Formation Issue in Scenario Editor

[alan6326]

I'm encountering a strange problem involving the HPCE scenario editor in the EC2003 battleset. When I place antisubmarine helicoptors in formation as part of setting up a task force, a strange thing happens. If one of the helicoptor-carrying ships in that formation has two helicoptors, I would naturally set one of the two on air patrol in formation and leave the other on the carrying vessel, the idea being obviously one helicoptor can refuel while its brother is out on patrol and when its brother returns home, the second is supposed to automatically take its place so that the carrying vessel always has one out of two helicoptors on patrol.

However, in scenario editor, after I've placed the one unit in formation and hit "Execute" and leave the editor and then come back later, I've noticed that BOTH helicoptors have now been placed into the formation which is not what I set up in the first place. The scenario editor clearly makes this choice on its own despite my instructions after I've hit "Execute."

Is this a bug and is there a way to fix it?

[hermanhum]

That does appear to be very odd. Do you have a test file you can send/post?

Matrix doesn't allow *.zip attachments any longer. You can post up test files on Harpgamer:

http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?showforum=4

I just tested and did not manage to replicate the problem as you described. (I did manage to find another bug, though... [;)])

[alan6326]

I'm not sure how to post up a file on the site you recommended. I'm not sure sending you file the .SCM file would help in any case.

[hermanhum]

You just post a message like any normal member.

There is a 'file upload' button on the message screen and that is how you add attachments.

Stuff like this is much easier/faster to run down if a test/sample file is involved.

If you really don't want to use HarpGamer to post the file, you can post it up in the Harpoon ANW support section. It allows for *.zip attachments.

tt.asp?forumid=301

[TonyE]

Please do NOT post HC stuff to the ANW forum.

You can always e-mail test scens, saves to hc3@harpgamer.com.

[hermanhum]

We used to be able to post zip files to this support forum, didn't we?  Can we get that capability back, then?  Or is my memory failing me?

[alan6326]

I sent the SCM file as an attachment to hc3@harpgamer.com.

[TonyE]

Thank you for sending the scenario over. I'm not seeing the issue. Just because the still landed aircraft aren't listed next to the host ships doesn't mean they are in the air if that is the confusion (i.e. it is a patrol if it says "x ASW Patrol" but it is not assigned to a patrol if it still says the class name "1 Ka-27PL Helix A".

I think we'll need more specific instructions to replicate this.

[TonyE]

and before we get too far you may want to say what version of the scenario editor you are using. I tried replicating the issue in both 2008.044 and 2009.018.

[alan6326]

I initially tried it in the pre-2008.044 editor and then downloaded the 2088.044 and 2009.018 files and tried it again in the 2009.018 editor. I had the same result.

Let me try some additional detail. I am setting up a formation of 7 ships, all of which are ships carrying two ASW helicoptors (I also have a carrier but let's ignore that for now). I then set up the formation using one helicoptor on each of the supporting vessels to act as an ASW platform in formation. I set the formation up which shows the helicoptor in formation and on the sidebar shows it as "1 ASW Patrol." When I highlight that particular unit in the sidebar, the bold text below shows it as e.g "Marshal Ustinoy, CG Slava". After similarly placing other helicoptors as "1 ASW Patrol" from other ships, I then hit "Execute".

When I come back to the formation later on (say to do some additional editing), I have found that for some of the ships, the formation now shows BOTH of its helicoptors in formation as ASW platforms. I know this, because when I examine each unit in formation or highlight those on the sidebar that say "1 ASW Patrol" the bold text underneath the sidebar now lists two of those listed as "1 ASW Patrol" as "Marshal Ustinov CG Slava." This implies that both Ustinov helicoptors are now in formation simultaneously as ASW patrols rather than just the one I originally placed. In addition, the sidebar will now show that for one of the other vessels whose helicoptor had originally been placed in formation as an ASW patrol, that it now has "2 ASW Patrol" helicoptors implying that both have been placed back on their ship.

[hermanhum]

Can you attach a screen shot of this?  i.e. showing that both helos are up

Here is a sample of a bug report I found when trying to replicate your report.  It is typical of the level of detail that one might need to try and reproduce your results.

http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.ph ... howbug=103

[alan6326]

Problem solved. Not really a bug after all. Thanks to TonyE nad especially to hermanhum.