Using+OAW--A+Case+Study+of+Installing+Flight+Files

**A Case Study of Installing Flight Files in OAW** (Submitted by Wudpecker, 9/2006)

OAW ("Omni Air Wars"--formerly known as Online Air Wars) is a very useful manager of the thousands of EAW add-ons available. Using OAW can be tricky. It has its rules. If there are other OAW noobs (new bee's) as clueless as I am, this may be of some help. Some of my mistakes are worth seeing, so you don't have to make them. Unless you need the experience. :)

OAW works by letting you pick out the files you want from the many different types in the OAW subdirectories. Then it copies those files into the main EAW directory--where they will be used. OAW deletes any old file set left over in the EAW directory. "Re-Set Completely" makes sure.

Very simple, right? Thanks, Mr. Jelly. Where things get complicated: -- OAW has a long list of mods available. You can add your own from the EAW "library", Tally Ho, by Sandbagger. http://www.sandbaggereaw.com/home.html Each mod type has been given a letter--such as "E" for different versions of the EAW.exe. Or "H" for sky and __H__orizon sets. For "Flight and Damage Models", the letter "F" is used. So far, so good. ---BUT--To keep track of the many different aircraft you can fly, and the Flight Models (FM) for each aircraft, these have to be sorted as well. They are tucked away in their own subdirectories of the OAW directory. That's why all the complicated numbering. And that's why it didn't work for me--until I followed instructions.

I was able to install Knegel's new " Flight Model (FM) for the "WACO glider" in OAW. The FM controls aircraft behavior. (Knegel's glider mod works beautifully, by the way. Once the "tow rope" is dropped, the engine sound fades as the C-47 tow plane pulls away. Then the gliders are on their own to deliver ground troops and equipment. The daredevil AI's will scare hell out of you if you watch them dive the gliders in for a landing! I flew mine much more carefully.)

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO INSTALL THIS MOD (or any other Flight Models): You will need Knegel's "Waco" FM zip file. You also need Col. Gibbon's WACO glider skin/3DZ from Sandbagger's to complete the mod as it is so far.

Here are Knegel's instructions for me--which worked when I followed them EXACTLY. You know, "when all else fails...read the directions." Quote: 2.) Restart OAW and load F 1(EAWrp2.6), now you should find a P-04_51B(Waco) in the FM/DM list (not skin list!!!). 3.) Doubleclick to the P-04_51B(Waco) Now it should be green marked. 4.) Load the Waco skin. 5.) Start the game and drop the tank, then the engines should die within some secs.

Sounds like a Greek numbers game, right? Once you understand the Greek, however, it will make perfect sense: Quote: 2.) Look in the OAW directory under "F 1" and you will find "F 1 (EAWrp2.6)". 3.) Unzip The ENTIRE file as a new directory under F 1 (EAWrp2.6). "Keep file structure" when you unzip. That new directory will be named "P-04_51B(Waco)" I screwed up and didn't keep that name--which is why the glider mod did not work for me at first. 4.) I also did not realize the "contents.txt" file in P-04_51B(Waco) CONTAINED THE EXACT NAME OF THE MOD THAT WOULD APPEAR IN OAW in the top line. It happens to be "Waco CG4A" You can add your own comments in "contents.txt", but leave that first line alone. Once again, I made up my own name, NOT using the one in "contents.txt. Bad dog, bad dog. Either leave it alone, or write your own short description in contents.txt if you're feeling lucky. Are you feeling lucky? Are you, huh? 5.) You are done installing the FM.

Now you install the "skin" and 3DZ files for the glider. Col. Gibbon's WACO glider uses the P-51b "slot". You know this because his 3DZ files all start with "pp51b" Don't despair! Look in the OAW directory for "skinfolder" (notice the small "s". The large "S" is for a set of skins from several planes. Yes, you can unzip the skins in that S file, if you like, with a directory of your own name, such as //S WACOglider//. Notice the space after the "S". OAW will load all skins you put in there. The number you want for a **single glider skin** is A-O4 P51b. Unzip Col.Gibbon's files as a new subdirectory there, keeping that number and adding your own short description in parentheses, such as A-O4 P51b(Wacoglider).

Okay. Now you can start OAW as a program by calling it up. Just for safety, why not "RESET COMPLETELY". 6.) Go to "World Settings and Complete Sets". Click on "Flight and Damage Models". Pick F 1(EAWrp2.6) because that's where you unzipped your glider FM. It will turn green. 7.) Go to "Planes and Single Skins". On the RIGHT SIDE of the page, you should see "Alternative Planes." (that's what it's called in my version of OAWSelector V1500D) Scroll down until you see "Waco CG4A". Yep, that's it. The name from the "contents.txt" file. Click. It should turn green. "Alternative Planes" means alternative FM's for different aircraft. The alternative aircraft skins and 3dz's are on the LEFT side. That glider skin you have installed separately already is A-O4 P51b(Wacoglider). Pick that one. It will turn green, too. You should be ready to fly. Hit "Launch EAW" and off you go. When EAW opens, choose the P-51b. No, we don't have an aircraft selection screen for the WACO glider. Not yet. It's a "mod" in progress. END