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Here is a comprehensive set of instructions for downloading, installing and using all manner of user-made
add-ons (a.k.a. "Mods" -- modifications) for Panzer General II, including custom PG2 campaigns:
~ Whoopy-Cat's PG2 MODS for DUMMIES

Depending on your Internet browser, you might find it easiest to view and/or print a Rich Text Format copy of these instructions using this link:
~ View RTF of Whoopy-Cat's PG2 MODS for DUMMIES

If you want to print "Whoopy-Cat's PG2 MODS for DUMMIES", you can download a printable version which should work with whatever word processing program you use:
~ Download Zipped PG2 MODS for DUMMIES


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BASIC INSTRUCTIONS for INSTALLING PG2 CAMPAIGNS


Installing custom (i.e., user-made) campaigns for Panzer General II is a very simple process in and of itself.

The process can be a bit more involved if custom (user-made) maps are required, or if the campaign was not made for use with the stock SSI equipment file. But even then, the process if fairly straight-forward, and once you have done it once or twice you'll wonder why you ever had trouble the first time.

In general, installing a new campaign involves the following steps:

- Find the campaign you want to download. PG2 campaigns can be found in a number of places. Steve's campaign page is far and away the most comprehensive collection of PG2 campaigns. In fact, pretty much every campaign that has ever been made for Panzer General II is available on Steve's site. A list of links to the campaigns on Steve's site can be found in the CAMPAIGN INDEX at the top of this forum. This index is sorted several different ways to help you find the campaign you're looking for. If you don't know which campaign to try first, check out the various reviews on this forum.

- Download the campaign. When you click the link to the download your computer will display a dialogue box asking if you want to run the program from its current location or save it to disk. You should save it to disk. Use this dialogue to navigate your computer's hard drive and save the download package somewhere you can easily find it later.

- Unzip the download package. Use WinZip to decompress the download package. You will want to extract the package to a location on your computer that you will be able to easily find. Use the "Select different folder" button to navigate your computer's hard drive. You can create a new folder for the campaign's files if you want. When you have selected or created the appropriate folder, click the "Unzip Now" button to extract the files.

- Read the ReadMe file. There should be a ReadMe file somewhere in the unzipped download package. Although the instructions may simply repeat the instructions you are reading right now, it is still highly recommended that you read the ReadMe document before you proceed. If there is anything special that should be done when installing that particular campaign, it will be found in the ReadMe.
Note from Steve: I cannot emphasize this point enough... always read the campaign documentation!

- Put the campaign files in your SCENARIO folder. Sometimes the campaign files are in another zipped package within the original zipped package. Sometimes there are French and German versions as well as the English version. Unless you are using the German or French version of PG2, you will want to use the English version. If the campaign files are zipped you will want to unzip the package, extracting the contents to the SCENARIO folder in your Panzer General II directory (usually called "panzer2" unless you gave it a different name when you installed PG2.

THAT'S IT! Your campaign should now be installed.

If you are not using the Builders Paradise user-made patch you can only have eight campaigns installed at any one time. There are five original ("stock") SSI campaigns. That leaves room for only three custom user-made campaigns. If you have never installed a new campaign, you don't have to worry about it. If you are using the Builders Paradise user patch the scroll bar in the campaign list dialogue works properly and you aren't limited to only eight campaigns. If you are not using the Builders Paradise patch or you have never installed any other campaigns, don't worry about it until you go to install a fourth campaign, at which time you will either want to use the BP user patch or remove on or more campaigns from your SCENARIO folder.





If you want a more detailed explanation or if you want to use a custom equipment file (most user-made campaigns were not designed to be used with the standard SSI Panzer General II e-file), or if the campaign requires the use of custom maps, there are several places you can get information about these things.

- PG2 MODS for DUMMIES is an extremely detailed set of step-by-step instructions for downloading, installing and using custom user-made "mods" (i.e., modifications) for PG2. It is written by the KING of DUMMIES (uh, that would be ME! ) so that even those with little or no experience or computer savvy can figure out the process. The link (pub88.ezboard.com/fjpspanzersfrm4.showMessage?topicID=254.topic) takes you to a post in JP's Panzer General 2 Technical Library (pub88.ezboard.com/fjpspanzersfrm4)

- If you want to print the "PG2 MODS for DUMMIES" instructions, you can also download them HERE (jpspanzers.com/hst/wc/2_grp/pg2_mods.zip). This is the same document as the one above, but the download version is a "Rich Text Format" document which means it can be read in almost any word processing program. If you experience difficulties with this version, please write to me at whoopy-cat@jpspanzers.com.

- Sometimes it's nice to have another perspective on an issue. So some of you will prefer the way Steve Brown explains the process. As a premiere campaign designer and owner of the definitive site for downloading PG2 campaigns, Steve is about as qualified as anyone to explain the process of installing new campaigns. Steve's Campaign Installation Instructions can be found here: www.wargamer.com/pg2campaigns/steve/pg2-campaign-install.htm.



Of course there are a lot of other places where some very nice campaign installation instructions can be found. But for now, either of the above two resources will work. If you find neither of the above links to work well for you, try looking through the rest of this topic for links to still more sets of instructions.


If after reading this post and trying the above links, you still have questions or problems with the process, feel free to post a message at JP's Panzer General 2 Forum at pub88.ezboard.com/fjpspanzersfrm16 and someone will help you.