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Briefing Editor
 
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Overview WYSIWYG Instruction List Strings Accessories Adding Instructions

 
Adding Instructions
This section will explain the function and parameters of each of the Briefing Instructions, and how to add them from both the WYSIWYG page and the Instruction List page. 

Instructions are added using the various insert instruction buttons on the Toolbar:
 
 

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When adding instructions from the Instruction List page, the instruction will be inserted into the currently highlighted point in the list.
 
 

E.g. to add a Move Map instruction into the Instruction list, first select the position in the list that you want to add it.

Instruction List before

Hit the Insert Move button and the Item is inserted with the same Time value as that selected slot.

Instruction List after

You can then increase the Time of the following instruction, with the Adjust for all... option on, if you want to give the new instruction some space .

The Instruction List is useful for deleting Instructions, changing their sequence, and tweaking their parameters. 

You can also change the sequence of events using the  buttons.

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When adding from the WYSIWYG page there is no need to pause the Briefing before you hit one of the buttons, although it will be easier to place them more accurately. If it is playing when you insert an Instruction the playback will either continue, if the instruction requires no other parameters, or pause to display visual controls with which you can set the rest of the parameters. The descriptions below assume you insert the instruction while playing.

Note that the Title Text instruction, while used in the official missions, is not used by the game engine and so has no function. The title seen in the game comes instead from the mission's description in the .lst files.
 
 

..Stop Point  Required parameters: None

This is not an animation instruction, but simply defines the point the briefing will jump to when the Forward button is clicked while watching the Briefing within the game.
 
WYSIWYG: 
Play the Briefing to the point you want to insert the stop point and just hit the button. Playback will continue.
Instruction list:
Select the point in the list you wish to insert the Instruction and hit the button.

 

..Move Map Required parameters: X, Y

This will cause the map to move from its current position and scroll so that it ends centred on the specified co-ordinates.
 
WYSIWYG: 
Play the Briefing to the point you want to move the map then hit the button. Playback will pause and X and Y scroll bars will appear at the sides of the map.

Map + scroll bars

Use the scroll bars to move the map to the position you want and press the Done button that appears.
Instruction list:
Select the point in the list you wish to insert the Instruction and hit the button. In the edit boxes that appear, type in the X and Y co-ordinates (in kms) that you want the map to move to. 

Alternately, you can select a FG from the drop box and the X and Y co-ordinates will automatically be set so that the Map will move to be centred on that FG. When you want to centre on a FG, this is easier than using the scrollbars to line the Map up on a specific FG.

 

..Zoom Required parameter: X

This will cause the whole map to zoom in or out from its current zoom level so that it ends at the specified zoom level. In this case the X parameter is the zoom level rather than a co-ordinate, and the Y value is automatically locked to X.
 
WYSIWYG: 
Play the Briefing to the point you want to zoom the map, then hit the button. Playback will pause and a zoom bar will appear under the map.

Map + zoom bar

Adjust the zoom with the zoom bar and press the Done button.
Instruction list:
Select the point in the list you wish to insert the Instruction and hit the button. Type in the zoom factor you want in the X edit box that appears.

 
 

..Briefing Text..Required parameters: Index

Displays the specified Briefing Text at the bottom of the Map. It will replace any text previously displayed there.
 
WYSIWYG: 
Play the Briefing to the point you want to insert the stop point and hit the button. Playback will pause.
Choose Text
From the drop down list, select the Briefing Text you want to be seen at that point and press the Done button.
Instruction list:
Select the point in the list you wish to insert the Instruction and hit the button. Select the Briefing Text you want to use from the drop down list that appears.

 

..Box FG Required parameters: Index

Shows an animation of a box enclosing the specified FG. There are 8 different boxes available, and actually 8 different instructions:  FG Box #1 to FG Box #8. Using the same box more than once in a briefing will mean it disappears from around the FG it was the previously assigned to (if it hasn't already been cleared with a Clear Boxes instruction.) XvtED will attempt to use the next box in sequence when you hit the Box FG button.
 
WYSIWYG: 
Play the Briefing to the point you want to insert the stop point and just hit the button. Playback will pause.
Choose FG to box
Select which FG you want to box from the drop down list and press the Done button.
Instruction list:
Select the point in the list you wish to insert the Instruction and hit the button. Select which FG you want to box from the drop down list that appears.

 

..Clear All FG Boxes.. Required parameters: None

Clears all currently visible FG Boxes.
 
WYSIWYG: 
Play the Briefing to the point you want to clear the boxes and hit the button. Playback will continue.
Instruction list:
Select the point in the list you wish to insert the Instruction and hit the button.

 
 

..Map Tag Required parameters: X, Y, Index, Color

Shows the selected short text at the specified position on the Map.There are 8 different Tag slots available, and actually 8 different instructions: MapTag #1 to MapTag #8. The program will attempt to use the next Tag in sequence when you hit the Map Tag button.
 
WYSIWYG: 
Play the Briefing to the point you want to show the Map Tag and hit the button. Playback will pause.
Choose Map Tag
Select which Map Tag you want to use, and the color you want it to appear, from from the drop down lists. Click on the Map to set its X and Y co-ordinates. You can click as many times as you want until you press the Done button to save the position.
Instruction list:
Select the point in the list you wish to insert the Instruction and hit the button. Select which Map Tag you want to use, and the color you want it to appear, from from the drop down lists that appears. Enter the X and Y co-ordinates of the top left point of the Tag.

 

..Clear All Map Tags ..Required parameters: None

Removes any currently visible Map Tags from the Map.
 
WYSIWYG: 
Play the Briefing to the point you want to clear the tags and hit the button. Playback will continue.
Instruction list:
Select the point in the list you wish to insert the Instruction and hit the button.