Carrier & Convoy Planner (CCP) v1.3.2.9 Released

[xpelekis]

CCP Info and DL link here : http://forum.fsxwar.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=637

A must have program for FSX/P3D with the ability to create detailed AI
traffic of all sorts (planes, boats, vehicles) for Mission flying designs, as
also precise placement of static simobjects.

- All Simobjects move in detailed Waypoint defined Routes, starting their movement in
predefined times (schedules).
- Ability to spawn user aboard the Task Force Carrier of his choice wherever in FSX
World. Task Force also moves in Wpt routes.
- Now also connects to sim (FSX/P3D) providing
the ability for placement of static targets that you can move and place exactly
at real time into sim.
- Now all AI traffic you design for a mission, can be saved in one CCP Mission.file,
giving thus the ability for re-opening your detailed mission with just one klick at any time !...
- Added the ability of one .tps file (say a SAM site) to be included with CCP missions and
placed - get started via CCP with all other AI traffic (no need to activate via Tacpack menu that is).
- Added AI plane formation flying (up to 4 planes) and planes can now Take off & Land from
Airports, single or in formation ! AI plane Carrier Take offs are also possible !
- Many more SimObjects included and come with this version. Apart of vehicles, static targets, smoke effects,
new planes.
- CCP Missions can be shared among users to fly. Provided they all share the same simobjects.
For CCP mission designs using only the CCP simobjects, this stands very true.

FSX/P3D flying in a military mission/operations setting, never had such a potential before...

[roger-wilco-66]

Wow! Thanks for the head up!
This is an amazing application.

Cheers,
Mark

[erican2]

Thanks for the link Xpelekis, Is it a stand alone application? If you want more than four planes using ai formation tools you can run multiple copies, I have run upto 10 at the same time on a cheap laptop with no problems giving you 40 aircraft.
Dave.

[ejoiner]

CCP Info and DL link here : http://forum.fsxwar.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=637

A must have program for FSX/P3D with the ability to create detailed AI
traffic of all sorts (planes, boats, vehicles) for Mission flying designs, as
also precise placement of static simobjects.

- All Simobjects move in detailed Waypoint defined Routes, starting their movement in
predefined times (schedules).
- Ability to spawn user aboard the Task Force Carrier of his choice wherever in FSX
World. Task Force also moves in Wpt routes.
- Now also connects to sim (FSX/P3D) providing
the ability for placement of static targets that you can move and place exactly
at real time into sim.
- Now all AI traffic you design for a mission, can be saved in one CCP Mission.file,
giving thus the ability for re-opening your detailed mission with just one klick at any time !...
- Added the ability of one .tps file (say a SAM site) to be included with CCP missions and
placed - get started via CCP with all other AI traffic (no need to activate via Tacpack menu that is).
- Added AI plane formation flying (up to 4 planes) and planes can now Take off & Land from
Airports, single or in formation ! AI plane Carrier Take offs are also possible !
- Many more SimObjects included and come with this version. Apart of vehicles, static targets, smoke effects,
new planes.
- CCP Missions can be shared among users to fly. Provided they all share the same simobjects.
For CCP mission designs using only the CCP simobjects, this stands very true.

FSX/P3D flying in a military mission/operations setting, never had such a potential before...

This sounds very cool. Would love to see a video of this in action.

[xpelekis]

This sounds very cool. Would love to see a video of this in action.

Rgr.
Mission Task : Primary Target the fuel tanks at Vinh port, Secondary target a immobilized train.

In this video, CCP handles a total of 26 SimObjects as follows :

- 4 x Ships : free Carrier "Constellation" (that CCP spawns user upon) and 3 escort ships
- 1 x "Sea Stallion" Task Force helicopter
- 4 x A-7 Corsairs strike package
- 1 x "HawkEye" Airborne Controler
- 1 x Skyrider : Forward Airborne Controler
- 6 x Static Invisible Targets (Port Fuel Tanks)
- 9 x Static Invisible Targets (one for each train wagon)

Now, if I had hit anything... :dizzy: would make for a nice video... :untroubled:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lSN8bSx3wY

This is for Victory103.

[xpelekis]

AI plane Carrier Take offs are also possible !

Well, I ought to demonstrate this also...
2 x A-4 Skyhawks & one "Sea Stallion" helicopter take off from Carrier's deck for
another sortie.
Some more other interesting features may be observed in video...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsDf2hAL94M

[Victory103]

So CCP is controlling the AI, is there a way to hand fly the patterns? If wanted to conduct a deep CSAR event with the H-53 or H-3, while I fly escort in the Spad (A-1) or vice versa.

[xpelekis]

is there a way to hand fly the patterns?

Sorry, but I don't understand your question. Can you describe in more detail what you mean ?...

As for CCP, the Waypoint route that a plane (or planes formation) will follow, can be designed
with as much detail you want (as many Wpts, individual speeds/altitudes for each wpt, etc).
So by arriving over the CSAR area, you can have the helos circling low for as much time you want
(depends on wpt design there) simulating the boarding of friendlys and then move on for RTB.
At the same time, you can straff hostile ground vehicles coming towards the area...

[YoYo]

Good to see the new version, thx for info!

[kl791]

This looks extremely good and fun!:applause: :applause: :applause:

[Navy Chief]

This looks extremely good and fun!:applause: :applause: :applause:


I had my first introduction to this last night, courtesy of SOH member Wingmate, with MAS (Military Air Simulations). This program is AWESOME!!!! NC

[Navy Chief]

Well, I ought to demonstrate this also...
2 x A-4 Skyhawks & one "Sea Stallion" helicopter take off from Carrier's deck for
another sortie.
Some more other interesting features may be observed in video...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsDf2hAL94M


Love the video AND the music!!! NC:encouragement:

[Victory103]

xpelekis, like a FS Recorded set flight path that the AI will follow when the mission starts vice sending the AI on basic waypoints.

Any issues upgrading from .8 to .9 via the CCP GUI? My AV is off and still keeps showing errors.

[simulloyd]

I am starting to see a way forward for getting AI to fly patterns that are closer to military procedures. Over the years I have tried all sorts of hokus-pokus and wishful thinking within FSX to get military planes to appear to be doing things they would typically do in real world. Also there has been a wealth of knowledge shared on various forums concerning AI and waypoints for low-level routes, arrivals and departures. All the attempts I have made to accomplish those sort of flight procedures require a lot of trial and error and finding the best timing of the touch and go patterns to fictional airports. I've watched a couple of videos and I am greatful to all who have put time into tutorials. I especially got a kick out of watching the carrier ops demonstrations.

[scotth6]

This looks amazing. I definitely need to have a go with this tool. I have been wondering lately how I could get a bunch of AI flying in formation. My thought was a flight of F-105s which I could escort in the F-4.

Thanks for this innovative tool.

Cheers,

[xpelekis]

I released a CCP mission for Vietnam operations here : http://simworksstudios.com/forum/index.php?topic=335.0

After install, you just :

1. Open mission (import) in CCP Monitor Tab
2. Define "Start on Carrier" position in Boats CCP Tab, and
3. Connect CCP to FSX.

The Map of the mission : https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z1hL8DhdA_0o.kFRIJWsSrJUQ&usp=sharing

Works for Free Flight single or MP, as also inside my BattleGround Vietnam missions.

This is a good specimen of abilities that CCP opens in FSX/P3D flying...

[tgycgijoes]

I hope that you can help me out here. I watched both Blue Zone Videos for a total of 3 hours of really good info. Problem is...ok I follow all the instructions exactly and connect to FSX/A wait for it...aircraft even though it is cold and dark on the runway for an instant is on deck and then either up in the air at full speed or in the "drink". Tried for the past 3 hours of this afternoon. Watched stuff over and over and am now very disappointed and discouraged after being on a real "high" this morning. Please tell me what I am doing wrong if anything. The last two episodes it never put the aircraft anywhere so I just cold booted my computer and will wait for a reply here. I tried to get help on the CCP Forum but that was a bust.

[tgycgijoes]

I want to say that in NO WAY am I bashing this fantastic program but I want to use it not be frustrated by not knowing something I'm not doing. I followed all the instructions I think.

I did not read the manual first...I watched the Blue Zone Videos. No where does he say before you start CCP the first time to install the FSX@War Pack 1 which is installed automatically in your Addon Scenery Folder the first thing the manual says to do. I got a problem there. Nope!! It's not there. Uninstalled CCP and deleted the folder in programs(86) for a fresh start. New install and the folder is STILL not in the Addon Scenery Folder. Also the first time as soon as I started it it told me there was a new version which of course I installed. Not this time though but it doesn't matter. It still does not work properly. NOW the aircraft doesn't leave FSX for the carrier deck at all while the timer clicks by. Finally, the only carrier you CAN spawn on is NIMITZ. I have a lot of other carriers in my FSX Sim objects Boats which are all recognized by CCP but when you want to put an aircraft on deck none of them have a position. I checked the PA.cfg and even though CV63 is in there for example with 2 positions . It does not work in CCP to spawn onto. Lots of problems and I sure hope somebody can give me solutions. I really hate to remove the program. There is no other way to start out on deck except on a static default carrier which is a piece of scenery not an ai carrier or the carrier tutorial mission thanks to Microsoft.

[awstub]

I have a doc I wrote up in detail a while back that explains this stuff as well as how to create parking spots in better detail, but it's late and I'm tired.
If I find it tomorrow...and nobody else posts something better, I'll post it here.

Anyway, when it comes to spawning on a carrier with CCP, from m experience, most of the problems are due to an issue with the PA.cfg file (which is in the main CCP folder).

If the carrier does not have a PA.cfg entry at all, CCP will still place it in FSX/P3D, but you won't be able to spawn on it.
If the carrier does have a PA.cfg entry but DOES NOT have any parking spots defined within it, CCP will place it in FSX/P3D but you won't be able to spawn on it.

Also, for any aircraft carrier you are trying to use, the "path=" entry within PA.cfg must have same name as the folder the ship resides in inside the FSX\SimObjects\Boats folder.

As an example, I have the USS Oriskany installed (in a folder named SimObjects\Boats\CVA-34_USS_Oriskany) and gave it 5 parking spaces.
So I have the following entry in my PA.cfg file:

[USS_Oriskany]
path = CVA-34_USS_Oriskany
USS_Oriskany = 17X;112.00
Pos1 = 10.2, 0.0, 16.50, +1.0
Pos2 = 10.6, -30.0, 16.50, +1.0
Pos3 = 5.0, -60.0, 16.50, +1.0
Pos4 = 0.0, -80.0, 16.50, +1.0
Pos5 = -25.0, -80.0, 16.50, -90.0

Hopefully this makes sense and is helpful......


I want to say that in NO WAY am I bashing this fantastic program but I want to use it not be frustrated by not knowing something I'm not doing. I followed all the instructions I think.

I did not read the manual first...I watched the Blue Zone Videos. No where does he say before you start CCP the first time to install the FSX@War Pack 1 which is installed automatically in your Addon Scenery Folder the first thing the manual says to do. I got a problem there. Nope!! It's not there. Uninstalled CCP and deleted the folder in programs(86) for a fresh start. New install and the folder is STILL not in the Addon Scenery Folder. Also the first time as soon as I started it it told me there was a new version which of course I installed. Not this time though but it doesn't matter. It still does not work properly. NOW the aircraft doesn't leave FSX for the carrier deck at all while the timer clicks by. Finally, the only carrier you CAN spawn on is NIMITZ. I have a lot of other carriers in my FSX Sim objects Boats which are all recognized by CCP but when you want to put an aircraft on deck none of them have a position. I checked the PA.cfg and even though CV63 is in there for example with 2 positions . It does not work in CCP to spawn onto. Lots of problems and I sure hope somebody can give me solutions. I really hate to remove the program. There is no other way to start out on deck except on a static default carrier which is a piece of scenery not an ai carrier or the carrier tutorial mission thanks to Microsoft.

[tgycgijoes]

Thank you for taking the time to reply though it was late. If you can find that doc you wrote I would really appreciate a copy as I know would others as confused as I. I will check every entry in the PA.cfg today and make sure they are exact as I DO know computers must have it exact. I have created a number of gauges and found when they didn't work that a space in the wrong place was enough. The program is fantastic and I SO want it to work for me and my crew.:banghead: LOL!

[tgycgijoes]

Well, its late again but this is when I have the time to check stuff out. And......I followed all the instructions. I made absolutely sure that each carrier listed had the exact path that is in boats. Identical. To prove it as soon as Start on Carrier was selected, it gave me the pos 1 location just as I had specified. Big BUT!!! Monitor. Start FSX. Put aircraft at a close airport. As soon as I connect to fsx the aircraft is transported out into the ocean, not on a carrier. No carrier is anywhere on the ocean just an aircraft somewhere AND the time was specified as 12:00 as Blue Zone video suggests to start with and the FSX clock was 11:57:43. What's going on here. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I really want this to work. Somebody who is successfully using this tell me what's going wrong. It works for Blue Zone in his videos and I am sure for a lot of others too.

[PhantomTweak]

Could you have a time zone confusion? Like say the instructions said 12:00, and your FSX clock read 11:57. Could the boat be on UTC, or ZULU time, and your FSX clock is reading in YOUR local time. Like, say UTC +8 (ie: PST).

You may have to convert. Like if your FSX is on UTC +8, just for example, add 8 hours to what they specified. Like set your FSX local time to 07:57, or 1957 and see if things are correct now.

You didn't specify AM or PM. That's why it's better to use a 24 hr clock, rather than the 12 hour version. Or, in other words, use military time readings, rather than the civilian ones. Like 12:00, well, is that 1200 or 2400, or 12:00 AM, or 12:00 PM? See the possibilities for confusion? Same with 11:57. To me, that's 1157 or 11:57 AM. But, did you mean to indicate 11:57 PM? To me, that's 2357. :dizzy:
Also, using a 24 hr. clock, you never need the colon, nor the AM/PM indicator. Saves typing, if nothing else :biggrin-new:

OR, try setting your FSX time to ZULU time and see if things match up as expected.

No promise that this IS the problem, buuuut...:indecisiveness:

Honestly, the reason I stick to the 24 Hr. even though I'm no longer active military, is that one time, when I WAS active, I worked 2300-0700 every night. IE, 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM. We called it mids.
Well, one day, I was sleeping soundly, when something woke me up. I looked at my watch, and it read 11:30. OH NO! I thought I was going to be late for work! I jumped up, showered and dressed in a record time I hadn't achieved since boot camp, and ran for the door. Opened it up to a lovely, bright, sunny, day. I was 12 hours off. I said several very bad words, and went back to bed. That night, I set my watch to read in 24 hour time, and I've stuck to it ever since.

Good luck!
Pat☺

[tgycgijoes]

Thank you Sgt for taking the time to try and help with this. I am a 2X Vietnam Navy vet with a bunch of experience too and familiar with "Zulu" time GMT which is now UTC. I wish it were that easy a fix. The sim clock was set for 11:55:00 GMT 07:55:00 local Eastern Daylight time or GMT-4. The problem is not that it did not trigger but that it triggered early and no carrier was present so the aircraft splashed. This is THE NIMITZ which is the one carrier it originally worked on for a split second and then zoomed off the deck EVEN though engines were shut down and aircraft cold and dark all power off. That is why I am so perplexed. In the BlueZone video he make up a Kiev and puts a helo on deck. Now the engines are running when he is on deck and he doesn't show starting up in FSX because he says he is not going to make us wait. I wish he would so I could see him from square 1 in FSX. I just read a post in the Blue Zone forum where he tells a guy to pre-start FSX 10 minutes. I don't know if 10 minutes, 5 minutes 3 minutes makes any difference but I'm going to try 10 minutes. I'll be back "like a bad penny". LOL

anyway, thanks for the help to you all trying to help

R:banghead:

[tgycgijoes]

I am tired of trying to fix this when I don't seem to know enough about it to ask a dumb question. I want to thank you guys who have tried to help but its not working yet. Everything you suggested I did. There is STILL NO CARRIER NOTHING BUT WATER when it connects and that is instantaneous no matter what time is in the sim. And YES ITS GMT to GMT with 10 minutes before CCP is supposed to connect in fsx. Yes its the same NIMITZ in PA.cfg and my "boats" folder and yes the flight deck positions all show and can be selected from the carrier in the box in Monitor. So?????????????

My last resort here is to ask someone here on the SOH who is currently actively using CCP in FSX Acceleration successfully if you are willing to do a Teamviewer session with me and I let you do everything on my desktop while I watch and see if anything I am doing something wrong or if you do the same steps I am with a default CCP installation with not one single change and it still does not work correctly. THEN I am willing to do an uninstall/reinstall of FSX and Acceleration just in case though it works perfectly with everything else including RFN gauges and vLSO JoinFS the whole thing just in case FSX/A is the problem.

Post here if you are willing and what your timezone is in the world so we can connect. :dizzy:

[Ganter]

I am tired of trying to fix this when I don't seem to know enough about it to ask a dumb question. I want to thank you guys who have tried to help but its not working yet. Everything you suggested I did. There is STILL NO CARRIER NOTHING BUT WATER when it connects and that is instantaneous no matter what time is in the sim. And YES ITS GMT to GMT with 10 minutes before CCP is supposed to connect in fsx. Yes its the same NIMITZ in PA.cfg and my "boats" folder and yes the flight deck positions all show and can be selected from the carrier in the box in Monitor. So?????????????

My last resort here is to ask someone here on the SOH who is currently actively using CCP in FSX Acceleration successfully if you are willing to do a Teamviewer session with me and I let you do everything on my desktop while I watch and see if anything I am doing something wrong or if you do the same steps I am with a default CCP installation with not one single change and it still does not work correctly. THEN I am willing to do an uninstall/reinstall of FSX and Acceleration just in case though it works perfectly with everything else including RFN gauges and vLSO JoinFS the whole thing just in case FSX/A is the problem.

Post here if you are willing and what your timezone is in the world so we can connect. :dizzy:

I'm with you mate. CCP COULD have been brilliant but from the start - the instructions are almost completely unintelligible, the MO with GUI remains glitchy and stubbornly un-cooperative.

I really believe that some sort of Carrier Ops add-on for TP would be amazing. Something I could spend a couple of days planning and mapping out a campaign and then a wet Sunday afternoon going hell fire with.
Unfortunately CCP, IMHO is very far from anywhere near this.

You're not alone in your frustrations.

[tgycgijoes]

I'm with you mate. CCP COULD have been brilliant but from the start - the instructions are almost completely unintelligible, the MO with GUI remains glitchy and stubbornly un-cooperative.

I really believe that some sort of Carrier Ops add-on for TP would be amazing. Something I could spend a couple of days planning and mapping out a campaign and then a wet Sunday afternoon going hell fire with.
Unfortunately CCP, IMHO is very far from anywhere near this.

You're not alone in your frustrations.

It helps some to know there are other frustrated :banghead: folks out there but not much because as you feel too, this could have been great. My post above still stands for a helper in Teamviewer who can show me how to use this from MY desktop. If I get any takers, I will setup a webinar which is live time for all us frustrated folks who want this to work like it is promised in the videos.

[napamule]

Maybe if you move to Vietnam and set the time & place in 'World' to 1968 it might work?
Chuck B
Napamule

[tgycgijoes]

I already tried everything. I don't think that is a solution.

[napamule]

I was kidding not serious. I know nothing about CCP. But I am getting it and will learn how to make it work. I have FSX Accel (works good - 30 fps), Windows 7 Pro (64 bit), and i7 3.5 Ghz CPU, and know my way around fsx.cfg, but you never know. I feel your pain, though. Hang in there.
Chuck B
Napamule

[tgycgijoes]

I know you were kidding. Good luck with figuring it out. I have the same software, OS etc you do. Seriously, though, a couple years ago I was recreating Air Group Five in 1943 and back-dated FSX to that year in the calendar and it really worked with real weather. I didn't consult the Old Farmers' Almanac from 1943 but I'm going to believe that Microsoft's ACEs team programmed their software realistically. The calendar was a correct day of the week because I checked online. You can post your success (or not) here. I am sure that Ganter myself and a lot of others are interested.

[awstub]

I can't seem to find the document that I put together about getting CCP carriers to work. Unfortunately, I've been really busy this week and haven't had as much time to devote to the issue as i would like.

Something that would help me to help you would be a list of the carriers you are trying to use, then I'll be able to create a step by step instruction set for you....hopefully tomorrow or Saturday.

[tgycgijoes]

First, are you using the most current version of CCP or an older one? I read both CCP documents tonight though they were written for older versions. They mention first that you activate the FSX@War pack 1 which they say is automatically installed by CCP. NOT! It is automatically installed by FSX@War which I installed tonight just because I thought that might be why its not working. I just finished trying to use it after the FSX@War install. Still does the same stupid thing. As soon as it connects to FSX it doesn't wait for the activation time set in CCP but immediately sends the aircraft out to sea with no carrier at full speed whatever that happens to be even though the aircraft is at 0 speed with parking brakes set on the runway at whatever airport i set it at.

I have tried to use the USS NIMITZ by Javier, veh-carrier 01 high detail sm earlier and just now FSX@War Pack 1 USS Nimitz. It doesn't matter. Everything I do in CCP is by the book and up to connecting to FSX it seems like its going to work but...

Instead of writing out something will you connect with me with Teamviewer and YOU make MY CCP work on my computer and I will watch you and see what you do different or don't do that I'm doing. Or you can see it doesn't work and see if you can figure out why. I am Eastern US Daylight Time which is GMT-4. If you are willing to do this we can setup a time convenient for us both Saturday. I really do appreciate you trying to help.

[tgycgijoes]

I guess that there is no left who has been able to master CCP and explain how to do it besides the way they say in the tutorials and instructions because that way does not work. I have a perfectly operating FSX/A. I know its perfect because 1. Its a new installation after uninstalling it and re-installing it. 2. Every other thing I have add-ons including ai carriers works perfectly. It is really a HUGE disappointment that I can't get CCP to work as cannot others. We would really like to get this to work as shown but I can't get any answers out of Blue Zone who created the tremendous videos. I have uninstalled both FSX@War and CCP until some help arrives.

[Ganter]

I guess that there is no left who has been able to master CCP and explain how to do it besides the way they say in the tutorials and instructions because that way does not work. I have a perfectly operating FSX/A. I know its perfect because 1. Its a new installation after uninstalling it and re-installing it. 2. Every other thing I have add-ons including ai carriers works perfectly. It is really a HUGE disappointment that I can't get CCP to work as cannot others. We would really like to get this to work as shown but I can't get any answers out of Blue Zone who created the tremendous videos. I have uninstalled both FSX@War and CCP until some help arrives.


Yep, looks that way. Sorry. (I always thought it was load of rubbish)

But Hey, listen! - Life isn't that bad. If you have AiCarriers and Tackpack installed it's possible to spawn pretty much everything - with everything firing at you/ it/ AI, etc.

CCP was a great idea - but it just don't work. If you have the above deployable add-ons then you can have a very busy day indeed.

I'm going to do a video soon on how I arrange Tactical Exercises out on the Ocean - I use a combo of Tacpack, AiCarriers, NavMap and a shed load of luck.

FSX/P3D can be exceedingly fun on Mil Com. I tried forever to make CCP (FSX@War) work but really, it don't)

[tgycgijoes]

Yep, looks that way. Sorry. (I always thought it was load of rubbish)

But Hey, listen! - Life isn't that bad. If you have AiCarriers and Tackpack installed it's possible to spawn pretty much everything - with everything firing at you/ it/ AI, etc.

CCP was a great idea - but it just don't work. If you have the above deployable add-ons then you can have a very busy day indeed.

I'm going to do a video soon on how I arrange Tactical Exercises out on the Ocean - I use a combo of Tacpack, AiCarriers, NavMap and a shed load of luck.

FSX/P3D can be exceedingly fun on Mil Com. I tried forever to make CCP (FSX@War) work but really, it don't)

Having just started vCVW-14 I am very anxious to see how you setup a TACEX. We only have 3 pilots right now but I hope to grow. We are virtual 1976 right now aboard USS Enterprise CVN65 but currently we are onshore at NAS Lemoore and NAS Point Mugu as was done in real life. Our deployment is scheduled for ******* (oops that's classified LOL). Thank you for replying and keeping me from feeling incompetent. I DID post over at Zone Blue on his Facebook page again today so we'll see if/when he replies and I will post the reply here.:wavey: