Matrix Games Forums

Several weeks ago, I asked Rich Dionne for assistance in learning to use VBA. The reason I asked him was that I had just started playing PacWar again (will probably never retire that game) and came across his editor on the net. His use of Excel and VBA was rather clever for game editing purposes since one can use the functionality of the spreadsheet application. Anyway, I saw that VBA and Excel would simply many process at the company where I toil. More importantly, using VBA and Excel could potentially free a great deal of my time. So, I asked Rich for assistance and he was extremely helpful to this complete stranger.

I needed a project to help me learn VBA and creating an editor for WIR seemed a logical course since that has been another game that I will likely never retire.

This editor uses the same format that Rich's editor for PacWar uses. Essentially, Rich helped me learn to write code for VBA, he already established an excellent format with his PacWar editor and was a source of encouragement through the design process. It seemed fitting to me that I give him the editor to put on his PacWar site.

The editor is only useful to those who have Excel 97 or better. Using this editor, you can edit the following:

1. Misc. Pools: This includs Infantry Squads, AT, Flak and Rail available (rather than altering the execute file, adjusting rail only affects the given turn).
2. Cities: Population, Beginning Population, Oil Production, Oil Potential, Resource Production, Control, Allegiance, x,y coordinates and Name.
3. Airgroups: Name, Type, HQ location, Experience, # Damaged, # Operational and Current Mission Orders.
4. Aircraft: Nothing new here. All the usual editable characteristics are here.
5. Tanks: Same as above.
6. HQs: Adds the ability to edit Operational Points.
7. Groups (Corps): Adds the ability to edit whether a unit has already moved or not.
8. Divisions: Nothing new here. All the usual editable characteristics are here.
9. Subordinates: Nothing new here. Although, using a spreadsheet is fast way for editing any of the 1109 subordinate units. Oh, you CAN edit ANY AND ALL of those 1109 units.
10. Factories: Nothing new here. As with most of the other categories, there are some helpful scenerio designing tools built in.
11. Leaders: Just the Name, Rating and Delay.[/list=a]
    
    I have color coded the databases so that the user should only enter changes in fields that are not black type. While changes other cells will not affect the game, it could affect a formula provided that makes it so you don't have to keeps notes as to which number corresponds to what given record.
    
    Anyway, I hope some of you find this editor to be useful. Please feel free to offer recommendations for changes. You can download the editor at Rich's Pacwar web site.

JustAGame

Just when i was planning a 'what if for the Europa line in 44' you pop this one. What i need to know is i have Excel 5.0 . Is this up to date enough? Sounds like you've done a lot of work, good job.

Nick

Originally posted by Lokioftheaesir:
JustAGame

Just when i was planning a 'what if for the Europa line in 44' you pop this one. What i need to know is i have Excel 5.0 . Is this up to date enough? Sounds like you've done a lot of work, good job.

Nick

There were significant improvements to Excel 97 with regard to VBA and I suspect Excel 5.0 will have issues with some of the code. Although, I can't say for certain. If your 5.0 is unable to understand the code, then it will be painfully obvious when you "Get" a saved file. Fortunately, it won't do any damage to that file since you ovbviously wouldn't "Put" your changes into the file. If I can find my original of Excel 5.0, I will see if the code can be easily adjusted for that versions compatibility on one of my older computers.

I look forward to hearing if you are able to use it with 5.0.

JustAGame

No, it did not work. Excel 5 found your file to be invalid. I've a friend with a latter version so 'things' may work out.
I'll let you know.

Nick

Originally posted by Lokioftheaesir:
JustAGame

No, it did not work. Excel 5 found your file to be invalid. I've a friend with a latter version so 'things' may work out.
I'll let you know.

Nick

Did you replace the file path on the Misc. Worksheet with the path on your computer to your WIR save files?

I haven't had a chance to use it much yet, but I would recommend trying it to anybody that wants to make major changes to a scenario. I have spent a lot of time with wiredit, which is okay, but the ability to use Excel functions to make mass changes is great. This would have saved me many hours on the 1942 Soviet Attack scenario I created, since it involved changing experience and readiness on so many units. Great job.

What file should the "path" point to in the Misc worksheet

Originally posted by Danny:
What file should the "path" point to in the Misc worksheet

It should have the complete path to the folder that actually contains the scenario file to look at. With some systems, you can open the folder that contains the file and in the top it has a navigation bar with the address to that folder. In that case, you can click in the navigation bar and highlight the path, ctrl-c to copy and then paste it into the cell for the path. Then just add the filename you want to work with, which is the obxxx name for a scenario, or savex for a savegame. Neither should have an extension unless you rename the file from the WIR name (which will not have an extension) and then it may not open - I haven't tried that.