Version 1.00 (August 1999) - CFS version (Windows version)
This utility program replaces the default CFS purple sky with sky that
is blue - just like the REAL sky!
This application was written using Visual Basic 5. If you get an error
such as "A required DLL file ... was not found", you need to download
the Visual Basic 5 runtime library files. These can be found by searching
SOFTSEEK.COM for "VB5 RUNTIME" and selecting a suitable download site
near you (it will also be available on other file archive sites on the
Internet). Install these files according the instructions therein.
Please read the sections on INSTALLATION and TROUBLESHOOTING below.
Please e-mail any comments or error reports to the author at:
irmurray@computing.dundee.ac.uk
I try to reply personally to all correspondents.
The files in this archive are SHAREWARE - if you think that BLUESKY for
CFS enhances your CFS experience, please send cash or cheque/money order
for just £2 Sterling or $3 U.S. to:
Iain Murray,
Dept. of Applied Computing, University of Dundee,
Dundee DD1 4HN, U.K.
If BLUESKY for CFS does not enhance your CFS experience, please un-install
it from your system ... otherwise you'll be plagued with guilt every time
you see the blue sky overhead! Users who registered their copy of my
BLUESKY for FS98 utility are registered for this CFS version also.
Thanks for all contributions.
If you like BlueSky, you might also like to vote for it in the FLIGHTSIM
monthly Developer's Award competition - you can register your vote at:
http://www.SurClaro/cgi/kds/main/vote-dev.htm
For August 1999, please vote for file BLUESK21.ZIP or BLUESCFS.ZIP. Thanks
for your support!
All files in this archive are Copyright (c) Iain Murray, 1999.
e-mail : irmurray@computing.dundee.ac.uk
See http://alpha.mic.dundee.ac.uk/~irmurray/fspage.html for updates.
1) Unzip files in this archive into a temporary directory.
2) Use Explorer to open BLUESCFS.EXE
3) Follow the instructions on screen - note that you need to select the
main folder where CFS is stored i.e. where your file COMBATFS.EXE is
located. If you have used the default setup, this will be:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator
Otherwise, please select your own path.
4) After use, run CFS as usual, and the sky should be blue!
TO UN-INSTALL:
1) Use Explorer to open BLUESCFS.EXE
2) Click on uninstall
3) After use, run CFS as usual, and the sky should be purple again.
LEGAL NOTICE:
This program is shareware; please feel free to distribute it, but if you
like what it does, I ask you to please register and pay the small charge
(details above). BLUESKY for CFS should not harm your computer or any
data stored on it but, if you imagine that it has, I accept no liability.
Use of this program as part of a commercial release, including release on
CD-ROM, may not be undertaken without express written permission of the
author and copyright holder (irmurray@computing.dundee.ac.uk).
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
I have always hated the purple sky in Flight Simulator ... it always looks
like a dull day. I wanted a blue sky to cheer myself up.
For some reason, the sky colour in FS98 is not governed by the PAL(ette)
and HAZ(e) files (as are the displayed colours of the aircraft and scenery);
the sky colour is controlled by one of the DLL files. This program patches
the DLL with a new set of sky colours. As a result, you get a bluer sky but
all your aircraft and scenery should display as normal, even at dusk, dawn
and at night.
Following the success of my BLUESKY utility for FS98, I was asked if the
same could be done for Combat FS. Although CFS performs more processing
on the sky display, giving a more realistic and bluer sky (especially near
the horizon), it does still have a purplish tone to it. I found that CFS
stores the same basic colour palette as FS98 and in the same way, so I was
thus able to produce this version of my program for CFS.
The default purple sky can be restored if required.
My thanks to William Fiore Jr. for suggesting a CFS version of BlueSky, and
for performing a thorough beta test on the software.
Thanks to users of SurClaro for voting BlueSky as winning utility in
their Developer's Awards for July 1999. Thanks also to staff at SurClaro.com
who voted BlueSky winner of their Uploads Contest for the week of 8th August
1999.
WHAT USERS SAID ABOUT BLUESKY FOR FS98 (thanks for all comments received):
"Thank you so much for making a patch program to change the sky color in FS98.
I am amazed at the change in my own mood by such a simple thing as sky color.
You have contributed to the FS98 simmers in a simple and a profound way."
"Congratulations on the excellent work with Blue Sky! I've never been so
excited or pleased by an add-on utility as I have been with this. It is
astonishing how a detail such as changing the sky to a realistic color could
have such a tremendous impact. It almost felt like I had an entirely
different flight sim program to enjoy."
"Having downloaded your BlueSky tool, I must say it's really teriffic.
CONGRATULATIONS. Great work."
"GREAT STUFF!! So simple yet so effective!!! I didn't realise that I was
missing out on blue sky!!"
"The BlueSky thing is the best patch for Flight Simulator! I also hated that
stupid purple (???) sky ... "
"Great work, man, just great! Thanks so much. The sky never looked better!"
"A huge thank you for this program. It's beautiful and so easy to put in."
"Thank you for a great 'add-on' ... I note from several forums that several
people consider your program to be the greatest thing since 'canned beer!!'
I do too ..."
"WOW! I´m wordless! I downloaded the BlueSky that you made. Very realistic
sky. The purple one was very 'ugly'. BlueSky is number 1."
"Thanks for your beautiful blue sky ... I like it !"
