*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
*********************************************************  HILLS GENERATOR FOR EAW v1.0  **********************************************************************
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************


INTRODUCTION **********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Elevations already exist in the original EAW landscape : they range from 0 (sea level) to about 3000 meters (south-eastern Europe).
However, probably because of some AI and display troubles, the elevations were underscaled by Microprose in most areas of the landscape. 
The utility is designed to modify the original elevations.


FEATURES ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************

This DOS program is able to change, in a global way, the scale of the original elevations. New randomly-generated landscapes can be created .
 It is also possible to set all rivers and/or roads and/or cities to sea level .
 Endly, the utility automatically sets the airbases and targets to horizontal and coasts to sea level.

It creates a new file (EAW16.HM) which contains the modified elevations and which has to be copied into the main EAW directory.

PROCEDURE *************************************************************************************************************************************************************

1) Create a new directory (for example, a subdirectory called "Hills generator" in your main EAW directory).
2) Unzip the whole content of Hills_Generator_v1.zip into the"Hills generator" directory.
3) Double-click on the LAUNCH.BAT file. A DOS Window should start the utility.
4) Follow the instructions
5) When completed (2-5 min depending on your CPU), copy or move the newly-created EAW16.HM file from the  "Hills generator" directory
    to your main EAW directory. It is done.

HOW DOES IT WORK ? ************************************************************************************************************************************************

First, the program will ask the user two parameters :

**      Scaling factor (SF) (from 0 to 256)  **
 0 will yield an all-flat landscape, whatever the other parameters used
 1 will change nothing
 2 will cause a two-fold increase of the elevations
 3 will cause a three-fold increase of the elevations 
     and so on ...
 
**     Upper limit of the elevations (UL) (from 0 to 4000 meters)   **
0 will yield an all-flat landscape, whatever the other parameters used.
4000 will provide the higher elevations in EAW
Another  value, 500 for example, will yield a landscape with elevations lower or equal to 500 meters.

If you select SF = 2 and UL = 4000, the elevations will increase twice but 2% of the total ground elevations will stack at 4000 meters.
This is  not a problem and these settings can be used to simulate realistic elevations for the European landscape.
With SF = 5 and UL = 4000, the percentage will raise to 10. With SF = 25 and UL = 4000 : 51% !
This becomes a real problem since many land areas will be flat at ... 4000 meters !
 
To avoid such a phenomenon which strongly limits the use of  the scaling factor, the program can randomize the elevations reaching the upper limit.

In that aim, the program will ask the user another parameter :

**     Lower limit of the elevations (LL) (from 0 to UL in meters) to be randomized   **
For example, if UL= 4000 and if LL is set to 2000, then any elevation higher than 4000 meters will have a new random value 
between 2000 and 4000 meters. 
Of course, in that example, if LL is set to 4000 (UL value), no randomization will occur.
This feature not only avoids the flat land areas at the maximal height set but also provides new customized landscapes.
 By adjusting the difference between UL and LL, one may influence the average slope of the randomized hills : 
 from very smooth to very steep.

Then, four options will be proposed :

**    set all rivers to sea level    **  or
**    set all roads and cities to sea level   ** or
* *   set all rivers, roads and cities to sea level   ** or
*    none of these settings   *

Either the first or third options are strongly recommended to avoid rivers running up and down the hills (wierd in very hilly areas).

Finally, the program will set the airbases and targets to horizontal (to make them usable in missions and campaigns)
and coasts to sea level (to avoid " sea-wal"l effects).


APPLICATIONS ******************************************************************************************************************************************************

Just two examples :

*  Willing to figure out a more realistic european landscape (acceptable in most areas)?
   Try the following settings :
    - Scaling factor = 1.8
    - Upper limit of elevations = 1000
    - Lower limit of elevations = 100
    - All rivers set to sea level (option A)

This is just a suggestion ...

*  Willing to generate a new landscape with nice hills everywhere ?
   Try the following settings :
     - Scaling factor = 256 (max value)
     - Upper limit of elevations = 800
     - Lower limit of elevations = 100
- All rivers, roads and cities set to sea level (option C)

Start an allied mission at Easchurch, for example, and admire those awesome hilly coasts and mainland ...

These are just two examples of what can be done with the utility. It up to you now, have fun !



Dominique " DOM " Legrand   -    October 2000

Dominique.Legrand@univ-lille1.fr 
