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Well I'm about to embark on writing my own scenario set in the mid 80s but to begin I need to add a few additional ships and aircraft.

I know what I want to do, I'm unsure of the best place to start. What is really confusing me is all the different databases. Is there a guide to the databases anywhere? e.g. what is the commondb , what is the difference between EC2000 & EC2003 etc.

Thanks

ORIGINAL: Red Lancer
Well I'm about to embark on writing my own scenario set in the mid 80s but to begin I need to add a few additional ships and aircraft. I know what I want to do, I'm unsure of the best place to start. What is really confusing me is all the different databases. Is there a guide to the databases anywhere? e.g. what is the commondb , what is the difference between EC2000 & EC2003 etc. Thanks

The "commondb.res" file is your database file. When switching between various databases for game play and scenario writing, you need only swap the "commondb.res" file. This file does not, however contain pictures for the various database pictures, which are contained in the "commondb.rsr" file. So, if you want to get into editing pictures and such, you may need to swap out that file too.

The EC2000/2003 and Westpac battlesets that come with HCE only use the Harpoon Commander's Edition Database (or HCDB). Updates for the HCDB are available only through HarpGamer.

All other stock scenarios in other stock battlesets (HDS, HDSII, etc) use a embedded database that you cannot edit.

The new custom battlesets (Caribbean Sea, South America, etc) can use whatever database you wish. (Or, if you're playing some other person's scenario, the database they used to create it).

You can also create new scenarios in any of the EC2003, Westpac, or custom battlesets using any database you wish, including the HCDB, your own database or one created by a third party.

Examples of some other databases that are available and might interest you include:

HCDA - Harpoon Commander's Edition Database "Americas" (a database created principally for use with maps covering the North and South American continents)

HCWW - Harpoon Commander's Edition Database "World Wars" (a database for World War One and World War II scenarios)

HC_65to80 - a database by Rene Haar for the 1965 to 1980 time period

And several others, most all of which are available from HarpGamer.

I should add that most any database is always a work in progress, a LOT of work in progress.

Also, please note that the HarpGamer website is suffering from some technical issues this morning, but this should be rectified soon.

Any other, more specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

That makes sense of it - thanks!

So I guess the best start point is to diverge from the most suitable database for the mid 1980s that exists so far. What is the start date of the HCDB if any? Is plagiarism accepted practice for database production with Harpoon or is their an unofficial system for getting permission via this of the Harpgamer forum?

ORIGINAL: Red Lancer
That makes sense of it - thanks!

There are some other quirks that I didn't detail, like importing a database using the Platform Editor (PE) if and when you want to edit a database. But I guess you'll cross that bridge when you come to it.[;)]

Is plagiarism accepted practice for database production with Harpoon ...

LOL, that is probably the question of the decade for Harpoon. My strong recommendation is not to open that particular door. [:D]

... or is their an unofficial system for getting permission via this of the Harpgamer forum?

You'll need to approach the author of the database in question. Some databases hosted at HarpGamer (notably the HCDB, HCDA and HCWW, which are mine) have their intellectual property rights policy posted there.

So I guess the best start point is to diverge from the most suitable database for the mid 1980s that exists so far. What is the start date of the HCDB if any?

Platforms for the HCDB informally start around the year 1980, but there are a few exceptions from the 1970s.

For anyone waiting on the edge of their seats for HarpGamer to re-appear; it is back in action, probably for good this time.  The hosting provider moved us to a new server and naturally messed everything up for a little while.  It appears to be correctly fixed now.

ORIGINAL: Red Lancer



So I guess the best start point is to diverge from the most suitable database for the mid 1980s that exists so far.

You may use my 80to95db as a base for your work. Or can i simply add the nescessary units for you..

Regards René

Rene

Many thanks for the offer but I have already started using the latest HCDB (All hail Brad!).  This is firstly so I don't (at the moment) have to swap db files regularly and secondly as I haven't logged on to the forum for a few days and seen your generous offer.  So far I have added:

• CVA-01, 02 & 03 with Sea Tornadoes, Sea Jaguars, Buccaneers & Shearwater AEW (a UK Hawkeye) - I have amended loadouts to reduce range and improve maritime capability
• Type 43 Destroyers
• Type 82 Destroyers - but upgraded to Helicopter Cruisers like HMS Blake.
• Type 83 Cruiser - a complete new 'what if' class
• Type 21 - upgraded with Harpoon & Sea Wolf
• W-Class SSGN Sub class with TASM/TLAM based on a shortened V-Class
• TSR.2
• Canberra PR.9
• Numerous additional ship names

However your database provides some key info which I will use if OK - particularly the UK RFA shipping.  The detail provided in all your work is excellent.

Just to show that I'm not UK-centric I now have to add the Ulyanovsk carrier, M-50 Bounder bomber (which I was lucky to see when I visited Monino Museum outside Moscow) and the Yak-44 AEW.

Mmm, sounds like a scenario or series of scenarios I'd really like to play.  You might consider bundling it all in a battleset with the BattleSet Builder (in 2008.044+ you can embed the map, scenarios, and database into a custom battleset {a total of two files}) to make it easier on players to get the pieces matched up right.
 
You can ask us questions on IRC too, #harpgamer on the newnet.net IRC network (Java chat links at http://www.harpgamer.com).  I'll be there for sure in 3 hours for two hours or so (and a few of us are there much more).
 
 

Funny you should say that - I had my first play with the battle set builder last night.  I now have the idea of what to do and I think it's an excellent element of the whole HCE package.  However if I embed the database will I still be able to modify entries or is it frozen at that point?
 
Whilst I'm posting is there an easy way to copy db entries from one db to another?  I have tried opening the PE twice and doing a manual/type copy but this causes errors.  Any hints?
 
Thanks

You are correct, if you embed the database it is frozen at that point and you have to rebuild the battleset (i.e. "Load Settings", "Make Battleset") to get any database changes re-integrated. So at a broad level I'd not embed the database until you are ready to distribute the battleset for testing/release.

There is not a complete way to copy a full platform from one database to another as yet. If you look at the Ship entry area you can change the view to Datasheet in both of your open PEs, then copy everything from the platform you want except the ID and paste it into the destination PE on a new line. That will save you some time but you still have to manually re-connect the sensors and weapons and such.

Thanks for the info on the battleset editor.
 
As to your advice with copying entries I did try that and started to get strange things happening when adding the sensors etc.  Particularly an error message which if I recall correctly tells me data is required in tPlatform form (or something like that).  I'll have another go tonight (I don't have internet access away from my desk - long story but I'm in Iraq!) and will post further details tomorrow.  I do understand that the PE is a freebee add on as opposed to a Matrix product so I'm not getting too het up about it.  But that said one click copying of platform entries between databases would be on my wishlist.

I hate to let the cat out of the bag but the PE is a Matrix product as much as the game itself. If I ever get my act together (and probably before), one of the beta testers may present a more capable copying capability at some unspecified future date.

Tried it again last night - opening two copies of the database causes problems as they seem to interact with each other. I'll have to do it by copying down the details manually unless anyone has a better idea.

I've been able to copy / paste stuff to XLS files before re-pasting them in another Access application.  Perhaps you could try that.

Switch to datasheet view in Access before copypasting : copy main plaform record (ship/sub/air/land), then copy the weapons, sensors, etc. records to their appropriate annexes, you'll have to re-link them by hand (trivial)
The idea is to work in datasheet view, rather than normal view in Access. The option is the View menu.
You have to have a table opened for that to be enabled(think an annex, rather than the editor menu)
Then, you can have two DBs opened at the same time.
Very important to let Access give the IDs to the records, don't try to do it by hand, it'll bite you back down the line

I'll give it a go - thanks for the advice.

Next step - how do I open and modify the rsr file?

rsr file, http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?showtopic=632

ignore the information about the 16 color palette. In HCE 256 colors works fine as long as the image is small enough dimensionally.