July 2000

These files allow the player to select one out of 21 pre-defined front lines
in EAW single missions.

Each front line has its own zip file and jepg pic : FL#1(Default).zip  to FL#20.zip 
and corresponding FL#1(Default).jpg to FL#20.jpg.
FL_France.zip (pic = FL_France.jpg) contains a new front line I designed 
for a " new " France 40 campaign but it can also be played in single missions.

Thanks to the pics, select the front line you want to use 
in single missions. Then, just unzip the corresponding FRNTLINE.DAT file 
and drop it into your EAW main directory. You're done !

Don't forget to delete the FRNTLINE.DAT file from your EAW main directory 
if you want to play default or customized campaigns.
Further campaigns using one or several of these files should be released 
in a next future. I hope so !


Dominique LEGRAND 

For further informations :
Dominique.Legrand@univ-Lille1.fr

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EDITING NOTES TO CAMPAIGN MAKERS AND PROGRAMMERS*************************

The data that code for the front lines in EAW are contained in FRNTLINE.DAT 
which can be extracted from DATA.CDF with the Paolo Morais'CDF extractor. 
When edited and modified, this file can be dropped into the EAW directory. 
EAW will use it in both campaign and single mission modes. 
--------------------------------------------------------------
OVERALL STRUCTURE OF FRNTLINE.DAT
(note : byte numbering is in the decimal system): 
The file is 12,000 bytes long and consists of 20 blocks of 600 bytes each. 
Each block contains the data of a particular front line : 
- block #1 : default front line used in the static 40 and 43 campaigns, as well as in the beginning of the 44
campaign.
- blocks #2-20 : 19 front lines used in the dynamic 44-45 campaign from Normandy Front to Eastern
Germany. 

STRUCTURE OF A BLOCK : 
Each block consists of 9-27 patterns, each coding for the coordinates of one point of the front line :
The first pattern codes for the down or right end point of the front line.
The last pattern codes for the upper or left end point of the front line.
A total of 29 patterns (points) are possible for one front line. 

Structure of a pattern (20 bytes) : 
bytes 0-7 : coordinates of a point. These data are coded (code unknown at the moment).
            byte 7 : E9 to E4. Always E4 for the last pattern of a block. First pattern : E7 in blocks #1-6 and E9 in
            blocks #7-20
bytes 8-15 : always FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
byte 16 :   either 00 or 01. This byte determines whether the point is connected to the following one with a
            blue (or red) line on the mission maps.
            00 : no line; 01 : line. (Points located in the sea have byte 16= 00)
bytes 17-19 : always 00 
End of a block : a repeat of sixteen bytes set to FF. 

The structure of a block can be edited to create new front lines, combining yet-existing point coordinates
or creating new ones (?). 
--------------------------------------------------------------

I put together data from blocks #1 and #13 to create a front line which corresponds to the boundaries of
France (Fl_France.zip).

The FRNTLINE.DAT files included in this zip consist of only one block 
repeated 20 times and are designed for static campaigns or single missions.
Of course, it could be possible to assemble 20 new blocks for new dynamic campaigns.
However, one has to generate coordinates to create new front lines.
I am currently giving a try on this. Hope I'll succeed. 
