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Author Topic: Aircraft Selection Expansion (ASE)  (Read 592 times)

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Chaoic16

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Aircraft Selection Expansion (ASE)
« on: October 04, 2021, 06:03:07 PM »

Hello everyone,

UPDATE:

After talking with several modders and learning more about the situations of modding default aircraft selection screen and air.ini.  That is where an alternative idea come in for the safe way of adding this, in my theory.

After using UQME for BAT and after viewing aircraft database / library, I got something realized.  I think this is very needed in BAT since the number of aircraft being added keep growing.  It could be used with JSGME so the people can enable / disable it as they wish.  Here is the idea:

It work similar to Hangar screen linked to the aircraft review screen, there would be an entire new screen.  the screen would be known as "Aircraft Database", like the way UQME did with their aircraft database.  With that, there would be a cloned, modified version of air.ini known as air_Database.ini.  By using that, Aircraft Database use the several drop menus used for each categories while java would read '//' first, then take the codes.  You will see the 'END' to end the scope of certain grouped aircraft.  The categories have the key code "NATION, BRANCH,' and ROLE". 

- Nation
- Military branches
- Aircraft roles (Fighter, Interceptor, Fighter Bomber, Attack, Light bomber, etc...)

Here are an example:

Code: [Select]
// [NATION=CZECHOSLOVKA]
// [BRANCH=Air Force]

//[ROLE=Fighter]
Avia_B135 air.Avia_B135 2 NOINFO g01 SUMMER
AviaB534R air.AVIA_B534R 2 NOINFO g01 SUMMER
AviaB534 air.AVIA_B534 2 NOINFO g01 SUMMER
AviaBk534 air.AVIA_Bk534 2 g01 SUMMER
S-199 air.S_199 2 NOINFO g01 SUMMER
//[ROLE=END]


//[ROLE=Light bomber]
S-328 air.LetovS_328 2 NOINFO g01 SUMMER
//[ROLE=END]


//[ROLE=Medium Bomber (High speed)]
AviaB-71 air.Avia_B_71 2 g01 SUMMER
//[ROLE=END]


//[ROLE=Reconnaissance]
S-328 air.LetovS_328 2 NOINFO g01 SUMMER
//[ROLE=END]

//[ROLE=Trainer]
AviaBa122 air.AVIA_Ba122 2 NOINFO g01 SUMMER
Z-26 air.Z26 1 NOINFO r01 SUMMER
//[ROLE=END]
//[BRANCH=END]

//[BRANCH=Navy (Carrier-based)]
//[ROLE=Fighter]
AviaBk534Sea air.AVIA_B534Sea 2 NOINFO g01 SUMMER
//[ROLE=END]
//[BRANCH=END]


//[BRANCH=Navy (Seaplane)]
//[ROLE=Fighter]
Avia_float air.AVIA_B534_Float 2 g01 SUMMER
//[ROLE=END]

//[BRANCH=END]
//[NATION=END]

You can see how Java can 'group' nation, branch, and role, then display the filtered list when a certain keyword is displayed from the drop menu.  For example, if I select USA' from drop menu, then select "USAAF", then "Fighter", I would see the list of USAAF fighter aircraft only from aircraft list.

With ASE, when you want to just select one of aircraft from a very long list, it will make it more dynamic and easier to find it quickly.    This especially will be useful for mission building.  At the same time, it also will be an educational when it come to learning about the roles and usage of certain aircraft.

I believe this also will open the opportunities for further expansion in the future, if this mod ever get created and implemented into BAT.
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WxTech

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Re: Aircraft selection Expansion (ASE) GUI
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2021, 07:37:48 PM »

My first instinct is to be wary of introducing more complexity than necessary. An approach like this suggests a plane browser that requires no prior knowledge on the part of the player of all the potential categories, so as to not overlook anything. And when string recognition is implemented in the methods to get to the correct category in a file, adherence to spelling is important. A file that the user might alter from time to.time is an invitation to 'breakage.' A structured design of code and the file it reads puts robustness at the forefront.

My experience with GUI related code is exceedingly cursory. And I have a number of projects simmering away already, all fighting for my time and too frequently being put on the back burner by some shiny new distraction.  ;)
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Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. - Hyman Rickover (but probably predating his use.)

Chaoic16

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Re: Aircraft selection Expansion (ASE) GUI
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2021, 08:06:23 PM »

My first instinct is to be wary of introducing more complexity than necessary. An approach like this suggests a plane browser that requires no prior knowledge on the part of the player of all the potential categories, so as to not overlook anything. And when string recognition is implemented in the methods to get to the correct category in a file, adherence to spelling is important. A file that the user might alter from time to.time is an invitation to 'breakage.' A structured design of code and the file it reads puts robustness at the forefront.

My experience with GUI related code is exceedingly cursory. And I have a number of projects simmering away already, all fighting for my time and too frequently being put on the back burner by some shiny new distraction.  ;)

I appreciate your feedback about this proposal.  How about this idea, if this feature is successfully implemented, it is for JSGME only.  That way, people can choose to enable or disable it.  When the newer version of BAT comes out, it can be disabled until the newer version of ASE is out? 

In my opinion, the idea of having three categories of [NATION= ], [BRANCH= ], [ROLE= ], is the best and simple way to go with the aircraft selection.
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Chaoic16

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Re: Aircraft selection Expansion (ASE) GUI (Alternative method included)
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2021, 05:27:47 PM »

The first page is ppdated the first post with an alternative method.
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NobleNerd

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Re: Aircraft Selection Expansion (ASE)
« Reply #4 on: October 06, 2021, 09:44:24 PM »

Say, this would probably work pretty well. No hard split between aircraft, nations, and eras. Just options. Completely different coding and such, but games like Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 use this system in regards to scenery items and the like.

Missions could include a header text that outlines the necessary groups of aircraft.
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