Changes to the map screen for next patch 2017-2018

[DRG]

Changes to the map screen for next patch

This is just a bit of information for any map makers.

The Load and Save map screens will be changed considerably for the next patch. Not only have we moved to a "flat screen" layout similar to the scenario editing screen but we now read text files written for the maps as well. This was inspired in many ways by the existence and continuing development of the Vehola map generator

http://www.venhola.com/maps/

This is an example of the screen


Map names and numbers are to the left and there is room on the right for text so now anyone who spends the time to build a map ( and I well know how long that can take and the work involved ) you can issue a TXT file along with your map explaining whatever it is you want to explain or point out.... Latitude and Longitude could be one thing or any relevant historical information and it allows map makers to sign their work . Most of the maps in the game are " anonymous " because short of signing the map directly there is no way to know who spent the time to build it and we would like to correct that

Adding text is simple...... the txt file uses the same name as the map file and goes into the map folder so spmap320.dat already has a spmap320.cmt and you would create a spmap320.txt as well and that will show up on the new map screen.

Editing the text is straightforward with a couple of simple and easy to remember rules......

1/ No non-standard characters (accents, tildes, umlauts, etc.) so nothing like any of these â, ê, î, ô, û, ŵ, ŷ, ä, ë, ï, ö, ü, ẅ, ÿ, à, è, ì, ò, ù, ẁ, ỳ, á, é, í, ó, ú, ẃ, ý...the game font code is not set up to handle it and weird and ( less than ..) wonderful things can happen that usually involved fragmenting the text

2/ End a paragraph with a '*' and leave a gap between the paragraphs with a '*' as well. This tells the game to end and leave a space

3/ anything with % has to be done twice like so.....90%%

The example shown above is set up in part like this

Goldap East Prussia 1944 *
*
200x160*
*
This map represents the area around Goldap East Prussia in late summer / early autumn 1944.*
*
The area today is part of Poland and very close to the Russian Baltic Kaliningrad Oblast which after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, became an exclave, geographically separated from the rest of Russia. This isolation from the rest of Russia became even more pronounced politically when Poland and Lithuania became members of NATO and subsequently the European Union in 2004. All military and civilian land links between the region and the rest of Russia have to pass through members of NATO and the EU. *
*

also, note the CD owners can use the GOTO feature that will take you directly to the map you want without having to click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click- to get there..just enter the number and press enter



Don

[DRG]

If anyone has produced a map that is being used in the game and would like to add an info text about it post it here and I will check it and ensure it goes into the next patch

Don

[wulfir]

Here are some maps that could maybe be explained a bit:



(Map 301)


Elvenes, Norway*
*
200x160*
*
This map represents the area around Elvenes, Finnmark (northern Norway), in winter 1940-1944.*
*
At the start of WWII this was the border region between Norway and Finland but with the transfer of the Petsamo region to the USSR it would become the border between Norway and the USSR. Elvenes was a smaller village about 10 km south of Kirkenes. A bridge was built at Elvenes in 1928 which spanned the Pasvik river. This bridge was destroyed by the defending Germans in late 1944 causing some trouble for the Soviet 14th Army during it's Petsamo-Kirkenes operation.*
*
During the cold war some incidents of tension occured in this region including the Russian Boris Gleb show of force in 1968.*




(Map 302)


Uscilug, Poland/USSR*
*
200x160*
*
This map represents the area around Uscilug on the Bug river, in summer 1941.*
*
At the start of WWII this town had a large Jewish population and belonged to the eastern parts of Poland. Following the defeat of Poland it became a frontier town between Nazi Germany and the USSR. It was captured by German forces on the first day of Operation Barbarossa.*
*
Today the town belongs to the Ukraine. As is the case of many locations in Eastern Europe there are a number of spelling alternatives for the town including Ustilug and Ustyluh.*






(Map 303)


Oleksandrivka, Ukraine*
*
This map represents the area around Oleksandrivka in present day Ukraine, in summer 1941.*
*
As part of the Soviet Union it was known as Alexandrovka and the site of a major tank clash between the German 14. Panzer-Division and Soviet forces during the first few days of Operation Barbarossa.*





(Map 304)


Markajarvi, Finland*
*
200x160*
*
This map represents the area around Markajarvi, Finland, in winter 1939-40.*
*
Markajarvi was located in the sparsly populated Salla region of Finnish Lappland and saw fighting during the Winter War 39-40. After being checked by Finnish forces the invading Soviet troops withdrew to Markajarvi and dug in, the Soviet garrision being made up of primarily the reinforced 122. Division. During the last few weeks of the Winter War the Finnish troops were relived by the Swedish and Norwegian volunteers of the SFK. After the war Markajarvi was renamed Salla (the original Salla being ceded to the Soviet Union).*
*
To simplify the name Markajarvi was used, but the actual name spelled in English would be something like Maerkaejaervi.*




(Map 305)


Schoenebeck, Germany*
*
This map represents the area around Schoenebeck on the Elbe river, near Magdeburg, Germany in the spring of 1945*
*
In 1945 this area was the site of clashes between German and US forces at the end of WWII. Despite the bridges having been destroyed the US 2nd Armored Division managed to push infantry units across the river and establish a small bridgehead. A counterattack by the recently organized German Infanterie-Division Scharnhorst managed to push the Americans back across the river, a farily unusual event on the Western Front 1945.*

[DRG]

I will enter those today

Thanks !

Don

[DRG]

Perfect...

[zastava128]

I'm not the one who made the maps, but if you need info texts for maps 63, 219, and 221 (various locations in former Yugoslavia), I'd be happy to write them. Unless, of course, the map authors are available and want to write their descriptions.

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by zastava128

...219, and 221 (various locations in former Yugoslavia), I'd be happy to write them.

I made 219 and 221. Feel free to write up the text for these maps.

(They were made years ago though, long before many of todays online map resources became availiable...)

[zastava128]

Thank you. Here goes:

(Map 219)

Koprivnica, Croatia*
*
140x140*
*
This map represents the town of Koprivnica in northwestern Croatia (former Yugoslavia). This industrial town is situated on a plain between the Drava River to the north and the Bilogora and Kalnik mountains to the west and southwest.*
*
Koprivnica was the site of an important railway station as well as the first concentration camp in the Independent State of Croatia, which was formed after Yugoslavia was conquered by the Axis in April 1941. In November 1943, the Yugoslav Partisans captured the town. Axis troops recaptured the town in February 1944, and a strong multi-pronged Partisan attack was repelled in October 1944. The city was finally liberated only on 7 May 1945, only one day before the German capitulation came into force.*


(Map 221)

Gottschee, Slovenia*
*
120x120*
*
Gottschee is a town located on the Rinža River in southern Slovenia, once part of Yugoslavia. The surrounding land is mostly rocky karst with little arable area. The town had a substantial German minority.*
*
After Yugoslavia fell to the Axis in April 1941, Gottschee was occupied by the Italians, and many Germans emigrated. Yugoslav Partisans captured the town after Italy's capitulation in September 1943, but were soon driven out by the Germans. The Partisans attacked and retook part of the town in December 1943, forcing the defenders to hole up in the local castle until a relief force arrived. After numerous skirmishes, the Partisans finally liberated the town on 3 May 1945 after bloody street fighting.*
*
Gottschee is the town's German name. The Slovenian name is Kocevje.*



Here's also a description for Map 63, if needed:

(Map 63)

Neretva, Yugoslavia*
*
100x200*
*
This map represents the approach to the Neretva River in March 1943, including the villages Gracacnica, Prozor, and Rama (western Bosnia). The area is characterised by very difficult mountainous terrain.*
*
The Neretva was the site of one of the largest battles on Yugoslav soil during World War II. The Axis organised a joint offensive against the Yugoslav Partisans, seeking to eliminate their main HQ and the Central Committee of the Yugoslav Communist Party. Despite being greatly outnumbered and burdened with many sick and wounded soldiers, the Partisans managed to break out of the encirclement and save their command and hospital. The battle, especially the crossing of the Neretva on an improvised bridge and the assault on the Italian strong point at Prozor, occupied a prominent place in Yugoslav national myth.*
*
The battle was the subject of a popular film released in 1969, starring Yul Brynner and Sergei Bondarchuk.*

[DRG]

The write-ups were perfectly formatted and a good length....not too long......not too short.

Thanks ( your hired! .... )

[zastava128]

Glad you like them! Here's another one:

(Map 130)

Bjelovar, Croatia*
*
60x60*
*
This map represents Bjelovar, a small city situated on a small plateau in northwestern Croatia (former Yugoslavia), known for its dairy and logging industry. It is an important traffic junction between Zagreb and eastern Croatia as well as between central Croatia and Hungary.*
*
When Axis troops invaded Bjelovar in April 1941, the local troops rebelled against the Royal Yugoslav gendarmes and officers and defected to the Germans. The city and its surrounding area had many adherents of both the fascist Ustashe and the communist Partisans.*
*
The villages around Bjelovar were the site of numerous skirmishes between Partisan and Axis forces as well as many killings and reprisals. Furthermore, the city was bombed by the U.S. Air Force in 1945. Partisans liberated the city on 5 May 1945.*


p.s. For consistency, the last sentence of the Map 219 description should say "town" instead of "city".