67thp.gif (20311 bytes)

SDOE F.A.Q.

Sometimes new SDOE users have a hard time getting things set up properly, or they experience some technical difficulties or problems. Well most of the SDOE veterans have seen it all, and know how to fix most problems and issues. This section of the site will have some the the most frequent problems and ways to fix them. Hey I'm an SDOE veteran and I have even learned some stuff from these answers, so they're worth a reading.


Table of Contents

  1. How do I install skins?
  2. How do I stop the terrain from disappearing in the distance?
  3. How can I get more realistic engine sounds?
  4. I can't see the sun, moon or stars in the sky?
  5. My Hi Res Skins still don't look right?
  6. How can I get more realistic damage models and explosions?
  7. In game sounds are distorted or causing crashes?
  8. I'm running Win XP and SDOE keeps crashing to desktop?
  9. My joystick throttle doesn't work?
  10. How do I fix the big black hole where my terrain should be?

How do I install skins?

First go to your Fighter Squadron game folder stored on your Hard Drive, by default it's at C:\Program Files\Fighter Squadron. Once there go into the media folder, then open up the aircraft folder. Now you should see folders for every SDOE aircraft or vehicle that you currently have installed. Let's pretend for the  sake of clarity that we want to install a skin for the P-51D Mustang. The folder we want to open is called P51D, inside that folder there should be another folder called "textures" this is the folder where skins are stored and you can place your skins inside that folder now. If this folder does not exist don't panic! Simply right click anywhere inside the P51D folder and scroll down to "New" then "folder" in the options menu, this creates a new folder and you need to simply name it "textures". Now we can install the skins. Copy the skin .tiffs into this new texture folder and you are finished! This method can be applied to any aircraft in SDOE.

Back to Top

How to stop the terrain clipping bug? - By ArgonV

Be sure that FarClip=15 and FogNearClip=8 are in your sdemons.ini file located where the 1.6.x.x Patch is installed. This ensures that you can see a great distance, and not get the 'terrain tile clipping' bug.*

(To open your Sdemons.ini file double click it, and when the menu pops up asking what program you want to use to open it, select Microsoft Notepad or Wordpad and proceed to add the above command lines - Addition by Blacksheep)

*This tip will help you see much farther, but it may give you much lower frame rates. So only apply this setting if you have a system capable of handling it.

Back to Top

Getting more realistic engine sounds - By ArgonV

Set EngineSoundFromRPM=0 to EngineSoundFromRPM=1 in you Sdemons.ini file located where the 1.6.x.x patch is installed. This will give you more realistic sounds based on the actual RPM of your engine, instead of your (joystick) slider position.*

(To open your Sdemons.ini file double click it, and when the menu pops up asking what program you want to use to open it, select Microsoft Notepad or Wordpad and proceed to add the above command lines - Addition by Blacksheep)

*This only works well for WWI aircraft, WWII aircraft may run with a high RPM sound all the time with this setting.

Back to Top

How to get the sun, moon and stars back - By ArgonV

Add the line UseRealisticSky=1 to you sdemons.ini file located where the 1.6.x.x Patch is installed. This allows for wonderful night and day sky's with dynamic lighting, moon, sun and stars.

(To open your Sdemons.ini file double click it, and when the menu pops up asking what program you want to use to open it, select Microsoft Notepad or Wordpad and proceed to add the above command lines - Addition by Blacksheep)

Back to Top

My Hi-Res skins still don't look right? - By ArgonV

If your system can handle it, please use the 1024x1024 texture size option in the game under Options - Display menu. If not, at least use 512x512. Many hi-res skins have been made and really add to the beauty of this sim.

(Note that if you do not use 1024x1024 texture size you will not be able to see the Hi Res skins properly - Blacksheep)

Back to Top

Getting more realistic damage and explosions - By ArgonV

Be sure that you are using Bullet Penetration and Alternate Explosive Damage. These can be found in game under the Options - General menu. These settings allow for a more realistic damage model and explosions, and if the plane damage model permits, allows bullets to penetrate the skin and hit internal parts.

Back to Top

How to fix sound distortion or sound related crashing

Go to your Start Menu then click "Run". In the text field type "dxdiag" exactly like you see here. This brings up your DirectX diagnostic tool. Now click the Sound tab at the top of the diagnostic menu. Now look for something called Hardware sound acceleration level, and drag that slider all the way down to none and click exit. Now go back and fly or drive the vehicle that was causing the problem, it should be less distorted sounding, or will stop CTD'ing on you.

 Back to Top


Crashing to Desktop in XP?

One cause of SDOE crashing is when it is run under Windows XP. This can be easily remedied by right clicking on your SDOE desktop icon and scrolling down to properties and left clicking it. Once in the properties menu, click the compatibility tab at the top and select Windows 98/Me compatibility mode, then click apply.

Back to Top


My joystick throttle doesn't work?

If your joystick throttle is not working in game, you need to add some lines to your keyboard.inp file. To access this file got to the Fighter Squadron folder on your hard drive, then go into you're 1.6.x.x patch folder. Once in that folder you should see a file called keyboard.inp. Once again you'll need to double click it, and choose to open it with WordPad or notepad. Once you've done that, scroll through the opened keyboard.inp file until you see a set of command lines that read "inpThrottleAnalog". You'll need to replace these two command lines with the following command lines below

inpThrottleAnalog = JoystickSlider1 : 0
;inpThrottleAnalog = JoystickAxisZ : 0

You can copy and paste these lines directly into your keyboard.inp from here, but be certain you are replacing the old text lines with the ones above and not just adding them next to, or below the old command lines. Now save the keyboard.inp file and exit. The throttle should work in game now. 

Back to Top


How do I fix the black hole where my terrain should be?

If you see a giant black hole below you as you fly this simply means that you do not have the terrain required for that mission installed. To find out what terrain you need, read the mission briefing or the readme file that came with your missions or aircraft pack to see if the terrain you need is mentioned. Then head over to the Terrains page  and download the required terrain. If you have a high speed internet connection try and download all the terrains as some missions pack utilize all of them, and sometimes online flyers use non stock terrains such as Bavaria. 

Back to Top


Revised: January 05, 2005 .

 

Disclaimer - All tips and tricks on this page are offered to try and help solve common problems. Most people have used these tips with success so they have been posted in this FAQ. Neither I, nor anyone in the SDOE community is responsible for any damage caused to you system by using these tips.