This has been percolating for sometime in the dark recesses of my brain.

As a modder I find them to be a lot of work for little return. In fact, even with a number of tutorials and a few different mini-pic programs I still can't make 'em. And no, I don't want another lesson. Personally it seems like very little bang for the buck.

I started to give up on them back with SPAW45 because so many of the planes were fictional that I couldn't find appropriate pictures to base the mini-pics on. Instead I made a basic mini-pic with text only. Worked Ok and no one seemed to mind.

While working on the Med package I needed quite a few mini-pics and I sent them to Jel who kindly made them for me. I really don't find that acceptable as he's got plenty on his plate.

So here's my proposal.

Do away with mini-pics and the fsmplane.fsm files and replace them with the name that is in the plname.str file included with the FM folders.

If for some reason folks really need to see a picture of the planes they've selected then maybe the plname.str could be implemented as a backup rather then the present set up where you see "mini pic not found".

Ok, just an idea.

Anything which is a pain in the butt, should be removed and replaced with something easier to mod.

Are the mini pics only used on one screen?

OMG! Did I just agree with you?

Nice for users, though they are a pain modding.

I guess you replaced the "mini pic not found" graphic with a blank graphic which is Ok. It's better than the blue box which looked kinda amateurish.

But what about my suggestion to display the plname.str?

If you don't want to pursue that's fine but could you send me that blank .fsm file?

As I was programming the encounter stuff when I read this thread I stopped the minipic display routine from running

Is there no way to change the graphic loading routine, so it loads an easier to edit picture? The current format is not mod friendly.

Yes the format is definitely not user friendly but even using a friendlier format it still means an extra bit of business that needs to be dealt with when setting up plane sets.

That's my reason for asking about the possibility of using the text that is already available in the plnames.str file.

Ray, if we could use JPEG's or BMP's, you can just look in the folder to see a set of thumbnails. At first thought, changing to text might be easier, but the screen really needs a graphic to look right, and putting in text over a blank picture might not be that easy.

Yes I get that. I'm just thinking that since we have the .str file for the main screen then why not ease the modding burden just a bit and do away with the pictures.

I have only done the enemy primary, and I can change the colour of the text

Hi Tony.

Can't say I like it that much, mainly because the text is in a place where we have always seen a picture, even if it was a horrible RAW file.

I've only made one RAW file, and it took me ages to do one, so I know how Ray feels.

Changing the picture type is not possible?

Well I love it thus proving there's no accounting for taste.

I don't know whats so hard about making the mini pics but I personally like the pictures, the retro look has always been a nice touch to the game. If one picture could be used of the model in the game for all three locations that mini pics are needed that what be ideal and would be less work in the end... For in the new DSP, For plane selection, and for the mission parameters screen...

I remember reading about a few tools used to make them. Is there a tutorial I haven't seen that explains how to make them for each plane?

Three done



Other forms of pictures?
As far as I know the only way to display pictures on selection screens is in the form of "*.wsp" files which are all RAW files with various headers attatched.
I think the reason for this is that RAW files are not necessarily rectangular, whereas other form of pictures are.
The place where this becomes essential is in the display of medals.
So I cannot see any code that I can adapt to put BMP or JPG files on selection screens.

As far as this all goes I could probably come up with an exe that either shows the minipics or does not, using the same type of trick that I use for disabling the WW1 takeoff or enabling the use of the "seasons" folder.

All four

Mark, working with the RAW files is a real pain but really it just comes down to the amount of time a modder wants to spend searching for and editing a picture that will work all for something that's in front of the players' eyes for about 3 seconds.

Nothing inherently right or wrong either way but reading the string file is a really nice touch, IMHO.

It just looks like a bit non EAW. Why does everything have to be a quick fix? Invest a bit of time and find a better way.

Maybe a better way will be found.

I can't mod so I would have to live with any changes that are made but I definitely don't like the text in place of the picture.


Wheels

Thanks for the input Wheelsup.