Theater Maps for Helios?
-
If i’m misunderstanding where Helios is getting the map from, let me know… I’m using the Helios Panel “CENTER PEDESTAL BEZEL 1” to display a moving map (the current map.jpg in the Helios Map folder) on my main monitor and in x:\Documents\Helios\FalconBMS Images\User Data\Map I have only Balkans and Korea maps that work properly, and currently “map.jpg” is a 4096x4096 Balkans map. I would like 4096x4096 maps for the Kuwait 64, Israel, Iberia, and EMF Campaigns to start if possible. Any idea what folder they are hidden in or do I need to download them somewhere? I found an Iraq and POH map but both are low-res and the Iraq map is not correct (see screenshot where my plane is when it is supposed to be on the King Kahlid taxiway)… Been tearing it up with Google search, don’t find much.
-
If i’m misunderstanding where Helios is getting the map from, let me know… I’m using the Helios Panel “CENTER PEDESTAL BEZEL 1” to display a moving map (the current map.jpg in the Helios Map folder) on my main monitor and in x:\Documents\Helios\FalconBMS Images\User Data\Map I have only Balkans and Korea maps that work properly, and currently “map.jpg” is a 4096x4096 Balkans map. I would like 4096x4096 maps for the Kuwait 64, Israel, Iberia, and EMF Campaigns to start if possible. Any idea what folder they are hidden in or do I need to download them somewhere? I found an Iraq and POH map but both are low-res and the Iraq map is not correct (see screenshot where my plane is when it is supposed to be on the King Kahlid taxiway)… Been tearing it up with Google search, don’t find much.
The problem is you are trying to run that without the supporting software which transfers the correct map from the Helios\Images\FalconBMS Images 4.35\CPD\MapData folder and also sets the correct resolution for the map, for instance the Iberia and EMF maps are 128 segment whereas most of the others are 64 segment. It is not designed to work as a standalone application.
-
The problem is you are trying to run that without the supporting software which transfers the correct map from the Helios\Images\FalconBMS Images 4.35\CPD\MapData folder and also sets the correct resolution for the map, for instance the Iberia and EMF maps are 128 segment whereas most of the others are 64 segment. It is not designed to work as a standalone application.
Thank you, Not sure what you mean about supporting software, etc. but pointing me to the CPD\MapData folder was the ticket to finding all the maps (and a folder structure error)! I copied “map.jpg” from Documents\Helios\Images\Falcon BMS Images 4.35\CPD\MapData\Kuwait to Documents\Helios\Images\Falcon BMS Images 4.35\User Data\Map and it now works perfectly. I did see that somehow I had two different “Falcon BMS Images 4.35” folders, and one was missing the MapData folder under CPD so I deleted that folder. Now, are you saying it should find the correct map automatically and I don’t have to swap out the "map.jpg in the User Data \ Maps folder for each new theater I use?
-
Thank you, Not sure what you mean about supporting software, etc. but pointing me to the CPD\MapData folder was the ticket to finding all the maps (and a folder structure error)! I copied “map.jpg” from Documents\Helios\Images\Falcon BMS Images 4.35\CPD\MapData\Kuwait to Documents\Helios\Images\Falcon BMS Images 4.35\User Data\Map and it now works perfectly. I did see that somehow I had two different “Falcon BMS Images 4.35” folders, and one was missing the MapData folder under CPD so I deleted that folder. Now, are you saying it should find the correct map automatically and I don’t have to modify the "map.jpg in the User Data \ Maps folder?
I’m not sure which version of Ice’s Updated Profile you are using but if you base the modifications on the latest version 4.35-5 then the DataAutoUpdate.exe (i.e. supporting software) which runs in the background once you start the profile will automatically select the correct map and also the correct resolution for that map based on the current theatre.
In fact, from version 4.35-3 onwards, the User Data\Map folder was removed as no longer required, so you must be running a fairly old version of the profile.
Version 4.35-2 would select the correct map providing that the User Data\Map folder was empty.
-
I’m not sure which version of Ice’s Updated Profile you are using but if you base the modifications on the latest version 4.35-5 then the DataAutoUpdate.exe (i.e. supporting software) which runs in the background once you start the profile will automatically select the correct map and also the correct resolution for that map based on the current theatre.
It’s “Ices FalconBMS 4.35.1 Helios Profile Setup.zip”, I guess there are newer versions? Please point me in the right direction, although I likely will just leave well enough alone as it takes 15 seconds to flip the map.jpg file now that I have them all handy…
-
It’s “Ices FalconBMS 4.35.1 Helios Profile Setup.zip”, I guess there are newer versions? Please point me in the right direction, although I likely will just leave well enough alone as it takes 15 seconds to flip the map.jpg file now that I have them all handy…
-
Grabbed it and made a new profile using it. Profile works great, no errors and allow external programs ticked off but it does not load the map into the center panel automatically when I change theaters… any idea what i’m missing?
-
Grabbed it and made a new profile using it. Profile works great, no errors and allow external programs ticked off but it does not load the map into the center panel automatically when I change theaters… any idea what i’m missing?
You need to perform a Helios Reset after each theatre change for the CPD to reload the map image. It’s a limitation of Helios.
Other things to check if it still doesn’t update:
1. Check this folder to see if the map is changing “Helios\Images\FalconBMS Images 4.35\CPD\Map”
2. Check that you installed the C:\Bin folder.
3. Check that DataAutoUpdate.exe runs as a process after starting the profile.
4. Check that the details in C:\Bin\PathNames.ini have been saved correctly by the profile. -
You need to perform a Helios Reset after each theatre change for the CPD to reload the map image. It’s a limitation of Helios.
Other things to check if it still doesn’t update:
1. Check this folder to see if the map is changing “Helios\Images\FalconBMS Images 4.35\CPD\Map”
2. Check that you installed the C:\Bin folder.
3. Check that DataAutoUpdate.exe runs as a process after starting the profile.
4. Check that the details in C:\Bin\PathNames.ini have been saved correctly by the profile.1. - Map does not change
2. C:\Bin is installed and I saved the current Map to the C:\Bin\Map folder per the readme.txt in the C:\Bin\Map folder -
"Centre Panel Display Moving Map:Use Weapon Delivery Planner to save the current mission map to this folder.
Ensure that it is saved at 4096x4096 by zooming out fully in WDP. - checked and the Kuwait map is 4096x4096
The updated map will be visible after resetting the profile, either from the profile system menu or from the Helios Control Centre.
To revert to using the default profile maps for each theatre just delete the map and leave this folder empty." - By this i’m thinking this folder should be left empty?3. “DataAutoUpdate.exe” does not show up as a running process
4. All of the Path fields in C:\Bin\PathNames.ini are empty, just “”,
[FALCON_BMS_PATH]
Path = “”
Parameters = “-ef” - this one has an entry, no idea why; Current Falcon BMS Theater.
[CURRENT_THEATER]
Theater = “”; Current Map Folder.
[MAP_FOLDER]
MapFolder = “”; Current Map Segment Size.
[MAP_SEGMENT_SIZE]
MapSegmentSize = “”; Current Pilot Callsign.
[PILOT_CALLSIGN]
Callsign = “” -
That looks like the C:\Bin folder from a previous version, also the instructions you are quoting from are from a previous version and don’t exist in the latest version. In Version 4.35-5 there is no C:\Bin\Map folder and there is a DataAutoUpdate.exe which handles everything. There is also no option to use the WDP maps.
I think you need to go back and remove all traces of the version you are using and download and install version 4.35-5.
“ef” enables EyeFly which is one of the buttons on the Views menu in the profile.
Just for information from the download page:
Note: If updating from the previous version make sure to replace the BMS key files, the Helios profile and the Bin and Images folders completely.
-
That looks like the C:\Bin folder from a previous version, also the instructions you are quoting from are from a previous version and don’t exist in the latest version. In Version 4.35-5 there is no C:\Bin\Map folder and there is a DataAutoUpdate.exe which handles everything. There is also no option to use the WDP maps.
I think you need to go back and remove all traces of the version you are using and download and install version 4.35-5.
“ef” enables EyeFly which is one of the buttons on the Views menu in the profile.
Just for information from the download page:
Note: If updating from the previous version make sure to replace the BMS key files, the Helios profile and the Bin and Images folders completely.
I’ll wipe the Bin file and replace, you are correct there was a Bin file there already. I was already running the latest Helios version, and I use Alt launcher so I need to keep the BMS-Full keyfile intact. I do not use touchscreens for anything if that matters.
THANK YOU for your patience and help!!Edit: Took Ice’s profile as-is and loaded it onto my main screen and saved it, all errors cleared. Ran it and checked if the DataUpdate file was running as a process, and it was (97% (27+MB)) memory use… Anyway, with this running the BMS 2D screen was frozen/inactive. Shut off profile and got BMS into instant action (Kuwait) and started the Helios Profile, no errors or Warnings. All displays worked fine, but the map was Korea. Did it all again, still Korea. Swapped the Map.jpg to Kuwait and all is well. At this point there is a diminishing return, i’m better off doing it manually and that DataUpdate I see no upside to running in my case… I don’t mind just swapping Map.jpg files.
-
Ok, If you are only using the CPD then the keyfile shouldn’t make any difference, but you do need to completely replace the the Helios profile and the Bin and Images folders from the 4.35-5 download.
-
Ok, If you are only using the CPD then the keyfile shouldn’t make any difference, but you do need to completely replace the the Helios profile and the Bin and Images folders from the 4.35-5 download.
See my “Edit” above, all is well as-is, thanks for trying!
-
Not quite sure what you are doing but the DataAutoUpdate.exe resource requirement is extremely low. See image.
There is nothing whatsoever in that that would take 27GB, most of the time it sleeps.
By the way the Iberia and EMF maps are 128 segment so the aircraft position will be wrong.
-
Not quite sure what you are doing but the DataAutoUpdate.exe resource requirement is extremely low. See image.
There is nothing whatsoever in that that would take 27GB, most of the time it sleeps.
By the way the Iberia and EMF maps are 128 segment so the aircraft position will be wrong.
Good to know about Iberia, think that one is only 4.34 compatible anyway, no?
-
LOL, that should have been MB, not GB… good to know about Iberia, think that one is only 4.34 compatible anyway, no?
They say they are near to releasing it, the EMF theatre is definitely updated to 4.35.
-
Ok, I wasn’t crazy… Pic attached and it was still climbing. Now nothing works, there is no more User\Map for me to put the correct map in and the editor is not working as it did to copy/paste the CPD and resize it easily. I finally got it moved in pieces and the “Map” selection is gone, just the screen background. Now when I run Ice’s profile untouched (just moved to my screen) The map shows but it’s Korea and I have no clue where to fix it. Oh, and DataUpdate isn’t running… I’m going to wipe all traces of Helios and start from the beginning, fingers crossed. I should have simply left well enough alone…
Gotta laugh… Fresh install of Helios and the 1st pop-up is there is a newer version (.1) out… Remove and reinstall!
-
Ok, I wasn’t crazy… Pic attached and it was still climbing. Now nothing works, there is no more User\Map for me to put the correct map in and the editor is not working as it did to copy/paste the CPD and resize it easily. I finally got it moved in pieces and the “Map” selection is gone, just the screen background. Now when I run Ice’s profile untouched (just moved to my screen) The map shows but it’s Korea and I have no clue where to fix it. Oh, and DataUpdate isn’t running… I’m going to wipe all traces of Helios and start from the beginning, fingers crossed. I should have simply left well enough alone…
Something is definitely corrupt somewhere, I’m just trying to figure out what would cause the DataAutoUpdate to do that. The only thing that is open ended is when it reads the Briefing.txt file and expects to find an EOF. Try deleting the Briefing.txt file.
-
Something is definitely corrupt somewhere, I’m just trying to figure out what would cause the DataAutoUpdate to do that. The only thing that is open ended is when it reads the Briefing.txt file and expects to find an EOF. Try deleting the Briefing.txt file.
I’ve uninstalled Helios, deleted the entire Helios folder in x:\Documents, deleted the C:\Bin folder and started fresh with the latest Helios 1.6.3504.0001 version. Installed the Bin folder and Images folder per the Setup readme, ran the Editor, loaded Ices profile and pointed it to the newly renamed Ice Keyfile (now BMS Full), ticked off the Run External program box. Closed, restarted and then Reset Monitors to put Ices profile on my main screen. All errors gone, moved it to the far right corner, started BMS and went to Instant Action in Kuwait. Got the Korea Map and Task Manager shows no sign of “DataAutoUpdate.exe”…. Here is a pic of what I have, all gauges functioning fine, “CPD” button gets me the CPD, just the wrong map. Can you tell me WHERE it is getting it’s map info now? I’m flummoxed. Also, if I hit the “MAP” button in his profile I get a big map of Korea…
Ok, checked Pathnames.ini and all fields were populated, CURRENT_THEATER was Kuwait 64 but MAP_FOLDER was Korea. I changed that to Kuwait and overwrote the Korea map (Map.jpg) in FalconBMSImages 4.35\CPD\Map with the Map.jpg from FalconBMSImages 4.35\CPD\MapData\Kuwait. Start BMS, all ok, start Helios Profile running and the map.jpg in FalconBMSImages 4.35\CPD\Map immediately changes back to Korea! Checked Pathnames.ini and the MAP_FOLDER was Korea again! So it’s definitely communicating, just not with me… :munch:
EDIT: Just installed Balkans and the Pathnames.ini is perfectly populated and the Balkans Map shows up in Ices profile. Could all this be from a bad Kuwait map? It worked fine before this version, just had to manually load it… I’ll build my new profile tomorrow, hopefully the issue I had trying to Copy/Paste the CPD will have rectified itself…
-
I’m getting confused also, the profile should start DataAutoUpdate.exe as a process and it should remain running until 10 seconds after the Helios Control Center is closed.
The DataAutoUpdate.exe reads the registry and should then save all the pathnames required by the profile to the PathNames.ini file.
It should also then copy the correct map from:
C:\Users\User1\Documents\Helios\Images\FalconBMS Images 4.35\CPD\MapData
To:
C:\Users\User1\Documents\Helios\Images\FalconBMS Images 4.35\CPD\Map (for use by the CPD)The Profile then reads the PathNames.ini file to determine which map to display when you select the Map button on the Front Console, this is a different set of maps to the CPD maps.
To make sure Windows isn’t blocking it try this first:
Delete the Briefing.txt file located here C:\Falcon BMS 4.35\User\Briefings\Briefing.txt
Then with only the Helios Control Center running start DataAutoUpdate.exe manually. It should run and keep running until around 10s after you close the Control Center. Then check the PathNames.ini file for the correct data.