Formation Order in Editor?
 

Hi, I did a search on this issue on the forum, but couldn't find anything, so wanted to ask here: I'm creating a custom OOB based on an existing OOB, and I'd like for the formations to be displayed in a certain order in the editor--currently formations do not seem to be in any discernable order--not alphabetical, nor based on Formation ID, or anything else that I can figure out.

Basically I want all of the infantry units, Panzer Grenadier units, Motorcycle units, etc. to be displayed together rather than them being scattered throughout the infantry section, as in the original OOB.

Is it possible to arrange formations so that they appear in a certain order in the editor?

Thanks.

Re: Formation Order in Editor?
 

Yes and no...

Yes there is nothing to prevent you putting formations in whatever order you wish in your custom OoB...(or units, or weapons)

BUT

This will completely destroy the ability of the AI to choose a force from it. (the picklists for AI purchase uses the formation id - a pick list telling the AI to choose, for example, formation 7 "Infantry Company" will in your new OOB still choose formation number 7 even if that is now a light truck or Heavy tank company).

Re: Formation Order in Editor?
 

Thanks for the reply. But actually I'm not worried at all about AI selection, because this OOB will be used to create scenarios in which the opposing forces are determined by an operational layer, and so will be manually selected.

So how do I reorder formations/units in the editor?

[EDIT] Just to be clear, I know how to renumber the formation ID numbers in MOBHACK; the problem is that in the scenario editor formations are not displayed in order of their formation IDs, so I don't understand on which basis the editor orders displayed formations (and units)?

Re: Formation Order in Editor?
 

I haven;t looked into the order display in the game screens but I think it is (at least partly) based on the unit class of the first element?

Re: Formation Order in Editor?
 

hmmm, hadn't thought of that, will take a look. Thanks for the tip!

Re: Formation Order in Editor?
 

Ah sorry - slightly misunderstood the question.

On the purchase screens they are ordered (at least roughly) by the unit class of the first unit as Mobhack points out. Not sure how they are sorted after that (2nd unit's class?) some experimentation is probably needed.

Re: Formation Order in Editor?
 

Formation number is another sort item. If you want the companies to appear ahead of the platoons, put the platoons lower down the formation list in Mobhack - but if the company has a different unit class in the first slot than the platoons do, then that can affect things.

Re: Formation Order in Editor?
 

The bottom line is there is no way to set the OOB up to display "logically" and still maintain an evolving OOB. As Andy says if the unitclass on the first unit differs that can change how it displays in the game and it will never be attempted in the offical OOB's because formation placement is tied to hard coded AI picks.

Re: Formation Order in Editor?
 

Yeah, that's what I figured out...I can't really reorder formations in the purchase screen by changing formation's first unit, so it looks like I've got to work with what I've got. Thanks for the tips.