aging memory when shifting from one to the other.
The Campaign I've found to fail is in the BoB Campaign - "August 1940 - Defend Convoy 'Augusta'" - not, repeat not, BoE Campaign. And you are correct, there is no crash just an unexpected end to the mission as one is retracting the gear...or thereabouts...on takeoff.
-=dcp=-
Here's an example of the problem with having two different computers with things on each. And an aging memory when shifting from one to the other.
The Campaign I've found to fail is in the BoB Campaign - "August 1940 - Defend Convoy 'Augusta'" - not, repeat not, BoE Campaign. And you are correct, there is no crash just an unexpected end to the mission as one is retracting the gear...or thereabouts...on takeoff.
-=dcp=-
Reply...
Archive1,
I recall Devildog73 having a problem with this mission last month, but the version of the mission I modified on 10/01/2011 (which included in the version here AND on my site) should have corrected the issue with that mission. There is still the possibility of failing the mission, but that should not happen on takeoff anymore.
Archive1,
I recall Devildog73 having a problem with this mission last month, but the version of the mission I modified on 10/01/2011 (which included in the version here AND on my site) should have corrected the issue with that mission. There is still the possibility of failing the mission, but that should not happen on takeoff anymore.
Rami:
I just downloaded the BoB directly from your website and will see if the same problem exists with the August - Augusta mission from there.
Can someone (maybe you or not) answer the NDB question? If I merely change the NDB 415 at the bottom of this example of an airbase entry will that give me an active NDB frequency that the panel will locate and direct me to? I know this is not WWII stuff, but I still enjoy just flying and routing myself with the radio beacons. If I can just change these I can eliminate the conflicts that are now present as I mentioned above.
[runway.xxx]
id=8013
name=UK - Methwold
base_lat=N52 32.04
base_lon=E0 32.85
base_alt=86
heading=180
allegiance=0
units_across=2
takeoff_start_pos=0,0
takeoff_stop_pos=6000,0
landing_start_pos=5000,350
landing_touchdown_pos=0,0
landing_stop_pos=600,0
NDB 415
I just downloaded the BoB directly from your website and will see if the same problem exists with the August - Augusta mission from there.
Can someone (maybe you or not) answer the NDB question? If I merely change the NDB 415 at the bottom of this example of an airbase entry will that give me an active NDB frequency that the panel will locate and direct me to? I know this is not WWII stuff, but I still enjoy just flying and routing myself with the radio beacons. If I can just change these I can eliminate the conflicts that are now present as I mentioned above.
[runway.xxx]
id=8013
name=UK - Methwold
base_lat=N52 32.04
base_lon=E0 32.85
base_alt=86
heading=180
allegiance=0
units_across=2
takeoff_start_pos=0,0
takeoff_stop_pos=6000,0
landing_start_pos=5000,350
landing_touchdown_pos=0,0
landing_stop_pos=600,0
NDB 415