In Uncle Ho’s Hideout series, David Galster shares some of his tips and techniques in scenario research and design for Campaign Series Vietnam. By popular demand – here’s one more!
Well Komrades,
This issue is about a more efficient way to update orgfiles with Notepad ++ or jEdit rather than using the org editor.
Sometimes we discover our orgfile has the wrong units in many places. To correct this with the org editor, we have to find the right platoon on the unit tree on the left of the org editor and import it to the org structure on the right using the “Add Unit” icon. Once it is imported, and we enter its correct unit name, like 2nd Platoon, we have to place it in the right location in the structure. This is done with up, down, left, and right arrows to move the platoon. Going from the bottom to the correct place for many units is very tedious and time consuming.
Unit replacements can be made using Notepad ++ instead and can be much quicker. For example, in the orgfile Mang_Yang_1965.org there are many ARVN Ranger platoons, P112041. This was a 1963 ARVN Ranger unit. Suppose you find that in this particular battle that the weapons and training were not up to par, and also through playtesting, you decide that a more realistic unit is the P112040, a 1960 Ranger Platoon. This change could be made in the org editor. But, there are 12 Ranger platoons involved. This means that you would have to go to the org editor, find the 1960 Ranger platoon, and then using the “Add Unit” icon, add in 12 units. Then, these all have to be renamed to the proper platoon, like 1st, 2nd, etc. Then for each one, move it using the left, right, up, and down arrow commands, and move into position and delete the old unit.
Instead, the file Mang_Yang_1965.org, can be opened using Notepad ++. Once it is showing, use the “Advance Find” icon. (On the “Home” tab to the far right.) Find P112041, and in the replace field, type P112040. Then use the “Replace All” button to make these replacements. Of course, if you are uncertain, you can find one, replace it, and do this more cautiously. Imagine how much quicker this can be done than using the org editor. Save the file. Then, you can go into the org editor to verify results.
I imagine that Uncle Ho liked to find easier ways of waging war also.
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This bonus post completes the Uncle Ho’s Hideout series. Again, I hope you have enjoyed them. Next, I will begin a series of articles focused on scenario design, in Hack’s Hardcore Hints. Til then!
