Check Six

Olham, I feel your pain. Unforunately madness is not the sole preserve of one nation. Try to laugh at this one Olham. The stupidity of the secret plans of Field Marshall Haig...or is it brilliance? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3ZvI3_q0n0...16&index=33

Duce, You are deleting the elevator and aileron functions from the rudder pedals only. Of course, your joystick aileron and elevator controls still operate. The Saitek X52 Flight Control System has a "lock" that prevents the twist function of the joystick from operating...your rudder function is still there, but you cannot physically twist the stick...it's locked.

McCarty13, Welcome to OFF. Like uncleal suggested, read the sticky threads at the top of General Discussion and also General Help. That will give you a good start to the Sim. After that, it should be fairly simple to install and update to 1.3L version. If you have any questions, or need any help, please feel free to ask. Someone here will know the answer, and you'll get a swift reply.

Homeboy, rabu, BuB, I did a complete uninstall/install and upgrade, and everything went just fine. So I started tweaking the graphics a bit, and put my settings the same as Homeboy's. Unfortunately, I'm not getting those sorts of figures. The only difference between Mark's settings and mine is the terrain and Scenery settings...he has them set at 3, Pol has his at 4. I thought I had a pretty decent sort of machine, and could handle the 4's. I'll crank them back to 3's and see if that brings my frame rate up. Mind you, it's not pathetic...I'm getting high 30's low 40's most of the time, and down to a 17 in low-level (treetop) combat with two enemies.

uncleal, I DO have just one alter-ego. If you had noticed, I first used my real name as a log in. THIS "handle" is an alter-ego, and my only one.

Erich Hartmann also was wise enough to use that "ploy" as well. He would "lend" his "black tulip" to a rookie pilot in the hopes of keeping him alive.

Thanks Homeboy and Pol, I'll try an uninstall/reinstall/update, check it's all working, then start tweaking the graphics.

Duce, I have the Saitek pedals, and did a complete install last night/this morning, and I paid careful attention to the steps needed to remove the toe brake function for the Saitek pedals so I could let Lou know. Indeed, CFS3 recognises the Saitek rudder pedals as another joystick (at least it is recorded under "Joystick type" - it actually understands that they are rudder pedals - perhaps this simply is easier than creating another drop down menu for "Rudder Pedals Type"). I don't know for certain if it is the same for the CH pedals, but it might be worth a try.

Congratulations CJ! May you enjoy many, many more anniversaries.

Jason, Well said. There's no need for all this bickering. We should co-exist. There was such a paucity of WW1 flight sims for some time, and now we are blessed with two products, both good in their unique way as you mentioned. Thank you.

Lou, I installed OFF and got the good oil on removing the toe brake function. Here's what you will need to do... Start a QC on the ground. Check that indeed your left toe brake operates the ailerons and your right toe brake operates the elevator. If they do... Escape Controls Joystick Type - Select "Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals" Event Category - Select "Axis Commands" It should show Event.................Control Aileron Axis.........Axis X................Delete Assignment Elevator Axis.......Axis Y................Delete Assignment Rudder Axis.........Axis Rudder.........Leave this one there Save Configuration as... Type in "Mine" (without the quotation marks) OK Then escape to return you to your aircraft on the ground...check your ailerons operate, check your rudder operates, and that your toe brakes DON'T operate elevators or ailerons. Done! Enjoy your new rudders mate.

Homeboy, I installed OFF on my new computer (YAY!) and took it for a quick spin. It worked fine, then I started "messing" with the graphics and now it doesn't recognise my CD. I set the graphics just as rabu suggested to you, and since then it has all gone "pear shaped". Could it be the new 1.3L version? I'll uninstall and take baby steps but it's 5 am now, and I'm bushed. The new install worked fine. Then I messed with the graphics, then I downloaded the updates. Maybe that's it. My DVD says it's version 1.0. As far as I could work out from reading posts here and stickies, I just needed to upgrade to 1.3, then 1.3c. Is that right? (Of course, then I should upgrade to 1.3L for the latest, but it was working fine with 1.3c on my old beast...thought I'd mess with the graphics a bit then upgrade to latest). I get an error message "Please insert the correct CD-ROM, select OK and restart application". Then "Patch DLL Error: game terminated prematurely. Patch memory sync: Done: Terminated Process () failed (5)" Has anyone else encountered this?

Well, you see, that's just unfair. If they are indivdually and dinstinctively marked, you shouldn't let others use them! How do we know it is you, or just someone who admires your great skin work? Sigh! I suppose we shall all just have to take pot luck. If we encounter the pair flying together, I'll take Herr Rittmeister, someone else can take on Herr Olham. Olham, that was a mighty fine effort! Keep up the good work!

Would someone remind me to not go online and fight when Olham is in the air? Olham, perhaps you need to distinctly mark your aircraft so we know to avoid combat with you, much like Erich Hartmann and his "Black Tulip" marking.

hood, I don't have Google Earth, but hope that my private message to Herr Olham with the Latitude and Longitude of Sydney got through and he can add us and Pips (in Canberra) and a few others when he begins our Australian map.

Lou, I have a set of Saitek Pro Flight Pedals, my first ever rudder pedals. Like most here, I relied on a twisty stick, thinking this was at the least "sufficient". You'll love your Saitek Rudder Pedals. Perhaps we can help each other. They worked fine straight out of the box for me. If you have a Saitek Joystick, you'll find the included software has a similar set-up to program the functions etc (though I don't have any set...can't see any need). The foot pedals have three adjustable positions for setting foot length. The settings enable you to make it more suitable for your feet, and are easy to adjust. A couple of velcro lengths with double sided tape will enable you to anchor them properly (If necessary - I use them on a lino floor, and they don't slip at all). A couple of removable (optional) foot rests complete the hardware. The only modification of any kind needed to fly effectively in OFF is to remove the "toe brake" function. If you fly with them activated, you may not actually operate the toe brakes at all during flight, but I accidentally operated them once when slightly adjusting my seating position and pushed the toe brakes down. Tragedy! BIG mistake. Initially, as set by the factory (or as read by the OFF software...not sure which as I'm yet to utilise the toe brake function in FSX or other sims) they operate your elevators and ailerons. You need to disable this function. I didn't try in Saitek software management, I just went to OFF, launched a plane in QC, and while still on the ground, hit Escape to access the drop-down menu. The "Controls" option should show you a menu that assigns key controls etc. It also shows your devices/hardware. Your rudder pedals should appear there. Open this sub-menu up, and you should see x and y axes. Please forgive my inability to tell you for certain which of these to remove, but I'm at work, with no access to OFF I think it's the second one as you scroll down. It shows you the axis type, then the function assigned to it. You need to simply delete the function. Before you remove anything, PLEASE remember to write down exactly its status so that if that doesn't work, you can restore it and try the other one. I don't have access to OFF at home either, as I've disconnected the PC that it is loaded on, and connected up my new computer, and haven't as yet installed OFF on the new one Shameful, yes I know. But I will do it this weekend. I will pay particular attention to the process that I use to remove the toe brake function and I'll get back to you Lou. Now...to the help I require from you. The pedals have a central dial that is marked with two arrows, one clockwise, one counter-clockwise that are used to alter the tension stting. I couldn't get mine to budge at all. This is ok, as the tension that is factory-set is fine by me. I suppose I got used to it. But I'm curious as to how to adjust the setting. Perhaps if and when you get yours set up, you might report back if possible.

Right, uncleal. I'll cancel my order for that Kray 2 then. Damn. Felt sure that that one could handle it. Maybe it will do the trick if I put all the sliders on 1. Thanks for the heads-up. Your information was....umm....useful. It would have been even more so if you could remember if it was terrain or scenery that no computer on earth could handle on 5. Devs, why did you make such detailed scenery if no computer on earth could handle it? (or...could uncleal be wrong?)

uncleal, Mark, Don't know about others, but I did my homework here before I ordered OFF and whilst I was waiting for it to arrive, and I pored through ALL of the stickies slowly, cutting and pasting things that looked relevant to me, or things with technical stuff I'd need to refer to, rather than just remember. So at least some newbies visit there and gain valuable experience from them. I agree that they might need tidying up, and Mark's suggestions are good'uns. I understand that these stickies are added to on occasion as a good solution to a problem or a good idea is presented. I can also understand how frustrating it must have been to "lose" a Forum and all it's contents. It would be wise for any newbie to visit the stickies first, as I'm sure that some regulars here get frustrated at the same old questions appearing repeatedly over a period of some months, and the constant need to refer them to sticky threads that are even on the same "page" that they post the question on...just North of your position. To make a seperate Forum for these stickies is, I think, a good idea, as it would unclutter the front page that is so constantly added to. But it's become so small that something you posted an hour ago disappears on to page 2 so bloody quickly. Regular users need to be patient in re-directing "newbies" to looking at the stickies "page" or "Forum". I know just how patient you guys have been helping me and other noobs here, it's just a matter of making some form of EMBOLDENED request to read the stickies before posting in the General Help or General Discussions Forums.

Happy Bastille Day, Snoopy Syndrome, and all other French folk.

Broadside, You might also try a screenshot of the "Mission Briefing". Gives you the names of Flight 1 pilots, and your Flight if you click again. Location of your target if any, mission type, expected duration, Map, take off time etc. All great stuff for a Pilot's Log. I don't think you can take a screenshot using the key command specified in OFF unless you're in the air. I tried to take screenshots of a pilot that I wanted to retire (as he was deceased and I didn't want him to take up space. If you restart the game, and have to select an active pilot, scrolling through a ton of dead guys isn't fun). I had success with the "Print Screen" key on my keyboard, and cutting and pasting to Paint Program. That might help you with what you need. And I have received a claim form as a POW for the duration, as opposed to one who escaped a few weeks later (and my pilots can, AND DO, die). I can't say whether or not you can get confirmation, as I retired this pilot as he could never become active. Perhaps his claim would always be pending as far as his pilot's log was concerned.

I have actually received confirmation of a claim as a POW (for the duration, as opposed to those who escape after a few weeks)

Mark and Capt. Sopwith, Thanks for your help. With those nuggets of information, I'm certain I'll be up and running again in no time, and looking MUCH better than ever. Helpful as always. You guys are great. PS. Mark, you didn't HAVE to answer my question. It was basically in two parts. Just what was this alien language referring to, and how do I set up MY particular rig to optimise the graphics. You did (as usual) an outstanding job on answering the second part. Whether anyone cared to answer what these two parameters meant was truly immaterial if you showed me how to optimise the graphics.

BuB, The map that you pulled up has a scale on the top left. It says (for example) map is 80NM across. You are in the centre of the map, so you just have to guage how far away any particular town is. The figures you quoted were in fact Lat and Long. Sometimes Lat and Long is displayed in Minutes and Seconds N49*1'33.0251" E5*40'26.0516" as that is. Sometimes it is displayed as decimal. I have trouble also trying to work out what Lat and Long to quote, and exactly how to write it (as you can't use degrees symbol). There have been a few posts where the mention is made that lower case "a" and "o" look very similar on the duty room board (turn on labels in flight to see a different font displayed to check if unsure), and I believe the devs have taken this on board and have fixed it, perhaps for Phase 4, maybe a patch. You have to be carfeul in writing down the names of your fellow flight members for this reason. If you land at a friendly aerodrome, you can change views (F4) until you have a target view, and watch the enemy planes stunt over you, but they won't shoot (I hope, they didn't shoot at me anyway). Then watch the aerodrome ground crews shoot at them until they are discouraged enough or shot down. You can of course, choose to end your mission there and then, or re-start your engine and head for home. (I like to end at my aerodrome). The only time I tried this, I watched them stunt and dive but weren't getting hit too often as I was at the other end of the aerodrome, so I started up and began taxiing, did a ground loop, and died.

I have still got to install OFF on my new computer, but I'm certain it will handle everything adequately, as I got the best setup that my "computer guy" could find. It runs pretty good on my old computer, and that's saying something. I will be installing it this weekend, as I got the weekend off ( Yay!) I'm afraid all the figures quoted here are mostly over my head, but I'm curious about "anisotropic filtering" and "anti-aliasing". Can anyone enlighten me as to what is being referred to? What should I set these to on my rig? Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 CPU. Kingston 4GB DDR2 800 RAM. 3300GB 10KRPM SATA Hard Disk. Nvidia 1.792GB GTX295 PCI Express Card. What should I set my sliders to? I plan on maxing them all out and then winding them back if I need to. Thank you