Spring cleanup complete...

[Rami]

Hey guys,

Once a year, I take a hard swing through my thirteen installs and make sure to clean out the junk. Every .dp file is checked and sometimes updated with newer weapons, new aircraft installed, and I remove excess gauges and .dp files.

I also correct my centralization files, so that I have new or updated models of all aircraft, ships, sounds, and scenery that are used in multiple installs.

I finally have this whole process done, so all that's left is to update one airbase.dat file, test a scenery package for Ravenna, and a corrected Spitfire airfile and Bf-110 airfile by e.a. wicklund, and I'll be ready to resume mission writing.

I'm also going to take apart my mainframe and clean it this afternoon.

It's nice to fly some of these newer aircraft, like the Short Sunderland!

 

[sixstrings5859]

Sounds like a real job to do. Thought i had a lot of installs for CFS3 but you got me beat ! Going to try to keep my CFS2 installs down to three and that's it. Want to spend more time playing than working on them.I don't know how you do it all but it sounds like your having fun doing it,at least. My,the time spent on combat flight sims can be a lot,but it is a cheap and fun hobby.Regards,Scott

 

[Ravenna]

13 installs!!! Even with a thorough clean out that means a lot of MBs.....or are we now into TB territory?
You have inspired me to clean out my European installs and rebuild my WWI install. What have you started!

 

[Rami]

Reply...

13 installs!!! Even with a thorough clean out that means a lot of MBs.....or are we now into TB territory?
You have inspired me to clean out my European installs and rebuild my WWI install. What have you started!

Ravenna,

6.13GB for my centralized files (Engine sounds, aircraft/ship models, scenery, and utilities)

27.1 GB with thirteen installs...

CFS2 Aleutians
CFS2 Asia
CFS2 Battle of France
CFS2 Central/Northern Pacific
CFS2 ETO Early
CFS2 ETO Late
CFS2 Francophone
CFS2 Meridian/Iceberg
CFS2 MTO Early
CFS2 MTO Late
CFS2 OstFront
CFS2 Rhumbaflappy
CFS2 Southwest Pacific

 

[Rami]

Reply...

Good morning,

Amazing...just from thoroughly cleaning it, my PC is running 20-40 degrees cooler. That was a lot of dust!

 

[MaskRider]

Hey guys,

...and I remove excess gauges and .dp files.

Hiya Rami,

I need to do some cleaning of my own. I can only field 76 AC right now and I'd like to get that number back up to 90 or more. Thought I would start by cleaning out the OBJECTS_DP folder. When cleaning the OBJECTS_DP folder, is there a way to quickly determine which dp files can be safely removed and which are still being called out by the sim? For instance, does the fact that a dp file does not have an associated cdp file indicate that it is not being used by the sim?

Cheers,
MR

 

[Rami]

Reply...

Hiya Rami,

I need to do some cleaning of my own. I can only field 76 AC right now and I'd like to get that number back up to 90 or more. Thought I would start by cleaning out the OBJECTS_DP folder. When cleaning the OBJECTS_DP folder, is there a way to quickly determine which dp files can be safely removed and which are still being called out by the sim? For instance, does the fact that a dp file does not have an associated cdp file indicate that it is not being used by the sim?

Cheers,
MR

Chris,

In my experience, there isn't a way to do this quickly. What I do for the aircraft is literally go through every .dp file, and make a list of the weapons used in all aircraft in that install. (But it takes a while!) I have all of my weapons .dp files backed up in a "weapons bank" folder, and draw out only the dp files needed for all aircraft in that install, and include only those in that specific install. I keep a list (text file) in that install as a reference. I'm even insane enough to alphabetize it.

This is especially useful if you are upgrading/updating aircraft, for example from Stuart Green's older Sunderland to Shessi's newer models. It also comes in handy for hard-to-find weapons you swear you've downloaded but can't find for the life of you.

For ground objects? You can use Martin Wright's GSL editor (which I know you don't like to use) to check which library objects are in each gob, but you also need your vehicles and guns for missions. So basically, I just focus on aircraft, and that cuts out most of the junk.

I also cut down on file size by doing stuff like this...

[models]
normal=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Models\Hawker Hurricane Mk. I\HurricaneI_CFS

[FLTSIM]
alias=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Engines\Single\Rolls-Royce Merlin III

Since I'm using the Hurricane Mk. I in the Battle of France, my ETO Early install, my Early MTO install, my OstFront install, and my Francophone install, it makes sense not to have to include five sound packs and five copies of the same model file. Hence, "centralized." (It's kind of my spin on the old Jaxon method)

http://www.michael-reimer.com/CFS2/CFS2_Tips.html#Folder Management

You can do the same for ships, too...

[models]
normal=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Models\VN_IJNTanker\vn_ijntanker
crash=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Models\VN_IJNTanker\vn_ijntanker

And scenery...

[Area.023]
Title=KD_Europe_Terrain
Local=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 Scenery\Scenedb\KD_Europe_Terrain
Active=TRUE
Layer=23
Required=TRUE
Remote=

 

[Sarg Willy]

A different Twist

-- Thanks Rami for the tip , Used your Model alais , Outside the sim , and now all those
Repaints no longer use up so much hard drive space , "Beer"- Buddy -

Nice part is sound , and Panel , all reside in the same folder ,
will carry on like wise with a model ship folder ,, Sarg W

btw: to store Zip back ups too , weapons , mdl updates ,
mirrors , Bomb Sites ,

I set up , C:/1s/Alpha+Numercal x3 didgets, for sound and panels,

I copied the model folder , and attached to the above ,

Then enter into a blank Model Cfg for each aircraft

[fltsim]
alias=C:/1s/53/model

At least it work,s for me I,m still running Xp-Pro