TacOps v405AM Updates Posted

[MajorH TacOps Developer]

TacOps v405AM update patches for Mac and Windows have been posted to the downloads page.

A. Download and then Unzip or Unstuff the patch file for your OS.

B. Then read and carefully follow the instructions contained in the file "Instructions & Copyright.txt". This is not an auto installer. You must manually copy/move each file from the patch folder to a precise location in your TacOps 4 folder - so as to replace any files or folders of the same name.

This patch is only for the retail editions of TacOps v403 through v405AL. Do not apply this patch package to TacOps v3.x or to any military version of TacOps. This patch is comprehensive for TacOps v403 through v405AL so there is no need to retain or install any previous patch.

If you have previously installed the v405AL patch then the only thing that you really need to install this time is the TacOps4 program file - TacOps4 (Mac) or TacOps4.exe (Windows).

Below are the changes that have been made to the TacOps4 program since v405_AJ.

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v405AM

Hobby user request. Made the bridge placement step in the Options/Engineering/Build Bridge menu item consistent with all other engineering items. The user can now continue to place bridges on the map until pressing a key or right clicking on the map. Previously the user could only place one bridge on the map before being returned to the Engineering Window.

Hobby user request. Made the LZ placement step in the Options/Engineering/Build LZ menu item consistent with all other engineering items. The user can now continue to place LZs on the map until pressing a key or right clicking on the map. Previously the user could only place one LZ on the map before being returned to the Engineering Window.

Bug fix. Fixed a rare crash bug in the pop up menu that is summoned by right clicking on an on map unit marker.

Bug fix. Due to unintended side effects, deleted the following item which was added to the program on 040122. Hobby user request. The resupply window now remembers and defaults on opening to check mark whichever of the following check boxes was last selected: "Conceptual" or "Logistics Package".

Developer initiative. Multiplayer Teams mode. Changing fog of war settings on host now does not require a situation update before advancing to the combat/movement phase.

Developer initiative. Removed the English language check box from the startup screen. The French language user interface is disabled and out of date so there was no need to retain the English box.

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v405AL

Hobby user request. Reordered the target priority groups in the Direct Fire Target Priorities window so that their top to bottom order matched the left to right order of the target priority buttons in the Unit Orders window

Hobby user request. Added the following keyboard short cuts:

Do Blue Unit Orders Ctrl + 1 (Mac Cmd + 1).

Do Red Unit Orders Ctrl + 2 (Mac Cmd + 2).

Do Green Unit Orders Ctrl + 3 (Mac Cmd + 3).

Do Gray Unit Orders Ctrl + 4 (Mac Cmd + 4).

Do Ivory Unit Orders Ctrl + 5 (Mac Cmd + 5).

Do Orange Unit Orders Ctrl + 6 (Mac Cmd + 6).

Do Gold Unit Orders Ctrl + 7 (Mac Cmd + 7).

Do Yellow Unit Orders Ctrl + 8 (Mac Cmd + 8).

Hobby user request. The resupply window now remembers and defaults on opening to check mark whichever of the following check boxes was last selected: "Conceptual" or "Logistics Package".

Hobby user request. The standard Ctrl + C keystroke for copying text (Mac Cmd + C) now works in the Name Unit window. The standard Ctrl + V keystroke for pasting text (Mac Cmd + V) now works in the Name Unit window.

Hobby user request. When the Name Unit window is opened, the check box labeled "Use Same Name For Mounted Troops" is now check marked by default.

Hobby user request. Changed the "Display way point times" button icon in the Orders frame of the Unit Orders window from a question mark icon to a clock icon. Changed the "Display engagement range rings" button icon in the Fire Control frame of the Unit Orders window from a question mark icon to a circles icon. The use of the question mark icon for these icons was judged to be an unintuitive conflict with the "Help" button icon (a question mark inside of a yellow circle) that is used in other places in the program.

Hobby user Request. Changed unit names containing "XIAV" to use "Stryker" or "XStryker" instead of "XIAV".

NAVAIR request. Changed the unit type name for the unmanned aerial vehicle from "UAV" to "Aircraft, UAV".

Developer initiative. Completed work on changes to network code which produced a 50% decrease in the time required to transmit those portions of the situation update that are related to game status statistics, common random number array, mines, bridges, LZs, obstacles, entrenchments, smoke, and wreck markers. This change produced no significant improvement in the transmission speed for the unit order of battle portion of the situation update/orders exchange.

Developer initiative. The Orders Time Limit window now always remembers and defaults on opening to display the last used settings for minutes and seconds. Previously these settings were zeroed whenever the user turned this feature off. This created extra work for the umpire in a Multiplayer Teams Network game, who often needs to briefly disable this feature in order to do an administrative task and then turn it on again.

Bug Fix. The unit data base record for the US AAAV wrongly included an ATGM flag when no ATGM weapon is in fact present.

Bug Fix. The unit data base record for the US Helo AH64 GS wrongly included an ATGM flag when no ATGM weapon is in fact present.

Bug Fix. The unit data base record for the OPFOR SNAR10 Surveillance Radar wrongly included an ATGM flag when no ATGM weapon is in fact present.

Bug Fix. The unit data base record for the OPFOR ARK1M Artillery Locating Radar wrongly included an ATGM flag when no ATGM weapon is in fact present.

Bug Fix. Corrected a minor cosmetic drawing bug present in most buttons.

Bug Fix. The Network Status window was wrongly named "Network Report".

Bug Fix. The program failed to instantly update the ammunition status line at the bottom of the Unit Orders window when a user resupplied an on map artillery or mortar unit.

Bug Fix. Multiplayer Teams Network mode. If the umpire was using the Orders Phase Time Limit feature and if he selected the "Network/Pause Game" menu item, the program failed to cancel the count down timer for the Orders Phase Time Limit. When the timer reached zero the umpire computer would wrongly start the combat/movement phase despite the Pause Game instruction.

Bug Fix. The US D7 Bulldozer was wrongly coded as amphibious.

Bug Fix. When a user opened the "Change Air Support" window or the "Change Artillery" window , the program displayed an incorrect hint in the information line at the bottom of the map window. The program now correctly displays "Select one item from a list". Previously it wrongly displayed "Click on minefield to delete. Touch a key or click on empty map to quit".

Bug Fix. When in "Play by Email" mode, the program failed to disable the "Options/Engineering" menu item during the orders phase. The program does not currently support the use of this umpire function during a Play by Email game.

Bug Fix. Multiplayer teams hosting mode. The program failed to automatically enable and check mark the "Options/Ignore Unit Setup Limits" menu item when a scenario was initially loaded on the host computer.

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v405AK

Bug Fix. The program failed to consider the current eye visibility limit when checking spotting of bridges, obstacles, and landing zones. The program would wrongly reveal these items based only on a line of sight check.

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v405AJ

Bug Fix. The program would wrongly display information for unspotted obstacles and minefields if the user right clicked on the map at the location of a currently unspotted (invisible) obstacle or minefield.

Bug fix. The constant for number of items in the Network menu was too high by one number. Effect on program unknown but believed to be harmless.