Database Design & Discussion

A new version of the Harpoon Classic Database (HCDB-050220) is available. The download is available from the HarpGamer website (www.harpgamer.com). PLEASE NOTE that we are now just including the commondb.res file to reduce the size of the download and simplify things. Just rename your current commondb.res file (such as commondb_original.res, for example) and copy the new one into the HCG root directory. Keeping the old file will permit you to easily switch back and forth between databases. You do not need to import to play the sim using the new HCDB. You will need to import if you want to use it in the Platform Editor. More details can be found in the FAQ at our website…

We have two main database authors, CV32 and Divefreak who have led two streams of platform database curating for public consumption. As you can see from this sub-forum's threads, neither of those masters are active presently which severely limits the attractiveness of the game to scenario authors. For many, if they can't put the latest platforms in a scenario, they will turn to a different simulation. Being inclined toward writing code I tend to try to solve with technology, in this case writing a new Platform Editor (PE) and the littany of associated changes to the other game components. Benefits: 1. Make the number of entries in the database ne…

The initial release version of the Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) 'Cold War' Database (HCCW-101026) is now available. The database file is available from the Downloads section of this website. PLEASE NOTE that I am just including the commondb.res file to reduce the size of the download and simplify things. Just use your stock HCE commondb.res file. Be sure to rename any custom commondb.res file (such as commondb_custom.res, for example). Keeping the old file will permit you to easily switch back and forth between databases. You do not need to import to play the sim using the new HCCW. You will need to import if you want to use it in the Platform Editor. Tak…

The initial version of the Harpoon Commander's Edition World Wars Database (HCWW-080321) contained the following additions: Ships: Admiral Graf Spee CA - Germany Admiral Hipper CA - Germany Alaska CB - USA Andrea Doria BB - Italy Aoba CA - Japan Asashio DD - Japan Bolzano CA - Italy Enterprise (1943) CL - Great Britain Flower (GB/1940) DE - Great Britain Flower (GR/1940) DE - Greece Flower (NE/1940) DE - Netherlands Flower (CA/Aug 1940) DE - Canada Flower (GB/Aug 1940) DE - France Flower (GB/Aug 1940) DE - Great Britain Flower (GR/Aug 1940) DE - Greece Flower (NO/Aug 1940) DE - Norway Flower (CA/Jun 1941) DE - Canada Flower (GB/Jun 1941) DE - Grea…

A new version of the HCDB2 or Harpoon Commander's Edition Database 2 (HCDB2-161204) is now available. This particular version, is the inaugural version of this new DB for HCE, which builds upon the 10 years of HCDB success and takes on a new focus to exploit new capabilities within the sim. The file is available from the download section of this website (www.harpgamer.com). Please note that we are now just including the commondb.res file to reduce the size of the download and simplify things. Just rename your current commondb.res file (such as commondb_original.res, for example) and copy the new one into the HCG root directory. Keeping the old file will permit…

The initial release version of the Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) 'Americas' Database (HCDA-080302) is now available. The database file is available from the Downloads section of this website. PLEASE NOTE that I am just including the commondb.res file to reduce the size of the download and simplify things. Just use your stock HCE commondb.res file. Be sure to rename any custom commondb.res file (such as commondb_custom.res, for example). Keeping the old file will permit you to easily switch back and forth between databases. You do not need to import to play the sim using the new HCDA. You will need to import if you want to use it in the Platform Editor. Th…

Brad, Thanks. Nice additions. Just came up with a few ideas for the next version... * SSN 23 Jimmy Carter (after modifications for carrying special ops teams, etc.; see HazeGray for details) * Variant Israeli Dolphin submarine...there are rumors she can carry nuclear-tipped land attack cruise missiles. Why not include a version that does? * Carrier-capable version of the A-4M Skyhawk * My copy of Jane's ('91-'92) says the Super Etendard (France) was capable of carrying nuclear bombs AND the French nuclear standoff missile (separate loadouts) and could also carry Magic AA missiles; might be interesting to the give the French a carrier-based nuclear…

File Name: HCCW-140314 (1950-75 era) File Submitter: CV32 File Submitted: 26 Oct 2010 File Category: Databases HCCW-140314 by Brad Leyte (replaces the earlier version, HCCW-140220) The HCCW (Harpoon Commander's Edition 'Cold War' Database) is a custom database for the period 1950-75. The stock HCE scenarios for EC2003 and Westpac will NOT function with this database installed. Use the stock HCE 'commondb.rsr' to ensure platform pic compatibility. The HCCW adheres to a policy of adding platforms but not deleting to retain backwards compatibility with all HCCW scenarios. Copyright @ 2010-2014, Brad Leyte. HCCW database content is licensed under a Creative Comm…

Meddling with my personal modified DB, apparently many ships magazine have been translated from a ship to other, how can I correct it? I don't find in the platform editor any table with ships magazines, to see what is lacking. Thanks.

File Name: HC_65to80_DB File Submitter: divefreak File Submitted: 22 Feb 2008 File Updated: 27 Feb 2011 File Category: Databases Authors: René Haar Game Version: HCE Hi this is an attempt to create a db for the old times when missiles were not the most important weapon.... The last changes to HCE make this possible.... It is a derivate/follow on of the merged Euro and Atlantic DB, therefore it is covering 90% of the world´s navys So all scen designers are welcome to create scens for this db. Fixed some crashes with faulty Loadouts and mounts.... A little comment on the naming convention for all entries an (x) before the name mar…

This thread has been created to accommodate requests for the Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) World Wars Database, or HCWW. The HCWW is a custom database that will initially focus on aircraft, ships, submarines and installations of the Second World War, and in due course, if room is available, select platforms from the First World War. It is important to keep in mind the limitations of the current code when it comes to modeling WW1/2 era engagements, however, including: less than ideal modeling of aircraft guns; difficulty in modeling radio intercept; no limitations to communications; targeting based on formation center rather than unit to unit; etc. That said, I…

As discussed in the other thread, I am toying with the idea of a new, revamped HCDB that would look to fully exploit the new increased entry limits in the DB annexes. This new version of HCDB would depart from the stock scenarios supplied with the sim and from all scenarios created with the DB up to the point of departure. The old version of HCDB (1980-2015) would be maintained in place to preserve compatibility with those older scenarios. Goals for the new HCDB would include: * a focus on the post Cold War period (post 1991) * getting rid of the large amount of duplication in the Installations annex (no longer necessary now that we can rename units an…

Regrettably a Microsoft update has broken scripting functionality that the PE uses to import and export databases. DoCmd.TransferText acImportDelim/acExportDelim Is the command in question when using named Import and Export specifiers. This is not unique to the PE but it is a rarely used feature of Microsoft Access. It is unclear if or when Microsoft will remedy the issue via an update. There are alternatives but I won't be able to crank one out all that quickly as this functionality was an efficient way to remap field names for the .csv files you find in the commondb\res\ folder. To work around the problem, that mapping all has to be recreated in so…

Here we can link to and contribute public domain pics for the latest DB. Anything on wikipedia is game right? I think it will be important to track in this thread the proof of public domain status of each image and the ID number that you and Brad assign to each image (or IDs assigned if they are used for more than one commondb.rsr). A link to a high resolution version of the file is also a hopeful contribution to the goal of being able to use higher resolution media down the road. A brief intro to the licensing is that most wikicommons materials fall under... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Tex...nported_License Surface craft Osprey 55 cla…

This discussion branched off from the EW hands on Red flag topic into a full blown DB discussion, so let me copy it over here, the proper place. The bonus is that Enrique's post from 2012 is just few topics away from here, that one is probably the Philosopher's Stone of RCS so far!! (If forum admin could replace this post with posts #17-#31 from the "EW hands on: Red Flag - Russians invited" topic in General that would be even better.) (( Damn, forum doesn't allow me to just quote the other posts, too many quotes ..., attempt to copy them unquoted.)) Here it is: Grumble, on 31 May 2014 - 02:13 AM, said: I just played my first scenarios with the Westpac battle…

In anticipation of the soon to be released BattleSet Builder, in which HCE players will now be able to play scenarios across the entire globe, I've put together a new database that focuses on the 'Americas' - North, South and Central. The Harpoon Commander's Edition Database - Americas (HCDA) contains a wealth of new aircraft, ships, submarines and installations for the theater, as well as retaining and/or adapting many platforms from the official database of the Harpoon Commander's Edition simulation, the HCDB. This allows the fullest range of scenarios to be created with the BattleSet Builder tool, from Soviet/Cuban interventions in Central America and the Caribbe…

Hello, I have another question. At aircraft entry, we have a slot called ECM. Is it compatible with ECM pod. For example, if we have a 10% ECM slot and a ALQ-131 ECM pod with 20%... Do we get a total of 30% ECM (10%+20%)? This is different if we have two ECM pods (20%*2=40%) that we know we can't have.

With the addition of Westpac, a recreation of WWII in the Pacific would be on my wish list for HCE. What are the obstacles in creating a new database using Japanese, British and American platforms and loadouts? Is it even possible to do? Your comments, please. Regards, Terry

File Name: HC-50to65-DB File Submitter: divefreak File Submitted: 13 Apr 2010 File Updated: 31 Dec 2010 File Category: Databases Authors: René Haar/Enrique Mas Game Version: No Information Hi this is an attempt to create a db for the old times when missiles were not the most important weapon.... The last changes to HCE make this possible.... It is a derivate/follow on of the merged Euro and Atlantic DB, therefore it is covering 90% of the world´s navys It is still at a Beta Stage, so you can expect errors, faults and changes.... So all scen designers are welcome to create scens for this db. Fixed some crashes with faulty Loadouts and m…

Hi all, re the latest couple of HCWW data bases (090605 &090618). I like the idea of playing back in WW2 with out all them there modern stuff, but I can't get my blue pilots to fire their guns at other planes. I've even sicked them onto planes with no armament, but they just fly around them looking stupid. Any one else having this happen.? Don Thomas [CV32: Edited]