Combat Flight Simulator 3 - Patches and SDKs

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In late November 2013 Microsoft pulled the plug on their CFS3 Insider site. This means the two update patches and the various software development kits are no longer available from MS, so they have been uploaded to the SOH Library instead.

All quoted text is from the original CFS3 Insider site.

Our thanks to Grizzly50 who uploaded these and the admins for permission to host these downloads.

 

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CFS3 update patches

Combat Flight Simulator v3.1 update fixes a number of issues and extends the features of the sim. Essential for multiplayer combat.

Download v3.1 patch


Combat Flight Simulator v3.1a update fixes the problem with 4-engine aircraft. Install v3.1 patch first!

Download v3.1a patch

 

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Combat Flight Simulator 3 Mission Builder SDK v1.0

The CFS3 Mission Builder v1.0, which is based on the Mission Builder that was
included with Combat Flight Simulator 2, includes the following features:
•Create and edit routes for air and ground formations, as well as place extra
facilities in your missions
•Visually edit aspects of your formations; drag and drop formation waypoint
routes
•Edit spawn tables to define how new facilities and formations are created
•Edit spawned formations and define how they are positioned
•Help System
Important: The CFS3 Mission Builder
v1.0, like all CFS3 SDK items, is not supported by Microsoft Product Support
Services.
Also, the Combat Flight Simulator 3 Mission Builder lets you modify files
that come with Combat Flight Simulator 3, and you may corrupt or otherwise
imbalance the missions that come with the game. You may need to reinstall Combat
Flight Simulator 3 to restore these files to their original state.
Note: The CFS3 Mission Builder v1.0 requires the CFS3.1 Update. Be sure to
read through the Mission Builder release notes .

DOWNLOAD 6MB (cfs3mb10.msi)


Mission Editing SDK

The Mission Editing SDK contains a Microsoft Word document with
specifications on the mission and spawn file formats. With this document and a
tool for editing XML files (like Microsoft Notepad), you'll be on your way to
creating new missions for Combat Flight Simulator 3.

DOWNLOAD 200KB (missionsdk.msi)


Mission Builder tutorial

DOWNLOAD (pdf)

 

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Aircraft, Vehicle, and Building SDK v1.5

Note: In order to install properly, you should first make
sure that discreet gmax is installed. To get it, please visit www.turbosquid.com/gmax

What's new in v1.5 of the Aircraft and Vehicle SDK?
•Mosaic File Editing Tool. This lets you edit .MOS files,
which contain information on how damage, colors and nose art are displayed on
aircraft. Important: see the list of additional requirements, below, for the
mosaic editing tool.
•Gmax plugin now supports more than 7 virtual cockpits. The
gmax plugin previously supported up to 7 virtual cockpits. In conjunction with
the CFS3.1 patch and the included gmax plugin, you can now create aircraft that
have more than 7 virtual cockpits.
•Modeling Document Improvements. There is more documentation
in the modeling document on standards for textures and vehicles.
•Effects List. A list of the effects is included.
Important:
The Mosaic File Editing Tool requires
DirectX 9 and the .NET Framework. You can install DirectX 9 via
You can install the .net framework via the Windows Update
website .
Note: DirectX 9 includes a component ("Managed DirectX 9")
that is dependent on the .net framework being installed. Therefore, it is
important that you install the .net framework first, and then install DirectX 9.
If you have installed DirectX 9 before installing the .net framework, you will
need to re-run the DirectX 9 setup to ensure that "Managed DirectX 9" is
installed properly.
If you have previously installed the Aircraft and Vehicle SDK, please remove
the SDK using Add/Remove programs.

DOWNLOAD 15MB (avsdk15.msi)

The best means of obtaining the Managed DirectX 9 component
is from SOH:- Managed DirectX

 

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Combat Flight Simulator 3 Terrain SDK - Public Beta v2.0

The CFS3 Terrain SDK is a set of build level tools for creating
and manipulating all aspects of CFS3 Terrain.
Creating a full set of CFS3 terrain requires experience in working with
geological data. Specifically, creating new terrain assumes to Digital Elevation
Model (DEM) data, vector data as well as land class maps.
Tools are also provided for working with existing scenery. For example, you
can manipulate the CFS3 Global Layer as well as modify the terrain mosaics used
in game.
Like all SDKs, the CFS3 Terrain SDK is not supported by Microsoft Product
Support Services. The terrain SDK was tested on the Windows XP operating system;
its ability to function on other operating systems remains untested.
The requirements of the Terrain SDK are:
•Windows XP
•Combat Flight Simulator 3.1
•.Net Framework
•Managed DirectX

The .net framework is available via Windows Update.

DOWNLOAD 5MB (terrainsdk.msi)

Managed DirectX

 

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ViewUI Developer Description: understanding ViewUI.xml

ViewUI.xml, included with Combat Flight Simulator 3, contains view defaults
and preferences. Some questions have come up regarding the format of this file.
An annotated version of the XML is attached below.

DOWNLOAD ViewUI.xml

Like many Combat Flight Simulator 3 settings files, a default version of the
file is located in the users Combat Flight Simulator Directory (usually,
c:\program files\microsoft games\combat flight simulator 3.).

However, if the user changes any preferences in-game, a modified version of
the ViewUI.xml is stored in the users Application Data directory (on a Windows
XP machine, this is c:\documents and settings\[user name]\application
data\microsoft\combat flight simulator 3.0. The Application Data and/or
Microsoft directory may be hidden on your machine.)

Therefore, if you wish to experiment with changing ViewUI.xml, you should
first:
•Back up your copy of viewui.xml in your Combat Flight Simulator directory.
•Delete the copy of viewui.xml in your Application Data\Combat Flight
Simulator 3 directory.
As you modify the copy of viewui.xml in your
Combat Flight Simulator directory, make sure to remove the automatically saved
version of viewui.xml in your Application Data directory.

 

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Combat Flight Simulator 3 Mission Pack

Two new missions are available for Combat Flight Simulator 3! These missions,
which were designed with multiplayer in mind, will get you into action quickly.
Death Beach
Death Beach is a historically-oriented
mission that takes place during the Normandy invasion. Allied troops are
storming the beaches of Normandy; unfortunately, a nasty surprise awaits them. A
reserve German tank company has moved in to act as coastal artillery, and is
hammering the landing craft as they come ashore. You are flight leader of a
section of P-51Bs loaded with Bazooka rockets and bombs. Take out those tanks!

Death Beach can be played as a cooperative or competitive multiplayer
mission. Because it starts in the air near the battleground, you won't need to
fly for extended periods of time to reach the action. German players man an
intercept flight of Bf-109s scrambled to protect the platoon.

Defend Factory
The Defend Factory mission is simply a
free-for-all shooting-gallery type mission, and is not based on any historical
events. German armored vehicles are attacking an allied factory. As pilot of a
flight of Typhoons, you must destroy the attacking tanks before they cause heavy
damage to the factory. The mission is challenging because the tanks attack
quickly—as flight leader, you will need to prioritize what is attacked first.

The Defend Factory mission can be played cooperatively.

DOWNLOAD 150KB