[Modding] e-file v1.10

[Razz1]

Let's assume unit X. Unit X cannot be purchased but is preplaced after the deployment phase of the opening scenario and it joins the player's core.
There are also 6 upgrades for unit X that will appear throughout the campaign. Now, is it possible to upgrade unit X to the new and better variant, still without the possibility to actually purchase it?

The only way I see is to use "bonus" trait for these units. But this will interfere with getting bonus ("elite") units in the course of the campaign, because elite units you get are units with "bonus" trait. Otherwise, units which cannot be purchased ("nopurchase" trait) are not available for upgrade as well, or people would upgrade their artillery to Gustavs and Karl Gerats at will.

Try:
1. Give the Bonus units a valid from/to before scenarios starts.
2. Place it on scenarios. Add bonus slots in the scenatio.
3. Give the update (also bonus) a vaid fron/to for a time range of a scenario (scenario 1-3. - 4.3., valid for upgrade: 2.3.-3.3.)

The bonus units should never possible "between" scenarios of a campaign.

VPaulus asked me to explain again:

from a PN to VPaulus:

You want to upgrade a special unit, do you placed in a scenario. And the upgrade and the unit should not be available for buing.

1. You need a trigger for that unit (turn 1). Gerhard said that without trigger the unit is not on the map.
2. You need to add the "bonus" trait for all these special units (also upgrades)
3. You have to spend a special unit slot in the scenario. In other way, the placed unit will never arrive. BUT: after a scenario there is a 33% chance th get a bonus unit.
4. Thats the reason to give the units in the equipment file valid from / to dates BEFORE campaign starts.
5. Upgrades have valid from / to dates IN a scenario. Its the same reason (the chance to get a bonus units). And now, the player can upgrade during scenario.[/quote]

Okay... I was going to correct something but re-read it.

How about you make this pre-placed unit as a purchased but not bonus. This way there is not a 33% chance of reward.

Use dates to keep it in a narrow range. In fact you can make the date obsolete even before the scenario starts!

Because you placed the unit on the map with a trigger... it will still show up.

Once you have the unit, it can be upgraded according to the path.

It's the same thing as placing a PZII to show up in 1944 on the map even though it is obsolete.

[guille1434]

A question about the eqp file...
I would like to put some kind of mark to the units I tweaked or modded in the equipment file. I use excel to do that kind of things. If I add, for example an "x" in a column to the right of the last column used by the PzCorps program, will the file be unable to be read by the game?

If this is not posiible... How other modders keep the log of the modified units? Any ideas?

Thanks!

[VPaulus]

A question about the eqp file...
I would like to put some kind of mark to the units I tweaked or modded in the equipment file. I use excel to do that kind of things. If I add, for example an "x" in a column to the right of the last column used by the PzCorps program, will the file be unable to be read by the game?

You cannot add columns to the equipment file. But why not having a copy for excel and other for the game. In the one you use for excel you can add any comments and columns you want, because it won't be used in game.

[guille1434]

I though about that, but wanted to avoid having a special log copy. But if its not possible to add columns, this is the best way...
It would be great if in some update, the developers enable the possibility of adding a column(s) with a special header to put comments, remarks, etc and making it not to be seen by the program, just as is the case when you add a line in the eqp file a put the word "reserved" in the cell destined to unit name.

Thanks VPaulus!

[Erik2]

You can add a note to a Excel cell and PzC will still use the equipment file without problems.
You still have mouse hover over the note to read the content though.

Erik

[El_Condoro]

Have you tested that? The equipment.pzdat file must be saved as a text format and I'm pretty sure Excel cell notes will be lost.

If all you want to do is flag units that have been modified in some way, just put an asterix (*) or some symbol at the end of the unit's name. This will appear in the game, too, so players will know it is not a vanilla unit. e.g. Wehrmacht 43*. A separate record is necessary to note all the changes that have been made, though.

[Erik2]

Have you tested that? The equipment.pzdat file must be saved as a text format and I'm pretty sure Excel cell notes will be lost.

Yes.
I always do a 'save as' and do not change the file name . There is an Excel message about formatting that I just ignore.
When I quit Excel I answer 'no' to save the file.

[El_Condoro]

I just tested it, too - both as a Save (Yes to keep original format) and also a Save As (Unicode text). Both times the cell comment was removed.

[guille1434]

Indeed... I did the same test... the comments are not saved.
I started to use Winmerge. This is a freeware program, and you can compare two files in two panes, side by side, this program will show you the differences. With this tool, you can find any changes between different versions of an equipment file. I find it very useful.

[airbornemongo101]

Ok....here we go w/ the Mongo questions

I started playing around w/ editing the equipment file and b4 I got I could do anything I've hit a snag

I will explain:

I wanted to make a "new" unit....the Sdkz.222 (which is id #43 in the equipment file).I am using M Garnett's newest version of the editor,btw

When I pressed "add" unit the "new" unit was created in spot #1493 which is already occupied by a vanilla unit (the Western Allies train).

What am doing wrong?

I will be posting this in Mark's equipment editor thread also.

[4kEY]

Right-click and delete the unit, Mongo. You will be left with the unit you intended.

Personally I have problems with the app being unable to maintain traits, and therefore cannot use it.

[airbornemongo101]

Thanks 4key

I found a work another around.

I "hand entered" the Sdkz.222 into the equipment file as #5000.

I then added a "new 231",it showed up w/ the unit ID of 5001..so,so far so good