RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE

RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (Full Version)

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Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 5:59:11 PM)
Finally, clicking on the fifth button hides the Unit Panel: [image]local://upfiles/14086/95AC49536B4E4E34B13C00A19FD356FE.jpg[/image]

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 5:59:56 PM)
With all the panels off, the second button can be clicked again to close the second part of the Show Panels Panel: [image]local://upfiles/14086/F1F970D4A697402FAAA94B7A93D79BD0.jpg[/image] This is the maximum amount of map area that can be made visible, with only the minimized Show Panels Panel blocking the view.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:00:57 PM)
Restoring the rest of the Show Panels Panel, click on the last button: [image]local://upfiles/14086/913E66B7EBCE48DFAE649912F48E26A4.jpg[/image] This has converted the TOAW IV panels back to the TOAW III Control Panel mode – for those who prefer the old way. This may also be necessary for users with very small screens

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:02:27 PM)
Reverting to the new panels, this shot shows that some of the panels can be dragged to other locations, as desired: [image]local://upfiles/14086/CFB6E0C60A7C4F3F8BF1751C80325318.jpg[/image]

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:03:00 PM)
Let’s take a closer look at the new Unit Panel: [image]local://upfiles/14086/D1D93D079ACE4042A8F5FFD8E18B95B8.jpg[/image] There are five sections. The top section shows the Force Flag Roundel, the Force Name, and the Turn number, followed by the Date. The second section shows the Unit Stack that the cursor is over (or the Current Unit if it isn’t over anything). The formation and unit name of the top unit is also shown. Deployment mode is at the bottom. Finally, any transport options (rail, ship, air, helicopter, disembark) is shown with a button if available. The third section shows the Health, Combat Strength, Defense Strength, and Mobility. The fourth section shows the Proficiency, Readiness, and Supply values with Pie Charts and percentages. Finally, the fifth section shows the current combat round and the Progress Pane. The Progress Pane functions just like the old “Circle of Stars” used to – just taking up a lot less space.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:04:36 PM)
Note that the second section’s contents change as the cursor is moused over other stacks on the map: [image]local://upfiles/14086/A20761292DC643DFA12CA07803DDDEA0.jpg[/image]

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:05:23 PM)
Even over enemy stacks: [image]local://upfiles/14086/D2D27E2687A3480F857FA2698D940AD6.jpg[/image] But this still leaves the display as a stack. It’s hard to tell just what is in the hex.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:06:27 PM)
Right-click inside the Unit Panel: [image]local://upfiles/14086/25644C937F1D45EBBA1A647E3BD0E556.jpg[/image] The display has changed to a “Group Composition” view. Now you can see what is inside each hex as you mouse over each one.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:07:40 PM)
Even over enemy stacks! [image]local://upfiles/14086/BC1CF7A645AB46049B6A35A9BCB815C9.jpg[/image]

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:08:45 PM)
Now let’s look at the Air War Panel: [image]local://upfiles/14086/B03B0CE633FA474AB90CF6E49BD57E82.jpg[/image] The Air War Panel is a permanent display of the contents of the Air Briefing. It gives each side’s Air Superiority level, Interdiction level, and planes lost. Enemy planes lost are subject to fog-of-war as before. However, now the fog-of-war factor is fixed at the start of the turn and will not change every time the Air Briefing is displayed (this was a cheat that could be employed in earlier TOAW versions to figure out the fog-of-war factor and back it out to get true enemy losses).

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:09:32 PM)
Now let’s look at the Microview Panel: [image]local://upfiles/14086/B45DD908ABE7482C9E51A262E66A3A83.jpg[/image] This is a condensed display of the map for the purpose of quick navigation around it. But, as in this case, even this level of condensement may not be enough to show the entire map.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:10:35 PM)
A new feature of TOAW IV, however, solves that. Double-click inside the Micromap: [image]local://upfiles/14086/4AEC82EA109F4415806ED5FE53AD6E25.jpg[/image] This brings up the Jump Map. The Jump Map is the same scale as the micromap, but shows the entire map (if there is space on your screen). Now you can jump to anywhere on the map by clicking where desired inside the Jump Map. Of course, this map was only a little larger than the max area of the Micromap, so scrolling the micromap might have worked better. But, the bigger the map gets the more useful the Jump Map becomes.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:11:53 PM)
Here’s a shot from CFNA: [image]local://upfiles/14086/097A1306820D4599A1AA0D6E156E8D88.jpg[/image] Now it’s starting to get really useful.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:12:57 PM)
And here’s the Jump Map from World at War 1939-1945: [image]local://upfiles/14086/F751EDF5AD8240AF9C54391E888309A2.jpg[/image] This one is so large that it even has to be scrolled to get to the entire map.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:14:38 PM)
Finally, let’s look at the Button Panel: [image]local://upfiles/14086/9549FC9ABEE341AD9E731844BF361745.jpg[/image] Note the three tabs on the left side. The buttons are in three sections. The above shot shows the Units section.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:15:19 PM)
Click on the Map tab. The Map section is shown: [image]local://upfiles/14086/5196C121072C4F57A9708D877D1A509A.jpg[/image] Note that the Execute and Undo buttons are repeated on each section.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:16:06 PM)
Click on the Reports tab. The Reports section is shown: [image]local://upfiles/14086/4A256A1D398A494CBC3E202415EFFB0C.jpg[/image] Note that, again, the Execute and Undo buttons are repeated on each section.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:19:05 PM)
Now let’s look at the buttons themselves. Return to the Units tab. The first two buttons select the previous and next Units. The third button invokes the Unit Dialog: [image]local://upfiles/14086/3198F5AA2E784C5DBBC4B55D12641B0C.jpg[/image] New features are the scroll bar on the equipment list and the Unit icon display. There is also a new button to call up the OOB Report.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:20:13 PM)
But there is another new feature when the unit is a ranged unit: [image]local://upfiles/14086/C0431A1C9848429DB4F7685895DC0376.jpg[/image] There is now a button to set the range.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:22:16 PM)
Clicking on that button: [image]local://upfiles/14086/7F0FE715259B423E891D1BFC439BC4A6.jpg[/image] The range can now be set by the player. A positive value sets the range to that specific value. A value of -1 sets the range to the default value (maximum). The main purpose of this feature is to tailor bomber ranges to keep them within range of any fighter escorting units. But it can also be used to limit a unit with multiple ranged equipment to the minimum range. Finally, it can be used to enable a ranged unit to assault instead of bombard, by setting the value to zero.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:25:29 PM)
There is one more new feature, illustrated from this shot from Kaiserschlacht 1918 (Mini): [image]local://upfiles/14086/3D5F3F9F207C4657BBFA00A9517AFC8A.jpg[/image] The designer can give a unit an “Alternate” icon. Here, the primary icon is the Special Forces icon (which gives a special ability to disengage automatically). But this unit also has an amphibious alternate icon (giving it a special ability to cross shallow water, marsh, and rivers, etc.). The two icons combine their special abilities. The primary icon is the one shown on the map. The alternate icon is only revealed in the Unit Report.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:26:23 PM)
Finally, let’s look at the Unit Report for a naval unit: [image]local://upfiles/14086/4212F35F43714A9784322756332F40EA.jpg[/image] Note that this unit has 10% damage (Damage is shown as 100 – damage). If the damage was 50% or greater, the button color would change to silver (for a bit of chrome).

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:27:32 PM)
Click on the equipment button: [image]local://upfiles/14086/5BD9D0F3FE5042958C0704CA9698637D.jpg[/image] The Equipment Report pops up. Note the new features: Shell weight is now shown for all ranged equipment. And naval parameters (Durability, Armor, Agility, Accuracy, and Speed) are now shown for all naval equipment. Note that Speed is shown both in kilometers per week and in knots.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:28:34 PM)
The first two buttons on the second row of buttons on the Units Tab select the previous and next formations. The third button invokes the Formation Report: [image]local://upfiles/14086/91D1FA7275DF48C3B0365E71D83D9B2E.jpg[/image] There are several new buttons at the bottom. Two bring up the OOB – Units Report and the OOB – Formations Report. But the button on the left causes the formation to be moved by the PO. Actually, for that to take place, the button must be in “Hot” mode. It is shown here in “Safe” mode.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:29:36 PM)
To go to “Hot” mode, PO Mode must be invoked. Exit the dialog and refer back to the Show Panels Panel in the upper left: [image]local://upfiles/14086/70769CE07BFB4996B00A734FF4398242.jpg[/image]

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:30:13 PM)
Toggle the left button until PO Mode is shown. [image]local://upfiles/14086/FF4C5E52CC6F4942A1ED57AA484E608C.jpg[/image] Note that the units now have a purple band across their Unit Values. This indicates that they will be controlled by the PO upon PO Execute.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:31:09 PM)
Now run the Formation Report: [image]local://upfiles/14086/0D04010502964BC393138CC25B1EC6CF.jpg[/image] Note that the PO Move button is now shown in “Hot” mode. Clicking it will cause this formation to be moved by the PO.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:32:25 PM)
Now go to the third row of the button panel and click the first button. [image]local://upfiles/14086/2E5DE2E239F74FD58EE8F1C0E2922E1B.jpg[/image] The OOB – Units Report is invoked. There are some new features: The Health Dot has been replaced with the Health Icon. The Unit Icon is included along with the Icon Type. There is now a scroll bar.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:33:41 PM)
Next, click on the second button on that row: [image]local://upfiles/14086/5ED91ADE892D4952B687608326897094.jpg[/image] The OOB – Formations dialog is invoked. This is a completely new dialog that was created specifically to aid in the control of the PO Assist feature. The check box controls whether the formation will be PO controlled.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: TOAW IV USER INTERFACE (11/18/2017 6:35:05 PM)
Click on the 3rd Panzer Army check box: [image]local://upfiles/14086/A8FA012ECD1F4F7BACB7499B64A4D5CD.jpg[/image] Note that that formation is now under Manual Orders. It will not be controlled by the PO upon PO Execute.

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