DB editor basic question

[bongotastic]

Hi, I have reinstalled H3 after a hiatus and downloaded the editors. The Scenario editor works fine, but the file H3DBEdit_v3_6_3.exe doesn't give me the menus items DATABASE and COUNTRIES but has the Edit menu item. In other word, the DBEdit and Sceedit appear to be identical.

Is there something that I should do to get the DBedit to work? A Quick look over the forums didn't give me a clue, but if I missed it, please just point me in the right direction.

Thanks,

christian

[Herman Hum]

Welcome back to the world of Harpoon3!

AFAIK, most of the H3 DB editors in the community use the program created by Jan Reimer instead of the H3DBEdit_v3_6_3.exe. It is based on Microsoft Access 97 and you can get a copy here: http://www.advancedgaming.biz/index.php?cevent=products.download&id=150

The version based on Microsof Access 2000 can be gotten here: http://www.advancedgaming.biz/index.php?cevent=products.download&id=151

It has quite a few more functions than the original H3DBEdit program. Give it a whirl and post if you have any more problems.

Can you give us a hint on what you might be working on? What do you want your DB to cover?

[bongotastic]

Thanks Herman, I have downloaded the Access file. Is there any docs somewhere about the usage of the file?

As far as what I want to do with the DB editor, I am mostly curious to see what I could do. I'd like to use Harpoon 3 for the air/naval part of a small scale MBX and I may want to come up with ground installations.

Thanks,

Christian

[Herman Hum]

Here is the Harpoon 3 download page for the Windows version:

H3 Manual Addendum (Harpoon3_Manual_Addendum_30602.pdf) 3.6.2
Those things that are different/new from the Harpoon II manual that is included in the game.
http://www.advancedgaming.biz/index.php?cevent=page.view&id=41&sub_id=0&widget_id=1

There are documents here that you might find useful:
http://www.advancedgaming.biz/index.php?cevent=products.download&id=80

H3 ANW Advanced Features Manual (H3 Advanced Features Manual.pdf) 3.7 Beta
Created by the more knowledgeable members of Team Harpoon. Slated to be moved to the Wiki.
http://www.advancedgaming.biz/index.php?cevent=products.download&id=147

Beta Guide PDF Format (Harpoon3MP Guide Final.pdf) 3.9.6
As moved to the Wiki and contains Pro items and is worded more like a stand alone document.
http://www.advancedgaming.biz/index.php?cevent=products.download&id=137

Not all are applicable to Harpoon 3, but I think that most will help you with the Db Editor.

I certainly hope that you share your DB with the community via the SZO file archives. There certainly are quite a few H3 databases for different eras, genre, and purposes in use by the various members.

Here are some of the more commonly known ones that might be interesting to you:

PlayersDB (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=30)

H3DB (http://www.harpgamer.com/)

Harpoon Users Database II (http://www.harpgamer.com/)

HutchDB (http://www.geocities.com/hchutch/hutchdb.zip)

WWII Db (http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/scenarios_wwii/)

Colonial Db (http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/colonialwars/) 1950-1964

1965-1979 Db (http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/scenarios_1960-79/)

DB2000 (http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/scenarios/index.html)

Advanced Projects DB (http://www3.nf.sympatico.ca/daleh/adb.htm)

[Jeff Gilbert]

Herman [and others],
Quick question ...
Is there a combined or "Master" DB that contains all the variations in one file?

Just curious.

[Herman Hum]

No there isn't.

Although this is theoretically possible, it does not exist. :)

[Herman Hum]

Evidently, someone tried to make a "Compleat DB" as an academic exercise and combined all Harpoon3 DBs into one. I don't remember when it was done, but I think that the result was a 6mB file, IIRC. However, I don't think that it would be a very useful idea since many DBs are significantly different.

For example, one database might have a single version of the AS-4 Kitchen anti-ship missile whereas the PlayersDB (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=30&styleid=97) has 10 different versions of this same weapon operating in slightly different ways. To have them all thrown together into the same file might end up with 20 similar versions of the same weapon and cause even more confusion.

If you ever decide to try out this concept, it might be interesting to peek at the final result. :cool:

[Herman Hum]

Is there a combined or "Master" DB that contains all the variations in one file?

Just curious.

As an academic exercise, I combined all the Post-WW II DBs into one. They included the PlayersDB, HutchDB, H3DB, HUD-II, ColonialDB, etc. They all fit into one DB, but just barely. The WeaponsRec table was nearly full (31,000 entries out of a possible 32,767).

The DB file is about 48mB in Access format, 9.6 mB in game format, and 2.73mB when placed into a *.zip file. As I suspected, some weapons were listed 4-6 times because each editor had them operating slightly differently from the other DB editors.

[Jeff Gilbert]

HH, Thanks for the info.
Interesting table limitiations. I would guess the actual file size might be an issue also.

Jeff

[HoustonAerosFan]

Welcome back to the world of Harpoon3!

Microsoft Access 97 Microsof Access 2000



I might have 97 in closet somewhere, or maybe the attic:surprise:

Will Open Office's BASE work?

[Herman Hum]

Sorry, no idea if it will work with Open Office.

I saw your request for the In-Game Editor on Matrix forum. What are your plans with the Harpoon 3.6.3 Editors that were posted in this thread?

If you are using the Harpoon 3.6.3 Editors loaded from the AGSI Wiki (http://www.advancedgaming.biz/index.php?cevent=home.external&href=http://mediawiki.advancedgaming.biz), then you are using the 3.6.3 version of the Editors and they are not compatible with either the ODB or the ANWDb that comes with the ANW game. The ODb and ANWDB are made with a specific DB editor for ANW and uses flags that the old Editors for 3.6.3 cannot read.

The In-Game Editor (the one you get from AGSI after filling out that request form) does work with the ODB/ANWDB, but it is not reliable.

What are you looking to edit? You can use the Harpoon 3.6.3 Editor on the PlayersDB and it will work at the present time.

[TonyE]

Very few people are allowed to have the access editor anymore, but you can apply for the in game editor (interface that looks like the game interface).

Database editor request:
http://advancedgaming.biz/dbe_request/

[HoustonAerosFan]

Sorry, no idea if it will work with Open Office.

I saw your request for the In-Game Editor on Matrix forum. What are your plans with the Harpoon 3.6.3 Editors that were posted in this thread?

If you are using the Harpoon 3.6.3 Editors loaded from the AGSI Wiki (http://www.advancedgaming.biz/index.php?cevent=home.external&href=http://mediawiki.advancedgaming.biz), then you are using the 3.6.3 version of the Editors and they are not compatible with either the ODB or the ANWDb that comes with the ANW game. The ODb and ANWDB are made with a specific DB editor for ANW and uses flags that the old Editors for 3.6.3 cannot read.

The In-Game Editor (the one you get from AGSI after filling out that request form) does work with the ODB/ANWDB, but it is not reliable.


What are you looking to edit? You can use the Harpoon 3.6.3 Editor on the PlayersDB and it will work at the present time.

What I am looking to do is to put in ships and applicable aircraft to use the game engine for WWI, WWII , and maybe the RJW. Non-commercial use only.

[Herman Hum]

What I am looking to do is to put in ships and applicable aircraft to use the game engine for WWI, WWII , and maybe the RJW. Non-commercial use only.

If you are looking to expand the game to include RJW, WWI, and WWII, there are already some projects underway.

Check out the WWII DBs available at:

http://www.harpoonpages.com/harpoon2.htm
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/HarpoonHQWW2

If you want to use the H3.6.3 version of the DB editor to create something, it will run just fine in ANW (after someone generates a signature file for you).

The only problem is you cannot use it to open/import a database that was created by an ANW editor. It will freeze up in mid-process.