Version Upgrade Assistant Document
-
For the past several days, I’ve been converting my ancient ASCII text file to a more organized MS-Word document. I thought maybe others would benefit from this document as a ‘data resource’. Probably the best way for me to explain it would be to just copy/paste the Introduction section of the document:
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This document is designed as a ‘Version Upgrade Assistant’. It originally started out decades ago as my personal scratchpad ASCII text file that contained the various configurations and settings that I used for my Falcon 4 BMS simulator. My old text file data was very helpful when I had to upgrade to a newer release of Falcon 4 BMS.
If Benchmark Sims’ next release will be 4.38.0, it will be completely new install. It will be very important to prepare in advance with a one-stop comprehensive document that contains all of your existing configs & settings. This ‘upgrade assistant’ is intended to help you transition from an older version to a newer version of Falcon 4 BMS as smoothly as possible, especially when that upgrade is a completely new install from scratch.
INTRODUCTION
With each version upgrade release of Falcon 4 BMS, a certain number of changes must be made in certain files and settings. Some upgrades are very minor with a minimum of adjustment; others are more substantial and complex, and involve updating and reconciling many *.cfg, *.ini, and other files and settings.
More often than not, new keybindings are introduced and need to be adapted as needed.
Sometimes entirely new airframe systems are introduced or substantially improved (such as exterior lighting panel, IFF, ECM panel, etc.). And then sometimes major new paradigms are introduced (VR capability, the ‘Launcher’ being integrated into the program startup, etc.). The Falcon BMS developers never cease to amaze everyone in their steady progress over the many years.
Having an ‘upgrade assistant’ such as this document can be a tremendous help in moving to newer versions as they are released. I’ve been using my personal documentation for decades, and it certainly has saved me countless hours and eliminated guesswork.
Much of the specific data/settings initially contained in this document pertain and apply to me only, sometimes with explanations regarding certain choices. However, there will be many instances where the information contained here does not apply to your particular installation, or you have different preferences.
That’s why this document is designed to be easily edited and adapted to your particular installation upgrade needs and preferences. That is, this document is kept in an editable MS-Word compatible *.docx format with encouragement to ‘make it your own’. So, if you go through this comprehensive document and replace the existing settings with your settings before version 4.38 is released, you will have a powerful ready-to-use reference when you upgrade, re-install, etc.
I am making this ‘public version’ of this document available to everyone who might benefit from the hand-holding guidance this ‘upgrade assistant’ offers. It can be downloaded anytime at
www.metagaia.com/download/falcon-bms-upgrade-assistant-4.37.2.docx
-
@SoBad Amazing! Thanks for sharing.