TonyE

Yay, an informational message worked but quite clearly needs more useful information :). I'm assuming you mean the recent scenario from Enrique File - Carribean Basin -FONOPS off Venezuela 2020. Historical/Alternate History Scenario. - Scenario Design & Discussion - HarpGamer . That suggests the game version you need is 2015.008 but it is really 2017.011 or newer as version 5 of the scenario file format was introduced in version 2017.011. You can get the current game version from the Beta downloads area here. Current Files - General - HarpGamer The betas are currently very stable.

Thanks guys, the boys are into Super Wings so we've been building out an airport. We printed two large grey hangers which each hold six small Super Wings planes and a smaller blue hangar. It has been fun.

I'll take RONALD REAGAN 2016-12.scq as an example. Here is what I did... Searched HarpGamer for Ronald Reagan and saw an entry that looked promising. Reagan against China, December 2016-early 2017. Hypothetical/Historical Scenario. - WestPac - HarpGamer That entry says you need the HCDB2 database. Looking in the downloads area, I see that at HCDB2-170909 (1980-2025) - Databases - HarpGamer Just because HCDB2 is the database for this one example doesn't not mean HCDB2 is the database for all of them. An alternate approach for new enough scenarios is to open the scenario file with Notepad and near the beginning will be the database name like "HCDB-150621"

The pandemic has encroached again leaving us as a family of two full-time working adults with a 100% distance learning child and a daycare child whose room at daycare is closed for two weeks of quarantine. Pray that we don't get sick (the daycare protocols are pretty strict so we're not too worried). See you on the other side!

Without ge.log we'll need to know what scenario you are trying to play so that we can point you to the right database. Here is a video that walks you through some of it, https://youtu.be/4yHAXxGep6w

You can't screw it up badly enough that doing a download of HCDB from HarpGamer here won't fix it. Usually you can just run rest_cdb.bat in your game directory with the game closed.

As you learn the ins and outs, please write that guide. Like many volunteer efforts, those who do dig in learn how to accomplish something then don't turn back and document it for the next newcomer. Be the one who breaks that chain for managing databases.

Here is a related video that I recorded a while back. I'm hoping to record some updated ones soon.

The EC2000 and older BattleSets each have a database of platforms embedded right in the BattleSet files (i.e. hdsh.res has map, scenarios, database, ...). The CommonDB BattleSets are EC2003 and newer with the exception of the re-done USNI BattleSet (the USNI with the pretty map), and any BS Builder created BattleSet that has an embedded DB. It is called Commondb since that commondb.res and commondb.rsr pair applies to more than one BattleSet. In practice that means you want to make sure to match up the scenario with the BattleSet. For any of the stock scenarios, use HCDB (not HCDB2). You can always find it in the commondb.bak directory. There are lots of ways for you to juggle the various CommonDB databases. You can save them to sub-folders and swap the correct one into the main game folder before you start the game or you can use the HC Launcher and point it to the correct DB or you can download the right DB each time you play. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Accomplished 2020.017 Implemented: Made changes in each of the programs to allow 255 ship types, aircraft type and aircraft subtypes. Oldest supported MS Access version remains XP/2002. Concept: Changes so that up to 255 ship types can be in the DB. Requested by Divefreak.

HCE - 2020.017 - 2020-12-01 =========================== - Chg:00000 PE Oops, when changing ACType to 256 items, that also changed ACShtType but I hadn't coded all of the utilities for that. 2020.016 was not released, 2020.017 fixes that shortcoming in the GE, SE, PE, and db_make. HCE - 2020.016 - 2020-12-01 =========================== - Chg:30973 PE pfBuild Open File dialog works again (for choosing pfData file to link) thanks to switching from comdlg32.dll approach to the built-in Access.Application.FileDialog. (thanks TonyD) https://harpgamer.com/harpforum/topic/30973-pe-open-file-dialog-when-browsing-for-a-different-data-file-doesnt-show/ - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild, pfData Changed DB Property "DataVersion" from 4 to 5 given the below structural changes for 255 platform subtypes per 'Annex'. - Chg:00000 PE pfData lPlatformSubTypes table, ID column constraint changed from <128 to <256. - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild cFileIO::BSStringsExport updated ShipType FieldSize from 8 to 12. - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild cFileIO::BSStringsExport updated ShipType RecordCount from 128 to 256. - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild cFileIO::BSStringsExport updated ACType RecordCount from 128 to 256. - Chg:00000 GE BSStrings MAX_SHIP_TYPES from 128 to 256, SHIP_TYPE_SIZE from 8 to 12. This includes versioning BSStrings (current version now == 4) - Chg:00000 GE BSStrings MAX_AC_TYPES from 128 to 256 - Chg:00000 DU Updates to handle RESRSRStructureVersion == 4 - Chg:00000 GE Updated RESRSRStructureVersion to 4 from 3 - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild Modified fMenu::Import button to tack on the CDB path when prompted for a path. Export button already had it. - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild Select directory dialog works again thanks to switching from comdlg32.dll to Access.Applicaiton.FileDialog. - Chg:00000 SE Orders\Set Group Speed menu item is no longer always greyed out. There are a lot of other menu and button and disabling issues that could be addressed, just took this one and one collateral item this time through. (thanks Ralf)

Which game are you running Commander's Edition/HC or Advanced Naval Warfare/ANW/H3?

Addressed in 2020.016 by switching to the Access.Application.FileDialog.

In VBA7 the comdlg32.dll OpenFile dialog can't be used. I've tested the approach listed at ms access - Convert Open dialog VBA code to 64 bit - Stack Overflow and it works fine. Just need to integrate it correctly in the PE for the next build.

Unfortunately no, Country names are laid out in a comma-delimited format, the total width of which can be 32767 characters. We are still limited to 4096 items per core annex (ships, subs, planes, ...). But 4096 is still a lot better than the 2048 that we started with! Rene made a good case for more ship subtypes yesterday so that is my next big project. We'll double from 128 to 256. ETA 2 weeks.

Accomplished 2020.015 Implemented: Made changes in each of the programs to allow 1023 countries, each with a maximum width of 32 characters. I did not test country names wider than 16 characters and expect buffer overflows in the SE as longer country names become more prevalent in the DBs. Oldest supported MS Access version remains XP/2002. Concept: "Change, PE, DB, SE, GE to allow 255 countries instead of 127. Import Specification field width is set to 4096 characters, Access 2016 can go up to 32,767 which is enough for more than 255 countries. Need to test earlier Access versions. 2020-11-24 testing Access XP/2002 and confirmed 32767. If we double the width of a country name from 16 to 32 characters, we can fit 1023 country names within 32,767 characters. For 2015.021 released 2015-10-16 the minimum MS Access version was bumped up to MS Access XP aka 2002."

HCE - 2020.015 - 2020-11-27 =========================== - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild Changed Import Spec "bsStringsImport", RowData from 4096 to 32767 which is the maximum allows in Access 2002/XP thru 2019 - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild Changed cFileIO::BSStringsExport CountryName FieldSize from 16 to 32. BSStringsImport doesn't need any changes. - Chg:00000 PE pfData Changed lCountryList Description field width from 16 to 32. - Chg:00000 PE pfData Changed lCountryList ID field from type Byte to Long Integer Changed lPlatform Country field from type Byte to Long Integer - Chg:00000 PE pfData Changed lCountryList ID field Valiation rule from < 128 to < 1024 as 1024 * 32 == 32768 which is one more than the maximum field width in Access. - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild Changed ImportSpecs a1ShipOutput, a2SubOutput, b1PlaneOutput, P1BaseOutput country field from type Byte to Long Integer. The a1Ship (import) specs were already at Integer so didn't need to changed but I did anyway. - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild, pfData Changed DB Property "DataVersion" from 3 to 4 given the above structural changes. - Chg:00000 DU dbMake ReadBSStrings adjusted to parse the size line to determine the RESRSRStructureVersion. - Chg:00000 DU Many other db_utils changes to accomodate the country name structure changes. - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild Changed BSStringsExport magic number from 6976 to 37696 to accomodate the country name structure changes. - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild changed BSStringsExport to add entries to add empty entries as needed up to the max number so that db_utils can work properly. - Chg:00000 GE Fixed a 2008 attempt to convert torpedo acquisition ranges from yards to DUs. The code was doing the conversion then immediately going back to yards. - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild Changed BSStringsImport variable types from Byte to Integer where needed to handle the greater possible number of countries. - Chg:00000 PE pfBuild now writes out DatabaseStructureVersion.txt to make sure db_utils makes the proper format commondb.res and commondb.rsr. - Chg:00000 GE Incremented DLL interface version to 27 for changes below. - Chg:00000 GE ExportDLL DLLInit added parameter RESRSRStructureVersion so the DLL can know what version of DB structures to expect. Current version is 3. Element is an unsigned long. - Chg:00000 GE ExportDLL DLLInit added parameter AnnexVersion so the DLL can know what version of Annex structures to expect. Current version is 2. Element is an unsigned short. HCE - 2020.014 - 2020-11-19 =========================== - Chg:00000 GE Incremented DLL interface version to 26 for changes below. - Chg:00000 GE ExportDLL interface DLLInit now sends the information about custom licensed copies of the game. hclicense_dt_expire (time64_t) hclicense_licensee (255 characters) usblicense_desc (255 characters) - Chg:00000 GE Fixed a year 2038 bug in HCLicense checking. HCE - 2020.013 - 2020-10-18 =========================== - Chg:00000 GE Update to license checking code.

The Matrix Holiday sale is underway. In the U.S. store, the game is on sale for $9.60! Grab a copy or three, we have great things coming in 2021 and 2022 starting with the expansion from a maximum number of countries in the database to over a thousand from just over a hundred! Larry Bond's Harpoon - Ultimate Edition - Game - Matrix Games

Ah, I bet the Matrix Launcher still tries to run the 16-bit SE. I never use their launcher so forget about things like that. Thanks!

I think you have the terms GE (Game Engine aka Winharp32.exe) and SE (Scenario Editor) mixed up. Outside of that, run the GE as Administrator so that the license check works. The license checker is from Matrix Games (not us!) and for some strange reason it wants write access to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE in the registry when it checks your serial number. Let us know if you need more assistance.

though nothing around unit pictures has changed since 2020.003.

The BattleSets EC2003 and newer are the newest and all leverage the commondb approach to database management. EC2000 and earlier BattleSets have a [static] per-BattleSet platform database and photos. The commondb BattleSets have the editable database represented by the commondb.res (platform data & such) and commondb.rsr (photos, songs, & such) files. HCDB2 is the most modern database at present though I hear there is a likely revival of the HC EuroDB databases underway. HCDB is the commondb BattleSet that comes with the game and is compatible with the built-in scenarios. As a result, it is the one I use unless a user-submitted scenario here at HarpGamer was built with one of the newer databases. Here is what I see for Iowa class battleships. I circled where you find game version/build number and commondb database name & version.

Chances are good none are defined for the units you are viewing. Whether a picture shows up is a combination of what BattleSet and database you are using for a particular scenario. You'll have to give more detail if you suspect a problem.

Zack, sadly I stayed focused on my non-hobby tasks this week so all I invested was some brain power toward tools to help you. There is still hope this calendar year but don't hold your breath.

There are a few long-time players like yourself who keep track of their favorite version. I for one took years to come to terms with the adjustable window layout of Harpoon 97. I was one of the few to buy the EC2000 add-on for WinHarp (just before Harpoon 97 was released) and played that Windows 3.1 looking version of the game until Byron, Ed, and the gang as a community effort cranked out Harpoon Classic 2002. Finally the game mechanics changes were so overwhelmingly compelling, I had to give up my legacy user interface. Some more information sources in addition to the ReleaseNotes that Tony mentioned: http://harpoonpages.com/h2002faq.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpoon_(series) though it doesn't list features, it does list some of the releases. There are a smattering of Readme files (READ.ME, README.TXT, ...) buried in the HC20 directory structure under the main game folder that have some details. That all said, the compelling features of the most recent builds (betas here at HarpGamer) is general stability of the game, improved radar and jamming models, and the ability for air to air refueling tankers to offload fuel more than once per sortie. There are thousands more changes that improve the game and hopefully not many that make it worse!