User Guide – IL‑2 Sturmovik

## How to use Tacview with IL‑2 Sturmovik?

### Which versions of IL‑2 Sturmovik are supported by Tacview?

Tacview has been tested and validated with the following editions of IL‑2 Sturmovik:

* IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Bodenplatte
* IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Moscow
* IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad
* IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Kuban

Both the standalone and the Steam editions of IL‑2 are working fine with Tacview.

### How to record an IL‑2 Sturmovik flight?

First, you must enable Tacview data recording in IL‑2 configuration file: Open `\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\startup.cfg` and make sure that `tacviewrecord = 1`. It should look like the following:

```
[KEY = track_record]
    fx_sound = 2
    record_graphics_effect = 1
    record_ground_vehicles = 1
    tacviewrecord = 1
[END]

```

Now, as soon you are in flight, press `LCtrl` + `R` and IL‑2 will record Tacview telemetry data.

### How to open my IL‑2 flight in Tacview?

IL‑2 records your flights in `\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\Tracks\`. Open the recording of your choice from Tacview, or simply double click the `ACMI` file you want to open directly from Windows Explorer.

### Why is IL‑2 still not recording my flights?

It seems that some versions of IL‑2 do not automatically create the folder where `TRK` & `ACMI` files are recorded. Make sure the following folder exists: `\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\Tracks\`

## Multiplayer

### Why my flights are not recorded in multiplayer?

By default, IL‑2 Sturmovik does not record online flights. You can enable data recording by editing the `*.sds` configuration file on the host computer. Make sure the following line is present in it:

```
TacviewRecord=true

```

### Why is there no ACMI file generated for my online flight? Can I replay the TRK file to get an ACMI file?

A server may choose to not authorize the creation of `ACMI` files. In that case, replaying the `TRK` file will not generate an ACMI file either, because the way that IL-2 writes the `TRK` file does not communicate with Tacview currently. `ACMI`files will be generated only for offline flights and for online flights where the server authorizes it.

## General Questions

### Why some of the telemetry data I can see in Tacview (like speed or G force) do not perfectly match what I remember from my IL‑2 flight?

During this early stage, you may notice some discrepancies between your favorite simulator and the numbers displayed in Tacview. This is normal and will be improved in upcoming updates of Tacview and IL‑2.

### The terrain displayed in Tacview is not the right one! How can I fix that?

Make sure that Tacview terrain is either set to `(Auto)` or `IL‑2 Sturmovik`. The following terrains are included in Tacview:

* Moscow
* Stalingrad
* Velikie Luki
* Lapino (disabled by default)
* Novosokolniki (disabled by default)

Small terrains are disabled to not conflict with the more important battlefields they overlap. The Battle of Kuban terrain will be added as soon as out or early access.

You can manually enable/disable some of the terrains or add you own by editing the `C:\Program Files (x86)\Tacview\Data\Terrain\Custom\CustomHeightmapList.xml` file. You may want to save the modified file in `%ProgramData%\Tacview\Data\Terrain\Custom\` so your preferences work with any version of Tacview installed on your computer.

### My favorite airfields are not displayed, how can I add them as well as additional landmarks?

I did not have the time yet to add major IL‑2 landmarks in Tacview. An easy to use object editor is currently in development and will enable you to do so in a few clicks. Meanwhile, you may want to try the legacy Static Objects feature of Tacview.