Hi all,
I've just uploaded the new version of IL2-MAT Manager, version 2. This is a major version release as it incorporates support for a future Pacific Fighters game version (3.03 ?) which will support non-clearance of the \PaintSchemes\Cache folder.
In the Control Panel section you will find a new option titled PF v3.03+ (No IL2-MAT Needed). To the left of this is a check box, click on it to select and place a tick in this box as shown below. When you exit the program all MAT files will be copied to their new location.
When the game version is released to support this feature don't forget that before you run the game make sure that you right click on the IL2-MAT icon located in your system tray and then click on "active" to remove the tick next to "active" or click on "Exit" to de-activate or close down IL2-MAT.
Launch the game and your choice of markings should be displayed instantly without any loading delays as previously was often the case. When you are happy that all is working you can then use the Windows Add/Remove fature to un-install IL2-MAT and its associated il2fbhook.dll.
Please note that the above will only work with a future version of Pacific Fighters that supports this feature. If you do not have one of these versions then you will need to leave your conf.ini un-changed and leave the PF v3.03+ (No IL2-MAT Needed) check box un-ticked. You will then be able to continue using IL2-MAT Manager in conjunction with IL2-MAT to choose and display your choice of markings. This ensures that IL2-MAT Manager remains fully backward-compatible with the original IL-2 Sturmovik game as well as IL-2 Forgotten Battles, Ace Expansion and Pacific Fighters versions prior to version 3.03.
Also included in the new version are a extra option to display Greek 335 squadron coding and lettering and reduced size Dutch orange triangle markings. As the previous problem with the RAAF, RNZAF and RN markings sharing one MAT file and therefore one marking has been fixed in the game, I have separated these markings and there are now seperate drop-down boxes for the selection of alternative RAAF/RN and RNZAF markings. I have also changed the "ZZ" coding that appears on Luftwaffe aircraft when "none" is selected as the regiment into a fictitious but more hitorically pleasing "D1" coding. Lastly I have changed the program code to detect either "il2.exe" or "pf.exe" (as used by Pacific Fighters stand-alone installations) so when the program attempts to detect your IL-2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles or Pacific Fighters installation it will attempt to detect either of these program executables.
The new version also includes all improvements to USAAF/USN randomised and non-randomised. weathered/un-weathered numbering that I introduced in the two add-on pack released since version 1.95.
Some good news for modem users I have also managed to shave nearly 5.5 MegaBytes off of the size of the download by using newer compression settings.
My thanks to all who lobied for the games changes that facilitated the new MAT file copy method and to Oleg Maddox and his team for kindly including them in the future and the beta testers for all of their continued help and support.
Please read the enclosed program documentation for full details on installing/re-installing IL2-MAT Manager and the new features added in this version.
As is customary with a major version release I did a few funny spoof pictures
Download Link
Online Documentation Link
Happy Christmas and New Year to all.
Cheers
Aces
