Panzer Command: Scenario Editor v0.06a
=====================================

PzCSEd
PzCSI

7/22/2006

*** BEFORE YOU BEGIN ***

* PzCSEd is a Microsoft HTML application, and requires Internet Explorer 6.0+ or above.

* Because PzCSEd uses ActiveX scripting, several third party script watches may alert when PzCSEd is run. There is no malicious code in PzCSEd. You will need to allow PzCSEd to run ActiveX scripts if you want it to work!

* It is *STRONGLY* suggested you make backups of both your "Data/Scenarios" and "Data/Text" directories. You have been warned.

* You must place the application PzCSEd.hta in the Panzer Command install directory. This will be "C:\Matrix Games\Panzer Command Operation Winter Storm" by default unless changed during installation.

* Because of the way Panzer Command handles map media names, if you want to use map Level "Levelm01" in your scenario you will need to hand edit the value to "LevelM01" in the generated scenario file if you want it to work. I am awaiting clarification on this issue from Koiosworks.

* PzCSEd makes extensive use of xml and graphical resources from Panzer Command. Please ensure the originals are left intact.

* If you design a scenario which doesn't load into Panzer Command (i.e. PzC aborts to desktop), check the log file in the "Log" directory for more information.

***
 

System Requirements
--------------------------------
Essentially the same as Panzer Command.
Needs at least 1024x768 resolution.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0+ or above


PzCSEd Operation
----------------------------
When you first start PzCSEd you will notice the command pane to the left and the scenario map to the right.

By left clicking and dragging the map you can pan it around. This is the main way of navigating the map. The dashed map border represents the limit of the map. Inside this limit is considered "On-Board" and outside, "Off-Board". This is important as some platoons can only be one or the other.

From the command pane you can select a pre-existing scenario and load it into the editor by pressing the "Load" button.

The "Desc" or description button brings up and edit box and allows you to modify the scenario description. A scenario must have a description to be considered valid.

Type the scenario name into the "Name" field.

Type the scenario date into the "Date" field. Note, all dates in PzCSEd are represented as in the US as MM/DD/YYYY.

Enter Victory Points "Vic. Points" and select the defender for the scenario from the dropdown box.

Enter the number of force points to spend on equipment for both the Germans and Russians in the edit fields provided.


Maps
--------
Select which map you want to use from the "Map" dropdown box. See special note on map "Levelm01" above.

In general the maps are pretty easy to read. White is snow, grey is deep snow. Green is forest, dark green is heavy forest. Black for roads or railways. Red represents either a major obstacle or a structure in which an infantry unit can be placed.


Scenario Objectives
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To add a scenario victory objective to the map, simply select the nationality of the objective from the "Obj" dropdown box, enter the number of points and press the "Add" button. Move the cursor over the map and then click where you want the objective to be placed. That objective will then be selected. Blue objective flags for the Germans and Red for the Russians. To delete an objective first select the objective on the map and then press the "Del" button. Previously placed objectives can be moved into new positions by left clicking and dragging them.

Remember that objectives must be "On-Board", and at least one objective must exist. 


Platoon Selection
--------------------------
To add a platoon to the map, first select the platoon type from the "Armour" or "Infantry" dropdown boxes. The selected platoon information box will then be updated. Here you can see or change the ID of the selected platoon, its name (defaults to ID), experience number and max units and if it is a core platoon or not. Core platoons are only of relevance to the Campaign game.

Please finalise all platoon details before clicking on the "Add" button and then clicking on the map to place the platoon. The number of units as selected in the "Max" dropdown box will be added to the map and the unit will be selected. Also note that the platoon name will appear in the appropriate order of battle selection list.

The "Mod" button will allow you to adjust the name, experience, core and number properties of the platoon. You can't modify the max number of units in the platoon however. If you wish to do this an easy way is to press "Add" with the new max selected. Then simply delete the old platoon.

At this stage the specification button "Specs" will be available. This button toggles the specification box for the selected platoon.

By pressing the "*" button next to the order of battle name, the platoons will be sorted by name. Core platoons will be placed at the top of the list.


Specification Box
-------------------------
When a new platoon is selected, its specification data will be automatically loaded into the specification Box. You do not need to close the box to see a new platoons data. This is helpful if checking against several unit specifications simultaneously. The specification box can be dragged around the screen and placed in a more suitable position. As in the game select from different guns and shell types to see the relevant data displayed. Another way of opening the specification box is to double click on a unit on the map. Note the specification box and scenario description box can not both be open at the same time.


Selecting and Manipulating Units
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By hovering the mouse over a unit on the map a tool tip will display the platoon ID, name as well as the number of the unit within the platoon. 

By clicking on a unit on the map, the platoon details for that unit will be loaded into the platoon ID box and the platoon name selected from the appropriate order of battle list. 

To move a unit to a new location on the map simply click and drag it to where you want it to go.

If a unit is selected then its heading carat will be displayed. This is a small target reticle when if you drag around the unit will change its direction to be facing in that way. By default all new units start with a default heading of 360 degrees (which is facing "down" toward the bottom edge of the map). In order to help make heading adjustments for the whole platoon easier by selecting the platoon leader (unit 1) and changing its heading, it will update all the platoon units to the same heading.

Under the platoon ID box is the unit map co-ordinate values for the map X,Y and heading (H) values. These values are for display only and can not be edited. As a unit is moved or its heading is changed then these values will be updated.

Another way to select a platoon is by clicking on the platoon's name in the order of battle list. This will select the platoon leader (unit 1). Double click on the platoon name and the map will be centred on the platoon leader. This makes finding a platoon a snap.


Saving and Importing a Scenario
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Type a scenario file name into the "File Name" field and press save. You don't need to supply an extension as PzCSEd will do that for you. The file name must otherwise be a valid windows file name however. During the save process a validation check will be made of the scenario and any problems alerted to your attention. Note that validating and saving can take some time to perform on slower machines.

After the save process is complete a small alert box will be displayed showing some scenario statistics which may be helpful for scenario designers. The scenario will be saved in the Data/Scenarios folder.

In order to facilitate sharing of scenarios between users, when PzCSEd saves a scenario not only does it update the scenario description in the language xml file (english.xml) but also adds a new child node called "description" to the scenario xml itself. This doesn't seem to bother Panzer Commander and it means that to share a scenario the steps are:

1. Save scenario
2. Upload or e-mail scenario.xml to second user
3. Second user then copies the scenario.xml to their Data/Scenario folder
4. Second user then imports scenario.xml into Panzer Command via the Scenario Importer ("PzCSI")

Misc
-------
At the bottom of the command pane is the "Display ALL" check box. This can be used to hide or display only the selected units on the map. This helps with map clutter in larger scenarios.

One other useful tool is the distance measuring tool. By right clicking anywhere on the map the distance is calculated and displayed in meters. Right click again to set another origin measuring point. This helps to determine engagement ranges, unit placement distances etc






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PzCSEd
by John Sestan
"Laryngoscope" on Matrix forums
jsestan@curl.aunz.net
July 2006 
