Check Six

Flyby PC, Thank you for your very generous offer. I think the answers supplied might just do the trick. Hopefully they will, as I know what digging through one's pile of info is way more of a pain in the proverbial than what you're letting on.

I guess you couldn't just wander through the customs line whistling nonchalantly with an 18 pounder encrusted in Flanders mud under your arm. When I was in the army (many, many decades ago) we were shown a film to outline the dangers of unexploded ammo...stuff like huge unfired shells used as decorations sitting on a mantlepiece. The sarge's wife holding the baby, goes to kiss sarge bye byes for the day, puts bub's bottle down next to the shell, falls off....ummm... bad things happened. Kids taking a hammer and chisel to a live grenade to see what was inside them. I also spent 15 years as an Inspector of Naval Ordnance. Although the explosive wasn't the most dangerous stuff we had to work with, we were pretty damn careful. What? Oh, the most dangerous stuff?? OTTO Fuel II. It's a monopropellant fuel (doesn't require oxygen to burn) used to fuel Mk 46 torpedoes. As a fuel, it gives you a nasty headache if you're near enough to it to breathe its fumes. If you're disassembling a torpedo that has been on a test run, the fuel is under pressure. If you don't bleed off the pressure before taking the sucker apart, a huge cloud of atomised hydrogen cyanide (the residual chemical result of burning) puffs out. Quite unpleasant really.

Olham, So there isn't a parameter for "waypoint Line colour" as such. You are saying that if I change my "friendly aircraft" blip colour, that the waypoint line automatically changes to the same colour. Did I understand that right? Excellent. I'll try the path you have suggested first, alter the size of the TAC there, see if that works, then change to colour of the targetted enemy blips, then my friends, and see if the waypoint line changes. If that doesn't work, I'll do a search for all the instances of that file on my computer, and change them one by one. Seems as if you wonderful helpful people have solved another problem. Thank you very much.

For those who haven't seen it... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8176631.stm

OK. I went over the top with fixed bayonet and attacked this TAC thing. First of all, I altered the size as was discussed in another thread, altering the size to "0.30" as recommended - twice actually as stated. I saved it, closed the file, reopened the file and it reflected the changes I had made. So far, so good. Then I opted to change the colour of the target blip to a brighter yellow (I will change it to green or orange later). I altered the colour by changing the last six digits of the large hexadecimal number as discussed in this thread http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showt...mp;#entry312661 I saved, exited, re-opened and checked, and the changes had been made. Satisfied, I launched OFF and got into a QC. I was disappointed to see that the TAC had not reduced in size appreciably (it may have altered slightly). As I had opted for free flight, I could not select a target. I marked the extremities of the TAC with post-it notes and exited OFF, altered the size parameters to "0.05" and "0.05", leaving the colour change I had made for the target blip. I once again checked that my changes had taken effect, then closed the file. Relaunching OFF, I found that the size had not altered at all. The slightly more intense yellow that was suggested for the target colour MAY have been more intense, I couldn't tell for certain. The next time I try, I'll change it to green like Bullethead suggested. Can anyone explain why the TAC size didn't alter? <TacticalDisplay BGIMage="tactical_display.dds" BGPos="0 0" BGSize="512 512" BGScale="0.30" BackColor="0x1f0000FF" Mode="0"/> <TacticalDisplayMetric BGIMage="tactical_display.dds" BGPos="0 0" BGSize="512 512" BGScale="0.30" BackColor="0x1f0000FF" Mode="0"/> <TargetCone/> <TargetConeMetric/> <HUDPipper BGImage="reticule.dds" BGPos="0 0" BGSize="64 64"/> <HUDPipperMetric BGImage="reticule.dds" BGPos="0 0" BGSize="64 64"/> <LabelDisplay BGImage="brackets.dds" BGPos="0 0" BGSize="32 32" ShowRank="0" ShowKills="0" ShowType="0" DrawBrackets="1"/> <LabelDisplayMetric BGImage="brackets.dds" BGPos="0 0" BGSize="32 32"/> </HUD> </Settings> "QUOTE (Winston DoRight @ Jul 25 2009, 07:06 PM) I don't use vista, but it seems you're missing the ViewUI.xml that you need to change. Try a windows search and see if you can find another instance of it on your HD. Maybe someone with Vista can give you the correct path to the file? VISTA users: There is a ViewUI.xml file in the actual Over Flanders Fields folder, but that is not the file to change. Try this pah; C:\Users\<YOUR USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\CFSWW1 Over Flanders Fields" From this thread "The amazing shrinking TAC" http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=44848 I'm not using Vista (I'm using XP Pro). Is there another "hidden" version of this file I need to search for/modify in my OS? PS Couldn't find any parameter that looked like "Waypoint Line" colour. Anyone help with that too? It isn't right at sky blue against a blue sky.

Schnitzel von Krumm, Homeboy does modify Joysticks, and if anyone knows how to convert the twisty movement of the stick to a "look left"/"look right" function, it's him. (But seriously...just get trackIR. Worth every cent.)

Yes, definitely good advice for anyone to back up the original before you mess with it. I'll see if the smaller version is suitable, then start playing with the colours. If I can't find an obvious "Waypoint Line Colour" type code, I'll be back.

They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the year's condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning... WE WILL REMEMBER THEM Lest we forget Rest In Peace Digger

On 7th April 1917, Robert Alexander Little flew willingly into combat with 11 Albatrosses, handpicked pilots of Richthofen's Jasta. He had ample opportunity to run if he wished. He simply outflew them. There were men of that calibre around. Unafraid? Confident? Certainly outstanding.

Dej, I reckon that will do me. They discuss changing the colour of the blips but the parameter is written in plain english, I might have a look to see if there is something like "Waypoint Indicating Line" and mess around with the figures after that. Thanks

UK_Widowmaker, If I recall correctly, XP asks you to "wait while the uninstall list is being populated", and then presents the list. If you select a program to remove it, it presents it in a big black box, which sounds similar to what you're describing here. To me, that sounds as if the last time you removed/deleted/uninstalled a program, there was a glitch. Perhaps a quick fix maybe by selecting a "restore point" from a week/month ago? Yes, I know that might mean another uninstall/reinstall of our beloved OFF, and deletes all your favourite pilots...but...

Olham, Yes, that's where I moved my TAC to. It seems to me to be the most unobtrusive position for it. Was actually shocked to see a screenshot with it in the upper left corner on a recent thread here. It's just that if it's a lovely day outside, and you're climbing to gain a bit of height because there are enemy blips on the screen, and you need to keep on line to (maybe) complete your mission, or at least to keep your nose pointed towards home...it just makes the sky blue line hard to see against the sky blue sky. The yellow selected target also gets a bit hard to see for these old eyes.

Stapme, I haven't ran into this sort of problem, but I read through most threads here. This has occurred before, and I believe it has been put down to a heating problem. Try cooling your computer down a bit with an extra fan or something similar. I've heard where someone removes their cover and blows a fan on it for 5 or 10 minutes after a long mission like that one. Please persevere with OFF for a little longer. At least then if you find you don't like it, or your computer can't handle it, then you've at least given it a good go. If you throw it in the bin now, you've wasted your money. Your friends who are flying the other sim will ask you what you think of OFF:BHaH. If you flew it for 40 minutes and gave up, that's not really enough to give a good review. I don't know why you need to turn off 3 of 4 cores, perhaps you need to (at first) lower the graphics sliders. I know, this will make it "look like crap", but you can try it out, see how you like it, then gradually move them up one at a time, and see if you can find out what setting it is that's making your computer run too hot. At least give it a try. http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=45029 Your thread in General Discussion got more similar replies.

Revthought, Our resident TrackIR "guru" is Mark "Homeboy". He has set up a really good TrackIR setup guide...it's in the stickies here... http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=39313 That is a great guide for TrackIR 4 I believe, but it will help you out immensely even for Ver 5. If it isn't working on its own, check that you have the IR camera positioned correctly. If you're using the pro-clip, please ensure you plug it into a dedicated USB port, not running off a hub. I find the cap clip is better for me, and I'll only use the pro-clip when I need headphones (ie online - and that might be some time). You can try the default setup first, see how you like that. Some feel it is not "agressive" enough and accordingly setup their own OFF profile that moves their screen around really quickly to check six. Others find this makes them a bit motion sick. Please take it easy at first. We will have you up and running in no time, I'm sure.

CaptSopwith, Good work! I couldn't nelp noticing your claim was witnessed by a Leutnant. If you read the "Witness" line in your claim form before you write over it, it suggests "first name, last name, no rank". Obviously, this did not affect your claim this time (perhaps because you only reocrded one witness), but later on, it may reject your claim because you listed their rank. Just something to think about mate.

I'm hardly what you'd call experienced at OFF either, having just received the sim a few months ago, but I'm completely hooked now. We all have the same problem. AI aircraft are unaffected by many things you are heavily taxed for. If you do go into warp mode (it's not really cheating in my opinion), and you enter into it with more than 60% throttle, when you emerge either at a waypoint turn or enemy aircraft in the vicinity, you'll find you'll overshoot your flight leader. If you back right off, and climb a bit to allow him to regain the lead, you'll then need to apply 100% throttle to catch up with him. There are a few solutions...as uncleal suggested, you can elect to lead the mission. Sometimes, you are ordered to lead the mission. Then it becomes no problem at all, they will slow down to your speed and stick with you. The other thing you can do is to warp for a few seconds. Hit "X" to enter warp, you'll see that you are on your flight leader's right wing, and keeping up with him. You don't have to wait for a mission event such as waypoint or nearby enemy to exit warp, you can hit "Ctrl+X" and you will exit warp and be in perfect position. Mind you, it won't be long before they all start pulling away. You simply re-enter warp, for however long you feel comfortable with. Don't think of it as cheating. Sometimes, you have a long patrol behind your own lines, and it's boring, no action at all. Sometimes you are preparing to go to work or wherever, and fancy taking out a few hun before you leave, and couldn't really be bothered with the pre-amble, or the lead-up to combat, you just want to fight (although this is why Quick Combat is in the Sim). You can also accelerate and decelerate time. This won't help your problem, but it can speed up the boring bits. (Accelerate time = Ctrl+Shift+E, Decelerate time = Ctrl+Shift+R). You will still fall behind your flight leader using this, just letting you know it was an option if you didn't already know. Also, when you are a little bit behind, you can look on your TAC (if you have it activated [shift+T]) and see the number at the top of your TAC. It tells you how far to your next waypoint or to the target. If it is a small distance, call up your Map ("M") and see where your next turn is to be. If you are a bit behind, and your flight is expected to make a right hand turn, back towards you, you will be easily able to anticipate this, and catch up to your buddies again. One more method is to make sure thst you're flying level. Sometimes you're unaware that you're in a slight climb, and this of course, slows you down. To catch up, you can put your nose down a little, pick up a bit of speed till you're much closer to the flight, but of course, you're losing altitude (only a hundred feet or so, but still, you want to be alongside your buddies, not underneath them). Pull your nose up to regain the altitude that your flight is holding. You will lose speed, and fall behind a bit again. Try the same thing. Drop the nose a LITTLE, pick up speed, almost catch up, regain altitude. Repeat until you've caught up to them, or in the meantime if a waypoint turn allows you to catch up. No magic fix I'm afraid, but using one or all of those methods will help you.

thewoo1, The "anti-aliasing settings" seem to reset to none after you set it to 2x or 8x etc, but I'm pretty sure it retains them...just when you re-enter to tweak some more, it has reset to default. I think it was Homeboy that said it didn't, and he's the guy who'd know.

thewoo1, This has happened to me on a few occasions, the Morane Bullet is not yet available, and tells you so in red text. So you advance the date to the Bristol Fighter, says it's available (and it is), but I can't make it work in some squadrons early on in the war. It comes up with a "uninstall/reinstall OFF" message. This is maybe a bit too drastic. Perhaps it is a bug (devs?), or corrupted file, but if you advance the date a few times, everything will work fine.

The damage display is toggled in "Parameter editor for Overrides", available through setting up your graphics configuration in Workshop, select "Custom Settings", then Overrides. I'm not certain which one it is, but it's on of the top three on the right hand side (Disable Chat, Disable Advisor Messages, or Disable Simulation Warnings). Sorry couldn't pinpoint the exact one, but I know it's one of those three parameters.

I've received delivery of my new Wolsely Viper SE5a. A magnificent aircraft, and I love fighting in her. I have twice been ordered to lead an attack on rail yards, with the orders to destroy as much rolling stock as possible. Despite this, the "recommended load out" is "none". I have on both occasions opted to load out with the only choice available...4 x 25lb cooper bombs. On approaching the target, I select "vehicles" on my TAC and order my wingmen to "Attack". I am not so accurate or practiced enough to bomb from 5000 feet, so I generally dive down to 100 feet or less, strafe the rail line, select my bomb load, and wait till I have passed the last carriage on the train, and then release my bombs and pull up, extending away with lots of flicking the rudder left to right and catching foliage in my undercarriage until I'm far enough away, then I return, strafe once more, once again order my wingmen to attack. This method had served me well enough in my old mount, a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter. The problem was, it seems as if they never dived with me, despite me urging them to "rejoin" as I bled off some altitude. I was never shot down, and I had a 100% accuracy rate with my bombs, all striking valuable targets. Now, with a fighter loaded with bombs, I select toggle weapons "Shift + S" and use my "safety covered" button 2 to release, but they will not release from my fuselage. I try the key command "Enter" to release ordnance, but they just won't dislodge. There are bombs dropping from my other flight members, they can release their weapons, but mine stay put. Is this because I am essentially a fighter, not a bomber? Is it because I override the "Recommended Load Out" and choose to take bombs?

It appears as if I have misunderstood the command "Select Weapon", given as "Shift + S" on Homeboy's Command Key Card. When i select this key, (and i have messages selected), it informs me that I have 4 x 25lb cooper bombs as my secondary weapons, but that does not allow me to release the ordnance. I did as you suggested Pol, and once again flew a strutter on a bombing mission. I was able to select my bombs, but unable to drop them. However, if I use the "Backspace" command (Select next weapon), the same message (4 x 25lb cooper bombs etc) appears, and I can release their fury and who (in the immortal words of the Book Of Armaments) "being naughty in mine eyes, shall snuff it". I thought that the meaning was very much the same for each of the two commands, "Select Weapon" and "Select Next Weapon" if there is only one weapon to be selected. It appears as if I need to re-map my commands. Thanks Pol.

Anyone know if the software will work with any headset/microphone combination? I just bought a Logitech 7.1 speaker surround sound gaming headset and microphone. Wondered whether it will work with that?

uncleal, That isn't correct. The Saitek X52 Flight Control System DOES indeed have a Twist function lock, so you CAN physically prevent it twisting.

When you set your resolution and your sampling, DO NOT exit using the red X at the top right of that box. Pull down the drop down menu under "File" and there is an exit command there. Use that, or it won't save your choices. You say you're not using it, but I suspect there's something amiss. If you are saying that after exiting, the resolution is still saved, but the sampling isn't, and that it has reset, don't worry. I believe that it does save it, it just doesn't display that it does. You're not doing anything wrong.

Revthought, My sim is up and running smoothly. I generally have been playing RNAS Sqns in campaign mode, but recently, thought I'd try something different and went for an early 1915 pilot (ie using a parasol or whatever). In red on the pilot enlistment or sqn choice page, it informed me there was no morane parasol YET, so I advanced the time. Can you see on your screen how to do that? A Couple of arrows near the top on the right. If I recall correctly, the next plane for that RFC sqn didn't work either, and gave me the same error message as you have received. BEFORE you uninstall and reinstall, try a pilot later on in the war, in 1916 or 1917 or so, flying a fighter or bomber. It worked for me, and everything still works fine. It could be that you are attempting to join up in an early sqn so you can fight throughout the entire conflict. (That's going to be HARD). Try just a LITTLE later, and you'll be fine.