PMC Editing Wiki

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====== Falcon 4 TacEdit ======

[[https://www.pmctactical.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=47|Falcon 4.0 Forum]], [[:falcon4|Falcon 4 Home]], [[falcon4:campaign|Falcon 4 Campaign]], [[falcon4:cockpits|Falcon 4 Cockpits]], [[falcon4:database|Falcon 4 Database]], [[falcon4:file_formats|Falcon 4 File Formats]], [[falcon4:srtm|Falcon 4 SRTM Terrain]], [[falcon4:terrain|Falcon 4 Terrain]], [[falcon4:textures|Falcon 4 Textures]], [[falcon4:tools|Falcon 4 Tools]]

**Falcon 4 TacEdit** is used to edit Tactical Engagement and Campaign files (also should work on all savegame.cam files and training files etc).

It uses very powerful [[http://www.tcl.tk/|TCL]] scripts which you can use to create, delete and modify any and all objects and units found in the tac/cam files.

For F4AF users please read [[https://www.pmctactical.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=184558#p184558|how to run Tacedit on F4AF database]] in our forum.


====== TCL Scripts ======

TacEdit has TCL script support, this allows us to perform amazing tasks using scripts, where no hand editing could ever reach.

Please read [[falcon4:tools:tacedit_tcl|TacEdit TCL]] page for further info.


====== Usage ======

Here is quick summary of how to use TacEdit menus.


====== File Menu ======

File menu is the first menu available with basic functions.


===== File -> Run Script... =====

This runs the TCL script. Just use Run Script... and choose a script, its automatically ran when you click open, no questions asked.

You will be greeted with final status dialog when the script as completed running.


===== File -> Properties =====

**File -> Properties**

This is where you configure few important parts regarding how Tacedit reads the files.

**Theater Strings**

This shows you for example //D:\games\f4\Theaters\PMCKorea\campaign/korea.wch// which means that the korea.wch file is used to load the campaign strings (names, etc).

**General Strings**

Honestly, we are not sure :)

In our example case it says: //D:\games\f4\Theaters\pmckorea\campaign\/strings.wch// which is kind of weird.

**Theater Directory**

This tells the program where to point the file browser dialog when you use File Open or Save As... for example. In our example case its: //D:\games\f4\Theaters\pmckorea\campaign\//

**Object Directory**

This is the directory where Tacedit reads the database. For example we have this mysterious dir of: //D:\games\BACKUP-f4-SP42\terrdata\objects// which is our backup directory where stock default Falcon 4 + [[falcon4:superpak|SuperPAK (SP)]] v4.2 database files are located.

If you have several databases in your Falcon installations, like OF, AF etc... you need to specify the currently used database in this properties line.

Its been said that in this crazy AF, RV and OF world of editing you should use the original SP v4.2 database as its the most compatible between each of the different Falcon versions. Of course for highly tuned campaign editing you should select RV database if you're making campaign for it etc. PMC has used SP v4.2 database when creating the 2008 theater development cycle theater releases, they seem to work fine on all Falcon versions.

**Current Dir**

This is the directory where you loaded your //current// campaign file, it doesn't need to be necessarily the same as the theater dir, it just shows where your current .cam or .tac file is opened.


====== Edit Menu ======

Edit menu is the second menu available.


===== Edit -> Delete All =====

**File -> Delete All**

This command simply deletes all entries you have listed in the current screen. Being it the campaign window, mapview, object list or units window.


===== Edit -> Base Coords =====

**Edit -> Base Coords**

This dialog sets the base latitude / longitude settings for your theater, which then can be seen properly in the mapview when using a mouse pointer.


===== Edit -> Base Obj ID =====

**Edit -> Base Objective ID**

Is the first objective ID given to any new objectives placed by user. For any new objectives created Tacedit uses the first free objective ID number, sometimes user needs to have gap in the objective ID's for example for bridges and so on. Setting this base objective ID value will cause Tacedit to only issue ID digits from above this setting.


====== Insert Menu ======

Insert menu is mostly for objectives and units adding.


===== Insert -> Add Objective =====

**Insert -> Add Objective**

Simply brings up the Objective Dump dialog, where you can add new objective.


===== Insert -> Add Unit =====

**Insert -> Add Unit**

This simply brings up the New Unit Type dialog, where you can add new unit.


===== Insert -> Build PAK Map =====

**Insert -> Build PAK Map**

This feature only works in mapview window. It builds the "invisible" PAK map for you, then you need to use File -> Save PakMap to save the file.


===== Insert -> Build Occupation Map =====

**Insert -> Build Occupation Map**

This will build the occupation map which you can see on the Falcon in-game squadron selection map and in the news blip map where the colors are changed according to who controls which part of the theater territory.

When you use this feature, it asks a proper .THR file from you which it uses for source (somehow).


====== Objectives Menu ======

Objectives menu is all about objectives.


===== Objectives -> Reset Parents =====

**Objectives -> Reset Parents**

It will reset all parent links (green lines).


===== Objectives -> Remove Bad Links =====

**Objectives -> Remove Bad Links**

Removes bad links.


===== Objectives -> Recalculate Links =====

**Objectives -> Recalculate Links**

Not working.


===== Objectives -> Check Objectives =====

**Objectives -> Check Objectives**

Checks all objectives against any errors it might detect, this is very nice feature to go systematically through all objectives. Notice that when it finds an error, it only brings up the objectives dump window, it doesn't tell you what is wrong, you'll need to figure that out by yourself.

Also it is highly recommended you run Objectives -> Repair Objectives feature first before using this, because most of the times if there is problems with them, you'll get several hundreds (if not thousands) of these error report pages.

To cancel Check Objectives, just click "Cancel" button on the objective dump window.


===== Objectives -> Repair Objectives =====

**Objectives -> Repair Objectives**

Will repair all objectives, so they won't be "damaged" or destroyed in the campaign/mission start.


===== Objectives -> Auto Flag Objectives =====

**Objectives -> Auto Flag Objectives**

It automatically puts proper flags for certain objectives, for example airbases all need to have X and Y set (just an fictional example), so this feature does that automatically.


===== Objectives -> Calculate Radars =====

**Objectives -> Calculate Radars**

Calculates the radars.


===== Objectives -> Clean Objective Flags =====

**Objectives -> Clean Objective Flags**

Cleans the objective flags, dialog comes up asking Is GCI and Is Radar feature.


===== Objectives -> Export Objectives =====

**Objectives -> Export Objectives**

Exports all objectives into a CSV file.


===== Objectives -> Import Objectives =====

**Objectives -> Import Objectives**

Imports new set of objectives from a CSV file. Make sure your campaign is empty if you are importing fresh full CSV file, or if you only import partial new objects then you can proceed with existing objectives loaded. Import objectives function doesn't check for duplicate already existing objectives.

Usually when you import new objectives and save your tac/cam file, Tacedit asks for <theater>.wch file name, this is the name strings file for objectives where it wants to update the new names imported from your CSV file.


===== Objectives -> Create POL =====

**Objectives -> Create POL**

Its only available when you are in the POL window, its the political objectives, created from priority objectives (I think heh).


====== Units Menu ======

Units menu is all about units.


===== Units -> Check Units =====

**Units -> Check Units**

Checks units that they are OK... (gee whiz).


===== Units -> Auto Fix Units =====

**Units -> Auto Fix Units**

Always ran when making a new campaign.


===== Units -> Rebuild Squadrons =====

**Units -> Rebuild Squadrons**

When new squadron is created, or existing one moved etc, run this feature to make it properly into the Campaign window list.


===== Units -> Export Units =====

**Units -> Export Units**

Exports all units into a .uni file.


===== Units -> Import Units =====

**Units -> Import Units**

Imports all units from a .uni file.


====== View Menu ======

View menu is most part of what view settings is used for the mapview window.


===== View -> Name Font =====

**View -> Name Font**

Very useful to make the font smaller as in large campaigns the name labels get very cluttered when the font is big.

Font is unfortunately reset to default when you go outside Mapview and come back again.