OOB Copy Formation function?

[BeirutDude]

Seems to me like one of these Tiller games had a copy formation function for the OOB Editor. Is there one for this OOB Editor if I build a formation from scratch and want to copy it for other units?

[Jason Petho]

There are two ways to do it.

1. Open up the existing org file you would like to use and SAVE AS a new file.

2. If you want to add a game org file to an existing org file, you can use the APPEND feature.

For the append feature to work (until 1.01), you will need to save the file you wish to append into the main game folder.

Jason Petho

[BeirutDude]

Might I suggest a unit/formation copy and paste feature to use withing the OOB Editor? I'm working on a complete 1985 OOB for the Syrian Army and Northern Command. I'm 2/3rds done but I am building the same units to&e's over and over again. A formation cut and paste would have saved me days!

[Jason Petho]

You could save the same unit TO&E as a separate file, then Append them as you need them?

Jason Petho

[Crossroads]

I don't know if relevant but I do most of my TO&E work with an advanced text editor, using the Organization Editor to periodically check I have not messed up anything. Also, the log file Organization Editor writes upon launch into the /LOGS folder is one's best friend in ensuring there's no errors.

With a text editor, there's some gotcha's such as one must ensure there's no duplicate IDs on same organization level himself, but it is not that difficult.

The editor I use is jEdit. With it, I typically have all the OOB files of a nation open at same time, it is very easy to do global find-replace searches on all files, etc. With the snippet below, I was looking at instances where the said Company was used. Turns out that only in that one Battalion displayed here, as evident from the Hyper Search Dialog.

[BeirutDude]

I HAVE TRIED THE APPEND! Multiple times and as late as this morning. ALWAYS with this result. Sorry guys the average Joe out there isn't going to get into super sophisticated ways of doing things. I'm suggesting a KISS method. Now maybe the coding is huge, and that I understand, but could you consider it?

Crossroads, I was trying to see if I could go that route, but there is too much in the code/values of the units I don't understand.

[BeirutDude]

Here/s a Zip with my Main 1985 OOB (to Date) and the Commando Battalion OOB I tried to Append. What am I doing wrong?

[BeirutDude]

I just tried editing the unit as the 45th Commando thinking unit id's were conflicting and that didn't work. Again, the Panzer Campaigns have a copy function in the OOB Editor. If that were possible it would make OOB editing a lot easter.

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Beachinnole

I HAVE TRIED THE APPEND! Multiple times and as late as this morning. ALWAYS with this result. Sorry guys the average Joe out there isn't going to get into super sophisticated ways of doing things. I'm suggesting a KISS method. Now maybe the coding is huge, and that I understand, but could you consider it?

Crossroads, I was trying to see if I could go that route, but there is too much in the code/values of the units I don't understand.

Hello Al, this is on our fix list I believe. Sorry have not myself tried this, but was this the one to place the OOB files at the game root folder (\Campaign Series Middle East) until the fix is available?


As for the OoB data, should you be interested to learn about it theres a full chapter on it at manual: 16.2. Order Of Battles, from page 168.

Not to dodge your comment on fixing the OoB Editor Append bug, I myself work almost solely with text editor for the speed and ease of it.

From Coy level up (Platoons are different beast altogether) the data is quite simple once you get used to it, there's the

[font="Courier New"]48 01 51 12 G2230201 7 Armoured Brigade 48[/font]

- YY MM the organization becomes available (48 01)
- YY MM after which the organization ceases to be available (51 12)
- The Org ID which has a certain notation to follow, needs to be unique (G2230201)
- N morale of the unit (7)
- Name of the organization (Armoured Brigade 48).

It is technically enough Org ID is unique, but for it to work with Campaigns and Random Battle Generator the notation should be used. It is explained in the manual. However for regular scenarios and being available via OoB Editor all that needs to be there is to ensure it is unique.

G = Brigade
22 = Israel
3 = Brigade size (I believe the code uses these IDs as numerals too, dropping the leading letter, hence defined again here)
0 = Armored
NNN (201) the identifier within the set defined above.

This is available in page 170 of the manual. So yes, encouraging you to try this out some day [8D]


Thanks for posting the sample you were working with. I won't have the time to look at it until tomorrow, but will be sure to do it then, unless Jason's had a chance to look at this earlier.

[BeirutDude]

Crossroads,

OK I tried it with two "Simple" company level formations. One shows up under the proper time frame for the User Functions Company OOB and the 2nd DOES NOT and nothing I do will make it show up!

[------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[----------------------------- Syrian Company Formations ----------------------------------]
[--------------------------------Added by Al Sandrik --------------------------------------]
[-------Armour, Artillery, Infantry, AT, Misc, Engineer, Recce, Helo, AA, Transport--------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
48 01 85 12 C2604027 6 ********** !! USER FORMATIONS !! **********

81 1 85 12 C2601270 3 Self-Propelled Artillery Battery 81 - 2S1 Gvosdika - 27VP
81 1 85 12 P261056 2S1 Gvosdika 122mm SP Howitzer

85 1 85 12 C2601271 3 Self-Propelled Artillery Battery 85 - 2S3 Akazija - 27VP
85 1 85 12 P261057 2S3 Akazija 152mm SP Howitzer

So now I'm asking for help cause I have wasted an hour of my time trying to make the Akzaija formation work! What's wrong with it and I'm going to respectfully suggest there is a better way for the casual user with a copy, and paste function for user built formations and then they can edit the details for the new formation.

[Jason Petho]

81 1 85 12 C2601702 3 Self-Propelled Artillery Battery 81 - 2S1 Gvosdika - 27VP
81 1 85 12 P261056 2S1 Gvosdika 122mm SP Howitzer

85 1 85 12 C2601703 3 Self-Propelled Artillery Battery 85 - 2S3 Akazija - 27VP
85 1 85 12 P261057 2S3 Akazija 152mm SP Howitzer

Try those numbers instead.

Jason Petho

[BeirutDude]

81 1 85 12 C2601702 3 Self-Propelled Artillery Battery 81 - 2S1 Gvosdika - 27VP
81 1 85 12 P261056 2S1 Gvosdika 122mm SP Howitzer

85 1 85 12 C2601703 3 Self-Propelled Artillery Battery 85 - 2S3 Akazija - 27VP
85 1 85 12 P261057 2S3 Akazija 152mm SP Howitzer

Jason,

I just copied, pasted and confirmed your formations are in my file and this is what I got, NO JOY, just the Gvosdika Unit! I restarted the program and I made sure there were no hidden characters.

Al

[BeirutDude]

Here is my Company OOB file so you know I have done what I said. Its not working.

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

Hello Al, this is on our fix list I believe. Sorry have not myself tried this, but was this the one to place the OOB files at the game root folder (\Campaign Series Middle East) until the fix is available?

Hello Al.

Let us take one step at a time. My apologies about using a Text Editor, that perhaps should have been a separate discussion.

So here's what I did:

[*] Moved the two files you attached to your post to main folder /Campaign Series Middle East



[*] Opened Duel_For_The_Golan_1985-Master.org with Org Editor
[*] Selected Append, opened 44th_Commando.org, it was succesfully Appended to your Master file
[*] Here's how it looks:



The key here was to have the Master file and Append file at main folder, due to a confirmed bug with the editor.

Or have you tried this too, without success? Sorry about this, we'll get you there!

Here's the appended file in case it would help you.

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Beachinnole

Here is my Company OOB file so you know I have done what I said. Its not working.

Hello Al!

Again,

[*] Please confirm if you got the Append working with files in main folder
[*] Then let us revisit this? I am more than happy to help you out!

[Jason Petho]

I can also send you my updated oob files, Al, just won't be until tonight.

[BeirutDude]

Crossroads and Jason,

Yeah that worked well using the Append function and editing in the main Folder. I was able to build my remaining formations in no time! I still think you should consider a copy and paste function that works within the OOB editor as that would be a lot less steps than the Append function.

In any case I now have a complete 1985 OOB that matches the one (as close as possible and with new information) to my MiddleEast 1967 Modern Campaigns OOB. My plan is to use it as the basis for all new 1985 scenarios I produce.

Al

[Crossroads]

Glad you got it working! It really works quite nicely would it not be for the folder related bug that we are about to squash out of it. Your wish list item on Copy is duly noted.

Looking forward to your scenarios! [:)]

[BeirutDude]

Looking forward to your scenarios!

Be Careful of what you wish for! [:D]

One quick point, other than the shear amount of time it took to build a Northern Command and Syrian Army 1985 OOB/TO&E I'm not totally disappointed with the way I did it as instead of having cookie cutter units, each division/unit has it's own flair and weird attached units, just like in real life! Having been one of those weird "Attached" guys I have a soft spot in my heart for them!

Al

[BeirutDude]

The above said, I do want to revisit why the second SPA company didn't show up in my Company.oob file as I'd like to create some Company and Battalion Level units for other scenarios down the road. also, if I can get the hang of it, maybe I can help flesh out some of the 1980s OOBs/TO&Es. I tend to add the support units that get missed, like the engineers and bulldozers that help the SPA/Artillery Battalion dig in!