DCS Mod — Disable Kneeboard Map Pages

Suppresses all automatic kneeboard page generation built into the DCS kneeboard system, leaving the kneeboard clear for custom pages only.

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What It Disables

Auto-generated page type	Source	Override file	After mod
Per-waypoint map page	avKneeboard C++	device/init.lua	Removed
Fixed overview pages (40/80/160nm)	avKneeboard C++	device/init.lua	Removed
Per-waypoint text note page	avKneeboard C++	device/init.lua	Removed
Flight plan route overview page	ccKneeboard C++	indicator/init.lua	Removed

Custom pages placed in Saved Games\DCS\KNEEBOARD\ are not affected and continue to load normally.

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Installation via OVGME (recommended)

OVGME is the standard tool for safely swapping DCS game files. It backs up originals before applying and can revert cleanly.

Setup (one-time)

1. Install OVGME and create a configuration for your DCS install (root = D:\DCS World\ or wherever DCS is installed).
2. Set your mods folder to wherever you store OVGME mod packages (e.g. D:\OVGME_Mods\DCS\).

Install this mod

1. Copy the disable_kneeboard_maps folder into your OVGME mods folder:

   <OVGME mods folder>\
   └── disable_kneeboard_maps\
       └── Scripts\
           └── Aircrafts\
               └── _Common\
                   └── Cockpit\
                       └── KNEEBOARD\
                           ├── device\
                           │   └── init.lua
                           └── indicator\
                               └── init.lua
   

   The folder structure mirrors the DCS install root — OVGME merges it on top of the game directory.

2. In OVGME, enable disable_kneeboard_maps. OVGME backs up both original files and replaces them with this mod's versions.

3. Launch DCS. Fly any aircraft and open the kneeboard — waypoint map pages should be absent.

To disable without uninstalling: toggle the mod off in OVGME. The original is restored automatically.

After a DCS update

DCS updates overwrite game files, which will silently remove this mod. After each update:

1. In OVGME, disable and re-enable the mod to reapply it (OVGME detects the change).

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Alternative: Direct file edit

If you prefer not to use OVGME, edit both files manually in your DCS install.

Note: These edits will be lost on every DCS update. OVGME handles that automatically.

File 1 — device/init.lua

DCS World\Scripts\Aircrafts\_Common\Cockpit\KNEEBOARD\device\init.lua

1. Back it up as init.lua.original.
2. Append these four lines to the end of the file:

   function on_waypoint_adding(x, z, course) end
   function generate_maps() map_pages = {} end
   note_generate_template     = nil
   number_of_additional_pages = 0

3. Save.

File 2 — indicator/init.lua

DCS World\Scripts\Aircrafts\_Common\Cockpit\KNEEBOARD\indicator\init.lua

1. Back it up as init.lua.original.
2. Find this line near the top:

   pages = {{BASE,MAP,OVERLAY}}

   Change it to:

   pages = {}

3. Find and delete (or comment out) the line immediately after:

   GetSelf():Add_Map_Page(MAP,LockOn_Options.common_script_path.."KNEEBOARD/indicator/map_page.lua")

4. Save.

Relaunch DCS. To restore either file: delete the edited version and rename .original back to init.lua.

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How It Works

device/init.lua runs in the avKneeboard C++ device context. The C++ driver calls two Lua callbacks after reading the mission flight plan:

• on_waypoint_adding(x, z, course) — called once per waypoint; normally adds an entry to the map_pages table. This mod replaces it with an empty function.
• generate_maps() — called after all waypoints; normally appends three fixed overview pages. This mod replaces it and sets map_pages = {} so avKneeboard finds nothing to render.

Setting note_generate_template = nil suppresses the per-waypoint text note pages, which are generated by avKneeboard evaluating that Lua string template for each waypoint.

Lua's function definition is an assignment — redefining a function later in the same file overwrites the earlier definition. The override file preserves all original setup code so avKneeboard still receives the chart_defaults, need_to_be_closed, and other variables it may read before calling the callbacks.

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Why not a DCS Tech Mod?

DCS's tech mod API (declare_plugin in entry.lua) only exposes mount functions for asset paths: mount_vfs_model_path, mount_vfs_texture_path, mount_vfs_liveries_path, mount_vfs_sound_path. None of these reach Scripts/Aircrafts/. There is no mount_vfs_path or equivalent for cockpit scripts — that function does not exist.

OVGME operates at the OS level (file copy/restore) so it can override any game file, including cockpit scripts.

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Compatibility

• DCS 2.x (tested against source extracted May 2026)
• All aircraft that use the _Common kneeboard device (most flyable modules)
• Aircraft with custom kneeboard implementations may not be affected

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Source

Reverse-engineered from Scripts/Aircrafts/_Common/Cockpit/KNEEBOARD/ in the DCS install. See the companion project Burning Skies Kneeboard for full API notes.