Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (Full Version)

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Hoplite1963 -> Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/12/2017 6:08:49 PM)

Hi
I have noticed that in the "Unit Viewer" each separate platoon type shown (even if the only difference is the number of strength points) has its own 6 digit number proceeded by a "P" and that the first two digits of this number are also the same as that for the nationality files for its parent country that are currently the sole occupants of the pictures folder and which appear as the image if any platoon unit of that nation is selected and the "Unit handbook" entry opened for it .

Does this mean that if you wanted to make a Unit handbook" image for say a 3 vehicle strength Syrian T54 tank platoon it should be a 197 pixels wide and 143 pixels wide BMP file called P260016 ? If so. are there any other constraints that need to be adhered to in preparing the file?
Many thanks

Ian



Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/13/2017 10:44:42 AM)

Hello Ian! In principle: yes. The code reverts to a default nation specific bitmap if unit specific is not found. At the moment those are the map snippets with the nation's flag in it.

Off my head I am not sure about the maximum size, maybe that is it. I'll check when I get home. (I have 250x125 popping up from my head, but maybe that's the max size of Scenario Pictures.)

Also I can't recall from top of my head if the Unit Picture needs to be the same as the Unit Bitmap and not Unit ID (in your sample: maybe Up260016, maybe one under another SP size), as often there's several entries for same unit type but with different Strength. I'll check that too later.

EDIT: See HERE. By Unit Bitmap I refer to parameter #20, in the sample see how the two SA-6 platoons have the same parameter value there: despite of the two entries of two sized, they are represented by the same Unit Image 3D bitmap file. In case of SA-6, both Unit ID P238009 (Strength: 4 platforms) and Unit ID P238010 (Strength: 2 platforms) use P238009.bmp.

One thing about the bitmaps: they need to be on a 256 color mode, make sure you save them in that manner. They need not be black and white, they can be color too, as long they're stored in 256 color mode.

And: they need to be saved under \Pictures folder.

I'll get back to you, would be cool to have a User Mod with Unit Pictures.



Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/14/2017 9:40:31 AM)

Ian, having checked this, and based on what I see but not knowing how the code handles this:

  • There is no strict size requirements for Unit Pictures. Lots of old ones are say 175x130, but they can be larger. Try it out, say 200x150 should work, if you want to have it as big as possible. Having said that. 195x145 is something that there's a few examples here and there.
  • Look indeed for parameter #20 in the platoon file for the Unit Bitmap ID, that is the one that is used for Unit Pictures as well. This is good news, as in your case one picture will suffice for the various size variants of the said unit.

    Any questions just give us a holler. Looking forward to what you will come up with! [:)]



    • Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/14/2017 10:09:00 AM)

    Picture > 1000 words, right, so here is a quick sample I did.

  • Googled for a random Libyan T-72 picture
  • Sized it to 230*150 just to see what happens
  • Saved it as a 256 colour bitmap.

    Checked the Libyan Platoon29.oob as what the parameter #20 values tell me. For four T-72s (2x T-72 and 2x T-72M1), there's only two Unit Bitmap IDs, P290013 (T-72) and P290015 (T-72M1).

    Here they are, both with F2 Unit Handbook (never mind the mock-up background, it is the same code with CSME 1.02), and with Arkady's Unit Viewer.

    I'd stick to say 200x150 bmp as a template. Should be large enough to do the job.

    [image]local://upfiles/32195/23F1534EC95149EC9A415F24DFD0B5C4.jpg[/image]



    • Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/15/2017 8:27:06 PM)

    Hi Crossroads
    Thanks very much for this. I was planning to start with off map aircraft and then move on the individual nations. It would be interesting to know if you could taken the same approach for the current World War titles ? Always fancied doing a mod for the Spanish Civil War !

    Regards
    Ian



    Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/15/2017 8:53:55 PM)


    quote:

    ORIGINAL: Ian in Brentford

    Hi Crossroads
    Thanks very much for this. I was planning to start with off map aircraft and then move on the individual nations. It would be interesting to know if you could taken the same approach for the current World War titles ? Always fancied doing a mod for the Spanish Civil War !

    Regards
    Ian


    Glad to be of help Ian! Really looking towards what you will achieve with this [:)]

    Regarding your question re Civil War, do you mean JTCS WF module? It works the same way, so if you want to do something similar there the basic are the same. I believe there's even a few scenarios already available.

    Having said that, we really want to cover that conflict in the coming CS titles, as part of the new West Front game tbd. Just got to get those Vietnam and East Front games out first [;)]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/19/2017 10:46:11 AM)

    Here is an example of the sort of thing I am art work I plan to do here. In this case a Syrian Meteor Jet from the 1950s

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/7177B0E95EFB45CA8066E737B02537FA.gif[/image]



    Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/19/2017 11:57:01 AM)


    quote:

    ORIGINAL: Ian in Brentford

    Here is an example of the sort of thing I am art work I plan to do here. In this case a Syrian Meteor Jet from the 1950s

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/7177B0E95EFB45CA8066E737B02537FA.gif[/image]


    Nice! [sm=happy0065.gif]

    Question: is that (158x108) the ultimate size you're planning to implement? I'd suggest 200x150 while at it. [:)]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/19/2017 12:34:59 PM)

    Hi Crossroads
    Yes the image field is 150 by 100 with a 4 pixel border round that. To be honest I am not keen on going larger at the moment as this shows up the limitations of the 256 colour range we have to use now. For what its worth down the line wondered if at some point in the future consideration could be given to allowing 24bit colour files, which is the format I used to make the image in the first place? Here is an example of what the image looks like before it was reduced to 256 colours.

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/14E5E9D65B4B41BBBAFD970C30E53EB3.jpg[/image]



    Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/19/2017 12:46:58 PM)


    quote:

    ORIGINAL: Ian in Brentford

    Hi Crossroads
    Yes the image field is 150 by 100 with a 4 pixel border round that. To be honest I am not keen on going larger at the moment as this shows up the limitations of the 256 colour range we have to use now. For what its worth down the line wondered if at some point in the future consideration could be given to allowing 24bit colour files, which is the format I used to make the image in the first place? Here is an example of what the image looks like before it was reduced to 256 colours.

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/14E5E9D65B4B41BBBAFD970C30E53EB3.jpg[/image]


    Good point, the 256 color range is a bit of a limit at the moment, as visible in the T-72 mock-up I did too. Go for it, that size looks very nice as well [:)]



    Jason Petho -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (3/19/2017 7:27:49 PM)


    quote:

    ORIGINAL: Ian in Brentford

    Here is an example of the sort of thing I am art work I plan to do here. In this case a Syrian Meteor Jet from the 1950s

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/7177B0E95EFB45CA8066E737B02537FA.gif[/image]


    That is gorgeous!!



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (4/2/2017 4:32:49 PM)

    Done some further work on this project and now looking at how land units should be done. Decided to make a start with the Syrian army doing one set of images for before and another since 1959. Here is a Syrian R35 tank unit from the 1948 war as it appears in the unit viewer.

    Regards
    Ian

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/0DE465ED69214F33844AA1B1AC2702E8.gif[/image]



    Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (4/2/2017 4:58:32 PM)

    Very nice, Ian [sm=happy0065.gif]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (4/2/2017 5:05:00 PM)

    Thanks ops its actually one of their H39's do the R35 next.



    Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (4/2/2017 5:25:03 PM)

    That's right, a Hotchkiss isn't it. Looking forward to see these all in action [:)]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (4/12/2017 7:28:25 PM)

    Here is what the H39 looks like viewed in the unit handbook

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/70F9608E19FB47F38FFABE07C2B8A30B.gif[/image]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (4/12/2017 7:54:53 PM)

    For infantry units I am going to follow the handbook style used for the Steal Panthers games and show the most common weapon carried by a unit or its most important weapon if using that is what the unit is for. Thus for an infantry unit I will show the most numerous weapon carried by the squad whereas for an HMG unit I will show the HMG. Here is a Syrian infantry unit from the 1948 war which I am depicting using a EX French MAS 36 rifle.

    By the way I think the details given in the game about Syrian Infantry weapons in the 1948 War are wrong and that Soviet equipment such as the M1944 rifle and DPM LMG would not yet be used and that they would have the MAS 36 rifle and FM 24/29 LMG instead. I think it is just the text in the “Unit Handbook” and “Unit Viewer” that needs changing here and not any images or weapons stats.


    [image]local://upfiles/29793/96CB67F9A2674118A57EF2AEB605090E.gif[/image]



    fritzfarlig -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (4/13/2017 4:18:48 PM)

    very nice



    Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (9/29/2017 4:20:46 PM)

    Just a quick heads-up in case any of you guys are working with these:

  • As of Middle East 2.0 a Unit Picture is standardized as 200px * 150px. Smaller (and larger) pictures will be displayed, but their positioning might be off.
  • Unit pictures can be 24bit bitmaps as well (full color). No more 256-color files. Yay!

    New Unit Pictures can be prepared in a piecemeal fashion. If the game does not find the unit specific file, it reverts to nation specific default.

    Any questions let me know [:)]



    • Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (9/29/2017 8:38:10 PM)

    This is very good news. Having cracked how to add extra nations to the Great War mod concentrating on that at the moment but will certainly start adding some images here staring with aircraft.

    256 coulours is so last centaury.



    Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (9/30/2017 5:44:09 AM)

    Looking forward seeing your mod Ian! [:)]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (5/23/2018 2:12:21 PM)

    Once version 2 of CSME was out earlier in the year and unit handbook / unit view art files could be saved as 24 BIT BMP files I started work on my first set for Syria. When this is finished every item in the Unit viewer will have its own 156 by 106 pixel image that will also appear for that unit in the Unit Handbook. I also plan to do a separate national emblem set for the black white and green flag and roundels etc that were used by the Syrians in the 1948 war. I have also decided to dispense with the national flags in the top right hand corner of the images as I have other plans for that location.

    I have been working by way down the Syrian Unit viewer set and with 166 images done so far have got to the end of the boats section and am about to start on antitank guns. Here are some examples, first off with what they look like in the unit viewer starting with the Syrian home grown T34/122mm self propelled howitzer.


    [image]local://upfiles/29793/BC985BC8DBDE40D3BF903A173ED23DA5.jpg[/image]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (5/23/2018 2:14:04 PM)

    And now the ZSU-57/2 SPAA gun supplied to them by the Russians

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/3349A0FF0EE74277B7B2575EC3C31AB0.jpg[/image]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (5/23/2018 2:16:30 PM)

    Now the view in the game’s “unit handbook. First a Syrian T54 MBT

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/180ACF10148E430283374FB3BED39C58.jpg[/image]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (5/23/2018 2:19:21 PM)

    And next a BRDM2 Sagger ATGM vehicle.

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/D644C482C8714569A26315B0E1CE61DC.jpg[/image]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (5/23/2018 2:28:36 PM)

    In those few instances where I have not been able to track down a suitable color image to use I have employed a black & white photo instead as seen here in this unit viewer picture of a ZIL131 truck mounting the UMZ SCATMINE system.

    [image]local://upfiles/29793/30810AAE2D5B4D648601E2291BC698A6.jpg[/image]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (5/23/2018 2:31:57 PM)

    When the mod is released it will come with a word table document giving details what each of the files represents and also a document detailing picture sources.

    Enjoy
    Ian



    Jason Petho -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (5/23/2018 3:20:25 PM)

    That is awesome, Ian!!

    Officially, we aren't allowed to do that (due to copyright issues), but as a player built mod, that's no problem. (I believe).



    Crossroads -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (5/24/2018 7:04:41 AM)


    quote:

    ORIGINAL: Hoplite1963

    Once version 2 of CSME was out earlier in the year and unit handbook / unit view art files could be saved as 24 BIT BMP files I started work on my first set for Syria. When this is finished every item in the Unit viewer will have its own 156 by 106 pixel image that will also appear for that unit in the Unit Handbook. I also plan to do a separate national emblem set for the black white and green flag and roundels etc that were used by the Syrians in the 1948 war. I have also decided to dispense with the national flags in the top right hand corner of the images as I have other plans for that location.

    I have been working by way down the Syrian Unit viewer set and with 166 images done so far have got to the end of the boats section and am about to start on antitank guns. Here are some examples, first off with what they look like in the unit viewer starting with the Syrian home grown T34/122mm self propelled howitzer.



    Great stuff Ian! [:)]



    Hoplite1963 -> RE: Making & naming "Unit Handbook" graphics files & adding them to the "pictures" folder (8/2/2018 5:30:44 PM)

    Hi Guys
    It has taken a bit longer than anticipated but having reached an image total of 240 I think its time for another update on this project. I have now got down as far as the start of the towed artillery . Here are some examples of work done since the last update when I had got down to rafts and boats.
    First off here is an unit viewer screenshot of a B10 recoilless rifle


    [image]local://upfiles/29793/35B3D5458DA24D06977629FFE74FD73A.jpg[/image]



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