Panzer Campaigns Scenario Data Editor Read Me

This software is released as freeware.  This software may be used, copied and distributed without restriction.  It may not be sold or included with any other products without my permission.

I shall not be liable for any data loss or for incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use of this software.

Panzer Campaigns is a series of games copyright HPS Simulations, developed by John Tiller.

OVERVIEW

This editor is designed to edit elements of existing scenarios that are difficult to edit through the game editors, while leaving the original OOB entries alone, with the exception of the ability to edit unit names and types.  There are 6 tabs to the editor, allowing editing of on map units, reinforcements, AI orders, releases, air availability, and finally it has a printable OOB section.

OPENING AND EDITING SCENARIOS (Ctrl-O)

To  use the editor, use the open dialog to select a Panzer Campaigns scenario file.  If the default installation was run, they are located at c:\program files\hps simulations\<game folder>.  Upon selecting a scenario to open, you will be prompted to sort the data by OOB order or nationality.

THE EDITING SECTIONS

On Map Units (Unit Editor)

The unit editor shows each unit, its OOB strength and its scenario strength, nationality, location on the map in X, Y coordinates, current scenario fatigue setting, and the immediately superior command element for the unit.  These units are shown in a table format.  The program does not currently allow edits to be undone, so if something is changed by mistake, the only way to undo it is to quit the editor without saving the changes.  At the top, the editor also shows scenario title, the OOB file used for the scenario, the number of units on map, and the full chain of command for the selected unit.  There is also a box in the top right area showing the current unit name and type, allowing the unit name to be changed and a different type to be selected from the available types for that nationality.  Any changes here require the change to be updated into the OOB file, and then the OOB file must be written to the hard drive to save the changes.  This can be done once when done, or as often as desired.

Reinforcements

The reinforcement editor shows each unit, its OOB strength and its scenario strength, nationality, current scenario fatigue setting, and the immediately superior command element for the unit.  Also, in the top section the scheduled time of entry is shown, and the entry location, protection value and chance of arrival can be changed for that group of reinforcing units.  

AI Orders

The AI orders section shows AI orders for units, the unit nationality and the destination coordinates the AI is to take using these units.  The destination can be taken, or the orders changed to a hold order by changing the X AND Y coordinates to -1, or a hold order (-1 for the coordinates) can be changed to an active order to take the destination coordinates.

Releases

The releases editor shows all releases by organization, including the organization, the time of release, the chance of release, and whether the release is triggered by spotting enemy units.  The time, chance and trigger status are all editable.

Air Unit Availability

The air unit availability editor shows each air group availability change for the scenario.  It includes the date of the change, the type of change (Add if the units become available, remove if being removed), and the air units in the group.  The time of change can be edited, and air units can be removed from the group by using the delete button when the desired air unit is selected.  This can be undone by selecting the air unit again and clicking on the delete button.

Printable OOB

The last tab is the printable OOB for the scenario.  Each level of organization is indented, and organization entries, as opposed to unit entries, are highlighted in Red.  At the top, the scenario title, OOB file, and PDT file are shown.  There is a toggle for OOB detail.  By default it is on, which shows each unit's name, current and full strength (OOB strength), fatigue level and location.  When off, it only shows the name and location for each unit.  Reinforcements are included, in a burgundy color, with the same information plus the entry time.

In addition, the OOB is printable for either the entire OOB, or if a selection is highlighted first, just the highlighted selection can be printed if desired.

SEARCHING (Ctrl-F)

All sections, except the printable OOB, are searchable.  To find all units for a specific headquarters of any level, or one specific unit, there is a find function accessed through the search menu.  Open up the Find dialog and enter the name for the unit or the headquarters to find units for.  For example, to find all units for the 37th Army, you could enter "37th army".  The search is not case-sensitive, and will match all partial matches, such as 237th army if there is one.  Then select find and the first unit that is part of the 37th Army will become the active unit, allowing it to be edited.  Keep selecting find next and it will go through the list until no further matches are found.  To start over from the top, go to the unit display table and go back to the top of the list.

Any time the find dialog text is changed, the search will start over from the top.  Thus, you can find and change all entries for the 37th Army, and then search for the 3rd Tank Corps from the top, without doing anything more than changing the search text.

SEARCH AND REPLACE OOB UNIT NAME (Ctrl-R)

The on map and reinforcing units can be searched and replaced using this function.  It goes by exact match, and is case sensitive, so be sure to type exactly what you want to replace.  The search text will be replaced by the replacement text.  Each match found can be replaced or not.  If not, just search again.  This is primarily for where you want to make a mass change to a part of an organization's units.  For example, if there are entries for the 1/235th, 2/235th, and 3/235th battalions, and you want to change them to be of the 241st regiment, then you could search for 235th and replace it with 241st, run the search and approve each of these changes.  Next the changes must be saved, using the Save OOB button in the top right box for changing OOB names and types for units.

SAVING (Ctrl-S)

Select the Save Scenario choice to save the scenario with the changes you have made.  If an existing scenario is selected here, you will be asked to backup the existing scenario.  If yes, the file name will be saved with a .txt appended to the end of the filename.

INSTALLATION CONTENTS

This installation includes 3 files:

Scenedit.exe
Pzchelp.hlp
Nations.txt

The nations.txt file is a list of the nationalities that are used in the various Panzer Campaigns games.  As new nationalities are added, an entry can be added to this file to allow the data editor to work with the new nationality.  This can be done by the user or by a very small download, rather than getting an entirely new set of program files.

Please contact me by e-mail if you have any problems or suggestions for the editor.  

Thank you,
Rick Bancroft

rbancroft@att.net
