started making changes for next main release

numerous untested changes added. so yea, errors may (will) occur. Changes made while on vacation (damn you rain!) but reflect changes I've had on my mind or created in separate files. 

Mission file searching functions now search by Id instead of group or unit names. The name input variable hasnt changed, value gets converted to Id automatically if found. Functions now also accept a numerical groupId or unitId. 
getPayload
getGroupPayload
getGroupPoints
getGroupRoute

Added planned changes for message display v4. Added some code but it is dormant.

mist.lua

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ mist = {}
 -- don't change these
 mist.majorVersion = 3
 mist.minorVersion = 5
-mist.build = 38 
+mist.build = 39
 
 
 
@@ -1490,7 +1490,13 @@ mist.getUnitSkill = function(unitName)
 	return false
 end
 
-function mist.getGroupPoints(groupname)   -- if groupname exists in env.mission, then returns table of the group's points in numerical order, such as: { [1] = {x = 299435.224, y = -1146632.6773}, [2] = { x = 663324.6563, y = 322424.1112}}
+function mist.getGroupPoints(groupIdent)   -- if groupname exists in env.mission, then returns table of the group's points in numerical order, such as: { [1] = {x = 299435.224, y = -1146632.6773}, [2] = { x = 663324.6563, y = 322424.1112}}
+	-- refactor to search by groupId and allow groupId and groupName as inputs
+	local gpId = groupIdent
+	if type(groupIdent) == 'string' and not tonumber(groupIdent) then
+		gpId = mist.DBs.MEgroupsByName[groupIdent].groupId
+	end
+	
 	for coa_name, coa_data in pairs(env.mission.coalition) do
 		if (coa_name == 'red' or coa_name == 'blue') and type(coa_data) == 'table' then			
 			if coa_data.country then --there is a country table
@@ -1499,7 +1505,7 @@ function mist.getGroupPoints(groupname)   -- if groupname exists in env.mission,
 						if obj_type_name == "helicopter" or obj_type_name == "ship" or obj_type_name == "plane" or obj_type_name == "vehicle" then	-- only these types have points						
 							if ((type(obj_type_data) == 'table') and obj_type_data.group and (type(obj_type_data.group) == 'table') and (#obj_type_data.group > 0)) then  --there's a group!				
 								for group_num, group_data in pairs(obj_type_data.group) do		
-									if group_data and group_data.name and mist.stringMatch(group_data.name, groupname) then -- this is the group we are looking for
+									if group_data and group_data.groupId == gpId then -- this is the group we are looking for
 										if group_data.route and group_data.route.points and #group_data.route.points > 0 then
 											local points = {}
 											for point_num, point in pairs(group_data.route.points) do
@@ -1975,7 +1981,7 @@ mist.DBs.MEunitsById = mist.utils.deepCopy(mist.DBs.unitsById)
 mist.DBs.MEunitsByCat = mist.utils.deepCopy(mist.DBs.unitsByCat)
 mist.DBs.MEunitsByNum = mist.utils.deepCopy(mist.DBs.unitsByNum)
 mist.DBs.MEgroupsByName = mist.utils.deepCopy(mist.DBs.groupsByName)
-mist.DBs.MEgroupsById = mist.utils.deepCopy(mist.DBs.groupsByID)
+mist.DBs.MEgroupsById = mist.utils.deepCopy(mist.DBs.groupsById)
 -------------
 
 
@@ -3442,7 +3448,13 @@ mist.goRoute = function(group, path)
 	return false
 end
 
-function mist.getGroupRoute(groupname, task)   -- same as getGroupPoints but returns speed and formation type along with vec2 of point}
+function mist.getGroupRoute(groupIdent, task)   -- same as getGroupPoints but returns speed and formation type along with vec2 of point}
+		-- refactor to search by groupId and allow groupId and groupName as inputs
+	local gpId = groupIdent
+	if type(groupIdent) == 'string' and not tonumber(groupIdent) then
+		gpId = mist.DBs.MEgroupsByName[groupIdent].groupId
+	end
+	
 	for coa_name, coa_data in pairs(env.mission.coalition) do
 		if (coa_name == 'red' or coa_name == 'blue') and type(coa_data) == 'table' then			
 			if coa_data.country then --there is a country table
@@ -3451,7 +3463,7 @@ function mist.getGroupRoute(groupname, task)   -- same as getGroupPoints but ret
 						if obj_type_name == "helicopter" or obj_type_name == "ship" or obj_type_name == "plane" or obj_type_name == "vehicle" then	-- only these types have points						
 							if ((type(obj_type_data) == 'table') and obj_type_data.group and (type(obj_type_data.group) == 'table') and (#obj_type_data.group > 0)) then  --there's a group!				
 								for group_num, group_data in pairs(obj_type_data.group) do		
-									if group_data and group_data.name and mist.stringMatch(group_data.name, groupname) then -- this is the group we are looking for
+									if group_data and group_data.groupId == gpId  then -- this is the group we are looking for
 										if group_data.route and group_data.route.points and #group_data.route.points > 0 then
 											local points = {}
 											
@@ -4078,14 +4090,17 @@ do
 			new.messageID = messageID
 
 			--mist.debug.writeData(mist.utils.serialize,{'msg', new}, 'newMsg.txt')
+
 			
 			messageList[#messageList + 1] = new
 			
 			local mt = { __index =  mist.message}
 			setmetatable(new, mt)  
-								
+
-								
+			if #messageList == 0 then
-		
+				--displayManager()
+			end
+			
 			return messageID
 			
 		end,
@@ -4255,7 +4270,118 @@ do
 		end
 		
 	end
-	
+	local function mistdisplayV4() 
+		-- goal of v4, send new messages only if message has changed, rather than at a constant rate
+		-- make process more effecient!
+		-- possibly change messages for CA players
+		
+		local caMessageRed = false
+		local caMessageBlue = false
+		local audioRed = false
+		local audioBlue = false
+		local audioPlaying = false
+
+		if #messageList > 0 then
+			--mist.debug.writeData(mist.utils.serialize,{'msg', messageList}, 'messageList.lua')
+			for messageId, messageData in pairs(messageList) do
+				if messageData.displayedFor > messageData.displayTime then
+					--mistMSGDestroy(messageData)
+					messageData:remove()  -- now using the remove/destroy function.
+					
+				else
+					if messageList[messageId].displayedFor then
+						messageList[messageId].displayedFor = messageList[messageId].displayedFor + messageDisplayRate
+					end
+				--[[else
+					if messageData.fileName then
+						audioPlaying = true
+					end]]
+				end
+
+				
+			end
+			for coaData, coaId in pairs(coalition.side) do
+				local CAmsg = {}
+				local newestMsg = 100000000
+				
+				for messageIndex, messageData in pairs(messageList) do 
+					for forIndex, forData in pairs(messageData.msgFor) do
+					
+						if coaData == forData then
+							if messageData.addedAt < newestMsg then
+								newestMsg = messageData.addedAt
+							end
+							if messageData.text then
+								CAmsg[#CAmsg + 1] = messageData.text
+								CAmsg[#CAmsg + 1] = '\n ---------------- \n'
+							end
+							if type(messageData.sound) == 'string' and messageData.addedAt + messageDisplayRate > timer.getTime() then
+								if coaData == 'RED' then
+									audioRed = true
+									trigger.action.outSoundForCoalition(coalition.side.RED, messageData.sound)
+								elseif coaData == 'BLUE' then
+									audioBlue = true
+									trigger.action.outSoundForCoalition(coalition.side.BLUE, messageData.sound)
+								end
+							end							
+						end
+					end
+				end
+				if #CAmsg > 0 then
+					if newestMsg < timer.getTime() + .5 then
+						if coaData == 'BLUE' then
+							trigger.action.outTextForCoalition(coalition.side.BLUE, table.concat(CAmsg), 1)
+							caMessageBlue = true
+						elseif coaData == 'RED' then
+							trigger.action.outTextForCoalition(coalition.side.RED, table.concat(CAmsg), 1)
+							caMessageRed = true
+						end
+					end
+				end	
+			end
+			for clientId, clientData in pairs(mist.DBs.humansById) do	
+				local clientDisplay = {}
+		
+				for messageIndex, messageData in pairs(messageList) do 
+					for forIndex, forData in pairs(messageData.msgFor) do
+						if clientId == forData and Group.getByName(clientData.groupName) then
+							if messageData.text then
+								clientDisplay[#clientDisplay + 1] = messageData.text
+								clientDisplay[#clientDisplay + 1] = '\n ---------------- \n'
+							end
+							if string.lower(clientData.coalition) == 'red' and audioRed == false or string.lower(clientData.coalition) == 'blue' and audioBlue == false then
+								if type(messageData.sound) == 'string' and messageData.addedAt + messageDisplayRate > timer.getTime() then
+									trigger.action.outSoundForGroup(clientData.groupId, messageData.sound)
+								end
+							end
+						end
+					end
+				end
+				if #clientDisplay > 0 then
+					trigger.action.outTextForGroup(clientData.groupId, table.concat(clientDisplay), 1)
+					
+				elseif #clientDisplay == 0 then
+					if clientData.coalition == 'blue' and caMessageBlue == true then
+						trigger.action.outTextForGroup(clientData.groupId, 'Blue CA Recieving Message', 1) -- I'd rather this recive the message with a note that its for CA than a blank message box.
+					elseif clientData.coalition == 'red' and caMessageRed == true then
+						trigger.action.outTextForGroup(clientData.groupId, 'Red CA Recieving Message', 1)
+					end
+				end
+			
+				
+			end
+		end
+		
+	end
+	local funcId = 0
+	local function displayManager()
+		if #messageList > 0 and funcId > 0 then
+			mistdisplayV3()
+			funcId = mist.scheduleFunction(displayManager, {}, timer.getTime() + messageDisplayRate, messageDisplayRate)
+		else
+			mist.removeFunction(funcId)-- kill
+		end
+	end
 
 	
 	mist.scheduleFunction(mistdisplayV3, {}, timer.getTime() + messageDisplayRate, messageDisplayRate) -- add this to the main mist thing
@@ -4896,7 +5022,14 @@ mist.getGroupData = function(gpName)
 	end
 end
 
-mist.getPayload = function(unitName)
+mist.getPayload = function(unitIdent)
+			-- refactor to search by groupId and allow groupId and groupName as inputs
+	local unitId = unitIdent
+	if type(unitIdent) == 'string' and not tonumber(unitIdent) then
+		unitId = mist.DBs.MEunitsById[unitIdent].unitId
+	end
+	local gpId = mist.DBs.MEunitsById[unitId].groupId
+	
 	if unitName and type(unitName) == 'string' then
 		for coa_name, coa_data in pairs(env.mission.coalition) do
 			if (coa_name == 'red' or coa_name == 'blue') and type(coa_data) == 'table' then			
@@ -4906,9 +5039,9 @@ mist.getPayload = function(unitName)
 							if obj_type_name == "helicopter" or obj_type_name == "ship" or obj_type_name == "plane" or obj_type_name == "vehicle" then	-- only these types have points						
 								if ((type(obj_type_data) == 'table') and obj_type_data.group and (type(obj_type_data.group) == 'table') and (#obj_type_data.group > 0)) then  --there's a group!				
 									for group_num, group_data in pairs(obj_type_data.group) do		
-										if group_data and group_data.name then
+										if group_data and group_data.groupId == groupId then
 											for unitIndex, unitData in pairs(group_data.units) do --group index
-												if mist.stringMatch(unitName, unitData.name) == true then
+												if unitData.unitId == unitId then
 													return unitData.payload
 												end						
 											end
@@ -4929,8 +5062,13 @@ mist.getPayload = function(unitName)
 	return 
 end
 
-mist.getGroupPayload = function(groupName)
+mist.getGroupPayload = function(groupIdent)
-	if groupName and type(groupName) == 'string' then
+	local gpId = groupIdent
+	if type(groupIdent) == 'string' and not tonumber(groupIdent) then
+		gpId = mist.DBs.MEgroupsByName[groupIdent].groupId
+	end
+	
+	if gpId then
 		for coa_name, coa_data in pairs(env.mission.coalition) do
 			if (coa_name == 'red' or coa_name == 'blue') and type(coa_data) == 'table' then			
 				if coa_data.country then --there is a country table
@@ -4939,7 +5077,7 @@ mist.getGroupPayload = function(groupName)
 							if obj_type_name == "helicopter" or obj_type_name == "ship" or obj_type_name == "plane" or obj_type_name == "vehicle" then	-- only these types have points						
 								if ((type(obj_type_data) == 'table') and obj_type_data.group and (type(obj_type_data.group) == 'table') and (#obj_type_data.group > 0)) then  --there's a group!				
 									for group_num, group_data in pairs(obj_type_data.group) do		
-										if group_data and group_data.name and mist.stringMatch(groupName, group_data.name) == true then
+										if group_data and group_data.groupId == gpId then
 											local payloads = {}
 											for unitIndex, unitData in pairs(group_data.units) do --group index
 												payloads[unitIndex] = unitData.payload
@@ -5348,7 +5486,7 @@ mist.randomizeGroupOrder = function(passedUnits, vars)
 		end
 	end	
 	return newGroup
-end	
+end			
 
 mist.ground.patrolRoute = function(vars)
 	
@@ -5632,4 +5770,4 @@ scope examples:
 ]]
 end
 mist.main()
-env.info(('Mist version ' .. mist.majorVersion .. '.' .. mist.minorVersion .. '.' .. mist.build .. ' loaded.'))
+env.info(('Mist version ' .. mist.majorVersion .. '.' .. mist.minorVersion .. '.' .. mist.build .. ' loaded.'))