Newbie question - forces with -1 values in Editor

[jeff norton]

Okay, trying to play with a scenario, and editing the forces, and the equipment that I modifed shows as -1.

Any ideas?

Oh, and does someone have a good idea how to manipulate the force editor? I have my old book, but there seems to be quite a bit more than that.

Thanks from a confused newbie...

-Jeff

[Ben Turner]

I think you'll have to be more specific; where does the -1 appear? What do you want to be able to do in the Force Editor?

[jeff norton]

Sent you a PM
*Update*
PM says your box is full (10 messages total????)

Here's the body -
Hi Ben,

Hopes this finds you in good health and spirits.

I guess what I'm trying to say is when I try to edit/change a piece of equipment in the unit listing, it returns back with a -1 value.

I too have been trying to play with your alternate WW2 scenario, trying to play with the equipment lisings (adding, adjusting, removeing, etc), and I keep getting equipment with that -1 value. I notice it more when I try to remove a piece than any other occurance. Corruption?


Is there some doc out there (becides the manual) that goes over working with the editor? Website?

Thanks,
-Jeff

[Ben Turner]

Sent you a PM
*Update*
PM says your box is full (10 messages total????)

Yeah- don't know what happened here. I got the error e-mails about this but I only had 22 (out of a maximum 70) messages. I deleted several of them but I don't know if that will solve the problem.

Here's the body -
Hi Ben,

Hopes this finds you in good health and spirits.

I guess what I'm trying to say is when I try to edit/change a piece of equipment in the unit listing, it returns back with a -1 value.

I too have been trying to play with your alternate WW2 scenario, trying to play with the equipment lisings (adding, adjusting, removeing, etc), and I keep getting equipment with that -1 value. I notice it more when I try to remove a piece than any other occurance. Corruption?


Is there some doc out there (becides the manual) that goes over working with the editor? Website?

Thanks,
-Jeff

I'm still not 100% sure what your describing- you're using the in-game force editor and playing with the composition of individual units? What you're describing does sound like a bug, though. I can't imagine how a value of -1 would crop up anywhere under normal circumstances.

[Telumar]

Yeah- don't know what happened here. I got the error e-mails about this but I only had 22 (out of a maximum 70) messages. I deleted several of them but I don't know if that will solve the problem.

You're not a VIP member, had the same problem. Only 10 Pms are allowed to non-VIPs.



I'm still not 100% sure what your describing- you're using the in-game force editor and playing with the composition of individual units? What you're describing does sound like a bug, though. I can't imagine how a value of -1 would crop up anywhere under normal circumstances.

What about a screenshot? Or a detailed step by step description of the procedure, so we can reproduce it.

[nemo]

You're not a VIP member, had the same problem. Only 10 Pms are allowed to non-VIPs.

The VIP thing is no more. There was an announcement yesterday, can't find it anymore now. All users have now a storage capacity of 80 PMs. There might have been a problem with the transition between the two modes here - logging out an in again should be enough to solve it though.

[Telumar]

Ah, merci Marc.

[jeff norton]

You're not a VIP member, had the same problem. Only 10 Pms are allowed to non-VIPs.




What about a screenshot? Or a detailed step by step description of the procedure, so we can reproduce it.

I'll work on posting one tonite...

BTW - has anyone used the F4/5 keys that are mentioned in the manual? I've read the breif blurb, and never knew there was a method to do mass edits that way...

The things one learns when he RTFM.....:nuts:

[Ben Turner]

BTW - has anyone used the F4/5 keys that are mentioned in the manual? I've read the breif blurb, and never knew there was a method to do mass edits that way...

Yeah- this is an old, old feature, as described by Norm some years ago, but not officially documented. I've used it a number of times. It's main use is if you need to swap a single equipment row for the entire force. For example you could change every unit from 108/108 rifle squads to 81/108 rifle squads.

[jeff norton]

Here's a screenie of what I mean:

Any ideas of how to fix this or suggestions to prevent this?

[Telumar]

Here's a screenie of what I mean:

Any ideas of how to fix this or suggestions to prevent this?

:shock: Wooha! Never seen that before.

So it was with a modified COW.exe? Did you simply go into the weapon systems list, clicked trucks, entered a (positive) number and got that as a result or did you do it with a global command from the (standard windows) menue?

[nemo]

It could be somehow related to the ability to enter negative values in the number fields of the force editor, like stated here (http://www.tdg.nu/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1015754919/232#232), over at TDG.

[jeff norton]

:shock: Wooha! Never seen that before.

So it was with a modified COW.exe? Did you simply go into the weapon systems list, clicked trucks, entered a (positive) number and got that as a result or did you do it with a global command from the (standard windows) menue?
No, nothing like that - just the stock TOAW game

But, I did notice that I can get rid of it by modifying the value to -10 or -100, and it does go away.

I'm home, just got our broken water pipe fixed, and waiting for our town's water guys to turn on our service, and have time to 'play'.

Weird, huh?

[nemo]

But, I did notice that I can get rid of it by modifying the value to -10 or -100, and it does go away.

This should alter the unit movement allowance, as the equipment thus negatively added, though not appearing, still is in the unit's inventory.

[jeff norton]

This should alter the unit movement allowance, as the equipment thus negatively added, though not appearing, still is in the unit's inventory.
hmmm... So, how do you edit a unit that won't modify a unit that way?

Like I said, a newbie working with the editor. I only wish the manual did describe how to remove equipment...

Any helping suggestions will be greatly appriciated..

[nemo]

hmmm... So, how do you edit a unit that won't modify a unit that way?
Here's the starting point, any unit could do the trick. Note the movement allowance of 14:
http://toaw2.free.fr/images/Image1.jpg


Then select, in the right panel, the piece of equipment you want to modifiy number-wise and enter a negative number:
http://toaw2.free.fr/images/Image2.jpg


The result would be this, i.e. a unit with no apparent Horse Teams but with a movement allowance of 0:
http://toaw2.free.fr/images/Image3.jpg

And if, in the right panel, you select the Horse Team item again, you'll see that it has indeed saved the negative value, like it would have saved it if it were positive:
http://toaw2.free.fr/images/Image4.jpg


Like I said, a newbie working with the editor. I only wish the manual did describe how to remove equipment...In the right-hand panel, click on the equipment you want to remove from the unit and erase any number in the pop-up.

[Ben Turner]

This should alter the unit movement allowance, as the equipment thus negatively added, though not appearing, still is in the unit's inventory.

As discussed on the thread you kindly linked, you can get some entertaining effects with negative equipment. Some possibilities;


Negative units can be embarked by rail, sea or air and add to the lift capacity
Negative equipment can reduce the weight of the unit
Negative equipment can conceal the true strength of the unit, since it is subtracted from the positive equipment's strength
Negative equipment, however, produces extremely strange results in combat