Collapsible menus within the unit list

[Northstar98]

Hi everyone,

 

With the Mirage F1 introducing 23 variants of the aircraft (which FWIW I absolutely love - no other module is that comprehensive, even with only AI variants) would it be possible to have collapsible menus within the unit listing?

Primarily for instances where we have multiple variants, so for the Mirage F1 we'd have something like [+] Mirage F1, which when clicked on would expand into all the variants:

[-] Mirage F1:

• Mirage F1B
• Mirage F1BD
• Mirage F1BE
• Mirage F1BQ
• Mirage F1C
• Mirage F1C-200
• ...

 

Something like this though would be perfect for things like battery components of SAMs. It would also have the added benefit of allowing us to use names that are simultaneously shorter and less ambiguous while keeping them very easy for users to figure out what goes with what.

So for example, instead of having:

• SAM SA-10 S-300 “Grumble” Big Bird SR
• SAM SA-10 S-300 “Grumble” C2
• SAM SA-10 S-300 “Grumble” Clam Shell SR
• SAM SA-10 S-300 “Grumble” Flap Lid TR
• SAM SA-10 S-300 “Grumble” TEL C
• SAM SA-10 S-300 “Grumble” TEL D

 

We'd have [+] S-300PS [SA-10b Grumble], which when clicked on would expand to show:

 

[-] S-300PS [SA-10b Grumble]

• 54K6 'Baikal' BCP
• 5I57A generator
• 5N59S [Tin Shield B] SR
• 5N63S [Flap Lid B] FCR
• 5N64S [Big Bird B] SR
• 5N66M [Clam Shell] SR
• 5P85S TEL(M)
• 5P85D TEL(S)

Here the Big Bird and Tin Shield should also be listed separately, with the name given (omitting the SAM SA-10 S-300) as these are also used as general purpose EWRs (though perhaps EWR should replace SR in that case).

 

Where components are present in 2 different groups, they should be present in each menu (essentially duplicating it), an example being Rapier, where we have the components to make the initial Rapier and Rapier FSA:

Spoiler

[-] Rapier (initial)

• Rapier Mk 1 LAR
• Optical Tracker
• Sector Engagement Zone
• Missile Supply Trailer
• Generator
• Land Rover 101 FC
• Land Rover 109 S3

[-] Rapier FSA

• Rapier Mk 1 LAR
• Optical Tracker
• DN 181 Blindfire FCR
• Sector Engagement Zone
• Missile Supply Trailer
• Generator
• Land Rover 101 FC
• Land Rover 109 S3

 

This sort of thing could also be used for ships, both for ships where we have individual members of classes/subclasses as separate units and where individual units are contained within the liveries.

Obvioulsy in any case, there should be buttons to expand/collapse all.

Spoiler

If anyone doesn't know the initialisms I've used above, here's a glossary:

• BCP - Battery Command Post
• EWR - Early Warning Radar
• FCR - Fire-Control Radar
• LAR - Launcher and Radar
• SR - Search Radar (note, this used for both surveillance (excl. early warning) and acquisition radars)
• TEL(M) - Transporter Erector Launcher (Master) - IRL, S-300PS have a master TEL controlling up to 3 dumb 'slave' TELs. The master TEL is in turn controlled by the FCR. Unfortunately this functionality isn't present in DCS (it would essentially allow you to take out a group of 4 launchers just by destroying/disabling the master).
• TEL(S) - Transporter Erector Launcher (Slave)

Edited December 29, 2022 by Northstar98
grammar

[Hairdo1-1]

YES x100000000

[Tank50us]

Oh this would help immensely, especially once all the ground units have been updated. An M1 Abrams for example could go:
[+] M1 Abrams

• M1 Abrams
• M1IP
• M1A1
• M1A2
• M1A2SEP (this would have additional options for the ERA plating, and various bits of TUSK gear)

This would greatly reduce the time it takes to sort through the various things, and give us a "At a glance" way of looking for what we need.

That said, one thing that would be nice is if we could get into the loadouts of tanks, troops, and ships. Rather than the current state of the ground and sea units.

[Northstar98]

3 hours ago, Tank50us said:

That said, one thing that would be nice is if we could get into the loadouts of tanks, troops, and ships. Rather than the current state of the ground and sea units.

Absolutely - I don't want the set up of say, the BM-30, which has 2 distinct entries in the unit list, despite being completely identical, just loaded with different rockets.

[WinterH]

Pretty good suggestion really! I'd quite like seeing this, yes.

[Topo]

+1