Simplified WOFF Terrain to CFS3 Procedure (1st Draft)

[Threedp]

Note: This is a basic version of the procedure that does not address anything beyond two seasons or ETO. I've written the latter (you will notice large gaps in the numbering!), but want to vet the basics first. I'm not recommending anyone try this yet (but backup your install if you do!), just looking from opinions on clarity of the instructions. So here we go . . .

The object of this procedure is to describe a relatively simple way to employ Wings Over Flanders Fields (WOFF) terrain in CFS3 with as little modification of the latter as possible. There are certainly other ways to do it which include ways of automating season changing with dedicated apps and such, but I'm not going there! If it's not obvious, the prerequisite for doing this is ownership of WOFF.

INITIAL ACTIONS

1. Run WOFF, choose Quick Combat, set the season to 'Summer', fly (even if only briefly), and exit WOFF.

2. Create a folder where you please (a different drive to where CFS3 is installed works best) called something like 'CFS3 Season Changing Files'.

CREATING SUMMER

3a. In it, create a sub-folder called 'Summer'.

3b. Into 'Summer', copy the 'assets' and 'terrains' folders from the main WOFF directory.

3c. In 'Summer/assets/WW1Texture', delete the all the folders except 'Sum Spring Tex'.

3d. In 'Summer/assets', delete the seven non-Summer season folders (one will have texture files in it, but that's fine), namely: WW1Autumn, WW1AutumnLight, WW1Spring, WW1Winter, WW1WinterFull, WW1WinterLight, and WW1WinterMed.

CREATING WINTER FULL SNOW

4a. Repeat Steps 1, 3a, and 3b, but for 'Winter Full Snow'.

4b. In 'Winter Full Snow/assets/WW1Texture', delete the all the folders except 'Win Full Tex', then rename 'Win Full Tex' to 'Sum Spring Tex'. This is to facilitate overwriting later.

4c. In 'Winter Full Snow/assets', delete the seven non-WW1WinterFull season folders, namely: WW1Autumn, WW1AutumnLight, WW1Spring, WW1Summer, WW1Winter, WW1WinterLight, and WW1WinterMed.

FINAL STEPS

11. In each of the season folders you created in your 'CFS3 Season Changing Files' folder ('Summer' and 'Winter Full Snow' at least), select the 'assets' and 'terrains' folders and right click and select the 'Send to - Compressed (zipped) folder' menu option, giving the resulting ZIP file the name of the season folder that you're in.

12. Place all of the ZIP files you create somewhere that you can easily access them when you want to change seasons.

13. In the main CFS3 directory that you want to use the WOFF terrain in, remove the 'assets' and 'terrains' folders. Store them somewhere so you can bring them back later if you desire, but they must be out of the main CFS3 directory in question (not renamed or placed in a sub-folder). CFS3 doesn't actually care about sub-folders and if you leave the originals anywhere in the main directory, the app will find them and conflicts will ensue!

14. Now unzip your 'Winter Full Snow.zip' file to the main CFS3 directory that you want to use the WOFF terrain in.

15. Now unzip your 'Summer.zip' file to the same directory, allowing any overwriting. You are now set to fly in summer! When in CFS3, be sure to still pick the appropriate season. If you don't, you'll likely see summer terrain with winter trees or vice versa! If you wish to change seasons, unzip the season ZIP file you want as described above.

[MajorMagee]

I would simplify these installation steps by using the JSGME Mod management tool.

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...=1#post1075083

1. Create a MODS folder at the same level as your top level folder containing your CFS3 install. (It must be completely outside, but adjacent to the CFS3 folders structure)
2. Create new folders in the MODS folder named for the WOFF Summer and WOFF Winter mods you want to create.
3. Create a folder inside each one that is named the same as your top level folder containing your CFS3 install (e.g. Combat Flight Simulator 3, DPC CFS3 Korea, CFS3 PTO Solomon Islands, etc.) .
4. Copy the WOFF folders/files listed above and drop them "as is" (DO NOT ZIP) in the folders you just created.

When you run JSME and select a mod to install it will back-up and replace any files in your original install one-for-one with the file that matches its name and location in the mod directory you created.
Uninstalling the Mod using JSGME will automatically restore all of your originals.

You can repeat steps 2 and 3 for as many different installs of CFS3 as you may have, just make sure the step 2 names are unique and step 3 matches the directory name of your target.

[grover1]

Note: This is a basic version of the procedure that does not address anything beyond two seasons or ETO. I've written the latter (you will notice large gaps in the numbering!), but want to vet the basics first. I'm not recommending anyone try this yet (but backup your install if you do!), just looking from opinions on clarity of the instructions. So here we go . . .

The object of this procedure is to describe a relatively simple way to employ Wings Over Flanders Fields (WOFF) terrain in CFS3 with as little modification of the latter as possible. There are certainly other ways to do it which include ways of automating season changing with dedicated apps and such, but I'm not going there! If it's not obvious, the prerequisite for doing this is ownership of WOFF.

INITIAL ACTIONS

1. Run WOFF, choose Quick Combat, set the season to 'Summer', fly (even if only briefly), and exit WOFF.

2. Create a folder where you please (a different drive to where CFS3 is installed works best) called something like 'CFS3 Season Changing Files'.

CREATING SUMMER

3a. In it, create a sub-folder called 'Summer'.

3b. Into 'Summer', copy the 'assets' and 'terrains' folders from the main WOFF directory.

3c. In 'Summer/assets/WW1Texture', delete the all the folders except 'Sum Spring Tex'.

3d. In 'Summer/assets', delete the seven non-Summer season folders (one will have texture files in it, but that's fine), namely: WW1Autumn, WW1AutumnLight, WW1Spring, WW1Winter, WW1WinterFull, WW1WinterLight, and WW1WinterMed.

CREATING WINTER FULL SNOW

4a. Repeat Steps 1, 3a, and 3b, but for 'Winter Full Snow'.

4b. In 'Winter Full Snow/assets/WW1Texture', delete the all the folders except 'Win Full Tex', then rename 'Win Full Tex' to 'Sum Spring Tex'. This is to facilitate overwriting later.

4c. In 'Winter Full Snow/assets', delete the seven non-WW1WinterFull season folders, namely: WW1Autumn, WW1AutumnLight, WW1Spring, WW1Summer, WW1Winter, WW1WinterLight, and WW1WinterMed.

FINAL STEPS

11. In each of the season folders you created in your 'CFS3 Season Changing Files' folder ('Summer' and 'Winter Full Snow' at least), select the 'assets' and 'terrains' folders and right click and select the 'Send to - Compressed (zipped) folder' menu option, giving the resulting ZIP file the name of the season folder that you're in.

12. Place all of the ZIP files you create somewhere that you can easily access them when you want to change seasons.

13. In the main CFS3 directory that you want to use the WOFF terrain in, remove the 'assets' and 'terrains' folders. Store them somewhere so you can bring them back later if you desire, but they must be out of the main CFS3 directory in question (not renamed or placed in a sub-folder). CFS3 doesn't actually care about sub-folders and if you leave the originals anywhere in the main directory, the app will find them and conflicts will ensue!

14. Now unzip your 'Winter Full Snow.zip' file to the main CFS3 directory that you want to use the WOFF terrain in.

15. Now unzip your 'Summer.zip' file to the same directory, allowing any overwriting. You are now set to fly in summer! When in CFS3, be sure to still pick the appropriate season. If you don't, you'll likely see summer terrain with winter trees or vice versa! If you wish to change seasons, unzip the season ZIP file you want as described above.

It's easier to use JSGME to swap out the seasons. I posted an instruction guide earlier this week.

[Threedp]

Thanks for the input! I'm trying to work it from as simple a standpoint as I can. I'm even going to go simpler and make the ZIP routine above an alternative option along with JSGME. Then folks can choose for themselves how they want to actually achieve the season switching. Covering ETO and other seasons will also be included.