Zornhammer,
Thank you for using UQMG.
Here are the answers to your questions:
1) Is the tutorial available without having to install the program? I'd like to look it over here in the office but I can't install software on my machine without getting in trouble.
ANSWER: Yes. Assuming that you installed UQMG to the default directory, then copy the entire contents of the directory/folder "C:\Program Files\UberQuickPF\ini\fb100\main\tutorial" to a disk or other removeable media. Open "UQMGTutotial_001.htm" and IE or any other browser will open the tutorial.
2) I spent a bit of time last night trying to massage a He111 high altitude level bombing mission into place. I'm using it as a training mission for my squad. One thing I would like to have is the ability to specify the exact placement of a static camera, so that I can Ctrl-F2 to it and see if I hit my intended targets after I release my ordnance. I checked off the box that supposedly places cameras at "major points of interest" - but apparently the airfield I'm bombing isn't considered to be of interest because there is no camer there. other than hand-editing the .mis file that is generated, how can I do this?
ANSWER: The cameras are fixed based on the template, either by map or mission type, so they cannot be moved. Some maps get updated and I simply do not have the time to correct all locations. Some ground target locations may simply not have a camera nearby, unfortunately. The only way you would be able to fix that is to edit the generated mission in the FMB. The tutorial has instructions on how to do that.
3) Is there a way to specify which direction the plane should be facing when it spawns in? I am using air start at 6200m specified initial altitude (actually the plane comes in at 6800m for whatever reason), and would like to be able to face the plane in a different direction so that it faces something other than 85 degrees.
ANSWER: No. The templates have some pre-established paths, and if you start on air, the plane will face the next waypoint. That would be the case with any mission, UQMG generated or not. If the plane starts on a base, then it will face the end of the runway. These are all features of the sim's engine, so they cannot be changed. Your plane is starting at a different altitude because of several factors:
- Plane could be flying over a mountain.
- You could be flying in a plane other than the leader
- Each Flight Group has an offset altitude from each other, and if you add clone flights they have additional altitude offset to minimize the chance of mid-air collision. If you fly in group 1, you will have a different altitude than if you flew in group 2.
- If you use altitude advantage parameters, you may start at a different altitude. Let me explain. Say you fly in a simple map, like Net 1 summer, with mission altitude of 500m, and you fly in flight group 2, and you have an altitude advantage over the enemy of 600m, that is, you are above the enemy by 600m. Say the enemy corresponds to the same group as you, so they fly in enemy group 2
OK, so the mission overall altitude is 500m. Typically, because you are in group 2, you would start at 500m+50m or 550m, but you have to consider the altitude advantage. If you are 600m above the enemy, than that means that the enemy would be under the ground or under the sea (!!!) at -50m... that would be silly, as Monty Python would put it. So UQMG then places the enemy at the mission altitude at 550m (because they are in group 2), and you are placed then at 1150m. How the algorithm works vary depending on the situation, but that will influence how high you are.
4) Is there a way to tell IL2 to start the plane with supercharger and lean fuel mixture already engaged? Spawning in at 6000m+ with 100% mixture and no supercharger results in a very underpowered plane with plenty of black trails. Similarly, I'd like to be able to have the bombsite settings already configured to something reasonably close to what would be used to bomb (e.g. 6500m bombsite altitude, 300kph TAS, etc.). I suspect the answer to these questions is no, but it's kind of a hassle to have to set this stuff up every time and try to fly the plane at the same time.
ANSWER: In so many words... no...
That again is a function of PF/FB, and I can't change that...
5) Any plans for supporting the new maps and planes released with 4.01?
ANSWER: Of course yes... now if you can ask my boss and my wife to lay off me so that I can spend more time on UQMG, then you will see the upgrade sooner...
6) How come the "X" button at the top right of the application is nonfunctional? You *must* use the Exit button - unlike any other Windoews app I've ever seen!
ANSWER: It is a secret. I must kill you now. Actually, I am not a very talented programmer. UQMG relies of several forms, and I do not know of any other way to close all routines in VB outside of forcing the user to use my exit function, which basically forces a "stable" shutdown of UQMG. If I don't do that, part of the application will be hanging on to your memory, causing a memory leak, and using resources that could be used by other applications in Windows. That way UQMG really closes when you exit. Now, as I said, i am not very talented. I asked another experienced VB programmer about this and he simply responded with something to the effect of "crap... I didn't think about that." but otherwise I don't know how to force the usual Close routine (Alt+F4) to take care of all the forms and applications, as in my exit routine... perhaps someday I'll upgrade to VB.NET and hopefully that is easier to accomplish.
7) Anyway, great little application - I intend to use it a lot!
ANSWER: Thank you.
Great Idea - I would too - let us know and we'll start spamming them 