LINKS AT THE END OF THIS POST

Description

These mods replace map_background.dds and ui.xml. They provide a new inflight map for the whole CFS3 theater. Moreover, they remove all signs of airfields and other items along the frontline. The color of the frontline is changed to red with increased width.

v3.00 Color vs B&W comparison




v2.00 Color vs B&W comparison Unmaintained




v1.00 Color vs B&W comparison Unmaintained




Content

The mods consist of the following files




Installation

Use JSGME after having placed the mod root folder in the MODS folder.

Use at your own risk.

Links

very nice indeed, but ....one cant zoom in like the old one

I set it to optimal size. Well, TBH I see no need to zoom-in as there won't be more details coming in, and no need to zoom-out as getting a wide view of the frontline is something that was very unlikely to happen by the time of the war.

Anyway, applying new settings is fairly easy to do. You can edit ui.xml and play with maxRange_met, minRange_met and currRange_met to fit with your needs.

Hallo @xjouve,

please can you explain it a little bit more concrete: "You can edit ui.xml and play with maxRange_met, minRange_met and currRange_met to fit with your needs."
I have opend the file with GIMP, tested more Zoom-In variations. And a ZoomIn with 2:1 (200%) could be okay. So which numbers I have to use there for such a ZoomIn? Your answer will be very helpful to shorten my try-and-error-phase at the weekend.

Additionally: When do you plan the map with the military-signs (and the other …)?


Thanks and greetings!

Thank you for taking the time to create this. Where is this mod located? I am not seeing a link and I would like to give it a try, please.

@Hellshade,

you find the link in the first contribution "Links".
To get a Zoom-Factor for the map I have deleted the ui.-file, similar to Nibbios Inflight-map, which has no ui.-file. Now it's better.

Greetings

Oh sorry I forgot to tell you how to do with the zoom. Well, I'm glad you found a suitable solution.

[v2.00 available]

v2.00 Color vs B&W comparison



Main features:

- Used larger layers to increase details
- Used my new frontlines.txt (not included) to improve map placement

This is not an update of v1.00 but a new map, entirely redone, from scratch.

These are sweet Xav, thank you!

Is there a way to make the flight path more visible btw?

It doesn't seem so.

I installed this mod with JGSME into PE version of WOFF (current patch) and for some reason when hitting "M" the map is all black and blank except for the red front line crossing the map. Anyway to correct this?

Which version of the mod is it?

v2.00 Color

Checked the archive, and it looks good to me. May I ask you please for a screenshot?

Using v 2.0 color without any problem. Thx xjouve.

Also, using v 2.0 color with no problems.

Witchy Woman- it's possibly something to do with lack of GPU memory. If it's a laptop it may be using the wrong GPU (Intel) and it needs to be force to use the NVidia or whatever dual GPU is in there.

Indeed. Good idea.

It just keeps getting better. Thanks for this amazing mod. I do have one question, though; why are these not posted on the Downloads link? I have had to join three different groups just today so I could try out various mods.

Nope, not possible. I build my own pc's. I am running a 8 core amd 3900x with a GTX 2070 on a 2TB SSD and 64GB of Gskill memory. Hahahaha

The 2.0 version has issues as the 1.0 color works fine.

OK that sounds fine then

The mod isn't mine so was just trying to help - I know for fact the original map years ago it used to cause memory errors for some hence the suggestion, but if it's not that great, all you have to do is work you what else it is
Hardware has moved along a lot.

It seems to work for others suggests something else - of course it may even be a combination of things on your PC that isn't on other people's.
For example, you could be running other GPU tools, MSI Afterburner, or maybe directX enhancements tools sweetfx etc, or other settings on the Nvidia card that others aren't. Just a thought.

I’ve had this issue a couple of times with Xav’s maps. Uninstall / reinstall (sometimes multiple times) has fixed it. It may also be connected to an issue I’ve experienced with maps in general: I have the map on off assigned to a button on my joystick and if I hit that button accidentally during the mission loading I will get an error which prevents the mission from launching. It’s very hard to fix.

The weird thing is that the only difference between both is the size. Apart from that, both are photoshop created dds images (well, textures actually). I may be wrong, but the fact that v1.00 and v2.00 consist in different layers is not relevant IMHO, as layers are all merged prior to generate the dds.

Is it 24-bit or 32? Maybe save it as 24-bit. Just a thought.

Really weird. I reinstalled the color 2.0 and its still black, just a red front line. 1.0 still works perfect.

Welcome to the forum, Witchy Woman! New lad, er, woman, buys the drinks!

You said you reinstalled version 2.0, and it still doesn't work. Did you try redownloading the mod and then reinstalling? Perhaps you have a corrupted download?

Did you try B&W v2.00?

Hi thanks for welcome,

I did notice the 2.0 color map has a black background in the dds imaage but the other three have white backgrounds. Maybe thats the problem with it?

Here is the map in photoshop. If you get black borders, then you might have a corrupted download as BuckeyeBob suggested.

[v3.00 available]

v3.00 Color vs B&W comparison



Main feature:

- Used old Michelin map to increase details over the western front area

This is an update of v2.00.

Just curious,

Does this new inflight map represent the actual roads, rivers and towns etc as seen in game? In other words, is the in game world the same as the map?

Hi Bremont,

• Regarding roads / railroads: yes. The main ones on v3.00 maps are indeed quite similar to those ingame as CFS3 roads network is fairly good.
• Regarding towns: no. There are towns in stock CFS3 theater, but their location is not very good, not far off BTW. You may wish to use one land cover mod here
• Regarding rivers: no. Stock CFS3 theater is almost river-less, therefore, you may wish to use a water mod here

Thanks xjouve,

If the maps match the terrain, it should then be possible to navigate authentically by visually following ground features, or by headings, time & landmarks.
So my next question is how to disable the moving aircraft symbol on the inflight map? which is like having onboard GPS and not very WW1. Impossible to get lost with that thing displayed.

XJ
Can you briefly post how to zoom you maps (which are great), and also where and what does deleting the ui.xml file do?
Thanks

Look for "Map Waypoints" setting in the workshop.

Thanks 77_Scout,

I just tried with Map Waypoints selected off. It does remove the GPS aircraft indicator which is fine, but it would be useful to retain the route waypoints, as in real world navigation one would always draw a line on the map before setting off .
I suppose this would require a mod to achieve. Failing that it would have to be a printed laminated map and a chinagraph pencil.

Cheers,
B.

That's what I do ... I use RAF_Louverts maps on paper, put map into a clear plastic sleeve, then draw with dry-erase marker. I find navigating this way to be very immersive and challenging. Hope you find something that works for you!!

xjouve, I am not clear on what I need to install (via jsgme) to get all of your MODs working together. Can you give me some guidance on which to download to get all of your MODs?

Especially what prerequisites I need to install e.g. JJJ's populated airfield MOD requirement.

Just read an included Readme file from Populated Airfield Mod package - there are described all the prerequisities needed and the proper sequence how to install it.
Then apply xjouve's mods in order according to their numbers, i.e. XJ0, XJ1, XJ2, etc.

Also, from what I've been able to assess on my rig., the big Global Layer Mod ver. 2.0 that Xjouve released recently already includes some of the other mods., such as the French aces/campaigns modifications - perhaps it also incorporates something from the "Landcover terrain" mod. too (not the terrain bump map but the terrain/city relocation one, CLC and 2GIS versions). As well included in the Global Layer Mod is ver. 3.0 of the improved in-flight map (black-and-white version).

Von S

XJouve or anyone:
How does one zoom the maps (which are great), and also where is and what does deleting the ui.xml file do?
Thanks

Don't know about the zoom feature - never tried that - but the ui.xml file is located in the main OBD WOFF directory - it controls such things as map overlays and also color of HUD text, etc. I've tinkered with it on occasion to remove the white background that is visible behind the HUD info., also works good to widen the line that indicates the front, to change its color, and so on. I'm assuming that deleting the main ui.xml file reverts HUD display to stock values (never tried deleting the main one). Deleting the ui.xml file that is included with Xjouve's maps returned balloon, airfield, and structure locations on the map, for me. I then eventually opened up my main ui.xml file and did a few more tweaks to get a combination that I finally like, front line red, 5 pixels wide, and also so that I can see where structures and other things are - no matter what map I load.

Von S

Von S

Great..Thanks for the reply ;>)

@cptroyce,

I haven't known before, where I can find the ui-file. Simple way: look at the path of the file in the mod.
Deleting the ui-file of the mod: It means in my experience, that the default ui. is beeing used from the system. So you have the original signs, airfields on the new map and the original zoom.

FYI, you can modify/customize your ui.xml file (HUD colors, backgrounds, opacity, etc.) by WOFF Multimod .

Thanks for the replies on the ui. file.

JJJ unfortunately I can't get multi mod to run. Running XP os and latest java doesn't seem to support it; for obvious reasons.
Unless you have a Java.rar that still works with XP.

I have never been able to get any of the Java things to run except for the pilot log editor. I don't know what the problem is, they just will not load, and this is on up to date Windows 10.

Java applications (jar executables) should run on any OS, because Java is multiplatform software, and on any version of Windows. The only exception is Win 10, where you have to install Java RTE manually. So, I can not see why you are not able to run it?

JJJ
That's good to know..wonder why I am not able to run the Multi Mod. I've d/l it several times but it just won't open.
Any ideas what I may being doing wrong?
Can run the Pilot Log and Campaign Manager though.

Perhaps there is a certain place for the Multi Mod to be placed before running it?

If you run Winrar (or another compression tool) they sometimes associate .jar files etc as compressed files. Remove that association and should be good.

Pol
I assume you are responding to my above post?
If so, I use Winzip 7, but the download from the site, just delivers the java file unzipped as far as I can tell.

@Beard and Royce, might also be worth a try to download the "offline" installers for Java and to try installing it that way:

https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

Relevant installer links there are "Windows Offline" and "Windows Offline (64-bit)." If you are still on XP, perhaps try installing via the "Windows Offline" installer, since that one is 32-bit only (come to think of it, even if you have XP 64-bit, it might be worth a shot to try installing the 32-bit ver. instead of the 64 variant).

Further note, if you are on Win10 - the 32-bit ver. of Java works fine with all of JJJ's mods, but it doesn't work with the Pat Wilson Campaign Generator for BoX (that one requires 64-bit Java). If you then install the 64-bit ver. - no worries - JJJ's mods. will still continue to work.

Von S

Yes cptroyce. It downloads as a zip but WIndows 10 (and perhaps WInzip when installed) pretends it's a folder.

Inside you will see files anyway including the exectutable one that is a .jar file.

Go into Winzip settings and look for file associations and untick/uncheck the one for .jar if it exists.

VonS and Pol - thank you for your comprehensive support. I would not describe it better and I do not have anything to add.

Thanks VonS and Pol..will try both of those modes.

Thanks, that works.

[v3.10 available]

v3.10 precision



Main feature:

- Used Global Layer mod v2.00 frontlines to improve placement of the map with an unprecedented level of accuracy

This is an update of v3.00.

Hallo @Xav,

your map is great and has a good zoom-factor, but … it is naked, without signs. Do I something wrong or does it need a spezial sequenze with your other mods?
Because of that I use the map of your global layer.

Thanks and Greetings!

Did anyone ever solve the black map problem? Sadly I suffer from it too.

Can't find the download links. Please point me in the right direction.

Page 1 of this topic mate, it’s not a clickable link you have to copy/ paste the mega link to your browser..best of luck

Oh, didn't notice:) Thank you!

@Dornil,

the download-way, @Adger has writren, was typical for the mods from @Xyouve.

Because it is spezial I have mentioned it here:
"Release of mods - where?"
https://SimHQ.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4509912/release-of-mods-where#Post4509912
The mods from @Xyouve and their important descripton, like above, I have written in orange.

Greetings

No worries pal, hope you’re sorted

Links updated