ITT I'll share some tricks on how to construct custom VASL play aids which may help you keep better track of your scenarios and campaign games, as well as organize offboard counters neatly. This stuff is not new for some of you - but I do get a lot of attention and private messages when playing via the server - so I'd like to share the wisdom. Here's an example of what you can do:
View attachment 45268
The possibilities are are endless. For example, I have scenario information aids for positioning underneath or on the side of the map. I have a KGP mist density chart. I have play aids to organize units for random reinforcements such as in AP40 and so on.
The secret is the draggable label overlay in VASL which is able to render HTML. So, I'm afraid if you want to take advantage of this, you'll need some HTML skills, which should not be a problem for people who understand the difference between a general and a specific collateral attack. Really, the HTML spec reads much better than the ASLRB and there are countless tutorials out there to help you along. Also you can copy the source code of the examples, change the scenario name or whatever and then paste. Actually quite simple.
So here's how you do it:
First you drag and drop a label from the Draggable overlays. Use the topmost one as it does not have any formatting. Then right click on it and change the label to nothing by deleting all the text. In Line 2 you'll paste the HTML code. Looks like this:
View attachment 45270
After pasting in the HTML the overlay may be pretty big and it will be difficult to find the center with shift+click, but you'll manage.
View attachment 45269
So here's code like the one used in the example above. Note that the overlay will wipe line breaks, so you do not need to keep your code as a one liner.
Known issues: VASL has problems with the z-order of overlays. So it is not possible to place an overlay on top of your custom label. It will disappear behind it soon enough. That means that some of the turn marker overlays (which are in the VASL Counters -> Other -> Map -> Turn markers) cannot be used here.
So, if you have some custom code that might be useful for other players: please share.
View attachment 45268
The possibilities are are endless. For example, I have scenario information aids for positioning underneath or on the side of the map. I have a KGP mist density chart. I have play aids to organize units for random reinforcements such as in AP40 and so on.
The secret is the draggable label overlay in VASL which is able to render HTML. So, I'm afraid if you want to take advantage of this, you'll need some HTML skills, which should not be a problem for people who understand the difference between a general and a specific collateral attack. Really, the HTML spec reads much better than the ASLRB and there are countless tutorials out there to help you along. Also you can copy the source code of the examples, change the scenario name or whatever and then paste. Actually quite simple.
So here's how you do it:
First you drag and drop a label from the Draggable overlays. Use the topmost one as it does not have any formatting. Then right click on it and change the label to nothing by deleting all the text. In Line 2 you'll paste the HTML code. Looks like this:
View attachment 45270
After pasting in the HTML the overlay may be pretty big and it will be difficult to find the center with shift+click, but you'll manage.
View attachment 45269
So here's code like the one used in the example above. Note that the overlay will wipe line breaks, so you do not need to keep your code as a one liner.
Code:
<HTML>
<BODY>
<TABLE BGCOLOR=#DCCD7B BORDER=2 CELLPADDING=4 CELLSPACING=0>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT=64 BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF WIDTH=64></TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF WIDTH=64></TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 COLSPAN=8><H4>AP1 / The Ring / Niesky, Germany, 20 April 1945</H4></TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER>Compass</TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER>Wind</TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER>EC</TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER>No Quarter</TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER>German CVP</TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER>Russian CVP</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT=64 BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF WIDTH=64></TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF WIDTH=64></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>1*</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>2</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>3</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>4*</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>5</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>6</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>7*</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>8</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>9</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>10*</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>11</H3></TD>
<TD BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER><H3>12</H3></TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER></TD>
<TD HEIGHT=64 WIDTH=64 ALIGN=CENTER></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</BODY>
</HTML>
So, if you have some custom code that might be useful for other players: please share.