Icons file (in users (pilots) folder) Needs Documenting

[Tolwyn]

No information is available for this new feature since 4.12 or maybe 4.11...
So those of us that have noticed it are perplexed by its purpose.

This file is either not read or ignored by the game.

Please do not tell me about rcu files, aliases, and file (re)reads by the timeout command. I know how THOSE work. This file is a new introduction and you would assume that it controls icons without the need for the other stuff.

This post is a request for TD to explain its use. It is specifically for the Icons file in each pilots' folder.

No other file is overriding this. I will post my RCU file below.

So the question is this:

When is the Icons file utilized?
What is its purpose?


My rcu (to prove that it is not overriding the Icons file):

@set fast off
@set echo on
@set alias on
@set history 20

@alias a alias
@a h history
@a s show

I have edited my Icons file (one is created for each pilot) to read as such:

mp_dotrange FRIENDLY DOT 25.0 COLOR 1.65 RANGE 0.01 TYPE 1.65 ID 0.01 NAME 0.3 ALTICON 0.1 ALTSYMBOL • ALTCOLOR 0
mp_dotrange FOE DOT 25.0 COLOR 1.65 RANGE 0.01 TYPE 1.65 ID 0.01 NAME 0.01 ALTICON 0.1 ALTSYMBOL • ALTCOLOR 0

Yet it seems always the default icon settings are used.

[stovak]

TD may be busy, in the meantime I can only tell you that it works for me.

The icons file in the pilot folder works offline only. I have shown my settings below, but I also tried yours and they work the same, overriding the default settings. My RCU is the same as yours.

mp_dotrange FRIENDLY DOT 20.0 COLOR 0.01 RANGE 0.01 TYPE 0.01 ID 0.2 NAME 0.1 ALTICON 6.0 ALTSYMBOL o ALTCOLOR 2
mp_dotrange FOE DOT 20.0 COLOR 0.01 RANGE 0.01 TYPE 0.01 ID 0.2 NAME 0.1 ALTICON 6.0 ALTSYMBOL x ALTCOLOR 1

There may be another file in your main folder called icon.rcu. It is only active if the main rcu has the added line

@file icon.rcu

It has the same format and changes the icon settings for all players if you run a dogfight server. If the settings are different, it will override and rewrite the pilot icons file to match, even if you are playing offline.

[Tolwyn]

your icon.rcu is custom to your installation, an inclusion by the Steam or GOG version. It is not part of the default installation from CD.

OFFLINE ONLY

May be the culprit! That's fine by me. Good to know that. Whew!
Thank you.

[stovak]

Originally Posted by Tolwyn

your icon.rcu is custom to your installation

Yes, I'd forgotten where that file came from, I added it manually so only the bit about being offline is relevant

Originally Posted by Ventura

I believe that it shows up online & offline as well as with anyone joining my coops who doesn't have their own files in the main folder(which may overide my parameters, I haven't checked this).

I've tested this; the server controls the settings, so anyone joining will have the same icons, even if their own icons.rcu is different.

[Ventura]

I use 'limited icons' in my coops to simulate better situational awareness for pilots on the same side that would normally train/fly together as well as giving an opponent (AI or live) the ability to sneak through using the aircrafts blind spots (cockpit on) by lowering the range the icon specifics would show up for enemy aircraft.

In other words, friendly aircraft will have icons show up on HUD further out than enemy aircraft (as well as specific details)

At first, this was a bit confusing to me but with the help of 357_Gmann (who passed away last fall), helped me figure out it's use and parameters.

As long as I have these two files in my main folder, I believe that it shows up online & offline as well as with anyone joining my coops who doesn't have their own files in the main folder(which may overide my parameters, I haven't checked this). The numbers indicate the distance the specific detail on the icon will show up on the HUD.

icons.rcu
mp_dotrange FOE COLOR 1.25 DOT 14 RANGE 0.01 TYPE 1.25 ID 0.5 NAME 0.1
mp_dotrange FRIENDLY COLOR 4.5 DOT 14 RANGE 0.01 TYPE 4.5 ID 1.0 NAME 4.0

timeout 60000 file icons.rcu



rcu
@set fast off
@set echo on
@set alias on
@set history 20

@alias a alias
@a h history
@a s show

@file icons.rcu


As with all things 'computereeze', make sure the spelling is exact.

[Cloyd]

OK, here's what I've learned, mostly from trial and error. I've also benefited from others' expertise about custom icons and IL2 scripting.

For me at least, when I create a new pilot, the ICONS file is not automatically generated in the USERS folder. If I open the console, there is a "file not found" error message, the game is looking for the ICONS file for that pilot. Entering mp_dotrange into the console shows that the icon settings are at the default values. If I enter mp_dotrange FRIENDLY DOT 14.0 (the default value) an ICONS file is generated for that pilot, with all the default values. (For some reason, if I enter the default values for one of the new parameters, like ALTCOLOR, no ICONS file is generated.)

I'm not sure when this TD feature was implemented, your ICON settings are saved. So you can edit and save your ICONS file for each pilot, and those values will be loaded when you start the game and select that pilot.

You can find info about using and adjusting the new TD parameters here: http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthr...highlight=icon

You can automate the loading of different ICON sets.

Here's my rcu:

@set fast off
@set echo on
@set alias on
@set history 20

@alias a alias
@a h history
@a s show

@a st f script/fpsStarT.il2script
@a sp f script/fpsStoP.il2script

@a i f script/custom_icons.il2script

Entering i in the console runs a script that loads the icon values that are in a "script" folder I created in the main IL2 directory. Here are the contents of my custom_icons.il2script file (it's just a text file):

mp_dotrange FRIENDLY DOT 25.0 COLOR 6.0 RANGE 3.0 TYPE 3.0 ID 3.0 NAME 0.0050 ALTICON 15.0 ALTSYMBOL + ALTCOLOR 1
mp_dotrange FOE DOT 25.0 COLOR 6.0 RANGE 3.0 TYPE 3.0 ID 0.0050 NAME 0.0050 ALTICON 15.0 ALTSYMBOL + ALTCOLOR 2

I only use one icon set, but you can create several different custom icon sets and load them through the console.

I know nothing about IL2 scripting. Everything I know about it, I "stole" from Grille_Chompa, who obviously did know how it works. Here's the very old file from him that shows how to automate the loading of different icon sets:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/au...Iconscript.zip

[wheelsup_cavu]

Originally Posted by Cloyd

OK, here's what I've learned, mostly from trial and error. I've also benefited from others' expertise about custom icons and IL2 scripting.

For me at least, when I create a new pilot, the ICONS file is not automatically generated in the USERS folder. If I open the console, there is a "file not found" error message, the game is looking for the ICONS file for that pilot. Entering mp_dotrange into the console shows that the icon settings are at the default values. If I enter mp_dotrange FRIENDLY DOT 14.0 (the default value) an ICONS file is generated for that pilot, with all the default values. (For some reason, if I enter the default values for one of the new parameters, like ALTCOLOR, no ICONS file is generated.)

I'm not sure when this TD feature was implemented, your ICON settings are saved. So you can edit and save your ICONS file for each pilot, and those values will be loaded when you start the game and select that pilot.

You can find info about using and adjusting the new TD parameters here: http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthr...highlight=icon

Never knew about the sim creating an icon file for each individual pilot. Pretty slick.

Originally Posted by Cloyd

You can automate the loading of different ICON sets.

Here's my rcu:

@set fast off
@set echo on
@set alias on
@set history 20

@alias a alias
@a h history
@a s show

@a st f script/fpsStarT.il2script
@a sp f script/fpsStoP.il2script

@a i f script/custom_icons.il2script

Entering i in the console runs a script that loads the icon values that are in a "script" folder I created in the main IL2 directory. Here are the contents of my custom_icons.il2script file (it's just a text file):

mp_dotrange FRIENDLY DOT 25.0 COLOR 6.0 RANGE 3.0 TYPE 3.0 ID 3.0 NAME 0.0050 ALTICON 15.0 ALTSYMBOL + ALTCOLOR 1
mp_dotrange FOE DOT 25.0 COLOR 6.0 RANGE 3.0 TYPE 3.0 ID 0.0050 NAME 0.0050 ALTICON 15.0 ALTSYMBOL + ALTCOLOR 2

I only use one icon set, but you can create several different custom icon sets and load them through the console.

I know nothing about IL2 scripting. Everything I know about it, I "stole" from Grille_Chompa, who obviously did know how it works. Here's the very old file from him that shows how to automate the loading of different icon sets:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/au...Iconscript.zip

Yep, I learned what I know from reading Grille_Chompa's and BaldiJr's scripts too.

Grille Chompa's Scripts Homepage: http://web.archive.org/web/200708160...x_english.html
Grille Chompa's Scripts page: http://web.archive.org/web/200509200...l/scripts.html

I have all 5 of Grille Chompa's scripts and I will be uploading them to M4T shortly. Just need to zip them up as a complete package.


Wheels

[Cloyd]

Hey Wheels, let me know when you upload those other scripts. I'd like to have a look at them and probably use the Rata script for raising the Wildcat's gear.

Cloyd

[wheelsup_cavu]

Originally Posted by Cloyd

Hey Wheels, let me know when you upload those other scripts. I'd like to have a look at them and probably use the Rata script for raising the Wildcat's gear.

Cloyd

Just finished uploading them Cloyd.
Grille Chompa's Scripts: http://www.mission4today.com/index.p...etails&id=5035

The Rata Gearscript was not what I was expecting but it does work really well. When you see it you will understand what I mean.


Wheels

[Cloyd]

Got 'em, thanks. Good stuff!

Somewhere there's an explanation of all the console commands. As the unofficial archivist of all things IL2, I'm tasking you with finding that explanation buried in the bowels of M4T.

You've probably already been there, but if not, open the console and type "help".

Then try "hotkeycmd help". Haven't got a clue what it all means but it looks like fun to play with.

Cloyd

Edit: Tolwyn, please forgive me for derailing your post.