is there a simple solution?

[WABAC]

I have one platoon in the battle group that could be either five of something like the M48, SS-10, or ENTAC, or six of something else like the M56 Scorpion or 106mm RR on a jeep. So even if I label them all as SPAT in the CompID column of the unit sheet I have not figured out a simple solution for SPAT*5 or SPAT*6 on the Formation sheet.

I would like to avoid multiple iterations of the BG to account for one platoon. There will be three as it is for foot, motorized, and mechanized.

[CapnDarwin]

You can do that by making those SPATs that are in 5 group a CompID in the Units tab of "SPAT-A" and the 6 group "SPAT-B". Then in the formations for the 5 Group you call "SPAT-A*5" and for the 6 Group "SPAT-B*6". This will give you formations with choices limited to those units you gave the SPAT-A and SPAT-B tags to.

Hope that makes sense.

[WABAC]

That makes sense as far as it goes. But if you think of the top of the formation sheet where the small units are compiled into big units it seems like I would still need two versions of the battlegroup. One where the Combat Support Company contains a SPAT-A option and one where it contains a SPAT-B option. Is that correct?

[Tazak]

Yes or you can create 1 of combat support company as a separate entity with a different SPAT and attach it via the OOB

[WABAC]

Thank you.

I hear what you are saying and I have been questioning whether I want the large compiled units at all on the Formation sheet.

I don't want it to be impenetrable for someone that hasn't spent as much time with Pentomic as I have, but there could be something like: For 1962 Pick five from this list, pick one from this list, etc.

[CapnDarwin]

In the listings now I have a number of major formations with dates like 85+ or 84- to show what years these cover because of OOB or TOE changes during the decade.

[WABAC]

And it makes sense for the time period.

Pentomic seems more volatile over a shorter period of time with endless possible variations between NATO, STRAC, CONARC, and NG forces. Just having a foot, motor, and mech version of the BG will eat a lot of space if I organize the formation sheet similar to yours.

But that's something I don't have to decide today.

[CapnDarwin]

Space is not really an issue with the spreadsheet. You could also setup multiple spreadsheets with the major types as well.

[WABAC]

The space thing is my problem. I just get tired of scrolling.

I like the second option. How does that work? Just create another Formations page? How does the game interface lay that out?

[CapnDarwin]

No, just make a new spreadsheet for each. You can copy all the weapon and unit and other tables and use a specific formation tab. At that point you can also tweak the National page too if there are differences there.

[WABAC]

I get it now. Thank you for taking the time.

At this point I am just focusing on late 1961 to the end of the Pentomic. We will see how I feel after that exercise. I still have the Soviets to do. I'm hoping that they will be much easier.