New GME software

[funkyfranky]

Ok, I think I got it... For some unknow reason (but I can guess some), it probably stored its window size with 0 width and height (OvGME stores its window size on quit, to restore it after). Can you try to simply right click on the mini window toolbar, or icon in task bar, then select "resize"... then, resizes...

Yes, that is definitely a behaviour I experience from time to time. I always right-click on the OvGME desktop icon and force it to start maximized the next time. Then I can readjust the window size again and everything is back to normal.

[Magic Zach]

This is what I see when I press and hold Alt+tab. No window, just minimize/fullscreen/close buttons.

And when I click on OVGME, the icon on the taskbar will be highlighted like it's open, but I still see my just my desktop, no OVGME window. Just so you know what I mean, because I'm terrible at explaining.

The only options I had when I right clicked on the icon in the taskbar was "Close window" so I'm not sure what you mean...

Edited October 4, 2017 by Magic Zach

[Magic Zach]

Will try your link there when I can.

[Magic Zach]

HEY HEY HEY! I found a solution. "Can you try to simply right click on the mini window toolbar, or icon in task bar, then select "resize"... then, resizes..."

Well, I don't get anything more than "Close window" when I right click on the icon in the task bar. Instead, I goofed around some.

-Right clicked on my desktop shortcut for OvGME

-Clicked "Properties"

-Under the "Shortcut" tab, I set "Run:" from Normal Window to Maximized. Now I open OvGME and it shows up, no problem.

 

So, was not a problem between OvGME and 1.5 OpenBeta. Maybe they only started after I got it by chance, or something. But anyways, this is my fix. It works for me, and I can use and interact with OvGME again! HOORAY!! Back to modding...

[Gizzy]

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/bring-misplaced-off-screen-windows-back-to-your-desktop-keyboard-trick/

[Automan]

Hi Sedenion, thanks again for your work.

Maybe I've found a little bug: if you create a Mod with Make Mod-Archive, the zip created will have 4096bytes of zero value appended at the start of the file (the zip opens normally but if you test the file with 7zip you get a warning: "The archive is open with offset").

 

A thing I would like to see implemented is a checkbox (linked with a sort of flag in the mod) that set the mod installation to the savegame folder root, so instead of keep multiple config for every DCS install and choose manually where the correct root is located for that mod, it's the mod itself that choose the right place: obviously ovgme must read somewhere the location for the savegame folder & dcs folder name (maybe the registry?)

[sedenion]

Hi Sedenion, thanks again for your work.

Maybe I've found a little bug: if you create a Mod with Make Mod-Archive, the zip created will have 4096bytes of zero value appended at the start of the file (the zip opens normally but if you test the file with 7zip you get a warning: "The archive is open with offset").

 

Unfortunately, I think I can do nothing for this. I use a third-party library to pack into zip file, this is probably this third-party lib that add this offset. The "why" is totally out of my knowings.

 

A thing I would like to see implemented is a checkbox (linked with a sort of flag in the mod) that set the mod installation to the savegame folder root, so instead of keep multiple config for every DCS install and choose manually where the correct root is located for that mod, it's the mod itself that choose the right place: obviously ovgme must read somewhere the location for the savegame folder & dcs folder name (maybe the registry?)

 

It is out of the question to implement an automatic "choose the root folder according X, Y, Z conditions/parameters".

- OvGME is intended to be generic, not specific for DCS. If I implement such feature for DCS, I have to implement it for ALL other games: NO-WAY :D

- This requier to maintain a kind of data-base, with existing game, giving them an ID, and manage it whithin the mod generator, or in chage to the mod maker to place the right ID... Whowoo, you love problems, no ? :)

[Automan]

Unfortunately, I think I can do nothing for this. I use a third-party library to pack into zip file, this is probably this third-party lib that add this offset. The "why" is totally out of my knowings.

I've seen that you're using an old version of miniz library(1.15), maybe a more recent version fixed the problem:

 

https://github.com/richgel999/miniz/releases/tag/2.0.6

 

It is out of the question to implement an automatic "choose the root folder according X, Y, Z conditions/parameters".

- OvGME is intended to be generic, not specific for DCS. If I implement such feature for DCS, I have to implement it for ALL other games: NO-WAY :D

- This requier to maintain a kind of data-base, with existing game, giving them an ID, and manage it whithin the mod generator, or in chage to the mod maker to place the right ID... Whowoo, you love problems, no ? :)

 

Sorry, I was sure that ovgme is more DCS oriented;)

The big problem is that the common user will set the DCS install dir as the "working dir", while actually in DCS 2.1+, except for liveries, the mods will not work if are installed out of the DCS savegame folder.

A switch activated by a flag (i.e. 0/1 in a datfile) in the zip can automatically choose the right install dir (main DCS / Savegame DCS), preventing a lot of headache to the final user;)

[Gliptal]

Mods still work when installed in the root folder. Only addons that add new stuff need to be in the DCS savegame folder.

[Holton181]

Just wondering, do we have any shortcut key commands in OvGME?

If not, would it be something for a future release?

Like ctrl+1=profile 1, ctrl+2=profile 2, ctrl end=disable all, ctrl home=enabled all, etc.

 

Br

/H

[SageOT]

Can anyone point me to a good step-by-step on how to set up an http server for OvGME to connect to? I've tried the Google and all the results talk about web hosting which is not what I want.... right?

 

The group has a dedicated server machine for DCS... Is there a way I can do something on it to make a mods folder have this HTTP access OvGME needs?

 

I know I'm sure I sound super dumb... sorry 'bout that.

 

Thanks,

 

Sage

[Yurgon]

Can anyone point me to a good step-by-step on how to set up an http server for OvGME to connect to? I've tried the Google and all the results talk about web hosting which is not what I want.... right?

 

Web hosting and running an HTTP server are pretty much the same. :)

 

Have you looked at OvGME's built-in help? I think it does a good job of explaining the whole process. If someone knows how to publish a web site, they should be able to set up a repository, because basically a repository is just a website that consists of an XML file, which itself points to Mods packaged in .zip files. I hope this made sense. :smartass:

 

In any case, you just need to upload the mods to a webserver, create an XML file (OvGME can do that for you) with links to these mods, then publish said XML file on a webserver, and share this file's web-address. Easy-peasy, right? ;)

 

If your group already has a dedicated server (running a DCS server, I assume), it could also take over the job of webserver in parallel and you could host all this stuff (the mods and the XML file) on it.

 

Now setting up a webserver, that's kind of a story on its own, and while there are people around here who could help you with that, it would probably make sense to seek for advice on forums dedicated to the topic. Suffice it to say that there's absolutely nothing special about HTTP repositories in OvGME: they can be set up on just about any webserver (*).

 

(*) Well, unless the server makes use of HTTPS; OvGME can't connect to HTTPS servers and sedenion replied to my issue on GitHub that that's not a planned feature.

[Sierra99]

OK so I am using OvGME and trying to install this mod:

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/345624/

 

The instruction say:

" This archive file is structured so that you need only create a folder in your JSGME Mods folder for the F-15 Enhancements, then copy this folder tree into that new folder. Then enable the mod using JSGME."

 

This isn't working...since I am using the Saved Games directory structure...where should the files end up?

 

C:\Users\Sierra99\Saved Games\DCS.openalpha\???

[Rudel_chw]

OK so I am using OvGME and trying to install this mod:

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/345624/

 

This isn't working...since I am using the Saved Games directory structure...where should the files end up?

 

C:\Users\Sierra99\Saved Games\DCS.openalpha\???

 

You should use saved games when you are ADDING things to DCS: new liveries, new aircrafts, new ships, new buildings, etc.

 

On the particular Mod that you want to install, you are modifying existing liveries of an existing DCS aircraft(s) ... on this case you need to replace files of the DCS install, so they should go where you installed DCS: program files/eagle dynamics/dcs etc.

 

If you are lucky, these files will not trigger the multiplayer´s integrity check, but if you are not then using this Mod could trigger the IC ... you will have to try it.

 

Best regards.

[Sierra99]

Ok so how do I configure OvGme to do that? Or CAN I?

[Rudel_chw]

Ok so how do I configure OvGme to do that? Or CAN I?

 

Hi, sorry for the late reply.

 

A Mod is nothing more than a set of files that you want to copy into some game. They may be files ADDED to the game, or files that REPLACE some of the game's files.

 

You could be doing this file copying by hand, all that a Mod Manager does is automate this copying process, and save backups of the original files so that at a later date you can revert these changes, leaving the game as it was before.

 

OvGME allows you to create one Config for each game that you want to Mod ... the data that the Config has is: where are the game's files, where are your Mod's files, and where to save the backups.

 

Usually, one Config per game is needed ... I used to have three Configs: one for DCS 1.5 Stable, another for 1.5 OpenBeta and a third for DCS 2.0

 

But now, since DCS allows Mods to be attwo different locations, we need to define two Configs for each DCS, one for each location where we need to be copying Mods.

 

Thus right now I've 5 Configs for DCS: 2 for DCS 2.1, 2 for OpenBeta and one for DCS Stable, as you see on the figure.

 

I'm also showing you what are the folders that my two configs for DCS 2.1 use, so they may serve as examples ... keep in mind that most likely your paths will be different than mine, I only want to illustrate my point.

 

Best regards

[LeCuvier]

OvGME 1.7.3 not visible!

 

@sedenion: I have been using OvGME practically since it was available and I actually depend on it. But since two days the program seems to run in the background. I can start it and it shows in the task bar, but the program's window is not visible anywhere on my 2 monitors. I have already re-installed it but it behaves the same way.

Can you help?

 

Edit: Found the solution in the web:

hold down SHIFT and right-click the application in the taskbar. (In XP you do not need to hold down shift.) You should get a menu with an option to “Move” the window. Click Move and use the arrow keys to position the application in the visible area of the screen.

Edited November 10, 2017 by LeCuvier

[fargo007]

Anyone successfully using barthek or starways textures with ovgme? It doesn't seem to work.

 

I am unpacking the 7z and rar in the directory where the mods are. OvGME finds it and activates it, but there's no effect in game.

[Livers]

Starways textures is working fine for me here, latest 1.5.7 update. My OvGME might be out of date, v. 1.7.1.

[fargo007]

Thanks Livers,

 

Could I persuade you to describe how you installed it?

 

I'm also looking for a test method to see if it's working or not.

 

Nothing shows up in dcs.log indicating that it's loaded, even though ovgme says it is activated. It shows the version as 0.0.0.

Edited November 10, 2017 by fargo007

[Livers]

I have one folder on my HDD called "DCS Mods". When I extracted the Starways download into that folder, it created a folder "Starways Black Sea map 2.5", which contains Config and Mods folders. That's it. I point OvGME to that folder and it picks it right up and installs the mod. I can't think of anything beyond that, it just works for me. Yeah, the version stuff (0.0.0) I don't understand.

[Captain Orso]

Speaking of terrain mods, I have Barthek's Black Sea (Caucasus) ver. 10 in my mod Map 01 Black Sea GTM by Barthek 10.0 mods folder. Now, when I look in my DCS 1.5.7 installation I find in 'c:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\Mods\terrains\CaucasusBase\vfstextures\' a set of zip files:

 

AirfieldBatumiTexturesAut.zip

AirfieldBatumiTexturesSpr.zip

AirfieldBatumiTexturesSum.zip

AirfieldBatumiTexturesWin.zip

AirfieldsTexturesSum.zip

Buildings_textures.zip

LandTextures.zip

LandTexturesAutumn.zip

LandTexturesAutumnOther.zip

LandTexturesSpring.zip

LandTexturesSpringOther.zip

LandTexturesSummer.zip

LandTexturesSummerOther.zip

LandTexturesWinter.zip

LandTexturesWinterOther.zip

MapTextures.zip

 

but when I look in Barthek's mod I find a set of folder inside vfstextures, each folder containing a set of files.

 

Buildings_textures\

- air_closedguardhouse_03a.bmp.dds

- air_closedguardhouse_03a_land.bmp.dds

...

- vyshka_diff.bmp.dds

- wodokachka_c.bmp.dds

 

LandTexturesAutumnOther\

- airfield_vaziani_land.png.dds

- airfieldtbilisimilitary_onlay.png.dds

...

- wpp_run-out.tga.dds

- zavod256.tga.dds

 

LandTexturesSpringOther\

- airfield_vaziani_land.png.dds

- airfieldtbilisimilitary_onlay.png.dds

...

- wpp_run-out.tga.dds

- zavod256.tga.dds

 

LandTexturesSummerOther\

- airfield_vaziani_land.png.dds

- airfieldtbilisimilitary_onlay.png.dds

...

- wpp_run-out.tga.dds

- zavod256.tga.dds

 

LandTexturesWinterOther\

- airfield_vaziani_land.png.dds

- airfieldtbilisimilitary_onlay.png.dds

...

- wpp_run-out.tga.dds

- zavod256.tga.dds

 

When I Enable Barthek's mod and look is DCS' 'vfstextures\' folder I find both the zip files from DCS and the folders from Barthek.

 

So how does DCS know which to use?

[Gliptal]

IIRC DCS overwrites packed contents with unpacked files.

[Captain Orso]

IIRC DCS overwrites packed contents with unpacked files.

 

When?

 

After enabling Barthek's Black Sea mod and starting a mission, I look in the 'c:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\Mods\terrains\CaucasusBase\vfstextures\' folder, and the original DCS zipped files have not changed, and the Barthek folder are still there and have also not changed.

[Gliptal]

It's done silently by the engine, nothing will change in the folders.