F/A-18C Modern MPD v 2.1.43 - Updated 11/8/2024

[CapnCoke]

On 11/21/2024 at 7:32 PM, Jorl said:

Hi. Thanks for your amazing job with F-18... See, i play on VR and have some vision issues so always try to  get maximun size and sharpeness. i've IPD changed to 40 and tried your workaround for VR, don't noted so much difference. Want to know which value should i change to enlarge fonts, or bold them, in MDF...will be a step forward for me. Thanks and keep pushing!

Thank you. Check the the above comment on the same page regarding ampcd font and see if it helps.

 

On 11/21/2024 at 8:00 PM, Cougar133 said:

nice work !

is there a way to get black areas under symbologies like this one ? 

Tried to achieve something like that at some point with editing but never managed to achieve it or get it right unfortunately. Only way is to create new shapes which I felt will take some time.

[Jorl]

13 hours ago, CapnCoke said:

Thank you. Check the the above comment on the same page regarding ampcd font and see if it helps.

 

 

Hi! Pardon me, but i can't find that paragraph. May you point me to it? Thanks in advance

Edited November 23, 2024 by Jorl
Typo

[CapnCoke]

11 hours ago, Jorl said:

Hi! Pardon me, but i can't find that paragraph. May you point me to it? Thanks in advance

in FA-18C Modern MPD 2.1.43\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts\Multipurpose_Display_Group\Common\indicator\MDG_strokesDef.lua

Try replacing this block to get it exactly like my old mod (vr version). Don't forget to disable then reenable the mod. Also, you dont need to restart the mission to see some changes. What I do is I make changes to the lua files and save. Disable then reenable the mod. Then Right Alt + J to exit the aircraft, then again to enter the aircraft and the changes will be applied.

  Quote

if bakeIndicators == true then

    DMC_stroke_thickness  = 0.6

    DMC_stroke_fuzziness  = 0.15

   

    -- Currently is used for DMC generated fonts black outline

    --DMC_outline_thickness = stroke_thickness * 3

    --DMC_outline_fuzziness = stroke_fuzziness * 1.1

 

    -- valid for cockpit view, but looks overdone at HUD only view

    DMC_outline_thickness = 3.15

    DMC_outline_fuzziness = 6

else

    --DMC_stroke_thickness  = 0.65

    --DMC_stroke_fuzziness  = 0.42

   

    -- Currently is used for DMC generated fonts black outline

    DMC_outline_thickness = stroke_thickness * 3

    DMC_outline_fuzziness = stroke_fuzziness * 1.1

end

Edited November 23, 2024 by CapnCoke

[Jorl]

On 11/23/2024 at 8:40 PM, CapnCoke said:

in FA-18C Modern MPD 2.1.43\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts\Multipurpose_Display_Group\Common\indicator\MDG_strokesDef.lua

Try replacing this block to get it exactly like my old mod (vr version). Don't forget to disable then reenable the mod. Also, you dont need to restart the mission to see some changes. What I do is I make changes to the lua files and save. Disable then reenable the mod. Then Right Alt + J to exit the aircraft, then again to enter the aircraft and the changes will be applied.

  Quote

if bakeIndicators == true then

    DMC_stroke_thickness  = 0.6

    DMC_stroke_fuzziness  = 0.15

   

    -- Currently is used for DMC generated fonts black outline

    --DMC_outline_thickness = stroke_thickness * 3

    --DMC_outline_fuzziness = stroke_fuzziness * 1.1

 

    -- valid for cockpit view, but looks overdone at HUD only view

    DMC_outline_thickness = 3.15

    DMC_outline_fuzziness = 6

else

    --DMC_stroke_thickness  = 0.65

    --DMC_stroke_fuzziness  = 0.42

   

    -- Currently is used for DMC generated fonts black outline

    DMC_outline_thickness = stroke_thickness * 3

    DMC_outline_fuzziness = stroke_fuzziness * 1.1

end

Tried and works!!. Thanks a lot. May i ask you to manage the number to refine size and sharpness a bit more? what numbers to change and what's their effect? Hope it improve my poor vision and thanks again

Edited November 25, 2024 by Jorl

[CapnCoke]

23 hours ago, Jorl said:

Tried and works!!. Thanks a lot. May i ask you to manage the number to refine size and sharpness a bit more? what numbers to change and what's their effect? Hope it improve my poor vision and thanks again

First 4 numbers. The firs two are the font thickness, the other two is the outline thickness. Just got to play around with them. When ingame, alt + tab, adjust numbers and save, reload the mod in the mod manager, alt tab back in then alt + J to exit the aircraft and alt + J to enter the aircraft to see the changes.

[Hairdo1-1]

FYI this breaks the kneeboard for the pilot body @CapnCoke its just blank and won't show the pages

 

[Dunska]

11 hours ago, Hairdo1-1 said:

FYI this breaks the kneeboard for the pilot body @CapnCoke its just blank and won't show the pages

 

Works fine here.  Are you using any custom cockpits?  If so, you need to ensure the following is in the description.lua for the custom cockpit to enable the pilot model kneeboard.
 

{"Pilot_F18_FP_Map", 0, "mfd3", true};

 

[RayBurge]

Any way possible to make the ATFLIR pod clearer? that would be a nice addition to this already amazing mod. IMO

[sobe]

CapnCoke

I have tried to make the HUD numbers darker but cannot seem to find the right line in materials.lua in your mod.  Could you please direct me to the appropriate line?  For test purposes, if you want to do HUD numbers in Black, that would be great.

Here are my failed attempts: 

local MDG_materials = {}
--MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {0, 153, 76, 550}   --DONE BY SHK  DARK GREEN
--MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {51, 0, 0, 550}   --DONE BY SHK  BLACK
--MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {255, 128, 0, 550}   --DONE BY SHK  GOLD BROWN
MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {2, 255, 20, 550}  --DONE BY MOD MAKER

Edited December 30, 2024 by sobe

[NickB]

Hi, thanks for awesome mods!

How to activate jhmcs II ?

Is it only available through ground crew?

[CapnCoke]

3 hours ago, sobe said:

CapnCoke

I have tried to make the HUD numbers darker but cannot seem to find the right line in materials.lua in your mod.  Could you please direct me to the appropriate line?  For test purposes, if you want to do HUD numbers in Black, that would be great.

Here are my failed attempts: 

local MDG_materials = {}
--MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {0, 153, 76, 550}   --DONE BY SHK  DARK GREEN
--MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {51, 0, 0, 550}   --DONE BY SHK  BLACK
--MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {255, 128, 0, 550}   --DONE BY SHK  GOLD BROWN
MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {2, 255, 20, 550}  --DONE BY MOD MAKER

Just the numbers? Since adjusting the hud color value in materials.lua will affect all the hud colors. To target specific hud text, you need to do it in the hud pages here "FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts\Multipurpose_Display_Group\HUD_AVQ32\indicator\Pages". You'll find some lines like addStroketext so before that line create a new line stroke_font.

A good example is in my warning page to add yellow font in "FA-18C Modern MPD 2.1.43\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts\Multipurpose_Display_Group\Common\indicator\Pages\MPD\CautAdvAndMenuPage.lua" in line 172. The stroke_font = "Yellow_font" will retrieve the material color in material.lua in line 139.

You might need to do some combing in the hud pages to find the specific text you're targeting. Usually the lua file names point to the modes or pages in the hud such as HUD AG for anything related when in air to ground mode. HudCommon should include common text and strokes.

 

1 hour ago, NickB said:

Hi, thanks for awesome mods!

How to activate jhmcs II ?

Is it only available through ground crew?

You mean for night missions? As long as its activated, you don't need to call ground crew. Just turn on the hmd using the hmd brightness knob and you can enable nightvision with it as well.

Edited December 30, 2024 by CapnCoke

[Code_00]

I found that by making the following three adjustments, I can achieve better readability. However, every time I start a mission, I need to repeat these three settings:
Switch to night mode
Set GAIN to minimum
Set CONT to 2
Is there any way to automatically apply these three settings when starting a mission? Or to directly adjust the default settings of the AMPCD?

[CapnCoke]

7 hours ago, Code_00 said:

I found that by making the following three adjustments, I can achieve better readability. However, every time I start a mission, I need to repeat these three settings:
Switch to night mode
Set GAIN to minimum
Set CONT to 2
Is there any way to automatically apply these three settings when starting a mission? Or to directly adjust the default settings of the AMPCD?

This is a method I also do with the vanilla F18. There was a way to edit the default settings. However while testing I couldn't increase the gain and contrast. I decided to just keep it default and not disable knobs for users to adjust. I suggest users to adjust the gain and contrast and make it part of their startup routine.

Edited January 4 by CapnCoke

[GregP]

Just wanted to thank you for this incredible mod and all the knowledge that you've shared in this thread about editing the relevant files. After struggling for years to get all of the F-18 displays' text and symbology to look right in the 8000x2100 window I run DCS in, I've finally got what I think is about as ideal as I can expect to achieve on the HUD, AMPCD and HMCS.  Thank you!

[apaluq]

I'm wondering if C model Hornets actually have color displays like this, or is it not realistic?

[CapnCoke]

48 minutes ago, apaluq said:

I'm wondering if C model Hornets actually have color displays like this, or is it not realistic?

Some countries that still use older jets continue to upgrade their avionics. For eg. the Canadian hornets have upgraded color displays. The ownship and waypoint path are white, and it can be changed in modernmpd.lua.

Edited January 9 by CapnCoke

[apaluq]

On 1/9/2025 at 2:04 PM, CapnCoke said:

Some countries that still use older jets continue to upgrade their avionics. For eg. the Canadian hornets have upgraded color displays. The ownship and waypoint path are white, and it can be changed in modernmpd.lua.

Interesting, thanks. I'm a bit of an accuracy 'snob' when it comes to sims, so I may give this mod a go then.

[CapnCoke]

14 hours ago, apaluq said:

Interesting, thanks. I'm a bit of an accuracy 'snob' when it comes to sims, so I may give this mod a go then.

This mod isn't accurate as its a fictional upgrade to what modern mpds have like some uses purple or blue as ownship. Editing and setting most elements to white will lean towards the superhornet and the Canadian hornets (Though the SA page has added elements taken from the superhornet like mid circle and radar arc).

On 12/25/2024 at 8:23 AM, RayBurge said:

Any way possible to make the ATFLIR pod clearer? that would be a nice addition to this already amazing mod. IMO

Sorry I missed your comment. I'm not sure how to do that. Only thing I figured out was making the TV colored instead of grayscale.

[sobe]

CapnCoke

After today's DCS update, when I started on the runway with your Mod installed, no cockpit appeared,  I uninstalled your Mod, and the cockpit came back.  Maybe there is a new conflict with the updated DCS and your Mod. 

[CapnCoke]

4 hours ago, sobe said:

CapnCoke

After today's DCS update, when I started on the runway with your Mod installed, no cockpit appeared,  I uninstalled your Mod, and the cockpit came back.  Maybe there is a new conflict with the updated DCS and your Mod. 

Thanks for the report. I'll try to update as soon as possible.

[Dunska]

Seems to still work ok for me after the 2.9.12.5336 patch.  I removed all mods, updated DCS, did a slow repair (just because), then enabled mods again.

[CapnCoke]

On 1/20/2025 at 10:26 PM, sobe said:

CapnCoke

After today's DCS update, when I started on the runway with your Mod installed, no cockpit appeared,  I uninstalled your Mod, and the cockpit came back.  Maybe there is a new conflict with the updated DCS and your Mod. 

So I did a code sweep and there were no new lua changes from ED since 2.1.43 released. Every subsequent F18C updates were either on files that the mod doesn't touch or code in the engine. This also applies to JHMCS II. Tested the mod and everything seems to work fine.

However, users of the CJS Super Hornet mod v2.4 might encounter issues due to changes in folder structures. I may have to drop support, as the only features you'll miss when using this mod with the Super Hornet are colored friendlies/flight members in SA, SA ring and radar arc, and JHMCS II—which isn't much. Some users have made the mod compatible on the official CJS Discord channel, but I can't guarantee that all features will work correctly.

[sobe]

CapnCoke

I unintentionally misled you when I stated that the recent DCS update killed your mod.  I now realize that I was using a mod that, with the help of Helios, made the cockpit look like a block III cockpit with significantly different looking MFDs and that mod interfered with your mod.  All I really wanted in the block III mod was to change the HUD color which I did in the materials.lua file of the game (not your materials.lua file).  There does appear to be some differences between the game file and your materials file so that is why I used the game materials file for the color change.  Your mod still works with the regular F18. 

PS.  By using a mod manager, I know have 4 color options for the HUD.  Gold, dark green, black and if no mod, the standard green.

Edited January 23 by sobe

[HR-Crumble]

Is this based on the Super Hornet displays and avionics etc?

[SkateZilla]

On 1/22/2025 at 2:52 PM, CapnCoke said:

So I did a code sweep and there were no new lua changes from ED since 2.1.43 released. Every subsequent F18C updates were either on files that the mod doesn't touch or code in the engine. This also applies to JHMCS II. Tested the mod and everything seems to work fine.

However, users of the CJS Super Hornet mod v2.4 might encounter issues due to changes in folder structures. I may have to drop support, as the only features you'll miss when using this mod with the Super Hornet are colored friendlies/flight members in SA, SA ring and radar arc, and JHMCS II—which isn't much. Some users have made the mod compatible on the official CJS Discord channel, but I can't guarantee that all features will work correctly.

ModernMPD v2.1.43 was integrated into the latest CJS Super Hornet Mod (2.4.1 and 2.4.2), since it's separated from the legacy file structure wise now.

I didn't really check for features not working, I simply integrated the files from the \Super Hornet\ folders into the CJS Cockpit scripts folders and textures etc.

I know the MPDs are different colors, the HUD has correct dashed and solid lines, etc. didnt check for "Color" SA.

But since we are now Separated from the "Merge" installing, the CJS Super Hornet resides independently in the \Saved Games\ Folder, and does not overwrite or modify any Legacy hornet files, instead we are now using our own cockpit Scripts on top of the legacy hornet's. But the folder name is \Cockpit\Scripts\ just like the legacy, instead of \Cockpit1 <or 2>\Scripts, like it was w/ the merge install setup prior to v2.4

Edited March 6 by SkateZilla