BCS:TNG   - Acta, non verba

Latest Version is: 1.0.6

SHORT DESCRIPTION

This program is the intended replacement of the old Tactical Display Editor which was written way back in 2003.
The program allows you to position icons properly by either changing X/Y values through the textboxes or by draging the icons on the screen and offers something called Icon Linking which makes your life a lot easier ;)

GENERAL PROGRAM USAGE & FAQ

-To use the TDIE properly it is advised first to set it up.

Go to File -> Options and then point TDIE to your BC installation, adjust Icon Placement background to any color you want and turn on/off any features you want.

Options Editing

First the difference between Working Directory Location and Alternate Locations. Remember not to setup both at the same time, if you use alternate locations clear the working directory location and vice-versa.

Working directory location will distinguish several types of working locations (I should note that if neither location is specified, working directory or alternate directory, TDIE uses these methods as default. Some guessing is involved of course which is not perfect.):
1. Bridge Commander structure if you pointed it to root BC folder (where stbc.exe is located). This always has priority over any other option, this is used for folder browse dialog and for autoloading icons. So I.E. if you loaded an HP from c:\somepath\scripts\ships\hardpoints TDIE will recognize the structure and autoload an appropriate icon from c:\somepath\data\icons\ships directory.
2. Looking in the same directory where the HP was loaded from. So if you loaded an HP from c:\somepath\my mods TDIE will look for the tga file in the c:\somepath\mymods also.
3. Custom BC like structures which pretty much is the same as first point.

Alternate Locations (as mentioned do not specify the working directory and the alternate directory at the same time):
If this is specified TDIE stops using inbuilt guessing method and starts using Alternate locations as default. So if you specified c:\hps where to look for hardpoints TDIE will by default look in there, and for icons if you specified c:\icons TDIE will look by default in there then.

What is "Autoload Icons"?
This option loads the appropriate ship icon immediately after you load the hardpoint.

What is "Auto Apply changes made to hardpoints"?
If this option is enabled TDIE will auto apply any changes made to the hardpoint automatically without the need to press Apply Change(s) button.

What is "Change Icon Background"?
This option allows you to change Icon Placement window background color to anyone you desire.

What is "Show non-targetable systems"?
This option is used for Damage Icon editing and if enabled shows every system regardless of its SetTargetable attribute setting. If disabled TDIE will filter out all systems which are not targetable and won't show them.

-After you adjusted Options to your desire go to File -> Load -> Hardpoint and load an HP first. If Autoload Icon option is enabled program will attempt to load a proper Icon for it, if no icon is found then you need to manually load the Icon for it. Same goes if you turned off this feature, you need to manually load a desired Icon each time. At any time you can load a new icon, should you desire.

Arc/Indicator Editing

When you loaded all the appropriate files you can start editing Icon Placements. There are 3 ways to edit them (Remember to select a system first):
1. Using the textboxes
To edit icon positions using this option simply edit X/Y values and then either left click or right click on the Update Position(s) button.
Left Clicking a button will change Arc position(s)
Right Clicking a button will change Indicator position(s)
2. Mouse Click
Left or Right click anywhere on the Icon Placement window to update X/Y coordinates then either left click or right click on the Update Position(s) button.
Left Clicking a button will change Arc position(s)
Right Clicking a button will change Indicator position(s)
3. Drag Icons
If you hold down Left Mouse button you will update Arc Position(s), if you hold down Right Mouse button you will update Indicator Position(s).

What is "Icon Above Ship"?
This value determines if the icon will be shown above the ship in the Tactical Display in the game.

What is "Link Icons and Indicators"?
This option if enabled serves several purposes:
1. If you switch the Arc or Indicator TDIE assigns automatically a proper Arc/Indicator pair for it
2. When you update position(s) via any means this option also moves the Arcs/Indicators altogether and aligns them properly. This saves you time so you don't have to individually update X/Y of Arcs then Indicators, it saves you a step.

What is "Apply What"?
If you enabled Auto Apply or you are manually applying changes this option determines which changes will be applied on the HP.

How to change Arc/Indicator type?
To change all you need to do is click on a picture and that is it. If Icon Linking is enabled then this will change the Arcs and Indicators. Check What is "Link Icons and Indicators" for more info.

How to use "No Arc(s)"?
If Icon linking is enabled clicking on this button makes the Arcs and Indicators icons disappear. If it is not enabled then the following applies:
Left Clicking on No Arcs button makes the Arc Icon disappear.
Right Clicking on No Arcs button makes the Indicator Icon disappear.

What is Arcs/Indicators switch?
This option is auto updated properly when using Left/Right click options. If you manually change them you will only update the textbox values for the proper Icon type.

When Icon Linking is enabled and I change Arc/Indicator type they are misaligned?
Updating Arc/Indicator type doesn't update their positions it only changes the types. You need to actually position them properly to have that effect. Fastest way is to click on the first Update Position(s) button which is located under the numeric textboxes.

Damage Editing

Remember to select a system first. Editing is pretty much the same as for editing Arcs/Indicators.
1. Using the textboxes
To edit icon positions using this option simply edit X/Y values and then either left click or right click on the Update Position(s) button.
2. Mouse Click
Left or Right click anywhere on the Icon Placement window to update X/Y coordinates then either left click or right click on the Update Position(s) button.
3. Drag Icons
Hold left mouse button or right mouse button and drag the Icons to position icons.

After you are done editing go to File -> Save to save the changes made to the HP or go to File -> Save As to save it as a new HP.

Release Date: 05.06.2010

Screenshots