Can't edit save games files

[magriboy0750]

Good evening,on the CK3 wiki,it is mentioned that the save games should be extracted using 7-ZIP,however,it does not work for me.I'm on Linux if this can helps.Does anyone know how to edit saves?
Thanks for any replies about this.

 

[Sslaxx]

They're not quite what they seem. They have a plain text beginning (the game meta-info), then a ZIP file that (presumably) contains the rest of the game info.

 

[magriboy0750]

Ok thanks and where is the zip file,because i have only the .CK3 file?

 

[Sslaxx]

The ZIP file is part of it.

Also, I'm not sure if you should rely on this, but in <user settings directory for CK3> you'll find a last_save.ck3 file. Caution, because I'm pretty sure I've seen this as both 100% text and the mash-up I described above. But if it's 100% plain text you might be able to edit it - you may need to move it yourself into the actual save game directory, though. Not sure how reliable or useful/usable editing this save file might be, so go with caution.

Also: this file is massive. CK3 save files - even compressed - are far larger than those for CK2.

 

[Federalist girl]

Ok thanks and where is the zip file,because i have only the .CK3 file?

The ck3 file is basically a zip file. Change the extension to .zip and use 7-zip or winrar to decompress (the built-in windows zip folder function won't work, for anyone reading this who uses windows). Then edit the file that comes out of it with a text editor, then add the .ck3 extension to it and put it back into your save director to load it.

 

[magriboy0750]

Ok thanks i will try that as soon as i can.

 

[Apollon]

Even if you decompress it, you still can't edit it. The text looks like this:
U1 � � 1.0.2`4 W1 `�) Duke Engelschalk�) Duchy of Steyermark�) < pattern_solid.dds9 green: white? 9 white: red� ce_panther.ddsB L
?
H��> ]
fff?
�? �. ^2
von Grätz_2 < pattern_solid.dds9 black: white; red� B ]
?
? < pattern_solid.dds9 black: white; red? 9 white: red� ce_quarterly.dds � B ]
?
? :
?
? < pattern_solid.dds9 black: white; red? 9 white: red� ce_quarterly.dds � B ]
?

 

[BuddhaAmida]

Even if you decompress it, you still can't edit it. The text looks like this:
U1 � � 1.0.2`4 W1 `�) Duke Engelschalk�) Duchy of Steyermark�) < pattern_solid.dds9 green: white? 9 white: red� ce_panther.ddsB L
?
H��> ]
fff?
�? �. ^2
von Grätz_2 < pattern_solid.dds9 black: white; red� B ]
?
? < pattern_solid.dds9 black: white; red? 9 white: red� ce_quarterly.dds � B ]
?
? :
?
? < pattern_solid.dds9 black: white; red? 9 white: red� ce_quarterly.dds � B ]
?

Use notepad++ to edit the unpacked file and it will work fine.

 

[Apollon]

Use notepad++ to edit the unpacked file and it will work fine.

I did use notepad++. There are also a truckload of NUL NUL NUL that didn't copy into the forum.
I used winrar to decompress it. Then I used 7zip, hoping that I would get something better, but no. In both cases, I got a file that was around 34 mb in size, but both were equally littered with heaps of NUL, interspersed with some SOH, ETX, ENO, SI, DC4 and DC1.

 

[sstabeler]

You can only edit manual saves, not autosaves. That's probably the problem. autosaves use a different format which can't be edited.

 

[Tobbzn]

I've been having the same issue. It does not seem to matter whether it's an autosave or manual cloud save, nor does it make a big difference whether I extract the gamestate file from the compressed file before opening in notepad++. I get the same result as seen above.

*However*, a manual non-cloud save does seem to open correctly as plaintext.

 

[Apollon]

I've been having the same issue. It does not seem to matter whether it's an autosave or manual cloud save, nor does it make a big difference whether I extract the gamestate file from the compressed file before opening in notepad++. I get the same result as seen above.

*However*, a manual non-cloud save does seem to open correctly as plaintext.

THANK YOU!!!

 

[Alerias]

The saving system could be improved in two simple ways; a persistant checkbox like in EU4 allowing us to disable save compression completely, and also, making the game remember properly and permanently our choice to disable cloud saves if we uncheck that box.

 

[RelVleDy]

You can only edit manual saves, not autosaves. That's probably the problem. autosaves use a different format which can't be edited.

Hmm, that's not what I've personally noticed. For me, the auto-saves are what I edit and are confirmed to work on my end whereas the manual saves are what's encrypted (ie. non-cloud manual saves).

 

[Alerias]

Honestly its super weird. I noticed *some* autosaves are not encrypted at all (50 megs) others are partially (35 megs), while manual saves all seem to be totally so (8 megs).