one version now How to update from Stable to open beta

[Sparkman]

I know this may sound like a dumb question but, I apparently have the stable version and would like to update to the Beta for the added performance features that are apparently there for the F-16 and other improvements. What would be the best way to update to Open Beta version? I am currently running the 2.7.14.24228 version and have been told I am running the stable version and that is why no updates lately on my version. 

As a side note, thank you all for your hard work, I just got the Syria Terrain, freaking awesome, I am flying the F-16 primarily and the F-18C a little. Have been flying the Viper for several years using BMS and you guys have given me a great reason to get my head out of my sphincter muscle and re-dedicate myself to sim flying again. Great job on everything you work so hard on. 

Sparkman 

[Rudel_chw]

25 minutes ago, Sparkman said:

... would like to update to the Beta for the added performance features that are apparently there for the F-16 and other improvements.

 

Those same features and improvements will arrive to your Stable version eventually .. Stable is updated on average every 2 months. You have to consider if it is really worth it, as OpenBeta can sometimes have annoying bugs ... bugs that usually are fixed before the updates reach the Stable version.

 

25 minutes ago, Sparkman said:

What would be the best way to update to Open Beta version? 

 

That depends on which version of DCS you have: Steam or Stand-alone. Both can be converted from Stable to Openbeta without needing a reinstall of DCS, but the download needed can be quite large if you have many Maps.

[Sparkman]

Thanks for the replies, as long as the stable version will eventually update I will leave it alone. I do have the stand alone version not Steam. Thanks again for all you do.

Sparkman

Edited June 24, 2022 by Sparkman

[Rongor]

I can only recommend to take the plunge and simply install the OpenBeta as well. Especiallly since you are not on Steam.

It's not like the installation will download everything again. You basically install a second version of DCS, paralllel to your stable version. During installation the openbeta will simply copy everything equal over from your stable installation folder.
Just don't forget to copy your controls settings too, or you will have to bind everything again.

OpenBeta is not only the way to enjoy all the new stuff earlier, it also gives you access to many grand MP servers otherwise closed to you.

 

Let's go:
https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/world/beta/
 

further info:

Edited June 24, 2022 by Rongor

[draconus]

8 hours ago, Sparkman said:

I do have the stand alone

Run cmd, go to main DCS installation directory, go into bin subfolder then run command:

DCS_updater.exe update 2.7.15.26783@openbeta

[Loopan]

On 6/24/2022 at 10:53 AM, draconus said:

Run cmd, go to main DCS installation directory, go into bin subfolder then run command:

DCS_updater.exe update 2.7.15.26783@openbeta

Thanks M8! worked like a charm but I had to put a ".\" in front of the command. After that it changed my stable flawless into the beta

[greyeagle787]

I too am going to install OB with Stable already installed. How do I make sure my kneeboards, control bindings, etc get copied over?? Thanks!

[Rudel_chw]

45 minutes ago, greyeagle787 said:

I too am going to install OB with Stable already installed. How do I make sure my kneeboards, control bindings, etc get copied over?? Thanks!

Hi,

As far as I know, there is no automatic copy of your dcs configurations stored at /saved games/dcs/ .. it is a manual things and there are at least two ways to proceed with it:

1) copy your current  /saved games/dcs/ onto  /saved games/dcs.openbeta/ before running your OB for the first time. Thus each DCS would have essentially independent settings. The downside is that you would have separate Flight Logbooks, separate control bindings, etc.

2) use the command mklink /J  /saved games/dcs.openbeta /saved games/dcs/

this would have both DCS sharing the same settings. The downside is that sometimes there are aircrafts that have different keybinds on openbeta and stable, which could produce control problems.

[greyeagle787]

Hey Thanks Rudel..

Looks like option 1 will work the best!

cheers!

[Solmanbandit]

Is the open beta version not available now?  

[golani79]

1 hour ago, Solmanbandit said:

Is the open beta version not available now?  

There is only one version of DCS now - no more stable/beta

[Rudel_chw]

5 hours ago, Solmanbandit said:

Is the open beta version not available now?  

The Stable and the Openbeta branches were unified about a month ago. To avoid backward compatibility issues, the folder names on existing DCS installtions were preserved, so on your disk it may be called Openbeta, but it is actually the same version as Stable.

[QuiGon]

39 minutes ago, Rudel_chw said:

The Stable and the Openbeta branches were unified about a month ago. To avoid backward compatibility issues, the folder names on existing DCS installtions were preserved, so on your disk it may be called Openbeta, but it is actually the same version as Stable.

Technically the Stable and OpenBeta branches still exist and work fine. They both just point to the same version now (atm 2.9.3.51704).

[draconus]

14 minutes ago, QuiGon said:

Technically the Stable and OpenBeta branches still exist and work fine.

Please explain how the open beta branch exists at the moment.

[BIGNEWY]

5 minutes ago, draconus said:

Please explain how the open beta branch exists at the moment.

For everyone who had open beta installed you still have the open beta branch, the difference now is all versions stable and open beta are the same version number. 

So when we update we push the same update to both branches. 

For you as the user this means it is seamless and the only thing you need to do is update the version you have installed already.

 

In the future we may adjust your installed version to remove mention of the open beta. 

All fresh downloads going forward will be the one DCS version 

thanks 

[QuiGon]

20 minutes ago, draconus said:

Please explain how the open beta branch exists at the moment.

I think BIGNEWY already answered that. In fact you can still use the updater commands to switch between stable and openbeta, not that there is any point in doing so.

Edited March 14, 2024 by QuiGon

[BIGNEWY]

Just now, QuiGon said:

I think BIGNEWY already answered that. Inf act you can still use the updater commands to switch between stable and openbeta, not that there is any point in doing so.

correct, this would be pointless as they are both the same version. 

[Nocke217]

Is it correct to assume the identity of stable and open beta is only temporary?

[BIGNEWY]

8 minutes ago, Nocke217 said:

Is it correct to assume the identity of stable and open beta is only temporary?

eventually everyone will be on the stable version, but you do not need to do anything other than continue to update with the version you already have installed. 

thank you 

[thomasim]

Thanks for clearing that one out, @BIGNEWY. Does this mean updates will be rolled out more frequently now?

[draconus]

6 hours ago, thomasim said:

Does this mean updates will be rolled out more frequently now?

They want to push updates every 6 weeks or so, if everything goes well.

[Kafka]

I've been off for a year and now caching up with things, updated DCS to 2.9.4.53707.

If I understand the above posts correctly, there is now no Open Beta? I had a desktop shortcut to Open Beta and now it opens to v2.7.17.

I was using OB for Multiplayer servers.

Does this mean that all those multiplayer servers are now accesible in DCS 2.9.4? Because clicking the multiplayer on the main loading screen shows a small list of servers and none of the ones I recall from before.

[draconus]

1 hour ago, Kafka said:

If I understand the above posts correctly, there is now no Open Beta? I had a desktop shortcut to Open Beta and now it opens to v2.7.17.

Did you have multiple versions installed? Then only one of them got updated.

Yes, there's no open beta now but your folder names may just hold the old names. After a year servers might have changed, idk. Make sure you run latest version of DCS - check in main menu, bottom right.