This is not possible.
I do not recommend changing things manually in the rFactor2/installed folder. You can do this in the dev mode folder.
If you wish to create a car skin pack for a league without touching the original car package: you can create a the “virtual ride” skin pack. The new car “category”: you can add it manually in the .rcd file.
Or
Create an update package with the new skins.
This update package needs to be updated if the base component gets updated. This is not needed with the virtual ride
Or
Create a complete new car package with a new Team.mas based on the original car.
Thanks for the useful response. I did some additional research and have found out the "encrypted-mas" has made setting up custom car pack very different from GTR2 & rFactor 1.
I did a search fo, *.rcd, in the rFactor 2 installation folder, only the following came up:
I'm not sure how I would go about formatting the "Category" format for the vehicle.
My main objective now, is to duplicate all the .veh files, while at the same time, mostly 2 .veh files will share the same skin (.dds). I'd like to also adjust their "PitGroup=" parameter to better make sure only the cars in the same "team" or "pitgroup" share the same pitstop. For now I don't mind 2 or 3 drivers having identical names.
After reading your post, the 3rd option stated:
Create a complete new car package with a new Team.mas based on the original car.
Edit: It doesn't have to be named team.mas, you can name it whatever you want.
Seems like the best option for someone with experience with setting up a custom car grid in rFactor 1 & GTR2.
You stated:
I do not recommend changing things manually in the rFactor2/installed folder. You can do this in the dev mode folder.
It seems HDV files is encrypted, further making less sense for me to create my own events carpack.
As the following ERD image suggests, duplicating .veh files and maybe later creating my own "upgrades" file to take simulate performance ballasts (slowing down cars that are 'too fast') and such is the more rational approach.
The default car numbers of the C6R are: 00, 03, 06, 09, 11, 15, 23, 56
Since I wanted to modify parameters in all of these files, I'd like to duplicate these car team files numbers in a separate directory/folder, thus allowing me avoid causing an online mismatch and makes things less tedious, in setting up a custom grid of cars. I've taken into account the Description & Category parameters, and changed them accordingly.
Additionally I've created the following 10 car team numbers: 01, 04, 07, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 24, 57
To hopefully enable me to race 18 cars of this model in the race event, with 10 other cars of a different model.
The following table shows which .veh files will be utilizing which .dds file. I don't intend to modify the DDS files.
How would I go about creating this Team.mas file? Would the 18 different .veh (team files) be enough for it? Do I have to include some sort of text file, noting where the .hdv & other core files are located at? Edit:
I gained some major ground, thanks in huge part to Gijs.
I was able to get the custom .veh files to display in car selection menu under their own sub-category name of, Corvette ALMS GT2 2009 custom, and was able to drive the car.
Unfortunately, the default/original car numbers of, 00, 03, 06, 09, 11, 15, 23, 56, refuse to appear in the sub-category. Also the car & skin preview model, refuses to appear in the selection menu as well.
Edit: It seems the *icon.dds & *SMicon.dds, files may need to be duplicated as well.
Here's a sample of one the 8 .veh refusing to appear in the custom category:
// The first section defines what maps to load for the vehicle skinning technology.
// The first line defines a "prefix" to be used for all generic maps.
// Currently, generic maps are used for the livery, wing, driver, driver arms, driver helmet, and pit crew.
// The second line will replace the default livery with the new specified, for the track specified.
// The format is as follows:
//
// DefaultLivery="PREFIX" // PREFIX is the base texture map name, assumed to be BMP unless specified
// PitCrewLivery="PREFIX" // This is only needed if it differs from the default livery PREFIX
// TrackLivery="TRACK, PREFIX" // TRACK is the track name as defined in the event GDB
// TrackLivery="TRACK, PREFIX" // For example, "2004_Toban"
// TrackLivery="TRACK, PREFIX" // You can have an infinite # of these lines
DefaultLivery="C6R_00.DDS"
HDVehicle=C6R_GT2_2009.hdv
Graphics=C6R.gen
Spinner=C6R_Spinner.gen
Upgrades=C6R_Upgrades.ini // Vehicle upgrades information
GenString= // Used to generate GMT names in *.gen file
Cameras=C6R.cam // Defaults to cams.cfg in UserData directory
Sounds=C6R.sfx
HeadPhysics=HeadPhysics_GT.ini // Affects driver eyepoint only
Cockpit=C6R_cockpitinfo.ini
AIUpgradeClass=GT2
//////////////////////////TEAM HISTORY AND INFORMATION///////////////////////////////////////////
It seems Description=, and Category=, may be nothing more than symbolic link. If so, why does the game prioritize the files inside, car.mas? I'm assuming prioritization can't be changed like due to the encrypted .mas file, since I can't find any other file within car.mas that can be modified with a text editor.
A new manufacturer appeared with one of the "cloned" team numbers, but not with the default team numbers.
Also I did not modify anything in the, ...\Vehicles\C6R_2009\1.93\C6R_2009.mft
I'm assuming rfcmp package installer is responsible for that.
For those wondering how I made it this far, all 18 .veh file were compressed into a team.mas file, and then that file was placed in the directory \Installed\Vehicles\C6R_2009\1.93\
2nd edit:
It turns out the filename is the ultimate culprit. Solution, would be to put a '_c' at the end of all the .veh files (for consistency). "Number=" parameter can be left at the desired value, i.e. no suffix required. You would need to relabel one of the *Icon.dds files though, to see the vehicle model in the selection menu.
My main question regarding this matter now is:
If I placed these .veh files of 2 or more different models, in a directory such as:
\rFactor 2\Installed\Vehicles\Vir_3h_Team_Pack
How would refer to the absolute path, to let the game know where to find the "core files". Core files being HDV, gen, sfx, and such?
