jbd
Flightsimmer
Posts: 65
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Post by jbd on Mar 29, 2009 19:08:43 GMT -5
Can some one lead me to a set of tools that will enable me to extract individual Gage files from a several Cab files, put them into a common folder and create a new Cab file? I redo panels for FS9 to FSX, some times only one Gage from a CAB file is needed, but the whole CAB file must go into either the panel folder or the root Gage folder. With all the Cab files required for a panel this really adds up space requirement wise.. Now all my Gage files go into the panel folder, there are advantages to this and it's the way I do things. Personally I've never had a problem, HD advantaged, all Seagate SATA, two 300 gig and one 500 gig and one other 500 gig on order. But if I'm to give out my pnl cfg and gages not everyone has the space required for so many unnecessary gages. I know there are old veterans out there that know this stuff and I know this site, for you vets, this your party, but help this noob out. Tools and detailed instructions would be nice. JBD
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Post by Dave3cu on Mar 29, 2009 20:45:13 GMT -5
You can use the program 'cabdir.exe'. If you have FS9 installed you'll find the file in the main FS9 folder. If not, you can download the Cabdir SDK from here- scenery.org/tutorials_fs2k4_SDK.htmCreate a new 'working' folder at a name/location of your choice, example: 'Cabdir' on your desktop. Copy the 'cabdir.exe' file to the folder. To use: Copy the .cab file(s) to that folder. Drag the .cab file and drop it on the cabdir.exe file and it will be extracted to a folder (with sub-folders if present). Create a new folder in the 'working' folder. Name it as you wish your new .cab file to be named. ( for a 'some gauges.cab' file, name the new folder 'some gauges'.) Copy the desired files to your new folder. If there are sub-folders involved be sure to recreate them also (typically '640' and '1024' for gauge bitmaps) Drag your new folder and drop it on 'cabdir.exe' and the new .cab file will be created. **Keep in mind that distributing some one elses work, whole or in part, may be illegal or require prior permission from the author. You should read the author's EULA, copyright or redistribution restrictions before doing so. This certainly holds true for payware/shareware, but also, don't assume that because a file came as or with freeware that it, or any part, can be freely redistributed without permission. Dave
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Post by Tom Constantine on Mar 29, 2009 22:58:17 GMT -5
That prohibition of de-compiling and re-distributing applies specifically to Microsoft cabs.
What you do for your own personal use is one thing, but when you share it with others, the rules apply. This is true for scenery libraries as well.
As examples, consider these: When authors use gauges from the default DC-3 or the Vega, the can't include those cabs with their aircraft, the must give directions that instruct the end user on how to make the gauges available to the new aircraft. Also, one of my FSX scenery files uses a hangar from someone else's scenery. I can't redistribute that hangar or the library that it is contained in, I had to identify the scenery and tell my users to install it in order for the hangar to show in my scenery.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2009 5:08:46 GMT -5
Well that told you jbd - probably scared the pants off you ;D
Download Cabpack. It's free and I've used it for years.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2009 13:25:46 GMT -5
Just in case there's been a misunderstanding - if you're packing aircraft files up for downloading (as distinct from packaging gauges up into a cab file) you will need a Zip file maker. The best free one I've found is jZip - a much better alternative thasn Winzip because it's free and there's no advertising and stuff. Again, I've been using it for years.
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jbd
Flightsimmer
Posts: 65
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Post by jbd on Mar 30, 2009 15:14:57 GMT -5
Rollerball My concern was with packaging gage files into a new Cab file. But yes I'll be packaging for download, it was good of you to think of that. I use Winrar, it creates either zip or rar files, I compress all my aircraft for storage as Rar files, Rar files have advantages over zip files. But for packaged download purposes I'll have WinRar compress the files into a zip not a rar. Not everyone has an extract rar utility. Rar files are the choice of the flight sim newsgroups.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2009 15:38:09 GMT -5
Sounds like you're good to go then
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Post by Keith on Mar 30, 2009 20:41:21 GMT -5
**Keep in mind that distributing some one elses work, whole or in part, may be illegal or require prior permission from the author. You should read the author's EULA, copyright or redistribution restrictions before doing so. This certainly holds true for payware/shareware, but also, don't assume that because a file came as or with freeware that it, or any part, can be freely redistributed without permission.Dave Dave, I have found parts of my code in freeware and payware aircraft over the years and had it removed and the hacker was normally never taken seriously by the FS community again. I still keep an eye open because it still happens. Sometimes people think they can simply "borrow" a snipped of code. My code is unique and copyrighted. It depends on the Microsoft base code (meaning it uses the default gps.dll and map files etc. from Microsoft) but is all unique otherwise. I have a non-typical way I create XML code which creates a digital watermark so I can tell if even a small amount of my code is being used... and yes I do take it all the way because I don't like being robbed. Very good advise you gave there. Keith
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Me262
FS Addict
Posts: 140
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Post by Me262 on May 10, 2009 2:47:42 GMT -5
I'm using www.freecommander.com/ (freeware). It's a file manager like the old Norton Commander. Let's you browse, copy in to and out, and create new cap files (and much more!). Use it regularly for my private mods.
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