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Editing Saved game folder
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− | + | {{Quality|Exceptional|21:05, 11 May 2013 (UTC)}} | |
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− | The '''saved game folder''' is the location where the files and information corresponding to each [[world generation|world]] (also referred to by, at least, the game | + | The '''saved game folder''' is the location where the files and information corresponding to each [[world generation|world]] (also referred to by, at least, the game given the default characterisation of the files, as "regions") are stored and accessed by ''Dwarf Fortress''. Knowledge on the technicalities of the saved game folder is crucial if one wishes to change their computer, make a backup or want to share a save with someone else. See also: [[Importing and exporting worlds]]. |
− | + | == Location == | |
+ | Individual worlds are stored in the '''data/save/''' directory in the game folder you [[Installation|Installed] your game in. By default, they are saved in the format: ''region#'', where # is a number, starting with region1 and then incrementing; however, world directories can be renamed without consequence '''if the game is not running''' (this will not change the actual name of the world). | ||
− | ''' | + | The location of your game folder varies based on the operating system you're using and whether you are using a launcher: |
+ | * On Windows 7, if ''Dwarf Fortress'' is installed in the Program Files subdirectory, the saved game folders are instead located at | ||
+ | : <code>Users\Myname\Appdata\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\Dwarf Fortress\data\save</code> | ||
+ | * If you're using [[Utility:Lazy Newb Pack|LNP]] on Windows, the saved game folders are located where you extracted it: | ||
+ | : <code>LNP folder\Dwarf Fortress --VersionNumber--\data\save</code> | ||
− | + | If you have modified your [[d_init.txt]] to seasonally backup, then the backup folders will be named ''region#-year-month-day'', for example region1-00202-01-01. (In versions prior to v0.43, the format was ''region#-season-year'' (for example region1-Spring-202) instead.) | |
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− | There is | + | This can become confusing if you frequently [[cheating|savescum]]. There is no way to change the name of these folders inside the game, but it is safe to change them using the standard methods of your operating system if the game is not running. However, '''never''' alter or delete the folder with the name of the game you're playing ''while saving'' from the game, or while that game is running! This can cause fatal flaws many dwarf-seasons later, and is one known cause of the "Nemesis Unit Load Failed" crash error. |
− | + | == Contents == | |
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The saved game folder will usually have these contents: | The saved game folder will usually have these contents: | ||
+ | * A subdirectory, ''raw'', containing the raws directly copied from the time the world was generated. | ||
+ | ** Inside here is an ''objects'' folder containing the contents of the raws. This must be kept, but the contents inside can be modified to an extent. | ||
+ | ** There is also a ''graphics'' folder for [[Graphics set repository|graphics]] for creatures. | ||
+ | ** Finally, there may be an ''interaction examples'' folder. This, along with any files or folders not present in the aforementioned two folders, can be safely deleted. | ||
* A series of files named ''art_image-#.dat''. As their name would suggest, these files store information about art and are necessary for proper functioning. Don't replace! | * A series of files named ''art_image-#.dat''. As their name would suggest, these files store information about art and are necessary for proper functioning. Don't replace! | ||
− | * A series of files named ''feature-#-#.dat''. | + | * A series of files named ''feature-#-#.dat''. The amount of these files is heavily dependent on the size of the world, and they store the information about map features (such as [[river]]s, [[cavern]]s, [[magma sea]]s, and [[adamantine|spires]]). Replacing these files will very rarely crash the game, but usually will cause unwanted effects such as magma seas present on the surface. These files do not seem to cause too many crashes when removed, and do not exist in some peculiar worlds. |
* A series of files named ''region_snapshot-#.dat''. These are the historical maps available in [[Legends|Legends mode]]. | * A series of files named ''region_snapshot-#.dat''. These are the historical maps available in [[Legends|Legends mode]]. | ||
− | * A series of files named ''site-#.dat'' | + | * A series of files named ''site-#.dat''. |
− | * A series of files named ''unit-#.dat''. | + | * A series of files named ''unit-#.dat''. Replacing these has been known to cause the infamous Nemesis Unit Load Failed error. Resolving the aforementioned error, however, involves copying these over from a previous backup of the save. Depending on the size of the world, there could easily be thousands of these files, making it infeasible to send the saved game folder without compressing it all in one file first. |
− | * Depending on the mode currently active (or the lack thereof), a large file named ''world.sav'' or ''world.dat''. In [[fortress mode]], this file is named ''world.sav'' and includes the current fortress data, as well as the world data. In a save without a currently active game, this is the main save folder. The custom raws generated for the [[forgotten beast]]s, [[titan]]s, [[demon]]s, [[night creature]]s, and [[Evil|evil effects]] are stored | + | * Depending on the mode currently active (or the lack thereof), a large file named ''world.sav'' or ''world.dat''. In [[fortress mode]], this file is named ''world.sav'' and includes the current fortress data, as well as the world data. In a save without a currently active game, this is the main save folder. The custom raws generated for the [[forgotten beast]]s, [[titan]]s, [[demon]]s, [[night creature]]s, and [[Evil|evil effects]] are stored in this file. Replacing this entire file will almost certainly crash the game; however, replacing certain portions of the raws included may still keep the save folder working. |
Missing one or more of the aforementioned important files may indicate a problem with the save; this is a very common source of crashes. | Missing one or more of the aforementioned important files may indicate a problem with the save; this is a very common source of crashes. | ||
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For basic backups, though, all you need to keep to is: Always copy the whole folder, not parts of it. | For basic backups, though, all you need to keep to is: Always copy the whole folder, not parts of it. | ||
− | == | + | == Backing up saves == |
Toady recommends that you make backups, and always save to a fresh file: | Toady recommends that you make backups, and always save to a fresh file: | ||
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Do '''not''' overwrite an old folder, as it might leave residual files. | Do '''not''' overwrite an old folder, as it might leave residual files. | ||
− | + | Although the game has permanent death and you might want to play it in that spirit, the game is also in alpha, can crash, and your world can become corrupted by an error. You can also make use of the auto save features settable in "data/init/d_init.txt". Making backups can save you a lot of grief. | |
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+ | For more info on the autosave and autobackup features, see [[d_init.txt]]. | ||
− | + | ==Disappearing saves== | |
− | + | Restoring a savegame from backup can be very confusing: | |
− | : | ||
− | + | The game saves back to the directory you loaded, so if you load a seasonal save, the game will save to that folder (e.g. [region1-01056-01-01]) and not to the original folder ([region1]) where you might expect it. | |
− | This can cause some high blood pressure and panic when you see your 'Region X' save is several years older than expected, and it might look like you lost all your | + | This can cause some high blood pressure and panic when you see your 'Region X' save is several years older than expected, and it might look like you lost all your work to some bug. The "missing" save is, however, going to be in the directory you loaded previously. Dwarf Fortress lists the in-game year of each save on the right of the load screen; the highest year will generally be the most recent save (unless you've savescummed from earlier saves). |
''Dwarf Fortress'' autosaves to the original folder and then copies the save to a backup folder, so you should generally be able to recover from a crash by simply loading the 'main' save folder--it should be as recent as the latest "backup" save. If you want to load a backup savegame, it's recommended that you copy/rename the save to indicate that. For instance, using the examples above, copy [region1-01056-01-01] to [region1-fix] and continue play on that save (creating new backup saves of the form [region1-fix-01056-04-01]). Remember to only modify saves while the game is not running, per the instructions for savescumming above. | ''Dwarf Fortress'' autosaves to the original folder and then copies the save to a backup folder, so you should generally be able to recover from a crash by simply loading the 'main' save folder--it should be as recent as the latest "backup" save. If you want to load a backup savegame, it's recommended that you copy/rename the save to indicate that. For instance, using the examples above, copy [region1-01056-01-01] to [region1-fix] and continue play on that save (creating new backup saves of the form [region1-fix-01056-04-01]). Remember to only modify saves while the game is not running, per the instructions for savescumming above. | ||
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− | + | '''Warning''': Save folders can be large, ranging from 20 MB for small saves to several hundred megabytes for large saves. If you run out of hard drive space while saving, ''Dwarf Fortress'' will ''pretend'' to save correctly, but the save will be unloadable. Opening other saves to verify that they still work, then saving and exiting, will corrupt your previously-working saves as well. If you don't want the game to save, just kill the application. Make sure you have sufficient free disk space before launching ''Dwarf Fortress''! {{bug|2587}} | |
==Hints== | ==Hints== | ||
− | + | You can replace the ''raw'' directory with a symlink to ''../../../raw'' if you want to save a couple of MBs on every backup. [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=145908| Forum thread]. | |
[[Category:Modding]] | [[Category:Modding]] | ||
[[ru:Saved game folder]] | [[ru:Saved game folder]] |