CFS2 Mission Builder / Editor

[UncleTgt]

Dataman,

I think there is some confusion here. I note you say above there are a/c folders, but the a/c cannot be selected. When CFS 2 installs, it creats a lot of different aircraft folders, but doesn't actually put anything in the folders - it's a quirk of the install. If these folders have no contents, the aircraft will not appear in the a/c selection screen. I think this is what you are seeing.

Now, what Rami is talking about is also true - you should look for better CFS 2 native a/c models. Once you've downloaded them & installed them in your a/c folder, they will appear in Morten's utility for selection, & you will be able to replace a/c in any of the missions without opening Mission Builder. (You can also replace ships as well)

There are a few caveats - back up the original missions, or rename the ones you're swapping a/c in BEFORE you swap. Mortens utility doesn't rename missions. In doing so, remember each mission has a .mis file & a .dyn file - change the name of both files, otherwise the mission won't work properly.
Also, remember you are just replacing the aircraft callout - so all the waypoints & speeds & loadouts will match the original mission a/c. This can sometimes give unexpected results, so it's not a perfect solution, but it's a quick way to get a new mission template you can tweak yourself in mission builder if need be.

Hope this helps.

[Dataman]

Thank you UncleTGT!

You hit the nail on the head.

The aircraft folders with the British planes are in fact empty (and many other folders for Paific planes that you would think would have information).

You also made an acute observation about the missions itself as planes would have different travelling distances / weapons / etc which of course would have to be factored in or else face those unexpected results you mentioned.

What I will need to do is find files for those aircraft folders (I guess using Rami's link) and then move forward from there.

Thank you all and my apologies if I caused confusion on what the objective was I was trying to achieve.

[jinx]

Kurt says:

The mission builder is integrated in the CFS2 program itself. To use it you create a CFS2 shortcut. Rename the shortcut to Mission Builder. Then right click on the shortcut you created and select properties. In the target window box change the target to read C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\cfs2.exe" /BUILDER:

That creates the MB shortcut. When you click the shortcut it will then take you to the mission builder.


I tried to do that and I get an error message that the target name is invalid.
I have no tab for the MB in the Start menu of my PC.

This is very frustrating. The Slashes in what Kurt writes for the target data are 2 types, backslash and foreslash. Is that normal??

Does CFS2 give you a Mission Builder install option when your first install it?

My CFS2 is in K:\CFS2, and not in the usual, default address.

I run Winodws 7.

[The B24 Guy]

Jinx,

I have had trouble creating a shortcut in the past. This process has worked for me.

Try a copy and paste of this into your properties target window box.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\cfs2.exe" /BUILDER

If your drive letter is something other than C: make sure you change it.

Hope this helps,
B24Guy

[Blood_Hawk23]

get rid of the ":" at the end and it will work fine.

[jinx]

Thanks John,

I got it now, through uninstall and reinstall of CFS2 into the default address. I made a backup first on disc and brought in all my addons and mods to the new sim. Now I have the MB ready and and I am already making a mission to refresh my memory on how it works. Last time was 4-5 years ago.

Thanks...

[jinx]

Seems like cfs2 has exhausted 7 out of my ten cat's lives, as I always have problems.
The new bug is that I have made an individual game directory at another address than the default and have installed Aerocrate's WWI 1916 campaign and missions.

Now the problem came when I flew the first mission, which had 19 waypoints, and I decided to make it simpler and cut them down to 4-5 waypoints and add credit for an enemy kill. That meant using the Mission Builder.

I tried all that has been so far said here to no avail. I get an error message (in the target properties window and in the 2nd start window below that) that typed in entries are wrong.

The forum said:
have had trouble creating a shortcut in the past. This process has worked for me.

Try a copy and paste of this into your properties target window box.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\cfs2.exe" /BUILDER

If your drive letter is something other than C: make sure you change it.

Now my new install is at: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE\

After having made the shortcut of the cfs2 exe in there, I clicked on properties and tried typing in:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE\ cfs2.exe" /BUILDER

and got the error messages.

I typed the above first in the top target window, got an error message.

Then I typed it in 2 places--target and start windows-- and got the error message again.


Then there is the matter of the quotes (") --do I I need those--both or one of those (And if one only, which, left or right?) or none?

Then there is another matter: a blank space between cfs2.exe" and /BUILDER
Do I need that blank space or not?

If anyone can help me make the MB work here, I would be grateful.

Or else I may have to ask someone to remove 15 waypoints from that mission for me. It took me one hour to play it till landing. Torturous.

Thanks

Nick

[Talon]

Target should read like this.
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2 AEROCRATE\cfs2 AEROCRATE.exe" /BUILDER:

Start in should read like this.
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2 AEROCRATE"

[jinx]

Talon,

Thanks for the help and taking the time. I tried what you said and it did not work.

I have 2 questions here:

1.
Kurt says:

The mission builder is integrated in the CFS2 program itself. To use it you create a CFS2 shortcut. Rename the shortcut to Mission Builder. Then right click on the shortcut you created and select properties. In the target window box change the target to read C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2\cfs2.exe" /BUILDER:

That creates the MB shortcut. When you click the shortcut it will then take you to the mission builder.


My question is : Do I create a shortcut of the csf2.exe or one of the cfs2 directory (Root folder)?


2.

You state:

Target should read like this.
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2 AEROCRATE\cfs2 AEROCRATE.exe" /BUILDER:

Start in should read like this.
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2 AEROCRATE"


Question is do I need the two dots ( after the word BUILDER?

And:

Do I need the quotation marks on both ends of the START IN entry?

and a final question"

In which folder or subfolder should the MB shortcut be made?

Here

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE\UIRES\MB

or here
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE\UIRES

or here:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE


Thanks

[Talon]

You have to tell us exactly what the name is of this CFS2 install.

Exactly where it is on your computer since you said it's not in the default.

Next is how the cfs2 exe is setup for target and start in.

On my mission builder exe I have the dots and quotation marks and it works fine.

[jinx]

Talon:

I have 2 installations of cfs2 in my PC, and I shall call them install A and install B here. Both are in C drive, but at different addresses.

INSTALL B

The name of this cfs2 install is:

CFS2 AEROCRATE (This is name of the folder, the directory with all files in it and the cfs2.exe)


the address is:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE

The name of the exe is : cfs2.exe (Should I rename it AEROCRATE.exe???)

and it is located at: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE\cfs2.exe

I have made a shortcut of the above exe at the same address as just above, and it is named:

cfs2.exe - Shortcut


I rightclick on it (on the shortcut) and so get the properties window.

In the properties window, I have the following spaces to fill (in adjacent windows on their right):

Target >> this one has this entry: \Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE\cfs2.exe"

Start in This one has this entry: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE"

Shortcut key >>> this one says 'None' in the adjacent window on the right.

Comment ... this one is blank

I repeat that the shortcut I have made is in main directory where the cfs2.exe resides, and not on the desktop. (I I thought I could copy it to desktop later).

INSTALL A

Now my other default installation, where I do have a working Mission Builder, is at:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2

That was the first, original install from which I copied the whole cfs2 folder to make install B.

I do not know if the above helps.


Thanks for any advice you may give.
It is 3:22 am here in Greece and I shall look for a reply tomorrow, as I need to go to bed.

Nick.

[Talon]

Rename the exe file to CFS2 AEROCRATE.

Next try this for Mission builder exe.

Target should read like this.
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE\cfs2 AEROCRATE.exe" /BUILDER:

Start in should read like this.
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS2 AEROCRATE"
I would also rename the Mission Builder to

mission builder AEROCRATE

There's about a 13 to 14 hour time difference between us and I'm sailing in the middle of the Pacific ocean right now.I probably won't be on until your evening or night hours.

[jinx]

Talon,

I did as you said and it worked and now I have the MB. Had not thought of renaming that exe earlier--that did the trick in the end.
I cannot thank you enough.

I have also sailed, twice, in a 9-foot sailboat off Cannes in France and in a 16 foot Warrior old open-ocean sailboat in Greece. The captain both times was a Jerome Langlois from Cannes, a French sailing races champion (world champion also in the half-ton class once). He was tall and climbed up the mast like a monkey climbs up a palm tree, using arms and legs, hands and feet. He had a wife that was half his height, thin and flimsy, and got seasick all the time (what a lot for a sailor).
I knew nothing about sailing but with him as a teacher I learned a lot. Way back in 1982-83. Under his masterful handling we passed faster and newer boats and he pointed out the mistakes those biats made each time and explained things to us. Jerome had also brought a cpuole of special sails he had made himself. He also made good money by making sails for the boats of rich Greeks here.


Thanks again for the help re the MB.
Happy sailing. What kind of boat is it? Where exactly is your sailing area? Off Hawaii?


Nick

[Talon]

Looks like you're in business now.Maybe you can upload some of your missions.

My avatar is pic of my boat.

100ft and now sleeps 12.

I sail from Hawaii and have sailed to Samoa,Fiji,Cook Islands and Tahiti ( 5 times ).My last stop this trip will be Tahiti.

[Blood_Hawk23]

Becareful when editing missions in Mission Builder. If it was hand edited at all, then you will lose those portions when you save it.