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bagolu avatar image
bagolu asked N6722C edited

Access to panel.xml on an encrypted file

Hello,

I'm maintening for free three plane mods based on the c172. In order to have the mods compatible with the classic 172, I have to provide an xml for the panel. My current versions are out of sync which cause bad system behaviors.

I request access to the three flavors (wheel,ski,floats) panel.xml files from c172sp_classic.
Considering the 3D model and the cfg files stay encrypted, the plane is still protected from copy.

I hope you'll agree with this, it would help a lot (me and other modders)
Thanks !

aircraft
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N6722C avatar image N6722C commented ·

I would go a step further, and repeat what most users is saying

Please remove ALL .cfg files from encryption
(at least for ASOBO Planes -- If 3rd party devs specifically request their .cfg files be encrypted, that's should be their call, as is the choice of players to purchase such .cfg encrypted planes)


Considering the 3D model stay encrypted, the plane is still protected from copy, which is the primary reason for the encryption.




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Paavo avatar image Paavo N6722C commented ·

Fully agree. Had the configuration files to A320 been encrypted like on many other airplanes, we would've never had the FlyByWire version of it.

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Kaiii3 avatar image Kaiii3 N6722C commented ·
+1, this woul help us with ptecting AI Models as well, many developers are currently waiting for their release cause they do not want to release fully open and can not release fully encrypted.
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FlyingRaccoon avatar image FlyingRaccoon ♦♦ commented ·
@EPellissier Your input on this?
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bagolu avatar image bagolu FlyingRaccoon ♦♦ commented ·
we'd like to know :)
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SonantAlpaca avatar image SonantAlpaca ♦♦ bagolu commented ·
@EPellissier is off this week but be sure we'll ask him as soon as he gets back! :)
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bagolu avatar image bagolu FlyingRaccoon ♦♦ commented ·

@FlyingRaccoon can you try to get the answer ?

This would really help


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bagolu avatar image bagolu bagolu commented ·

I think we can take this as a big NO

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N6722C avatar image N6722C FlyingRaccoon ♦♦ commented ·
As you are no doubt aware, this was briefly brought up again in yesterdays Q&A, but yet again in a vague way, without making clear that it is ONLY the .cfg files that the community is looking to be excluded from the encryption process. (Models etc stay encrypted)



Again, vague responses that this may be possible, with an emphasis on Licensing, and DRM, that one would assume were adequately covered by keeping the other files (Models etc) in the planes encrypted.

It is not clear who makes the call or decisions on this, since in the Q&A it was Asobo that said it may be possible, now it has been brought to their attention (in the Q&A).

So is there any possibility that some action can be taken to comply to this request.


Once again, nobody is looking to remove the DRM on these aircraft, or make them able to be pirated or shared. The community would just like the ability to be able to MOD the .cfg files, and "optimize" a number of the parameters, as was done successfully with other non- encrypted planes.


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FlyingsCool avatar image
FlyingsCool answered FlyingsCool commented

I'm imagining perhaps you'd like to edit the panel.xml files? Is so, this won't help.

If not, somebody else showed me how to include the default panel.xml so I could modify the panel.cfg to defeat the registration # decals on liveries I create

In the panel.xml file, I include the following line

<Include RelativeFile="../../Carenado_M20R_Ovation/panel/panel.xml"/>

of course replacing the container directory with the proper directory. Then I don't have to worry about keeping up with changes to the panel.xml file.

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bagolu avatar image bagolu commented ·

This is what I've used but the other files are required too (systems.cfg, flightmodel.cfg...)

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FlyingsCool avatar image FlyingsCool bagolu commented ·
The title said panel.xml, so that's what my answer was for.

As I know you know, they've said they're not going to release the encrypted files.

The only choice is to design new ones if you want to mod a plane.

Certainly, it would be helpful to have somewhere to start, but, heck, they were wrong in the first place. Might as well start fresh ;)


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N6722C avatar image
N6722C answered

Maybe one possible way to allow an encrypted .cfg to be "modified", would be the introduction of a mod.cfg file, that could override any .cfg file parameter, in any of the standard .cfg files.

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bagolu avatar image
bagolu answered

@FlyingRaccoon Give a big thanks to all at Asobo for the access to the cfg files.

That will help a lot modding ! <3

Is it planed :

  • to unlock the xml files too ?
  • to unlock files on your other planes : for example, there's a lot of interest in patching the JU52 as it is not maintained anymore


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EPellissier avatar image
EPellissier answered N6722C edited

Hi @bagolu,

There is no plan to provide unencrypted XMLs or to provide clear CFGs for other planes at the moment.

Best regards,

Eric / Asobo

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N6722C avatar image N6722C commented ·

SUGGESTION:


How about fixing some of the now known and easily fixed issues with these Premium Planes, and while you are doing so, re-export them with the Identity Bit set.


While this would not meet the request for open cfg or xml files, those file CAN be rewritten from scratch by a competent 3rd Party developer,
Re-Exporting with the Identity Bit set would allow Sub-Models, and a way to greatly enhance these planes., adding an interacting sub-modes to the basic model. ie like a Tablet.

In fact, the recent SDK indicates that the default export configuration is to have this Identity Bit set -- but none of the Asobo, or MarketPlace Devs have adopted this... or even taken advantages of its powerful consequences.
(Either when using 3D Max or Blender )

babylon-id-bit.png

babylon-id-bit-text.png
By Asobo re-exporting the Models with the Identity Bit set, it then becomes possible to ADD sub-models to the existing encrypted Model., without destroying the DRM protection.

So NO LOSS DRM protection.. all remains encrypted as decided by Asobo/MS, but the existing plane is then opened up for modification and improvement, but only for those that already legitimately have purchased the original plane.

It seems clear that after 2 years, MS & ASOBO have little interest in either fixing or improving these planes, (for whatever reasons) which now, by today's standard of MSFS Planes, are very basic and lacking.

  • Then, to tactfully address the "ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM" -- most Devs know that the marketplace DRM recently got cracked, and all the Premium Deluxe planes, and many other plane that were on the marketplace (ie Carenado) are out on numerous Pirate sites, with their cfg, XML and Models fully decrypted -- so if not used directly, they do provide examples of what would be needed to be created from scratch.. Not that any respected 3rd party developer would take that route. !


Allowing a Legal & Legitimate ways for 3rd Party Devs to enhance these planes, would seem to be of benefit to both MS/ASOBO and the Community.

Already, significant numbers have upgraded from Basic to Premium, because these Premium planes have started to be enhanced by 3rd party Dev, making that extra expense of the Premium /Deluxe packages far more cost acceptable.

-- GOOD for MS/ASOBO -- good for 3rd party Devs, most importantly , good for the MSFS Community -- a win-win-win situation.


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