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MechCommander Mission Editor 'Extender'
This is a Windows program which addresses some of the shortcomings of the normal
editor, incorporating many previously disclosed 'hacks' plus some which I believe may be
entirely new. Importantly, the Extender saves any extra mission settings in a database and
thus the repeated manual hackings of the mission files (before generating the .DPK file)
are no longer required for the hacks this program covers.
The Extender provides the following facilites not found in the normal editor...
Objectives
Allows eight mission objectives (the maximum) to be set (only four in the normal editor)
Allows RP to be set for each objective
Allows a time limit to be set for each objective
Drop Zones
Allows the number of mechs in each drop zone to be set
Allows two new formations (line abreast and line astearn) for the dropped mechs initial
configuration
Allows the mechs initial facing direction to be specified
Allows the initial spacing between mechs to be increased up to 10 fold
Salvage
Allows any salvage to be assigned to any structure
Lookout Points
Allows special locations to be revealed upon succesful completion of a pre-defined tactic,
either (a) reaching a location, (b) capturing a structure (c) destroying a structure, (d)
at start of game or (e) on completion of an objective
Damages
Allows structures to be damaged by a defined amount upon succesful completion of a
pre-defined tactic, either (a) reaching a location, (b) capturing a structure (c)
destroying a structure, (d) at start of game or (e) on completion of an objective
New Units
Allows new units to be added upon succesful completion of a pre-defined tactic, either (a)
reaching a location, (b) capturing a structure (c) destroying a structure, (d) at start of
game or (e) on completion of an objective. The units start the mission powered down and
will only be powered up to join your team upon completion of the tactic.
Up to four new units per mission can be added (a limit in the main MechCommander game) but
you also MUST have at least one force group spare at the start of the mission (i.e. you
can only launch two force groups yourself). Also there is a bug in campaign mode whereby
if you use more than one new unit, then MechCommander loses track of your pilots on
mission completion and one or more of them may dissappear from your ready area. For this
reason it is recommended that only ONE new unit be used for missions in campaigns. (Of
course this bug is irrelevant for solo missions so you can use the full four if required.)
Also ensure that the pilots in charge of the new units aren't available for purchasing as
this may also cause MechCommander to crash.
Campaign Linker
Allows the user to graphically select any of his solo missions to include in a campaign
and automatically generate the 'xMechCmdr1.FIT' campaign file
The Extender works alongside the normal editor and you would usually have both programs
running at the same time. The normal editor creates two categories of files when you save
a mission. Firstly the 'terrain' files which define the map itself. These are not used by
the Extender. Secondly the 'mission' files which define what actually happens in the
mission. These are the files which hackers manually and repeatedly re-modify but the
Extender automates much of this work for them. The Extender generates these 'mission'
files itself incorporating whatever settings the mission developer has used. They can of
course be further hacked manually if the developer wants to use a hack not covered by the
Extender.
In use you would typically work within the normal editor defining the terrain and
structures and enemy mechs etc. Then you would save your changes and switch to the
Extender where you'd add the extra mission settings. Then you have the Extender generate
the enhanced mission files and switch back to the normal editor to have it write the .DPK
file. As the Extender saves the extra mission settings in a database you do not have to
repeatedly set them up.
I have so far included in the Extender only a selection of hacks I have come across.
Certainly more could be added. I would be happy to hear requests from mission developers
for extra facilities. Also any comments and/or constructive criticisms of the interface
would be welcome.
The Extender is 'young' and therefore may still have some bugs. I WOULD THEREFORE STRONGLY
RECOMMEND THAT YOU MAKE A COMPLETE BACKUP OF YOUR MCX FOLDER BEFORE FIRST USE OF THE
EXTENDER. I would also advise developers to practice using the Extender facilities on a
couple of test missions first. If you need to send me bug reports then please include the
FULL and EXACT error message you received from the program and as much detail as possible
about what you were trying to do when the problem occurred. I will endeavour to fix bugs
asap.
To install the Extender, download the latest version (1.0.22) mceditorextender22.zip(approx 75K) and extract its
contents (three files, MCEditorExtender.exe, SalvageIDsClan.txt and SalvageIDsIS.txt) into
the folder where you have MCX installed (i.e. the same folder as the normal
'MCEditor.exe' file). It will not work in any other folder.
Revision History :-
1.0.8 - released
1.0.9 - bug reported re multiple sub-objectives, now fixed
1.0.12 - 'Campaign Linker' tool added, 'Wipe All' objectives added
1.0.13 - file/folder validation added during startup
1.0.16 - fixed bug in copying objectives, displays primary/secondary for objectives,
allows setting of operation numbers in campaign linker, two extra lookout point tactics
added (start of game and objective completion), added Heavy Thunderbolt to salvage list
and brought names fully into line with main game purchasing list
1.0.18 - added 'Damages' section, added Sniper Cannon to list of salvagable weapons
1.0.22 - added 'New Units' section, fixed Drop Zones bug
The Extender is written in Visual Basic v5 and thus requires a number of 'run time'
files to work. These are large and may already exist on your computer and thus are made
available as separate downloads from the main program files.
If your computer does not have the file MSVBVM50.DLL (usually in the c:\windows\system folder) then download and run the
following...
http://download.microsoft.com/download/vb50pro/Utility/1/WIN98/EN-US/MSVBVM50.EXE
If your computer does not have 'DAO' installed (you will get an error 'ActiveX
component cannot create object' when you run the Extender) then download the following
file, use WinZip to open it and run the MSDAO350.EXE within
http://activex.microsoft.com/controls/vb6/MSDAO350.cab
If your computer does not have the MS Access 'Jet' database drivers installed then
download the following file, use WinZip to open it and extract its contents to a temporary
folder, right-click on the MSJET35.INF file and select 'Install' from the menu
http://activex.microsoft.com/controls/vb6/MSJet35.cab
If mission developers have any other ideas for programs which would help them in their
task then also please let me know.
Martin Bryant
martinbr@colossus.demon.co.uk
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