《Spy Tactics》 is an immersive tactical simulation and strategy planning software designed specifically for the Mac platform. It allows users to build, simulate, and analyze complex tactical scenarios and action workflows through professional digital tools. This guide will provide a detailed introduction to its core interface, complete workflow, and efficient usage tips.
I. Detailed Explanation of the Core Interface and Workspace
After launching the software, you will see a highly integrated and customizable workspace, mainly divided into the following areas:
Top Menu Bar and Main Toolbar: Contains all file operations, editing commands, view switching, and tool invocations. The main toolbar provides shortcut icons for high-frequency tools such as “Select,” “Draw,” “Connect,” and “Annotate.”
Left Resource Panel: A vertical panel containing two core tabs:
“Asset Library”: A preset icon library, categorized into personnel, vehicles, buildings, equipment, targets, and other categories, which can be dragged directly onto the canvas.
“Layers and Timeline”: Manages the hierarchy of visual elements in the scene and the sequence and timeline of action steps.
Central Canvas (Main Workspace): An infinitely large grid canvas used to build tactical maps. Supports zooming (⌘++/–) and panning (hold the spacebar and drag).
Right-Side Inspector: A vertical panel that displays detailed properties of the currently selected object (icons, lines, text, etc.), such as name, status, color, affiliated faction, custom data fields, and more, and allows you to edit them here.
Bottom Output and Log Window: Switch between displaying detailed text logs during simulation runs, action checklists, or exported data reports.
II. Complete Workflow: From Creation to Export
The following is the standard workflow for creating a tactical plan from scratch and exporting it.
1. Creating and Setting Up a New Project
Step 1: Create a New Project
Click the menu bar File → New or use the shortcut ⌘+N. In the dialog that appears, enter the project name and select a template (such as “City Surveillance,” “Infiltration Operation,” or “Blank”).
Step 2: Canvas and Global Settings
After creation, open the settings panel via the menu bar Edit → Project Settings. Here, set the map background (satellite imagery, blueprint, or solid color), grid style, default time unit (e.g., minutes/hours), and participating factions and their color codes.
2. Build a Tactical Map
Step 3: Place Assets
From the “Asset Library” on the left, browse or search for the icons you need (such as “Operative,” “Surveillance Camera,” “Vehicle”). After clicking to select an icon, click again on the canvas to place it. You can also drag icons directly to the desired position on the canvas.
Step 4: Connect and Define Relationships
Select the “Connector” tool in the toolbar (or press the shortcut key L). Click the starting asset (such as an operative), then click the ending asset (such as a target building) to create a connection. Select the connection line and use the property inspector on the right to define the relationship type (such as “Surveillance,” “Communication,” “Movement Path”), and set the line style and arrowhead.
Step 5: Add Annotations and Zones
Use the “Text” tool in the toolbar (T) to add annotations. Use the “Draw Zone” tool (Z) to draw high-risk zones, safe zones, etc., and fill them with semi-transparent colors in the property inspector.
3. Create an Action Timeline
Step 6: Switch to Timeline View
Click the “Layers & Timeline” tab in the left panel. The timeline is displayed as horizontal bars, and each asset automatically appears on the timeline once placed.
Step 7: Plan the action sequence
On the timeline, drag the bar blocks corresponding to assets horizontally to adjust their action start times. Drag both ends of a bar block to extend or shorten the action duration. Right-click a bar block to add specific “actions” for that asset within this time period (such as “move to point A,” “activate device,” “wait for signal”).
4. Simulation and verification
Step 8: Run simulation
Click the “Run Simulation” button in the top toolbar (or press ⌃+R). The canvas will enter dynamic mode, and assets will move and change state according to the timeline plan. The bottom log window will output the actions and events of each step in real time.
Step 9: Analyze and adjust
During or after the simulation, use the “Analyze” tool in the toolbar (A) to highlight critical paths and detect time conflicts or resource overlaps. Based on the simulation results, return to the timeline or canvas to adjust the plan.
5. Export and presentation
Step 10: Export the final plan
Click the menu bar File → Export. Multiple formats are available:
Static image: PNG/PDF, for printing or brief reports.
Interactive document: HTML, allowing you to view maps and timelines with simple interactivity in a browser.
Action List: CSV/TXT, listing detailed action logs for all assets in chronological order.
In the export dialog, you can set the export scope (current view or entire canvas), and whether to include layers and watermarks.
III. Advanced Tips for Common Features
Quick Duplication and Array Placement: After selecting one or more assets, hold the Option key and drag to quickly duplicate. Use Edit → Create Array to batch-generate assets based on row/column rules.
Custom Assets and Icons: You can drag external SVG or PNG icons into the user folder of the “Asset Library” to create custom assets. In the property inspector, bind custom attributes to them (such as “Skill Level”, “Power”).
Conditional Trigger Simulation: In an asset’s action attributes, you can set “conditions” (such as “when the target enters the area”), and define follow-up actions triggered when the conditions are met, enabling non-linear, responsive complex simulations.
Global Search and Batch Editing: Use ⌘+F to open global search, allowing you to find assets by name, type, or tag. Select all in the search results to modify their shared attributes at once in the property inspector on the right (such as changing all “Agent” statuses to “Standby”).
Save and Use View Presets: After adjusting specific zoom levels, visible/hidden layers, and viewing angles, you can save them via View → Save Current View. During presentations, you can quickly switch between different preset views to focus on different task details.
IV. Common Issues and Solutions
Issue 1: Software runs slowly or lags Solution: Large projects may contain thousands of asset objects. Try the following: 1) Check resource usage via View → Show Performance; 2) Disable “Real-time Anti-aliasing” in project settings; 3) Lock or hide complex layers that are not currently being edited.
Issue 2: Overlap warnings for actions on the timeline Solution: Yellow highlight bars indicate time conflicts. Double-click the warning icon, and the software will provide conflict details (e.g., “The same artist was assigned two tasks scheduled at the same time”). You need to manually adjust the start time or duration of one of the tasks, or assign other available assets to that task.
Issue 3: Some elements are missing in the exported image Solution: Before exporting, ensure that in the “Layers and Timeline” panel, the eye icons for all layers that need to be exported are in the enabled (visible) state. Also, check whether the “Range” in the export dialog is set to “Entire Canvas” rather than “Current View”.
Issue 4: Custom attributes do not take effect in simulation Solution: Custom attributes must be used in conjunction with “condition” or “action” scripts. Check whether the attribute name exactly matches (case-sensitive) in the action script. In the asset’s “Actions” editor, use the built-in variable browser to ensure correct reference.
