COCAT Update!

[Double Deuce]

Good news everyone. I have recently been in communicaton with the designer of COCAT (Pa Woje). Some of you may know he has been real busy over the last year or so wih RL issues. I have finally been able to make contact with him and he has made some edits to the the COCAT 2.13 engine that will go a long way into makeing this tool more useful for campaigning in the "Modern" time period.

At present here are the 2 main changes I asked him to make and he has done so. I wi post more later afer I do some testing.

[Pepper]

I've played wiht COCAT and its a very powerful tool.

The thing I don't understand is how to use a different map? Do you have to create a map as a .jpg or .bmp or such and then import it? Does COCAT have a map creation suite within it (I couldn't find one)?

The included German man from 1920s France is spectacular and obviously took someone a whole ton of time to code but, its not the area I need to use :(

If anyone could explain in detail how to use a custom map in COCAT (and how to create the custom map) that would be much appreciated.

ps if this isn't hte right thread for this post, please feel free to move or kill it :devious:

Thanks.

[Double Deuce]

The thing I don't understand is how to use a different map? Do you have to create a map as a .jpg or .bmp or such and then import it? Does COCAT have a map creation suite within it (I couldn't find one)? If anyone could explain in detail how to use a custom map in COCAT (and how to create the custom map) that would be much appreciated.No tool for creating a map is included. You'll need to use an image editing tool of your own choosing. You can use either the .jpg or .bmp format but ALL 4 maps need to be in the same format. Below are the map names and their sizes (in pixels). The new maps have to have the same filenames as the 4 already in the map folder;

overview (265 x 200)
map100 (5300 x 4000)
map050 (2650 x 2000)
map025 (1325 x 1000)
What I do is create the larger map100 and get it exactly how I want it. Its best to add a hex overlay on the map100 if you are planning to use hexes before you go to creating the other maps.

Then what I do is take the map100 and reduce it to 50%, save and name it map050. Then I go back and take the map100 again and this time reduce it to 25%, save and rename it to map025. Then take the map100 again and reduce it to 5% save and name it overview.

[Double Deuce]

At present here are the 2 main changes I asked him to make and he has done so. I wi post more later afer I do some testing.For those familiar with COCAT you will recognize the 2 changes. They are;
The DATE is now OPEN to show dates from January 1, 1939 to December 31, 2048.
Nationalities are no longer "Allied" and "Axis" but are now "Blue Force" and "Red Force". (I'm also considering getting him to change the default unit icon background to reflect the Red/Blue Force).
If any of you are familiar with COCAT 2.13 and would like changes to be submitted to him please post here and I'll forward them and see if he can do it.

[Double Deuce]

More changes!

Default background colors for "Blue Force" and "Red Force" are now Blue and Red respectively.
Ability to SAVE either Blue or Red Force units only.

[Pepper]

Would he be willing to do a custom set of icons for Sp:MBT? That may be nice ...

[Double Deuce]

Would he be willing to do a custom set of icons for Sp:MBT? That may be nice ...What do you mean? I have done a set for my own use by using the icons out of TOAW-COW as samples. There is only room for 50 icons IIRC. What I would like is to have COCAT be totally generic in that it can be used "as-is" for any era from 1939 on. This means coming up with a set of icons that covers all unit types during that time. I have had to redo them since he changed the default background colors as mine were originally created to get around that.

[Pepper]

What do you mean? I have done a set for my own use by using the icons out of TOAW-COW as samples. There is only room for 50 icons IIRC. What I would like is to have COCAT be totally generic in that it can be used "as-is" for any era from 1939 on. This means coming up with a set of icons that covers all unit types during that time. I have had to redo them since he changed the default background colors as mine were originally created to get around that.

I'm not familiar with TOAW-COW. I noticed he had quite a few icons in the game already, including a WW2 German set. I thought if he was willing, it may be nice to have a set of icons that corresponded roughly to the various unit classes in SPMBT -- i.e. MBT, Lt Tank, APC, Commando, Para, Inf, Sniper, Recon, etc.

But if you've already done one ... !

[Double Deuce]

COCAT is limited to 50 unit icons so we may not be able to get all that are needed in there. TOAW-COW uses standard NATO symbols and that is what my new set is being based on.

[John Osborne]

Mike,

I got the code. :) Shoot me an email, please.

JohnO

[Double Deuce]

FYI - For those who are familiar with COCAT 2.13 you should know we are making some cosmetic changes and maybe a minor coding change or two (if possible). This may take a little time and we'll keep you posted.

[Double Deuce]

FYI - For those who are familiar with COCAT 2.13 you should know we are making some cosmetic changes and maybe a minor coding change or two (if possible).Actually you can all thank John Osborne for this. He's the guy with the Techie support doing the actual work. I was merely a "facilitator". :halo:

[Pannonicus]

I have tried 2.2 - I like it even more. It is good that we have something to keep track of operational stuff.

[Double Deuce]

I have just been informed that changes to COCAT 2.2 are being worked on and as soon as the they are made and tested we should have a version ready for use with the campaign. Not sure about a timeline.

[Double Deuce]

Just to give everyone another update.

COCAT has been modified to use 91 icons for each side instead of the 50 in earlier versions. I have completed a draft set as well as adding in the NATO vs WP Operational Map with hex overlay. The new *.exe for COCAT is still being worked on so it is not yet ready.

One thing I WILL have to do is recreate ALL my uni files for the newer version. :( When I try to modify the ones I already made with the old version it crashes the program.

[Double Deuce]

The NATO vs WP COCAT is now ready. You can find ALL the necessary files (Base COCAT prgram, necessary patches, maps, unit equipment txt files and unit icons). Go to the NATO vs WP Website (http://www.combat-campaigns.com/spmbt/nato_wp/) and follow the COCAT Utility link.

[Vesku]

I had to install my WinXP couple of weeks ago and now I can't get Cocat to work anymore. Any one able to help?

[Double Deuce]

Did you get the extra map files? I don't think they are part of the basic COCAT download I set up.

[Vesku]

Yes, I have the correct maps.