New to modding, trying to mod F-16C cockpit, game isn't loading my textures

[prancibald]

Thus far I have used the modelviewer to generate a description.lua file for the F-16C.

I modded two texture files that I found within C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World OpenBeta\Mods\aircraft\F-16C\Cockpit\Textures\F-16C-CPT-TEXTURES.zip using GIMP.

The files I modded are:

f16c_cpt04.tga

f16c-cpt-instr03.dds

 

then I placed these two modded files in

 (fixed)  C:\Users\Me\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Liveries\Cockpit_F-16C\Custom f16 cockpit

 

Below is the description.lua file I made.

Reading previous posts, I should either comment out or delete the lines in description.lua that I'm not using. Or set them to true (?), which will cause DCS to look in the default texture location.  So for simplicity sake, I just deleted every line that didn't reference my modded files.

description.lua:

 

livery = {
    {"f16c_cpt04_gauges_light_bl_787_cntr",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_bl_787",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_w_787",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_gauges_light_bl_787",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_gauges_light_w_788",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_g1_788",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_g2_788",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_g_788",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04", false};
    {"INSTR-03-C",    0            ,    "f16c-cpt-instr-03", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_g",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_gauges_light_g",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04", false};
}
 

 

I load the game, find my "custom f16 cockpit" and select it within the special menu for the f16.  However, NONE of the texture changes I made are appearing.  I basically just changed the color of a few dials and switches as an initial test to make sure I'm doing this correctly before I go in and waste time tinkering with many image files.

Any tips or ideas of what I'm doing wrong?

Edited January 14, 2023 by prancibald
typo in my link

[Devrim]

2 hours ago, prancibald said:

C:\Users\Me\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Liveries\Cockpit_F-16C\Custom f16 cockpitDCS.openbeta\liveries\Cockpit_F_16C\custom f16 cockpit

To make it clear fist, this link looks wrong, but since you find your mod in Customized Cockpit menu, I think you double pasted here, right?

Second; 

File names and the names in the lua exactly match, right? For example, again the filename looks like "f16c-cpt-instr03.dds" but it's "f16c-cpt-instr-03.dds" in lua.

[prancibald]

1 hour ago, Devrim said:

To make it clear fist, this link looks wrong, but since you find your mod in Customized Cockpit menu, I think you double pasted here, right?

Second; 

File names and the names in the lua exactly match, right? For example, again the filename looks like "f16c-cpt-instr03.dds" but it's "f16c-cpt-instr-03.dds" in lua.

oops, yes that link is incorrect, I did paste it wrong.

 

So the file extensions need to be listed as well?  I'll try that, but I'm looking at a similar mod for the F-18, and none of the file extensions are listed, just the first part of the filename

[prancibald]

livery = {
    {"f16c_cpt04_gauges_light_bl_787_cntr",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04.tga", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_bl_787",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04.tga", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_w_787",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04.tga", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_gauges_light_bl_787",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04.tga", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_gauges_light_w_788",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04.tga", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_g1_788",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04.tga", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_g2_788",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04.tga", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_g_788",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04.tga", false};
    {"INSTR-03-C",    0            ,    "F16C-CPT-INSTR-03.dds", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_light_g",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04.tga", false};
    {"f16c_cpt04_gauges_light_g",    0            ,    "f16c_cpt04.tga", false};
}
 

here's what I have now, matched the case of the files as well, but still not loading the textures.  

[Devrim]

No, extensions are not necessary. I wrote them above just for that dash thing.

Anyway. This is the last shot:
In "...\Liveries\Cockpit_F-16C\" folder, you know, there's a "default" folder. Move it a safe (temporary) area, and change your folder name "Custom f16 cockpit" to "default". Make sure, check the Customized Cockpit menu, select "Default" again and sit in the cockpit.

Let me know the result.

See you.

[prancibald]

Yep!  

I moved my textures and description.lua files into the "default" folder within the game install directory. I'm seeing my modifications now!  thanks!

C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World OpenBeta\Mods\aircraft\F-16C\Liveries\Cockpit_F-16C\default   --placing them here works!

C:\Users\prancibald\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Liveries\Cockpit_F-16C\Custom f16 cockpit   --placing them here doesn't

 

which is weird, because in the F-18, you can place custom cockpit liveries in the saved games\DCS.openbeta\liveries folders and the game will let you select them AND load them.

The F-16 let's you select a custom cockpit folder when it's loaded into saved games\DCS.openbeta\liveries, yet it doesn't actually do anything.

*sigh*

Now I wonder if it will even pass integrity check

[prancibald]

Seems to pass IC!

[Devrim]

Actually there's something wrong about that "default" folder thing. I assume it it's a bug. I reported several times but no response from ED.

So, using "default" as a mod's folder name is a trick, but another user may have to use the same folder. So, some mods may be interfere each other. Obviously there's nothing we can do except using "default" name at the moment.

See you.

Edited January 15, 2023 by Devrim