PANEL TUTORIAL - HOW TO GET BETTER FRAME RATES
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A little known item that can give you better frame rates in CFS1 and CFS2 involves the panel.cfg file. This tip will work for ANY aircraft, including the "stock" birds, and will NOT cause the stock planes not to show up in a "restricted" game on the MSN Gaming Zone
The problem happens when the gun sight is adjusted above the normal "viewpoint" of the panel, which is basically dead center of the screen. I will use the "stock" CFS1 Hawker Hurricane Mk I as an example for this tutorial.
Open the panel.cfg file located in the "Hurricane_I\panel" folder and scroll down to the bottom of the file. You should see the following lines:
[Default View]
X=0
Y=0
SIZE_X=8191
SIZE_Y=5000
This section basically defines the size of the outside view window, with "SIZE_X" is the width and "SIZE_Y" being the depth. For example, a "full screen" size depth would be "SIZE_Y=6150". This last line is the cause of the problem with most panel set ups. Changing the line to 'SIZE_Y=6150' would cure the bug, but the gun sight would then be hidden behind the panel.
Scroll up a little bit and you'll find the following:
[Window00]
file=Panel_Background_640.BMP
file_1024=Panel_Background_1024.BMP
position=4
size_mm=640,480
window_pos=0.0,0.0
window_size=1.000,1.000
render_3d_window=1
sizeable=1
visible=1
ident=MAIN_PANEL
The sizeable=1 is the cause of some "lag" when viewing the Hurricane Mk I from inside the cockpit. We're simply going to change it to say the following:
image_blend=1
Use the exact format as shown above, as it is case sensitive. The section should now read like this:
[Window00]
file=Panel_Background_640.BMP
file_1024=Panel_Background_1024.BMP
position=4
size_mm=640,480
window_pos=0.0,0.0
window_size=1.000,1.000
render_3d_window=1
image_blend=1
visible=1
ident=MAIN_PANEL
Scroll down the entire panel.cfg file and replace EVERY instance of "sizeable=1" to "image_blend=1" that you find. Exit Notepad, saving the changes to the panel.cfg file. Now do this FOR EVERY AIRCRAFT in the "aircraft" folder --- even the "stock" aircraft, and then go flying...You will be amazed...I was...Again, will work for all aircraft in both CFS1 and CFS2, and will not cause the "stock" aircraft to suddenly not be available in a "restricted" game on the MSN Gaming Zone.
AB_Lt_Cmd_Riker
Commanding Officer
ABSquad
Number Of Visitors since 05/01/2006
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of Evil is for good men to do nothing."
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