Matrix Games Forums

Cannot get the formation editor to work.
I'm editing a newly created scenario and tried to create a formation of only a couple of ships. The click button on the menu bar does not work, and neither does the F4 key.
Just to test my own creation, I reran a surface warfare tutorial scenario (#5) where there is a formation editing task set, and the same problem exists there where initially the button and F4 key both worked.
Running Win 11.

You have to switch to group view.

Tried it. There are only 2 individual units on the map, no groups to view so there is no change to the view. And no change to the behaviour of the sim.

Following the scenario instructions (the tutorial), you have to form a group with 2 of the ships.

Select the group.

Then you may use the formation editor.

I have selected the ships with which I want to form a group, both in my embryonic scenario and in the tutorial, clicked on the menu bar button for the group formation function, and while the interface acknowledges the button click by blinking the surrounding line around the button, nothing further happens. I mean absolutely nothing. Whether in group or unit view.
Trying the F4 function key (just for the hell of it), I get the same result.
All other menu bar buttons operate as expected, as do the associated function keys.

On another topic, I have noticed for some time now that the manual engage function (Shift-F1) doesn't function either, nor does selecting it off the attack options menu.

BTW, I took the drastic step(s) of uninstalling the game, since I could see the symptoms but not the problem in the expectation that I've not installed an update that is critical to the sim.

Then installed version 1.05 from the disks I have. On top of that I reinstalled 13061061328 and then 1061306132813. Nothing has changed but the splash screen and the version number. The sim's behaviour to that point is unchanged.

One thing is to form a group and another the formation editor (that needs a group preformed).

There is not a button to form a group, I think. You have to use G key.

The procedure is then:

Select 2 ships.

Press G.

With the group selected, then you press F4 or the formation editor button.


To reinstall the base game you just need 2 files:

The setup file: Installer v1.05.1307

The last patch: [PC][64-bit] Update v1.06.1328.18

As noted above by Nikel, to use the formation editor you need to setup a group first.

Gotcha. Thanks.

Just came back to CMO after a couple of years. I am using this same build as the OP (fresh install of 1.05 then upped to 1.06 1328.18)

I'm running First Contact l986.

I'm able to use the F4 (or Formation Editor button) for the first few moments of the scenario. But after that time, the F.E. just stops responding--no dialogue or anything.

I confirmed that all the units are grouped (they started grouped). I even tried un-grouping an regrouping. I can reproduce this error by restarting the scenario.

EDIT: Looks like there are newer builds available but the updater app says that my build (1.06 1328.18) is the most up-to-date version available??

EDIT2: Found the 1463public beta. Overwrote all my files as instructed and now CMO doesn't work anymore. Oh well, fixed my problem I suppose

Figured out the problem.

Formation Editor will only work if you have GROUP VIEW enabled before you select any member of the group you're working with.

So it's
1) ensure your units are grouped
2) make sure group view is selected
3) select the group (and if the group already appears selected, click off it and reselect to be safe)
4) open the FE

Failing that exact sequence, the FE will sometimes not open.