Mission Builder / Editor

[Dataman]

Dear SOH Community,

I am trying to use the built-in CFS2 Mission Builder to edit the US default Campaign but I am stuck on what needs to be done.

Leaving the Mission Builder to one side, when you start the campaign, each mission seems to allow you the chance to select a potentially different airplane than the default one assigned.

I noticed that at times there is a P-38 Lightning available, I thought it might be nice to use the same plane for every mission.

When I flew the 1st assigned mission and completed it, I went on to the 2nd one only to discover that for that one the P-38 was not available.

"No problem" me thinks, "I'll use the CFS2 Mission Builder and review each mission to ensure that my planes are always available".

Once I figured out how to load a mission, I was then dumbfounded (which doesn't take much) on what I had to do next.

I hope this makes sense.

Thank you for whatever assistance yo can provide.

Sincerely,

Data / KC

 

[Allen]

CFS2 only locks out planes by entered service date. The stock P-38 entered service date is 8/1/42 Your mission needs to be that or later.

 

[No Dice]

When loading a single mission, you can pretty much select any plane.
But during a campaign, your selection is only the one featured in the campaign.

Given some more free time, I will get back and show you how to hand edit them:

In the mean time you may want to read this:
Mission
Tutorial Cody Coyote's Mission Building Handbook for CFS2 in PDF format
by Jim Borowski ( this is a must have) ****

You will enjoy the read:
Dave

More available here:
http://thefreeflightsite.com/Tutorials.htm

 

[Dataman]

Thank you Allen!

That makes sense so I guess I'll need to read a little on how to make it possible (if at all) through the Mission Builder.

I saw that I could alter the plane that is actually "featured" in the Campaign Assignment, but I was leaning toward simply including more options via the drop-down selection.


Thank you No Dice!

I downloaded the file and will try to read it later tonight.

I was able to see how to change the plane selection for a mission in a Campaign, but based on Allen's response, I am wondering now if I were to attempt to hand edit each of the campaign missions would they even take as of course some of them will have a date prior to when the P-38 came into service.

Will your future post (Given some more free time, I will get back and show you how to hand edit them) basically show how to keep the existing assigned plane but maybe trick the Campaign to have me allow other planes, or will it be changing the assigned plane?

I'll look forward to your response.

 

[RichNagel]

BTW, I had the same question a while back -> http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...electing-addon-aircraft-for-campaign-missions .

Two options:

In the aircraft's "DP" file, you can edit the "entered_service=" line (located under the "[MISC_DATA]" section) to an earlier date.

For instance, the P-38F Lightning's "DP" file is "P38F_Lightning.dp", located in your "CFS2\Aircraft\P38F_LIGHTNING" directory. Load that file into WinDoZe Notepad, scroll down to the "[MISC_DATA]" section, and you'll see the line "entered_service=8/1/42". Edit that line to an earlier date than when the campaign mission takes place, and it will show up as a selectable player aircraft

The other option is to edit the mission's actual date. Using WinDoZe Notepad, open the "MIS" file, and look for and edit the "date=" line (located under the "[mission]" section). Of course, you can ALSO simply edit the mission within the CFS2 Mission Builder if you wish

 

[Dataman]

Thank you Rich!

I love the simplicity of this solution!

I will try the date changes to the aircraft DP files.

 

[miamieagle]

Get Cody Coyote's Mission Building Handbook (Revised 4-2011) here http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=49&sort=d&page=2&pp=20

 

[Dataman]

Thank you MiamiEagle!

It looks as if RichNagel's suggestion worked its magic.