Partly because of the way I position the various Windows on my display, I have run into some apparently inconsistent behavior relating to the Windows automatically switching focus, or auto-centering, or auto-panning, so I'm curious if there is a way to avoid these undesired aspects.

 

First, regarding auto-focusing:

 

To make my Group and Unit Windows as large as possible, I have overlayed ("tiled") those two Windows. Consequently, I've observed that when I have the Unit Window in front of the Group Window, and certain Staff Assistant dialogs or orders dialogs pop up that have a "Select" button on them, in some cases, clicking on "Select" will automatically bring the Group Window to the front, allowing me to see the "highlighted" (i.e. - selected) group... but on other dialogs, clicking the "Select" button does not bring the Group Window to the front, and since there is no way that I've found to manually swap the Group and Unit Windows while a dialog is up, in these cases, I can't see what group is being highlighted (on the Group Window), and as far as I can tell, it does not hightlight it on the Unit Window anyway.

 

So, I'm wondering if all of these "Select" actions shouldn't bring the Group Window to the front in order to show the highlighted group - to be consistent, if nothing else. Also, is there any good work-around to see the highlighted group in the cases when it doesn't automatically focus the Group Window, in lieu of having all of the Select actions work alike?

 

Second, regarding auto-centering of the view in the Group Window:

 

In some cases at least, when a group gets "highlighted", the Group Window will auto-center on that group. (It's not clear to me whether this happens in all cases, or only if the Group is originally outside of the current viewing area at the time it gets "highlighted"; also, I don't use the Unit Window enough to say how things work in the Unit Window). Similarly, auto-centering of the viewed area occurs when launching an air patrol, and (IIRC) when setting waypoints in a course. Many times, this is desirable, but in a few instances, it would be better if the view on the Group Window would not shift automatically, so, that leads to my third question:

 

Third, regarding keeping the Window view from "panning":

 

I'm curious if there is some way to "lock" the view on the Group window. (I notice a "Lock" button on the Unit Window, although I'm not sure of its function, but the Group Window does not have a "Lock" button). I have a lot of trouble with the Group Window's view "self-panning" when I'd prefer it to stay put. This includes times when I have it magnified and positioned on an area of interest, and I attempt to launch an air patrol (which often causes the view to shift), or when I "highlight" a group in order to find it (which sometimes causes the view to auto-center on that group), or when I try to use the scrolling bars on the Window (and the view goes nuts), or when I move the cursor over the Window (and the view "self-pans"), or some other situations where the view may auto-adjust when I'd prefer it to say put. So, my question is whether there is some practical way to "lock" the view when I want to keep it in place for some reason.

 

Thanks.

Part of what you describe seems to be a good reason to have both group and unit windows available side-by-side, both maximized as much as reasonably possible.

 

Part of what you describe seems to be normal but inappropriate game behaviour. For example, the scroll bars behave badly. And yes, the interface is clunky. Still, I'm not volunteering to fix it.

Part of what you describe seems to be a good reason to have both group and unit windows available side-by-side, both maximized as much as reasonably possible.

If things worked more consistently, it would avoid most need to keep both windows exposed concurrently. That is, one could "get away with" having the windows overlaid, with no particular difficulties as a result.

 

In any case, I've yet to find a way to expose both (all) Windows, yet still have the Group Window large enough to cover the involved area while being magnified enough to actually distinguish individual groups when the action gets going. Consequently, I make the Group Window very large and overlay it on parts of the other Windows.

 

Part of what you describe seems to be normal but inappropriate game behaviour. For example, the scroll bars behave badly.

That's what I was wondering...

 

... ANd yes, the interface is clunky.

I don't know that I'd go that far, but there is some stuff that appears to be inconsitent with other similar operations... and may be relatively easy to make consistent. If so, it would help the situation a lot.

 

... Still, I'm not volunteering to fix it.

I'd volunteer... but I doubt that I have the skills to do it.

It may only compound your annoyance but the current betas and the future versions of the game will have four group windows so you can zoom one in, leave one broad, etc. The gameplay on multiple monitors improves!

It may only compound your annoyance but the current betas and the future versions of the game will have four group windows so you can zoom one in, leave one broad, etc. The gameplay on multiple monitors improves!

 

I don't have multiple monitors, but I have one big 24" widescreen.

A slightly dated screenshot if you don't want to take the latest beta for a spin yourself:

 

http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?s...ost&p=24165

In any case, I've yet to find a way to expose both (all) Windows, yet still have the Group Window large enough to cover the involved area while being magnified enough to actually distinguish individual groups when the action gets going. Consequently, I make the Group Window very large and overlay it on parts of the other Windows.

In some scenarios there are a lot of groups in action. I guess its horses for courses but the best compromise for me is to have both unit and group windows fully visible and about the same size (maybe the group is a bit bigger usually). Both are zoomed in sufficiently to see the detail and then to move the window quickly about the total area of interest I use the little strategic map, left click positions the group window, right click positiones the unit window. You just to need to have in the back of your mind where the various action is taking place.

I find the games behaves best for me if all windows are fitted so that *none* overlap. Because I don't want anything blocked out or have to click a window to get a view. I play on a 22" wide-screen monitor which allows the group window to be quite large and the unit screen a bit smaller.

 

My only complaint with the current version of HCE ( I'm on 2009.042 ) is that the unit screen jumps to a new location when changing the zoom on the group screen. Seems to be random. So I have to re-locate it. Not a big issue but maybe could be looked at.

My only complaint with the current version of HCE ( I'm on 2009.042 ) is that the unit screen jumps to a new location when changing the zoom on the group screen. Seems to be random. So I have to re-locate it. Not a big issue but maybe could be looked at.

Do I correctly understand you, the focus point of the unit window moves sometimes when you change the zoom on the group window?

I don't think I've seen that?

Certainly the "U" and "C" keyboard buttons can refocus the unit window when the Group window is active and a group is selected, and teh group window focus seems to centre on a selected group if the group window zoom is altered but I don't remember other similar things occuring to me. Any hints on the sort of conditions when it happens? Any one else seen this?

Curious.

My only complaint with the current version of HCE ( I'm on 2009.042 ) is that the unit screen jumps to a new location when changing the zoom on the group screen. Seems to be random. So I have to re-locate it. Not a big issue but maybe could be looked at.

Let me correct my original message. The focus of the unit window jumps when changing the zoom level on the *UNIT* window. I was back in a scenario last night to verify that

My only complaint with the current version of HCE ( I'm on 2009.042 ) is that the unit screen jumps to a new location when changing the zoom on the group screen. Seems to be random. So I have to re-locate it. Not a big issue but maybe could be looked at.

Let me correct my original message. The focus of the unit window jumps when changing the zoom level on the *UNIT* window. I was back in a scenario last night to verify that

I'm only working from memory here but I think when you change the zoom the window will focus on the currently selected unit, if there is one selected. If no unit is selected I think the focus should stay put, ditto if it is already focused on the selected unit. Maybe look at that at your next go and see if that is what is happening. If so I think that is the designed operation mode. If it is something else some one else might know what is ahppening or maybe you can be more specific and provide a game save?

I've just checked in game, Don's description of how the unit window behaves is correct in all particulars.