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[Chaoic16]

Hello everyone,

I just got an idea that is even more simple compared to my previous ideas about managing aircraft list from this link:
https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,69973.0.html

The idea is to add codes that allow Il-2 1946 to load multi air.ini while reading default air.ini first in order, to ensure all aircraft data are loaded.  After that, the game would read the customized air.ini, such as air_USAAF.ini, air_USN.ini, air_RAF.ini, or any kind of customized air.ini we would make for BAT.

With that, there could be an extra drop menu that allows us to select which air.ini we want to load, in order, to display the customized aircraft list.  For example, if I select air_USAAF, then it would only display USAAF aircraft that I customize by copying USAAF-only aircraft codes from air.ini into air_USAF.ini.  It would display USAAF-only aircraft in the drop menu aircraft list.

With that system, we could have as many of the various customized air.ini files we would like.  This also will allow me to make multi copies of air.ini for Alternative Aircraft List (AAL) project with ease.  This also will allow me to have multi copies of an existing aircraft with their own unique names. 


Chaoic16

[cbradbury]

The problem here is that you propose adding a level of complication which, even if it were possible, I suspect very few users really want. Just think about your idea for a moment - you load the FMB, load USN.ini, and select an aircraft. You then need an opponent, so you now need to load a second air.ini, IJN, let's say. Then you want a few RAF planes in the mission as well, so now you need to load a THIRD air.ini to select those.

Compare to the present situation. Open FMB, use one drop-down menu, and select aircraft from that single list - job done!

If anyone wants to customise their air.ini to reduce the number of aircraft viewed in the list, it is a relatively simple matter to create one, place it in the MODS folder, then activate/deactivate via jgsme whenever required. So you could, for example create a Pacific War air.ini if required.

[Shakaali]

As a dynamic campaign creator I see a massive problem with that idea. If you would like to play a dynamic campaign (DGEN or DCG),  you would have to load correct air.inis before you launch the campaign or the campaign will crash as it cannot find the needed aircraft from the air.ini.

And there are also non-realistic campaigns out there - how would you know which air.inis to load when starting a Syldavian-Bordurian campaign?

EDIT: Ok, I see you wrote that there would be a default air.ini which would be read first. But I still fail to see the benefit of this

[Chaoic16]

The problem here is that you propose adding a level of complication which, even if it were possible, I suspect very few users really want. Just think about your idea for a moment - you load the FMB, load USN.ini, and select an aircraft. You then need an opponent, so you now need to load a second air.ini, IJN, let's say. Then you want a few RAF planes in the mission as well, so now you need to load a THIRD air.ini to select those.

Thank you for the feedback about my ideas.  And that is the point, by using secondary customized air.ini to filter the default air.ini when displaying aircraft in the aircraft selection list without actually disabling the aircraft in-game.  That will narrow down and make it easier for us to select planes.  If these methods seem complicated, then I will keep coming up with different ideas.

And even though you said "few of us would use it", at least it is still helpful to us who wants to use it.

Compare to the present situation. Open FMB, use one drop-down menu, and select aircraft from that single list - job done!

If anyone wants to customise their air.ini to reduce the number of aircraft viewed in the list, it is a relatively simple matter to create one, place it in the MODS folder, then activate/deactivate via jgsme whenever required. So you could, for example create a Pacific War air.ini if required.

The problem with what you stated is that, I would have to shut down IL-2 1946, then re-run it, in order, to see the changes in the air.ini.  Therefore, that is why I am hoping that this idea might be helpful when filtering the aircraft list.


Cheers

[Chaoic16]

EDIT: Ok, I see you wrote that there would be a default air.ini which would be read first. But I still fail to see the benefit of this

What would benefit us is having narrowed down the aircraft list by nations with ease instead of having to scroll through a very long list.  If you still think it is not useful, that is understandable.  I still think it is useful to any of us who would like to see this feature.

Cheers

[Kelso]

As far as I know - ini files are loaded when the game starts. Any change to such a file requires restarting the game.

[Shakaali]

What would benefit us is having narrowed down the aircraft list by nations with ease instead of having to scroll through a very long list.

Yes, I can see that. But...  if the game first reads the air.ini to ensure all data is loaded and then reads a custom air.ini (eg. air_USN.ini) the list will not be shorter. It will be longer (air.ini + air_USN.ini). And if the game does not load the original air.ini (or somehow unloads it) it will result the problems I described when trying to load a campaign or a prebuilt mission. 

I can well understand the desire to shorten the list of aircraft, but I believe multiple air.inis is not the answer, as it would make switching between campaigns or missions a mess. Not to mention installing additional mod aircraft, as you would have to make changes to several different air.inis.

Edit: come to think of it.... Maybe some filtering option (like in webshops) in QMB/FMB would do the trick. The whole
air.ini would be loaded, but QMB/FMB would filter the shown results. I have no idea how to implement such s thing, though.

[Frankiek]

maybe we could have something like the map list in FMB where the all.ini is loaded but then you have a sub-menu with just the map in a specific theatre. In this case we could have a sub-men by country in FMB would be very useful the same for the squadron list

[Chaoic16]

What would benefit us is having narrowed down the aircraft list by nations with ease instead of having to scroll through a very long list.

Yes, I can see that. But...  if the game first reads the air.ini to ensure all data is loaded and then reads a custom air.ini (eg. air_USN.ini) the list will not be shorter. It will be longer (air.ini + air_USN.ini). And if the game does not load the original air.ini (or somehow unloads it) it will result the problems I described when trying to load a campaign or a prebuilt mission. 

I can well understand the desire to shorten the list of aircraft, but I believe multiple air.inis is not the answer, as it would make switching between campaigns or missions a mess. Not to mention installing additional mod aircraft, as you would have to make changes to several different air.inis.

That is noted and thank you for teaching me about air.ini situation.  I am learning how tricky the certan files handling can be.  I always learn new things everyday.

[/quote]
Edit: come to think of it.... Maybe some filtering option (like in webshops) in QMB/FMB would do the trick. The whole
air.ini would be loaded, but QMB/FMB would filter the shown results. I have no idea how to implement such s thing, though.
[/quote]

That makes sense and I agree, it would be great if there can be a way to filter aircraft list.


Cheers

[Chaoic16]

maybe we could have something like the map list in FMB where the all.ini is loaded but then you have a sub-menu with just the map in a specific theatre. In this case we could have a sub-men by country in FMB would be very useful the same for the squadron list

It would be great if we can build our own aircraft list for sub menu.  And Even better, if it could allow us to give aircraft an alternative names.  For example, if I could create "Pacific Theatre (1941 - mid 1942)" and "The Pacific Theatre (Mid 1942 - 1945)".  And with 1941 - mid 1942 version, I would give Japanese aircraft historical long type and model names.  And from the mid 1942 to 1945, Japanese aircraft would have a different shorten designation system as occured in the mid 1942.

Same thing could be done with any aircraft that get exported to other nation.  That is my biggest dream for AAL project. 

If this alternative name system do get implemented somehow, aloing with sub menu for filtered aircraft list, that would be perfect!


Cheers