Sidebar Editor — Quick Guide

Alpha 0.1.2

Changelog

• Alpha 0.1.2
  • Swapped JSON serialization to nlohmann::ordered_json so generated files keep the game’s ordering/indentation and reuse existing parent IDs and VERSION tags.
  • Fresh level preset exports now carry forward the source PARENT_ID and respect previously written IDs when re-exporting.
  • Tool settings (LevelEdit root, list selections) now persist in sidebar_editor_settings.json under the OS app-data folder instead of the registry.

What this tool does

Curate and edit Purchase Settings Presets from the global definitions, then push those changes back to:

• the global Database/Global/Definitions/GlobalSettings.json, and/or
• one or more levels under Database/Levels/<Level>/Definitions/GlobalSettings.json.

You can also assign a default camo (forest/desert/urban/snow) per level and reorder textures accordingly.

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Menu actions

Choose Source Lists

Opens a picker of Purchase Settings Presets from the global definitions. Check the lists you want to work with; those become the tabs in the main window.

Retarget LevelEdit Folder

Pick a new LevelEdit root.

Note: currently APB layouts only.

Update Global From Current Tabs (Selected Lists)

Patches the global definitions for the lists you selected. Only fields you edit are updated (cost/tech/etc.); structure and unrelated lists are preserved.

If you select multiple presets from the same team/type (e.g., Allied Vehicles Forest + Snow), items are merged by unit (base preset + alts) using a canonical key so you don’t get duplicate units.

Update Levels From Current Tabs

Writes your opened lists into one or more levels.

• Creates or updates “Sidebar Editor Custom {Team} {Type} List” sections.
• Assigns unique DEF_IDs automatically (guards against duplicates).

Propagate Changes to All

Propagates edited unit fields across every preset that contains that unit (e.g., bump APC cost in all camos/lists). (This does not create new temp lists.)

Assign Camouflage to Levels

Opens a dialog to map each RA_* level to a default camo:

• Apply to Selected: tags the level in the list so you can see the assignment.
• Save Profile: saves your map→camo mapping.
• Apply camo to level files: reorders TEXTURE and ALT_TEXTURES within the level to prioritize the assigned camo, preserving up to 3 alts and indentation. (This does not create new temp lists.)

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Main window

• Click an icon: cycles the camo preview (visual only).

• Double-click an item to edit:

  • COST
  • TECH_LEVEL
  • SPECIAL_TECH_NUMBER
  • UNIT_LIMIT
  • FACTORY
  • TECH_BUILDING
  • FACTORY_NOT_REQUIRED

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Typical workflow

1. Choose Source Lists you want to edit.
2. Make changes in the Main window (double-click items).
3. Update Global From Current Tabs to patch the global file, and/or Update Levels From Current Tabs to write to specific levels.
4. (Optional) Assign Camouflage to Levels and Apply camo to level files.

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Paths & files

• Global definitions (source): LevelEdit/Database/Global/Definitions/GlobalSettings.json
• Level definitions (target): LevelEdit/Database/Levels/<Level>/Definitions/GlobalSettings.json
• Level presets (auto-generated): LevelEdit/Database/Levels/<Level>/Presets/GlobalSettings.json
• LevelEdit location / list selections persist in sidebar_editor_settings.json (stored under your OS app-data folder — e.g. %APPDATA%/Sidebar Editor/sidebar_editor_settings.json on Windows).

Tip: back up your LevelEdit database folder before bulk updates.

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Bundled utility: texconv (.dds → .png)

This repo includes Microsoft’s texconv to help convert .dds textures to .png (useful for previews/exports).

Example usage:

texconv -ft png -o "out" "in\*.dds"

Common flags:

• -ft png — output format
• -o <dir> — output directory
• -y — overwrite existing files

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Known limitations (planned to address)

• No support yet for Team Purchase Settings, Neutral Vehicles, or Secret Characters.
• No manual reordering of purchase items (beyond camo reorder).
• Camo update and Propagate All doesn’t create new temp lists; it only reorders textures in existing entries.
• APB-only LevelEdit layouts.

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Glossary

• Team: 0 = Allied, 1 = Soviet
• Type: 0 Infantry, 1 Vehicles, 4 Extra Vehicles, 5 Air, 7 Extra Air, 6 Navy
• Preset group: base PRESET_ID + up to 3 ALT_PRESETIDS treated as one unit for merging/deduping.