New to Editing, would like some help with config editing

[matt_baker1942 3]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forums and new to the Arma editing scene. I've played Arma for about a year or so now and switched over to it from BF2. Once I discovered the extensive modding for Arma 2 as with BF2, I was instantly hooked and loved to mix and match the different mods out there. Now, I'd like to dip my fingers in and try some of it for myself. I used to do some small modding with BF2, nothing public just private minimods. But now that i've switched to Arma 2 id like to see what I can do.

ANYWAY! I wanted to start by organizing my ingame editor. With all the extra addons ive put in, whenever I use the mission editor in Arma, its just cluttered and hard to find stuff. For example, an F/A-18 will be found under USMC-->2nd Marine Aircraft wing---> F/A-18, when in my preference, it could just follow the same set up as the rest of the marine aircraft and be under USMC-->Air-->F/A-18. Now this is just one case, theres a bunch of scattered around factions and vehicles that id like to organize. Its my understanding that in order to do this, I'd need to edit the config.cpp for them and replace some stuff in order to get them into the right places. But my knowledge of what to change is limited and confusing so I've come here. Basically, I've wanted to know how to change where certain vehicles and units show up in the editor. Does anybody think they can help?

Second question, I've looked at some tutorials for replacing skins in Arma and it looks simple enough for me to make new skins. Anyway, with all the addons ive put in my game, I have not come across and Force Recon reskin that puts them in a desert camo that is to my liking (picky I know). Anyway, I'm able to reskin the force recon to easily give them all new desert camo, but what I want to do is not replace it, but to make another section under USMC that says Men (FR Desert). Again this comes back to configs (I think) and I wanted to know what would be required for me to duplicate the force recon units and rename them.

Any help is appreciated guys, I apologize if these were brought up before, and if so just tell me where to go and I'll go. Thanks

[[aps]gnat 28]

Welcom Matt

Some simple ways to learn

Search for someone who asked for the same (forums questions go back 10 years and the principles are the same)

Search for and addon that does same similar, use one of the many tools to open and read configs to see how its done

Get the ALL-IN-ONE config from Dev Heaven. That shows all the "normal" way configs are built.

For both tasks you want, you'll need to make an addon that creates a "copy" of the unit, except with the few wanted changes.

The original will still be there (in the menu), but your (extra) addon will likely not be compatible with missions that use the original authors addon.

A "copy" can simply be created through your addon being simply a CONFIG.CPP and maybe a texture.

You do not need all the authors material to create an copy, just know their config details.

As for modifying the addon .....

I myself am ok with opening addons to learn from, but I like the community don't approve opening and modifying other peoples addons, even if they are "only for private use".

Good luck.

[matt_baker1942 3]

Thank you for the info, I'll look into it. And I did not know private use modifying was frowned upon, I'll probably just skip my first part and move on to the next. Is it okay for me to modify BIS content?