OVGME / JSGME / Open Mod Manager

[Vonrd]

There was a question about Mod managers tonight. Some are not using any of these. I highly recommend using a Mod manager. You can enable / disable mods with the click of the mouse with no possibility of forgetting one of the files when you need to disable a mod. I use OVGME just because it works well and I'm familiar with it. There is a newer manager, "Open Mod Manager" which I haven't tried since what I'm using "Ain't Broke". JSGME is even earlier than OVGME and I used to use it. I think some are still using JSGME and it does still work.

OVGME allows you to manage mods in Saved Games as well as directly in the game folders. One thing is that you have to be sure that the file architecture that you use needs to be in a certain structure (what the game structure actually is). I'm happy to help with any questions about OVGME. Can't help with the other programs.

Here's a link explaining it really well.

https://wiki.hoggitworld.com/view/OVGME

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

I still use JSGME since it came with the HSFX mod for IL-2 1946. It became waaaay more useful when I found out I could save mod profiles which allowed me to switch between different mod packs or maps by loading a saved mod profile. Lol, I finally broke down and read the User Guide manual when I found it which explained that the links in the middle of the page were actually used for something other than to take up space on the page.

 

The Help link in that section times out now since the JoneSoft website where you are being sent has been offline for quite some time. However the pdf User guide where that Help link is sending you can still be had from the Internet Archive.

User Guide: https://web.archive.org/web/20111027052956/http://www.users.on.net/~jscones/software/documentation/JSGMEUG.pdf

 

Wheels

[Klaiber]

12 hours ago, Vonrd said:

Some are not using any of these. I highly recommend using a Mod manager.

I agree.  I highly recommend OVGME or JSGME to handle mods.

[wheelsup_cavu]

One other thing that bit me in the behind recently was failing to use the Generate snapshot of Game files option in JSGME. I suspect that OVGME has something similar. Had I been a bright young lad and used this feature before I started messing around with some new mods, while in a hurry, and then forgetting to disable all mods before enabling the new ones which of course borked the install I could have used that option to restore the build back to the earlier snapshot.

 Live and learn, as always the hard way...

 

Wheels

[Vonrd]

For OVGME:

Root Snapshot

Introduction

The snapshot feature allow to create a file tree snapshot, with checksum, of the root folder for the current configuration. Once the snapshot is created, you can compare it with the current state of the root folder file tree to check if any file was added, removed or modified.

Creating a Snapshot

To create a new snapshot for the current configuration, go to the "Config" menu, select "Snapshot" then "New...". A new dialog will prompt you to begin the snapshot process.  The snapshot can take long time since it must read all tree and files of the root folder to create a xxHash checksum. You can cancel the snapshot process at any time.

Comparing a Snapshot

To compare an existing snapshot for the current configuration, go to the "Config" menu, select "snapshot" then "compare...". A new dialog will prompt you to begin the comparison process. The comparison process can take long time since it must read all files to verify the xxHash checksum, you can cancel the comparison process at any time.

Comparison output

During the comparison process, an output log is generated in the comparison process dialog window. This output log lists all file tree differences with the last snapshot. This list has three columns: Type, Change and Path.

Type : identifies whether the concerned entry is a file or a directory. (f) : stands for File. (d) : stands for Directory.

Change : identifies what kind of changes occurred about this entry. + : stands for added, the file or folder was added since the last snapshot. - : stands for removed, the file or folder was removed since the last snapshot. ~ : stands for modified, the file was modified since the last snapshot.

Path : identifies the relative path of the entry from the root game folder. 

 

 

The Manual: https://forum.dcs.world/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=87665

[Rathofer]

So dumb question of many dumb questions: does this apply to mods purchased outside of ED. Such as the A-4? Or to all aircraft/maps/modules you purchase no matter the source?

[Klaiber]

On 9/6/2024 at 7:58 PM, Rathofer said:

So dumb question of many dumb questions: does this apply to mods purchased outside of ED. Such as the A-4? Or to all aircraft/maps/modules you purchase no matter the source?

All official modules from the ED site are just baked into the game.  You'll need to activate them through the main window.

OVGME and other mod managers are just for things like the A-4 community aircraft and other unofficial modifications to the game.

Meanwhile, things like SimpleRadio Standalone (SRS), Tacview, and LotATC just run in the background.

[Rathofer]

Thanks for the clarification. The only MOD I have is the A-4 and I changed the lua to remove the hangar and make it a black screen (helped with performance and F10 hangups in flight)